EXHIBIT 10.10 [Execution Copy] - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY $100,000,000 SENIOR NOTES MASTER SHELF AGREEMENT (INCLUDING GUARANTEES OF SUBSIDIARIES) DATED AS OF APRIL 17, 1997 - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS (Not Part of Agreement) 1. AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF NOTES 1 2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES.2 2A. FACILITY.2 2B. ISSUANCE PERIOD.2 2C. PERIODIC SPREAD INFORMATION.2 2D. REQUEST FOR PURCHASE.3 2E. RATE QUOTES.4 2F. ACCEPTANCE.4 2G. MARKET DISRUPTION.5 2H. CLOSING.5 2I. FEES.6 3. CONDITIONS OF CLOSING.8 3A. CERTAIN DOCUMENTS.8 3B. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE DELIVERED AT THE INITIAL CLOSING.9 3C. PERFECTION OF SECURITY.9 3D. PAYMENT OF FEES.9 3E. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; NO DEFAULT.10 3F. PURCHASE PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS.10 3G. LEGAL MATTERS.10 3H. PROCEEDINGS.10 3I. FACILITY FEE.10 4. PREPAYMENTS.10 4A. REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS.10 4B. OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT WITH YIELD-MAINTENANCE AMOUNT.10 4C. NOTICE OF OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT.11 4D. APPLICATION OF PREPAYMENTS.11 4E. RETIREMENT OF NOTES.11 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.12 5A. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS.12 5B. INFORMATION REQUIRED BY RULE 144A.16 5C. INSPECTION OF PROPERTY.16 5D. COVENANT TO SECURE NOTES EQUALLY.16 5E. TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES; ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.17 5F. TYPES OF BUSINESS.17 5G. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.17 5H. STATUTORY COMPLIANCE.18 5I. COMPLIANCE WITH MATERIAL AGREEMENTS.18 5J. TRADING POLICY.18 5K. SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES.18 5L. INVENTORY ACCOUNTING.19 5M. INSURANCE.19 5N. ERISA, ETC.19 5O. OPEN POSITIONS.19 5P. ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.20 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.20 6A. CERTAIN FINANCIAL TESTS.20 6B. DISTRIBUTIONS.21 6C. LIENS, INDEBTEDNESS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS.21 6D. ISSUANCE OF STOCK BY SUBSIDIARIES; SUBSIDIARY DISTRIBUTIONS.27 6E. DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS.27 6F. NEGATIVE PLEDGE CLAUSES.27 6G. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.28 6H. INACTIVE SUBSIDIARIES.28 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.28 7A. ACCELERATION.32 7B. RESCISSION OF ACCELERATION.32 7C. NOTICE OF ACCELERATION OR RESCISSION.32 7D. OTHER REMEDIES.32 7E. ANNULMENT OF DEFAULTS.32 8. REPRESENTATIONS, COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES.33 8A. ORGANIZATION.33 8B. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.34 8C. ACTIONS PENDING.34 8D. OUTSTANDING DEBT.35 8E. TITLE TO PROPERTIES.35 8F. TAXES.35 8G. CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS.35 8H. OFFERING OF NOTES.36 8I. USE OF PROCEEDS.36 8J. ERISA.36 8K. GOVERNMENTAL CONSENT.37 8L. DISCLOSURE.37 8M. HOSTILE TENDER OFFERS.37 8N. LICENSES, ETC.38 8O. CERTAIN BUSINESS REPRESENTATIONS.38 8P. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.39 8Q. FOREIGN TRADE REGULATIONS; GOVERNMENT REGULATION.40 8R. FACILITY CONVERSION DATE.41 8S. BANK AGREEMENT.41 8T. MATERIAL AGREEMENTS.41 9. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.41 9A. NATURE OF PURCHASE.41 9B. SOURCE OF FUNDS.41 10. DEFINITIONS.41 10A. YIELD-MAINTENANCE TERMS.42 10B. OTHER TERMS.43 10C. ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS.58 11. GUARANTEES.59 11A. GUARANTEES OF OBLIGATIONS.59 11B. CONTINUING OBLIGATION.59 11C. WAIVERS WITH RESPECT TO OBLIGATIONS.60 11D. LENDERS' POWER TO WAIVE, ETC.61 11E. INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY, ETC.62 11F. CERTAIN GUARANTOR REPRESENTATIONS.62 11G. SUBROGATION.63 11H. SUBORDINATION.63 11I. FUTURE SUBSIDIARIES; FURTHER ASSURANCES.63 12. MISCELLANEOUS.64 12A. NOTE PAYMENTS.64 12B. EXPENSES.64 12C. CONSENT TO AMENDMENTS.64 12D. FORM, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES; LOST NOTES.65 12E. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS; PARTICIPATIONS.66 12F. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.66 12G. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.66 12H. NOTICES.67 12I. PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAYS.67 12J. SEVERABILITY.67 12K. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS.67 12L. SATISFACTION REQUIREMENT.67 12M. MAXIMUM INTEREST PAYABLE.68 12N. GOVERNING LAW.68 12O. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.68 12P. COUNTERPARTS.70 12Q. BINDING AGREEMENT.70 INFORMATION SCHEDULE SCHEDULE 3A(vii) -- UCC Searches SCHEDULE 5A(i) -- Form of Covenant Compliance Certificate SCHEDULE 5J -- Risk and Product Management Policy SCHEDULE 8A -- Company and Subsidiary Information SCHEDULE 8D -- Financing Debt, Liens, Guarantees and Investments SCHEDULE 8G -- List of Agreements Restricting Debt SCHEDULE 8J -- Defined Benefit Plans SCHEDULE 8P -- Environmental Information SCHEDULE 8T -- Material Agreements EXHIBIT A-1 -- FORM OF SERIES A NOTE EXHIBIT A-2 -- FORM OF NOTE EXHIBIT B -- FORM OF REQUEST FOR PURCHASE EXHIBIT C -- FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE EXHIBIT D -- FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL EXHIBIT E -- FORM OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT EXHIBIT F -- FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY 370 17TH STREET, SUITE 2750 DENVER, COLORADO 80202 As of April 17, 1997 To: The Prudential Insurance Company of America (herein called "PRUDENTIAL") Each Prudential Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) which becomes bound by certain provisions of this Agreement as hereinafter provided (together with Prudential, the "PURCHASERS") c/o Prudential Capital Group Gateway Center Four 100 Mulberry Street Newark, NJ 07102-4069 Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned, TransMontaigne Oil Company (the "COMPANY"), hereby agrees with you as follows: 1. AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF NOTES. The Company will authorize the issue of its senior promissory notes (the "NOTES") in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000, to be dated the date of issue thereof; to mature, in the case of each Note so issued, no more than 12 years after the date of original issuance thereof; to have an average life, in the case of each note so issued, of no more than 10 years after the date of original issuance thereof; to bear interest on the unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof at the rate per annum, and to have such other particular terms, as shall be set forth, in the case of each Note so issued, in the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to such Note delivered pursuant to paragraph 2F; and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 attached hereto. The term "NOTES" as used herein shall ----------- include each Note delivered pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each Note delivered in substitution or exchange for any such Note pursuant to any such provision. Notes which have (i) the same final maturity, (ii) the same installment payment dates, (iii) the same installment payment amounts (as a percentage of the original principal amount of each Note), (iv) the same interest rate, (v) the same interest payment periods, and (vi) the same original date of issuance are herein called a "SERIES" of Notes. Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings specified in paragraph 10. 2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES. 1 2A. FACILITY. Prudential is willing to consider, in its sole discretion and within limits which may be authorized for purchase by Prudential and Prudential Affiliates from time to time, the purchase of Notes pursuant to this Agreement. The willingness of Prudential to consider such purchase of Notes is herein called the "FACILITY". At any time, the aggregate principal amount of Notes stated in paragraph 1, minus the aggregate principal amount of ----- Notes purchased and sold pursuant to this Agreement prior to such time, minus the aggregate principal amount of Accepted Notes (as hereinafter defined) which have not yet been purchased and sold hereunder prior to such time is herein called the "AVAILABLE FACILITY AMOUNT" at such time. NOTWITHSTANDING THE WILLINGNESS OF PRUDENTIAL TO CONSIDER PURCHASES OF NOTES, THIS AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO ON THE EXPRESS UNDERSTANDING THAT NEITHER PRUDENTIAL NOR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO MAKE OR ACCEPT OFFERS TO PURCHASE NOTES, OR TO QUOTE RATES, SPREADS OR OTHER TERMS WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC PURCHASES OF NOTES, AND THE FACILITY SHALL IN NO WAY BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY PRUDENTIAL OR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE. 2B. ISSUANCE PERIOD. Notes may be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement until the earlier of (i) (a) if no Notes have been previously issued hereunder in addition to the Series A Notes, the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (b) upon receipt of the Renewal Fee provided for in paragraph 2I(4) or the issuance of Notes in addition to the Series A Notes prior to the first anniversary date of this Agreement, the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement (or if any such anniversary is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such anniversary) and (ii) the thirtieth day after Prudential shall have given to the Company, or the Company shall have given to Prudential, a notice stating that it elects to terminate the issuance and sale of Notes pursuant to this Agreement (or if such thirtieth day is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such thirtieth day). The period during which Notes may be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement is herein called the "ISSUANCE PERIOD". 2C. PERIODIC SPREAD INFORMATION. Provided no Default or Event of Default exists, not later than 9:30 A.M. (New York City local time) on a Business Day during the Issuance Period if there is an Available Facility Amount on such Business Day, the Company may request by telecopier or telephone, and Prudential will, to the extent reasonably practicable, provide to the Company on such Business Day (or, if such request is received after 9:30 A.M. (New York City local time) on such Business Day, on the following Business Day), information (by telecopier or telephone) with respect to various spreads at which Prudential or Prudential Affiliates might be interested in purchasing Notes of different average lives; provided, however, that the Company may not -------- ------- make such requests more frequently than once in every five Business Days or such other period as shall be mutually agreed to by the Company and Prudential. The amount and content of information so provided shall be in the sole discretion of Prudential but it is the intent of Prudential to provide information which will be of use to the Company in determining whether to initiate procedures for use of the Facility. Information so provided shall not constitute an offer to purchase Notes, and neither Prudential nor any Prudential Affiliate shall 2 be obligated to purchase Notes at the spreads specified. Information so provided shall be representative of potential interest only for the period commencing on the day such information is provided and ending on the earlier of the fifth Business Day after such day and the first day after such day on which further spread information is provided. Prudential may suspend or terminate providing information pursuant to this paragraph 2C if, in its sole discretion, it determines that there has been an adverse change in the credit quality of the Company after the date of this Agreement. 2D. REQUEST FOR PURCHASE. (i) The Company may from time to time during the Issuance Period make requests for purchases of Notes (each such request being a "REQUEST FOR PURCHASE"). Each Request for Purchase shall be made to Prudential by telecopier and confirmed by nationwide overnight delivery service, and shall (a) specify the aggregate principal amount of Notes covered thereby, which shall not be less than $10,000,000 and not be greater than the Available Facility Amount at the time such Request for Purchase is made, (b) specify the principal amounts, final maturities, installment payment dates and amounts and interest payment periods (quarterly or semi-annual in arrears) of the Notes covered thereby, (c) specify the use of proceeds of such Notes, (d) specify the proposed day for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Notes, which shall be a Business Day during the Issuance Period not less than 10 days and not more than 20 days after the making of such Request for Purchase, (e) specify the number of the account and the name and address of the depository institution to which the purchase prices of such Notes are to be transferred on the Closing Day for such purchase and sale, (f) certify that the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 are true on and as of the date of such Request for Purchase except to the extent of changes caused by the transactions herein contemplated and that there exists on the date of such Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default, and (g) be substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto. Each Request for Purchase shall be in writing --------- and shall be deemed made when received by Prudential. (ii) PRUDENTIAL AGREES, TO THE EXTENT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (I)(C) OF PARAGRAPH 2D CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, PRUDENTIAL WILL USE ITS BEST EFFORTS TO HOLD IN CONFIDENCE AND NOT TO DISCLOSE THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, EXCEPT (A) AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW, AND (B) TO PRUDENTIAL'S AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES' OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES, AND TO PRUDENTIAL'S AGENTS AND PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE NOTES TO WHICH SUCH REQUEST FOR PURCHASE RELATES; PROVIDED THAT PRUDENTIAL WILL BE FREE, AFTER NOTICE TO -------- THE COMPANY, TO CORRECT ANY FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION WHICH MAY BECOME PUBLIC CONCERNING PRUDENTIAL'S RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMPANY OR TO THE PURCHASE OF SUCH NOTES. "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" shall mean information about the use of proceeds specified in such Request for Purchase, but does not include information (i) which was publicly known, or otherwise known to Prudential, at the time of disclosure, 3 (ii) which subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by Prudential, or (iii) which otherwise becomes known to Prudential, other than through disclosure by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that Prudential and each Purchaser of Accepted Notes specified in such Request for Purchase may disclose Confidential Information to (i) any Purchaser or holder of any Note, (ii) any Person to which it offers to sell any Note or any part thereof, (iii) any Person to which it sells or offers to sell a participation in all or any part of any Note, (iv) any Person from which it offers to purchase any security of the Company, (v) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over it, (vi) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization, or (vii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (a) in compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to it, (b) in response to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand or (c) in connection with any litigation to which it is a party. 2E. RATE QUOTES. Not later than five Business Days after the Company shall have given Prudential a Request for Purchase pursuant to paragraph 2D, Prudential may provide (by telephone promptly thereafter confirmed by telecopier, in each case no earlier than 9:30 A.M. and no later than 1:30 P.M. New York City local time) interest rate quotes for the several principal amounts, maturities, installment payment schedules, and interest payment periods of Notes specified in such Request for Purchase. Each quote shall represent the interest rate per annum payable on the outstanding principal balance of such Notes until such balance shall have become due and payable, at which Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate would be willing to purchase such Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof. 2F. ACCEPTANCE. Within 30 minutes after Prudential shall have provided any interest rate quotes pursuant to paragraph 2E or, in the event that due to conditions in the market place it shall not be feasible to hold such interest rate quotes open 30 minutes, such shorter period as Prudential may specify to the Company (such period being the "ACCEPTANCE WINDOW"), the Company may, subject to paragraph 2G, elect to accept such interest rate quotes as to not less than $10,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes specified in the related Request for Purchase. Such election shall be made by an Authorized Officer of the Company notifying Prudential by telephone or telecopier within the Acceptance Window (but not earlier than 9:30 A.M. or later than 1:30 P.M., New York City local time) that the Company elects to accept such interest rate quotes, specifying the Notes (each such Note being an "ACCEPTED NOTE") as to which such acceptance (an "ACCEPTANCE") relates. The day the Company notifies an Acceptance with respect to any Accepted Notes is herein called the "ACCEPTANCE DAY" for such Accepted Notes. Any interest rate quotes as to which Prudential does not receive an Acceptance within the Acceptance Window shall expire, and no purchase or sale of Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate quotes. Subject to paragraph 2G and the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company agrees to sell to Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate, and Prudential agrees to 4 purchase, or to cause the purchase by a Prudential Affiliate of, the Accepted Notes at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes. As soon as practicable following the Acceptance Day, the Company, Prudential and each Prudential Affiliate which is to purchase any such Accepted Notes will execute a confirmation of such Acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached --------- hereto (a "CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE"). 2G. MARKET DISRUPTION. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2F, if Prudential shall have provided interest rate quotes pursuant to paragraph 2E and thereafter prior to the time an Acceptance with respect to such quotes shall have been notified to Prudential in accordance with paragraph 2F there shall occur a general suspension, material limitation, or significant disruption of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the market for U.S. Treasury securities and other financial instruments, then such interest rate quotes shall expire, and no purchase or sale of Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate quotes. If the Company thereafter notifies Prudential of the Acceptance of any such interest rate quotes, such Acceptance shall be ineffective for all purposes of this Agreement, and Prudential shall promptly notify the Company that the provisions of this paragraph 2G are applicable with respect to such Acceptance. 2H. CLOSING. 2H(1) INITIAL CLOSING -- The Company hereby agrees to sell to Prudential and, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Purchasers listed on the Information Schedule attached hereto agree to purchase --------------------- from the Company under the Facility $50,000,000 of 7.85% Senior Notes, Series A, due April 17, 2003 (the "SERIES A NOTES") at 100% of such aggregate principal amount. The Series A Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 ----------- attached hereto. The Company will deliver to Prudential, at the offices of Prudential Capital Group at 2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 4200E, Dallas, Texas 75201, one or more Notes registered in such Purchaser's name, evidencing the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser's and in the denomination or denominations specified in the Information Schedule -------------------- attached hereto against payment of the purchase price thereof by transfer of immediately available funds to the credit of the Company's account 522-59654 at The First National Bank of Boston, 100 Federal Street, Boston MA 02110 (ABA No. 011-000-390 Reference: TransMontaigne Oil Company) on the date of closing, which shall be April 17, 1997, or any other date on or before April 17, 1997 upon which the Company and Prudential may mutually agree (the "INITIAL CLOSING"). 2H(2) SUBSEQUENT CLOSINGS. Not later than 11:30 A.M. (New York City local time) on the Closing Day for any Accepted Notes, the Company will deliver to each Purchaser listed in the Confirmation of Acceptance relating thereto at the offices of Prudential Capital Group at 2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 4200E, Dallas, Texas 75201 the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser in the form of one or more Notes in authorized denominations as such Purchaser may request for each Series of 5 Accepted Notes to be purchased on the Closing Day, dated the Closing Day and registered in such Purchaser's name (or in the name of its nominee), against payment of the purchase price thereof by transfer of immediately available funds for credit to the Company's account specified in the Request for Purchase of such Notes. 2H(3) RESCHEDULED CLOSINGS. If the Company fails to tender to any Purchaser the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser on the scheduled Closing Day for such Accepted Notes as provided above in this paragraph 2H, or any of the conditions specified in paragraph 3 shall not have been fulfilled by the time required on such scheduled Closing Day, the Company shall, prior to 1:00 P.M., New York City local time, on such scheduled Closing Day notify such Purchaser in writing whether (x) such closing is to be rescheduled (such rescheduled date to be a Business Day during the Issuance Period not less than one Business Day and not more than 30 Business Days after such scheduled Closing Day (the "RESCHEDULED CLOSING DAY") and certify to such Purchaser that the Company reasonably believes that it will be able to comply with the conditions set forth in paragraph 3 on such Rescheduled Closing Day and that the Company will pay the Delayed Delivery Fee in accordance with paragraph 2I(2) or (y) such closing is to be canceled as provided in paragraph 2I(3). In the event that the Company shall fail to give such notice referred to in the preceding sentence, such Purchaser may at its election, at any time after 1:00 P.M., New York City local time, on such scheduled Closing Day, notify the Company in writing that such closing is to be canceled as provided in paragraph 2I(3). 2I. FEES. 2I(1) FACILITY FEE -- The Company will pay to Prudential in immediately available funds a fee (the "FACILITY FEE") on each Closing Day that occurs after the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement, in an amount equal to 0.20% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes sold on such Closing Day. 2I(2) DELAYED DELIVERY FEE -- If the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note is delayed for any reason beyond the original Closing Day for such Accepted Note (other than if all the conditions in paragraph 3 are satisfied and Prudential fails to purchase such Accepted Notes), the Company will pay to Prudential on the Cancellation Date or actual closing date of such purchase and sale (if such Cancellation Date or closing date occurs on a date later than the date specified in the Confirmation of Acceptance for such Accepted Note), a fee (the "DELAYED DELIVERY FEE") calculated as follows: (BEY - MMY) X DTS/360 X PA where "BEY" means Bond Equivalent Yield, i.e., the bond equivalent yield per annum of such Accepted Note, "MMY" means Money Market Yield, i.e., the yield per annum on an alternative investment selected by Prudential on the date Prudential receives notice of the delay in the closing for such Accepted Notes having a maturity date or dates the same as, or closest to, the Rescheduled Closing Day or Rescheduled Closing Days (a 6 new alternative investment being selected by Prudential each time such closing is delayed); "DTS" means Days to Settlement, i.e., the number of actual days elapsed from and including the originally scheduled Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note to but excluding the date of such payment; and "PA" means Principal Amount, i.e., the principal amount of the Accepted Note for which such calculation is being made. In no case shall the Delayed Delivery Fee be less than zero. Nothing contained herein shall obligate any Purchaser to purchase any Accepted Note on any day other than the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, as the same may be rescheduled from time to time in compliance with paragraph 2H. 2I(3) CANCELLATION FEE -- If the Company at any time notifies Prudential in writing that the Company is canceling the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note, or if Prudential notifies the Company in writing under the circumstances set forth in the last sentence of paragraph 2H that the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is to be canceled, or if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is not consummated on or prior to the last day of the Issuance Period (the date of any such notification, or the last day of the Issuance Period, as the case may be, being the "CANCELLATION DATE"), the Company will pay Prudential in immediately available funds an amount (the "CANCELLATION FEE") calculated as follows: PI X PA where "PI" means Price Increase, i.e., the quotient (expressed in decimals) obtained by dividing (a) the excess of the ask price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Note(s) on the Cancellation Date over the bid price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Notes(s) on the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note by (b) such bid price; and "PA" has the meaning specified in paragraph 2I(2). The foregoing bid and ask prices shall be as reported by Telerate Systems, Inc. (or, if such data for any reason ceases to be available through Telerate Systems, Inc., any publicly available source of similar market data). Each price shall be based on a U.S. Treasury security having a par value of $100.00 and shall be rounded to the second decimal place. In no case shall the Cancellation Fee be less than zero. 2I(4) RENEWAL FEE -- If no additional Notes are issued during the period from the issuance of the Series A Notes until the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the Facility shall be terminated and the Issuance Period shall end on such anniversary date unless on or before such first anniversary the Company shall pay to Prudential a renewal fee (the "RENEWAL FEE") in the aggregate amount of $50,000. In the event the Company pays the Renewal Fee, the Facility shall remain in place and the Issuance Period shall extend until the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement (unless terminated earlier pursuant to paragraph 2B). 2I(5) STRUCTURING FEE -- At the time of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Prudential, the Company will pay to Prudential in immediately available funds a one time fee (the "STRUCTURING FEE") in an amount equal to $187,500. If following payment of the Structuring Fee and prior to the first 7 anniversary of the date of this Agreement a Refund Event shall occur, Prudential shall refund to the Company the Refundable Portion of the Structuring Fee. 3. CONDITIONS OF CLOSING. The obligation of any Purchaser to purchase and pay for any Accepted Notes is subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Day for such Accepted Notes, of the following conditions: 3A. CERTAIN DOCUMENTS. Such Purchaser shall have received the following, each dated the date of the applicable Closing Day: (i) The Accepted Note(s) to be purchased by such Purchaser. (ii) Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company and each other Obligor approving this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement and the Accepted Notes; or for any Closing Day other than the first Closing Day, a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such other Obligor stating that such resolutions remain in effect. (iii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and each other Obligor certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to sign this Agreement, the Accepted Notes, the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and any other documents to be delivered hereunder to which it is a party; or for any Closing Day other than the first Closing Day, a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such other Obligor stating that the information in such certificate continues to be true and correct. (iv) Certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company and each other Obligor; or a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such other Obligor stating that the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company or such other Obligor have not changed since last delivered pursuant to this Agreement. (v) Favorable opinions of the following counsel satisfactory to such Purchaser and substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto --------- and as to such other matters as such Purchaser may reasonably request: (a) Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, special counsel for the Company - Exhibit D-1; ----------- Clanahan Tanner Downing and Knowlton, general counsel for Bear Paw Energy Inc. - Exhibit D-2; and Jim H. Boyd, general counsel of the Guarantors - ----------- Exhibit D-3. The Company hereby directs each such counsel to deliver such ----------- opinion, agrees that the issuance and sale of any Accepted Notes will constitute a reconfirmation of such direction, and understands and agrees that each Purchaser receiving such an opinion will and is hereby authorized to rely on such opinion. (vi) A good standing certificate for the Company and the other Obligors 8 from the Secretary of State of Delaware and Colorado dated of a recent date and such other evidence of the status of the Company as you may reasonably request. (vii) With respect to the Initial Closing only, certified copies of Requests for Information or Copies (Form UCC-11) or equivalent reports listing all effective financing statements which name the Company or any Subsidiary (under its present name and previous names) as debtor and which are filed in the offices of the Secretaries of State listed in Schedule -------- 3A(vii) together with copies of such financing statements. ------- (viii) Additional documents or certificates with respect to legal matters or corporate or other proceedings related to the transactions contemplated hereby as may be reasonably requested by such Purchaser. 3B. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE DELIVERED AT THE INITIAL CLOSING. Such Purchaser shall have received the following, each dated the date of the Initial Closing: (i) The Pledge Agreement, duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto. (ii) The Intercreditor Agreement, duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto. (iii) The Bank Agreement shall have been duly amended to permit the issuance of the Notes under the Facility, and a copy thereof shall have been delivered to the Purchasers. 3C. PERFECTION OF SECURITY. Each Obligor shall have duly authorized, executed, acknowledged, delivered, filed, registered and recorded such security agreements, notices, financing statements and other instruments as Prudential may have requested in order to perfect the Liens purported or required pursuant to the Loan Documents to be created in the Loan Security. 3D. PAYMENT OF FEES. The Company shall have paid to Prudential (i) for the account of the Purchasers, the Structuring Fee, and (ii) without limiting the provisions of paragraph 12B, the fees and disbursements of the Purchaser's special counsel and other costs and expenses of the Purchasers for which statements have been rendered on or prior to the date of the Initial Closing. 3E. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; NO DEFAULT. The representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 shall be true on and as of such Closing Day, except to the extent of changes caused by the transactions herein contemplated; there shall exist on such Closing Day no Event of Default or Default; and 9 the Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer's Certificate, dated such Closing Day, to both such effects. 3F. PURCHASE PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS. The purchase of and payment for the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser on the terms and conditions herein provided (including the use of the proceeds of such Notes by the Company) shall not violate any applicable law or governmental regulation (including, without limitation, Section 5 of the Securities Act or Regulation G, T or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and shall not subject such Purchaser to any tax, penalty, liability or other onerous condition under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and such Purchaser shall have received such certificates or other evidence as it may request to establish compliance with this condition. 3G. LEGAL MATTERS. Counsel for such Purchaser, including any special counsel for the Purchasers retained in connection with the purchase and sale of such Accepted Notes, shall be satisfied as to all legal matters relating to such purchase and sale, and such Purchaser shall have received from such counsel favorable opinions as to such legal matters as it may request. 3H. PROCEEDINGS. All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents incident thereto shall be satisfactory in substance and form to such Purchaser, and it shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably request. 3I. FACILITY FEE. With respect to any Closing Day occurring after the first anniversary and the Note hereof, the Company shall have paid the Facility Fee due on such date. 4. PREPAYMENTS. The Notes shall be subject to prepayment with respect to any required prepayments set forth in such Notes as provided in paragraph 4A and with respect to the optional prepayments permitted by paragraph 4B. 4A. REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS. The Notes of each Series shall be subject to required prepayments, if any, set forth in the Notes of such Series. 4B. OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT WITH YIELD-MAINTENANCE AMOUNT. The Notes shall be subject to prepayment on any Business Day occurring six months after the day of issue, in whole at any time or from time to time in part (in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $100,000), at the option of the Company, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid plus interest thereon to the prepayment date and the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each such Note. Any partial prepayment of Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4B shall be applied in satisfaction of required payments of principal of the Notes in inverse order of their scheduled due dates. 10 4C. NOTICE OF OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT. The Company shall give the holder of each Note to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B irrevocable written notice of such prepayment not less than 10 Business Days prior to the prepayment date, specifying such prepayment date, specifying the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid on such date, identifying each Note held by such holder, and the principal amount of each such Note, to be prepaid on such date and stating that such prepayment is to be made pursuant to paragraph 4B; provided -------- that notice to Prudential under this paragraph 4C shall constitute notice to each Prudential Affiliate that is a holder. Notice of prepayment having been given as aforesaid, the principal amount of the Notes specified in such notice, together with interest thereon to the prepayment date and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, herein provided, shall become due and payable on such prepayment date. The Company shall, on or before the day on which it gives written notice of any prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4A, give telephonic notice of the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid and the prepayment date to each Significant Holder which shall have designated a recipient for such notices in the Information Schedule attached hereto or by notice in writing to the Company. 4D. APPLICATION OF PREPAYMENTS. (i) REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS. Upon any partial prepayment of the Notes of any Series pursuant to paragraph 4A, the amount so prepaid shall be allocated to all outstanding Notes of such Series (including, for the purpose of this paragraph 4D only, all Notes (other than the Series A Notes, which are due at maturity) prepaid or otherwise retired or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates other than by prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4A or 4B) in proportion to the respective outstanding principal amounts thereof. (ii) OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS. Upon any partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to 4B, the amount to be prepaid shall be applied pro rata to all outstanding Notes of all Series (including, for the purpose of this paragraph 4D only, all Notes (other than the Series A Notes, which are due at maturity) prepaid or otherwise retired or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates other than by prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4A or 4B) according to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof. 4E. RETIREMENT OF NOTES. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to, prepay or otherwise retire in whole or in part prior to their stated final maturity (other than by prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4A or 4B or upon acceleration of such final maturity pursuant to paragraph 7A), or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, Notes held by any holder unless the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall have offered to prepay or otherwise retire or purchase or otherwise acquire, as the case may be, the same proportion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by each other holder of Notes at the time outstanding upon the same terms and conditions. Any Notes so prepaid or otherwise 11 retired or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose under this Agreement, except as provided in paragraph 4D. ------ 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long thereafter as any Note is outstanding and unpaid, the Company covenants as follows: 5A. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain a system of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices. The fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall end on April 30 in each year and the fiscal quarters of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall end on July 31, October 31, January 31 and April 30 in each year. (i) ANNUAL REPORTS. The Company shall furnish to each holder in duplicate (unless a greater or lesser number is requested by such holder) and as soon as available, and in any event within 95 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, the Consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year (all in reasonable detail) and together with Consolidating schedules as of such date and for such period and, in the case of Consolidated financial statements, comparative figures for the immediately preceding fiscal year, all accompanied by: (a) Unqualified reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP (or, if they cease to be auditors of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Holders), containing no material uncertainty, to the effect that they have audited the foregoing Consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and that such Consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries covered thereby at the dates thereof and the results of their operations for the periods covered thereby in conformity with GAAP. (b) The statement of such accountants that they have caused this Agreement to be reviewed and that in the course of their audit of the Company and its Subsidiaries no facts have come to their attention that cause them to believe that any Default or Event of Default exists and in particular that they have no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under paragraphs 6A through 6H, inclusive, or 5N, 5O or 5P, if such is not the case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and the nature thereof. This statement is furnished by such accountants with the understanding that the examination of such accountants 12 cannot be relied upon to give such accountants knowledge of any such Default except as it relates to accounting or auditing matters within the scope of their audit. (c) A certificate of the Company signed by a Financial Officer to the effect that such officer has caused this Agreement to be reviewed and has no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, or if such officer has such knowledge, specifying such Default or Event of Default and the nature thereof, and what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. (d) Computations by the Company in the form set forth in Schedule -------- 5A(i) hereto demonstrating, as of the end of such fiscal year, compliance ----- with the Computation Covenants, certified by a Financial Officer. (e) Calculations, as at the end of such fiscal year, of (I) the Accumulated Benefit Obligations for each Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA (other than Multiemployer Plans) and (II) the fair market value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefits. (f) Supplements to Schedules 8A, 8D and 8J showing any changes in ------------ -- -- the information set forth in such Schedules not previously furnished to the holders in writing, as well as any changes in the Charter, Bylaws or incumbency of officers of the Company or its Subsidiaries from those previously certified to the holders. (ii) QUARTERLY REPORTS. The Company shall furnish to each holder in duplicate (unless a greater or lesser number is requested by such holder) as soon as available and, in any event, within 50 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Company, the internally prepared Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter, the Consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended (all in reasonable detail) and together with Consolidating schedules as of such date and for such period and, in the case of Consolidated statements, comparative figures for the same period (if such Consolidating schedules are requested by Prudential or the Majority Holders) in the preceding fiscal year, all accompanied by: (a) A certificate of the Company signed by a Financial Officer to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries covered thereby at the dates thereof and the results of their operations for the periods covered thereby, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the addition of footnotes. 13 (b) A certificate of the Company signed by a Financial Officer to the effect that such officer has caused this Agreement to be reviewed and has no knowledge of any Default, or if such officer has such knowledge, specifying such Default and the nature thereof and what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. (c) Computations by the Company in the form set forth in Schedule -------- 5A(i) hereto demonstrating, as of the end of such quarter, compliance with ----- the Computation Covenants, certified by a Financial Officer. (d) Supplements to Schedules 8A, 8D and 8J showing any changes in the ------------ -- -- information set forth in such Schedules not previously furnished to the holders in writing, as well as any changes in the Charter, Bylaws or incumbency of officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries from those previously certified to the holders. (iii) OTHER REPORTS. The Company shall promptly furnish to each holder: (a) As soon as prepared and in any event within 90 days after the beginning of each fiscal year, an annual budget and operating projections for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, prepared in a manner consistent with the manner in which the financial projections described in paragraph 8L were prepared and shall include a capital expenditure plan for such fiscal year. (b) Any material updates of such budget and projections. (c) Any management letters furnished to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by the Company's auditors. (d) All budgets, projections, statements of operations and other reports furnished generally to the shareholders of the Company. (e) Such registration statements, proxy statements and reports, including Forms S-1, S-2, S-3, 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, as may be filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (f) Any 90-day letter or 30-day letter from the federal Internal Revenue Service asserting material tax deficiencies against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and any similar notice from a state or other taxing authority asserting material tax deficiencies against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are not fully resolved without the assessment of a material tax deficiency (and any tax paid) within 90 days following the date of such notice. (g) Notice of the issuance of any Funded Debt permitted by paragraph 14 6C(2)(xi) or 6C(2)(xii), together with a calculation of the proceeds thereof (net of costs of issuance) and copies of all evidence of Indebtedness and other documentation governing such Funded Debt. (h) Any revised versions of the Risk and Product Management Policy Statement referred to in paragraph 5J. (iv) NOTICE OF LITIGATION. The Company shall promptly furnish to each holder notice of any litigation or any administrative or arbitration proceeding (a) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may hereafter become a party if the damages claimed in such proceeding exceed $2,000,000 or (b) which creates a material risk of resulting, after giving effect to any applicable insurance, in the payment by the Company and its Subsidiaries of more than $1,000,000 or (c) which results, or creates a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Change. (v) NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. Promptly upon acquiring knowledge thereof, the Company shall notify the holders of the existence of any Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature thereof and what action the Company or any Subsidiary has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. (vi) ERISA REPORTS. The Company shall furnish to the holders as soon as available the following items with respect to any Plan: (a) any request for a waiver of the funding standards or an extension of the amortization period, (b) any reportable event (as defined in section 4043 of ERISA), unless the notice requirement with respect thereto has been waived by regulation, (c) any notice received by any ERISA Group Person that the PBGC has instituted or intends to institute proceedings to terminate any Plan, or that any Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in reorganization, (d) notice of the possibility of the termination of any Plan by its administrator pursuant to section 4041 of ERISA, and (e) notice of the intention of any ERISA Group Person to withdraw, in whole or in part, from any Multiemployer Plan. (vii) OTHER INFORMATION. From time to time at reasonable intervals upon request of Prudential or the Majority Holders, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall furnish to the holders such other information regarding the business, assets, financial condition, income or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such officer may reasonably request, including copies of all tax returns, licenses, agreements, leases and instruments to which any of the 15 Company or its Subsidiaries is party. 5B. INFORMATION REQUIRED BY RULE 144A. The Company will, upon the request of any holder, provide such holder, and any qualified institutional buyer designated by such holder, such financial and other information as such holder may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with the resale of Notes, except at such times as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. For the purpose of this paragraph 5B, the term "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" shall have the meaning specified in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. 5C. INSPECTION OF PROPERTY. (i) The Company will permit any Person designated by the Majority Holders in writing, at the expense of the holders making such request, to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to examine the corporate books and financial records of the Company and its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of any of such corporations with the principal officers of the Company, all at such reasonable times and as often as the Majority Holders may reasonably request. (ii) The Company will permit any Person designated by any Significant Holder in writing, at such Significant Holder's expense, to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to examine the corporate books and financial records of the Company and its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of any of such corporations with the principal officers of the Company, all at such reasonable times and as often as such Significant Holder may reasonably request; provided, however, -------- ------- that so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, such Significant Holder may only make one such request during a calendar year. (iii) The Majority Holders, upon reasonable advance notice, may at the expense of the Company undertake to have the Company and its Subsidiaries reviewed by the commercial financial examiners and fixed asset appraisers appointed by the Majority Holders; provided that so long as no Event of -------- Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Majority Holders shall not request such reviews more than twice in any fiscal year of the Company. 5D. COVENANT TO SECURE NOTES EQUALLY. The Company will, if it or any Subsidiary shall create or assume any Lien upon any of its property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Liens permitted by the provisions of paragraph 6C(1) (unless prior written consent to the creation or assumption thereof 16 shall have been obtained pursuant to paragraph 11C), make or cause to be made effective provision whereby the Notes will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other Indebtedness thereby secured so long as any such other Indebtedness shall be so secured. 5E. TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES; ACCOUNTS PAYABLE. (i) TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, duly pay and discharge, or cause to be paid and discharged, before the same becomes in arrears, all material taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon such Person and its properties, sales or activities, or upon the income or profits therefrom, as well as all claims for labor, materials or supplies which if unpaid might by law become a Lien upon any of its property; provided, however, -------- ------- that any such tax, assessment, charge or claim need not be paid if the validity or amount thereof shall at the time be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and if such Person shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP; and provided, further, that the Company shall, and shall cause each -------- ------- of its Subsidiaries to, pay or bond, or cause to be paid or bonded, all such taxes, assessments, charges or other governmental claims immediately upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any Lien which may have attached as security therefor (except to the extent such proceedings have been dismissed or stayed). (ii) ACCOUNTS PAYABLE. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly pay when due, or in conformity with customary trade terms, all other material Indebtedness incident to the operations of such Person not referred to in paragraph 5E(I); provided, however, that any -------- ------- such Indebtedness need not be paid if the validity or amount thereof shall at the time be contested in good faith and if such Person shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP. 5F. TYPES OF BUSINESS. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, engage principally in one or more of the businesses of (a) providing transportation, terminaling and storage services for petroleum products and the distribution, purchase and/or sale of petroleum products, (b) natural gas gathering, processing, transmission and marketing and (c) other activities related thereto. The Company and its Subsidiaries may engage in businesses other than those described in the preceding sentence, provided that -------- the gross revenues of such other businesses in any fiscal year of the Company shall not exceed 10% of the Consolidated gross revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries. 5G. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to: (i) keep its properties in such repair, working order and condition, and shall from time to time make such repairs, replacements, additions and 17 improvements thereto as are necessary for the efficient operation of its businesses and shall comply at all times in all material respects with all material franchises, licenses and leases to which it is party so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder, except where failure to comply with such provisions has not resulted, and does not create a material risk of resulting, in the aggregate in any Material Adverse Change; and (ii) (other than Republic Natural Gas Company) do all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect and in good standing its legal existence and authority necessary to continue its business; provided, however, that this paragraph 5G(ii) shall not prevent -------- ------- the merger, consolidation or liquidation of Subsidiaries permitted by paragraph 6C(5). 5H. STATUTORY COMPLIANCE. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all valid and applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, zoning and building codes and other rules and regulations of the United States of America, of the states and territories thereof and their counties, municipalities and other subdivisions and of any foreign country or other jurisdictions applicable to such Person, except where failure so to comply with such provisions has not resulted, and does not create a material risk of resulting, in the aggregate in any Material Adverse Change. 5I. COMPLIANCE WITH MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with the Material Agreements (to the extent not in violation of the other provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document). Without the prior written consent of the Majority Holders, no Material Agreement shall be amended, modified, waived or terminated in any manner that would have in any material respect an adverse effect on the interests of the holders; provided, without -------- limitation of the foregoing, that any modification of the Bank Agreement that would cause the covenants of the Company or the defaults thereunder to be more restrictive than the covenants or defaults, respectively, contained in this Agreement or that would constitute or cause a Default or Event of Default shall require the prior written consent of the Majority Holders. 5J. TRADING POLICY. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries (to the extent they are engaged in such business) to, maintain and follow a policy of managing petroleum inventory risk with the objective of minimizing potentially adverse impacts on earnings arising from volatility in refined petroleum product prices. The holders acknowledge that the policy described in the Risk and Product Management Policy Statement dated December 1996 of Continental Ozark, Inc., a copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Schedule 5J, represents such a policy. ----------- 5K. SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES. The Company shall do all things necessary to assure that the Notes and all of the Obligations be and remain "Superior Indebtedness" within the meaning of Section 10 of the Subordinated Debentures Agreement. 18 5L. INVENTORY ACCOUNTING. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, account for their inventory on the basis of the "LIFO" method of accounting; provided, that they may change to the "FIFO" method of -------- inventory accounting, if such method is then permitted by GAAP and if the provisions of paragraph 6A are amended in such manner as the Majority Holders shall consider necessary in the reasonable judgment to maintain the same standards of creditworthiness. 5M. INSURANCE. (i) PROPERTY INSURANCE. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep its assets which are of an insurable character insured by financially sound and reputable insurers against theft and fraud and against loss or damage by fire, explosion and hazards insured against by extended coverage to the extent, in amounts and with deductibles at least as favorable as those generally maintained by businesses of similar size engaged in similar activities. (ii) LIABILITY INSURANCE. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance against liability for hazards, risks and liability to persons and property to the extent, in amounts and with deductibles at least as favorable as those generally maintained by businesses of similar size engaged in similar activities; provided, however, that it may effect -------- ------- workers' compensation insurance or similar coverage with respect to operations in any particular state or other jurisdiction through an insurance fund operated by such state or jurisdiction or by meeting the self-insurance requirements of such state or jurisdiction. 5N. ERISA, ETC. The Company shall comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and all ERISA Group Persons to comply, in all material respects, with the provisions of ERISA and the Code applicable to each Plan. The Company shall meet, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and all ERISA Group Persons to meet, all minimum funding requirements applicable to them with respect to any Plan pursuant to section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code, without giving effect to any waivers of such requirements or extensions of the related amortization periods which may be granted. At no time shall the Accumulated Benefit Obligations under any Plan that is not a Multiemployer Plan exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefits by more than $1,000,000. The Company shall not withdraw, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and all other ERISA Group Persons not to withdraw, in whole or in part, from any Multiemployer Plan so as to give rise to withdrawal liability exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate. At no time shall the actuarial present value of unfunded liabilities for post-employment health care benefits, whether or not provided under a Plan, calculated in a manner consistent with Statement No. 106 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, exceed $1,000,000. 5O. OPEN POSITIONS. The Company and its Subsidiaries may maintain 19 Open Positions relating to product inventory requirements that do not exceed the amount permitted by the Risk and Product Management Policy Statement then in effect, so long as that policy is materially consistent with the requirements of the first sentence of paragraph 5J. 5P. ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. (i) COMPLIANCE WITH LAW AND PERMITS. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use and operate all of its facilities and properties in material compliance with all Environmental Laws, keep all necessary permits, approvals, certificates, licenses and other authorizations relating to environmental matters in effect and remain in material compliance therewith, and handle all Hazardous Materials in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, except where any failure to so act could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (ii) NOTICE OF CLAIMS, ETC. The Company shall immediately notify the holders, and provide copies upon receipt, of all written claims, complaints, notices or inquiries from governmental authorities relating to the condition of the facilities and properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries or compliance with Environmental Laws which could have a Material Adverse Effect, and shall use best efforts to promptly cure and have dismissed with prejudice to the satisfaction of the Majority Holders any actions and proceedings relating to compliance with Environmental Laws. 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long thereafter as any Note is outstanding and unpaid, the Company covenants as follows: 6A. CERTAIN FINANCIAL TESTS. 6A(1) FIXED CHARGES COVERAGE. The Company will not permit, on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Company, the Consolidated Income from Operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended to be less than 225% of the Consolidated interest expense of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP. 6A(2) LEVERAGE RATIO. The Company will not permit the Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries at any time during each period specified below to equal or exceed the percentage set forth below next to such period: Period Percentage ------ ---------- To and including April 29, 1999 65% From and including April 30, 1999 60% 20 to and including April 29, 2000 April 30, 2000 and thereafter 55%. 6A(3) CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH. The Company will not permit Consolidated Tangible Net Worth at any time to be less than $100,000,000; provided, however, that on April 30, 1997 and on the last day of each fiscal - - -------- ------- quarter of the Company thereafter, the then effective dollar amount in this paragraph 6A(3) shall be increased by the sum of (a) 50% of Consolidated Net Income (if positive) for the fiscal quarter then ended plus (b) 50% of the net proceeds realized by the Company and its Subsidiaries, calculated on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, from the issuance of any equity securities during the fiscal quarter then ended. 6B. DISTRIBUTIONS. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Distribution except for the following: ------ (i) Subsidiaries of the Company may make Distributions to the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company. (ii) So long as immediately before and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default exists, the Company may make Distributions to its stockholders; provided that the -------- cumulative amount distributed after October 31, 1996 shall not exceed the sum of (a) $5,000,000 plus (b) 50% of the cumulative Consolidated Net ---- Income of the Company and its Subsidiaries commencing November 1, 1996. (iii) So long as immediately before and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default exists, the Company may make scheduled payments of interest and principal on the Subordinated Debentures and other Funded Debt of the Company permitted under paragraph 6C(2)(xi). 6C. LIENS, INDEBTEDNESS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to: 6C(1) LIENS. Create, incur or enter into, or suffer to be created or incurred or to exist, any Lien, except the following: ------ (i) Liens on the Loan Security that secure the Notes, and, so long as the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, Liens on the Loan Security that secure the Bank Obligations. (ii) Liens to secure taxes, assessments and other governmental charges, to the extent that payment thereof shall not at the time be required by paragraph 5E. (iii) Deposits or pledges made (a) in connection with, or to secure 21 payment of, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions or other social security, (b) in connection with casualty insurance maintained in accordance with paragraph 5M, (c) to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts relating to Financing Debt) or leases, (d) to secure statutory obligations or surety or appeal bonds, (e) to secure indemnity, performance or other similar bonds in the ordinary course of business or (f) in connection with contested amounts to the extent that payment thereof shall not at that time be required by paragraph 5E. (iv) Liens in respect of judgments or awards, to the extent that such judgments or awards are permitted by paragraph 6C(2)(vi). (v) Liens of carriers, warehouses, mechanics and similar Liens, in each case (a) in existence less than 90 days from the date of creation thereof or (b) being contested in good faith by the Company or any Subsidiary in appropriate proceedings (so long as the Company or such Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP). (vi) Encumbrances in the nature of (a) zoning restrictions, (b) easements, (c) restrictions of record on the use of real property, (d) landlords' and lessors' Liens on rented premises and (e) restrictions on transfers or assignment of leases, which in each case do not materially detract from the value of the encumbered property or materially impair the use thereof in the business of the Company or any Subsidiary. (vii) Restrictions under federal and state securities laws on the transfer of securities. (viii) Restrictions under Foreign Trade Regulations on the transfer or licensing of certain assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries. (ix) Liens constituting (a) purchase money security interests (including mortgages, conditional sales, Capitalized Leases and any other title retention or deferred purchase devices) in real property, interests in leases or tangible personal property (other than inventory) existing or created on the date on which such property is acquired, and (b) the renewal, extension or refunding of any security interest referred to in the foregoing clause (a) in an amount not to exceed the amount thereof remaining unpaid immediately prior to such renewal, extension or refunding; provided, however, that (i) each such security interest shall attach solely -------- ------- to the particular item of property so acquired, and the principal amount of Indebtedness (including Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations) secured thereby shall not exceed the cost (including all such Indebtedness secured thereby, whether or not assumed) of such item of property; and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by this paragraph 6C(1)(ix) shall not exceed the amount 22 permitted by paragraph 6C(2)(vii). 6C(2) INDEBTEDNESS. Create, incur, assume or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to any Indebtedness except the following if incurred ------ and existing in compliance with paragraph 6A(1) and 6A(2): (i) Indebtedness in respect of the Notes. (ii) Guarantees permitted by paragraph 6C(3). (iii) Current liabilities, other than Financing Debt, incurred in the ordinary course of business. (iv) To the extent that payment thereof shall not at the time be required by paragraph 5E, Indebtedness in respect of taxes, assessments, governmental charges and claims for labor, materials and supplies. (v) Indebtedness secured by Liens of carriers, warehouses, mechanics and landlords permitted by paragraphs 6C(1)(v) and 6C(1)(vi). (vi) Indebtedness in respect of judgments or awards (a) which have been in force for less than the applicable appeal period or (b) in respect of which the Company or any Subsidiary shall at the time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review and, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), the Company or such Subsidiary shall have taken appropriate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP and execution of such judgment or award shall not be levied. (vii) To the extent permitted by paragraph 6C(1)(ix), Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations or secured by purchase money security interests; provided, however, that (a) the aggregate principal -------- ------- amount of all Indebtedness permitted by this paragraph 6C(2)(vii) which consists of Indebtedness in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and other Indebtedness incurred for the acquisition of equipment shall not exceed $2,000,000 at any one time outstanding and (b) that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness permitted by this paragraph 6C(2)(vii) which consists of Indebtedness issued to sellers of any business or part thereof or operating assets in consideration for the acquisition thereof by the Company or a Subsidiary shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding. (viii) Indebtedness in respect of deferred taxes arising in the ordinary course of business. (ix) Indebtedness in respect of inter-company loans and advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries which are not prohibited by paragraph 6C(4). 23 (x) Indebtedness of the Company in respect of its 12.75% Guaranteed Senior Subordinated Debentures due December 15, 2000 (the "SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES"). (xi) Unsecured Funded Debt of the Company which is incurred or issued for the purpose of financing acquisitions permitted by paragraphs 6C(4)(v) or 6C(4)(vii) and/or by the last paragraph of paragraph 6C(4) and which is subordinated to the Obligations on terms satisfactory to the Majority Holders. (xii) So long as the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, Funded Debt of the Company under the Bank Agreement not exceeding $125,000,000, and other "Credit Obligations" (as defined in the Bank Agreement) of the Company and the Guarantors under the Bank Agreement. (xiii) Unfunded pension liabilities with respect to Plans so long as the Company is in compliance with paragraph 5N. (xiv) Indebtedness outstanding on December 18, 1996 and described in Schedule 8D. ----------- (xv) Unsecured Funded Debt of the Company; provided that after giving -------- effect to the issuance of such unsecured Funded Debt and the application of any of the proceeds thereof on the issuance date no Default or Event of Default shall exist, the Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 60% on or before April 29, 1999, 55% on or after April 30, 1999 and on or before April 29, 2000, or 50% on or after April 30, 2000 and the Company shall have delivered to the holders a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Company in reasonable detail demonstrating compliance with these conditions after giving effect to such issuance and application; provided, further, either (a) that the terms and -------- ------- conditions of such unsecured Funded Debt, including without limitation, financial covenants, defaults, amortization and rate of interest shall have been consented to by to the Majority Holders or (b) that the sum of (I) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Notes (other than the Series A Notes) plus (II) the aggregate ---- principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under this clause (b) and not consented to as provided in the preceding clause (a) at no time shall exceed $50,000,000. (xvi) Indebtedness of the Company (other than Financing Debt) in addition to the foregoing; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of -------- ------- all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $2,000,000. 6C(3) GUARANTEES; LETTERS OF CREDIT. Become or remain liable with respect to any Guarantee, including reimbursement obligations under letters of credit or other financial guarantees by third parties, except the following: ------ (i) Guarantees of the Guarantors of the Obligations. (ii) Guarantees by the Company or its Subsidiaries of Indebtedness incurred by any of its Subsidiaries and permitted by paragraph 6C(2). 24 (iii) Unsecured Guarantees by Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of the Obligations or Indebtedness of the Company permitted by paragraphs 6C(2)(x) and 6C(2)(xi), so long as such Wholly Owned Subsidiaries are Guarantors and such Guarantees are subordinated to such Guarantors' Guarantees of the Obligations to the same extent and in the same manner as the Indebtedness of the Company permitted by paragraphs 6C(2)(x) and 6C(2)(xi). (iv) Guarantees of the Company and reimbursement obligations of the Company with respect to letters of credit issued in support of Lion Oil Company, an Arkansas corporation, but only so long as the Investment represented thereby is permitted under paragraph 6C(4)(vi) or 6C(4)(vii) and, if permitted by paragraph 6C(4)(vii), is counted toward the limit provided therein. (v) The unsecured Guarantee by TransMontaigne Product Services, Inc. (formerly known as Continental Ozark, Inc.), an Arkansas corporation, of the Subordinated Debentures pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Debenture Guarantee dated March 28, 1991 (the "SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES GUARANTEE") executed by such corporation. (vi) Letters of Credit and Guarantees under the Bank Agreement so long as the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect. 6C(4) INVESTMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS. Have outstanding, acquire, commit itself to acquire or hold any Investment (including any Investment consisting of the acquisition of any business) except for the following: ------ (i) Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries in Wholly Owned Subsidiaries as long as such Wholly Owned Subsidiaries are or become Guarantors; provided, that Investments consisting of all or part of a -------- business or operating assets shall be permitted under this paragraph 6C(4)(i) to the extent that such business or assets shall be acquired as assets of the Company or of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary which is or becomes a Guarantor. (ii) Intercompany loans and advances from any Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the Company or other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries but in each case only to the extent reasonably necessary for Consolidated tax planning and working capital management. (iii) Investments in Cash Equivalents. (iv) Guarantees permitted by paragraph 6C(3). (v) Investments made after the date hereof in Subsidiaries listed in Schedule 8A hereto as supplemented from time to time other than Wholly ----------- Owned Subsidiaries, provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of -------- loans, advances 25 and other Investments in such Subsidiaries, measured in each case as of the date of the making of such Investment, shall not at any time exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. (vi) Investments outstanding on December 18, 1996 and identified in Schedule 8D, in each case as said Schedule 8D is in effect on December 18, ----------- ----------- 1996. (vii) Other Investments made after December 18, 1996 that are not permitted by any of the foregoing subsections of this paragraph 6C(4), provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of loans, advances and other -------- Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries permitted under this paragraph 6C(4)(vii), measured in each case as of the date of the making of such Investment, shall not at any time exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth; provided, however, that no Investment may be made in a -------- ------- Subsidiary unless the Subsidiary is listed in Schedule 8A hereto as ----------- supplemented from time to time. In addition, the Company covenants that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not acquire any operating business unless, after giving effect to such acquisition and the financing thereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries will not suffer any Default or Event of Default under any Computation Covenant or any other provision of this Agreement; and provided, -------- that, if the consideration (including without limitation any assumption of Indebtedness, any deferred consideration and any consideration paid for any related non-competition agreement) given shall exceed $3,000,000 for any single acquisition or $15,000,000 in the aggregate for acquisitions consummated in any period of 12 consecutive months, then prior to consummating any such acquisition the Company shall provide to the holders a certificate of a Financial Officer demonstrating that, after giving effect to such acquisition and the financing thereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries will not suffer any Default or Event of Default under any Computation Covenant or any other provision of this Agreement. 6C(5) MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS. Merge or enter into a consolidation or sell, lease, sell and lease back, sublease or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, except the following: ------ (i) The Company and any of its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose of (a) inventory in the ordinary course of business, (b) tangible assets to be replaced in the ordinary course of business within six months by other tangible assets of equal or greater value and (c) tangible assets that are no longer used or useful in the business of the Company or such Subsidiary, the fair market value (or book value if greater) of which shall not exceed 4% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the next preceding fiscal year. (ii) Any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company may merge or be liquidated into the Company or any other Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company so long as after giving effect to any such merger to which the Company 26 is a party the Company shall be the surviving or resulting Person. (iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries may enter into leases (other than Capitalized Leases) as lessor of real and tangible personal property and rights associated therewith in the ordinary course of business. (iv) Any inactive Subsidiary other than a Guarantor may be liquidated. 6C(6) LEASE OBLIGATIONS. Be or become obligated as lessee under any lease except: ------ (i) Capitalized Leases permitted by paragraph 6C(2)(vii) and 6C(1)(ix). (ii) Leases other than Capitalized Leases; provided, however, that the -------- ------- aggregate fixed rental obligations for any fiscal year (excluding payments required to be made by the lessee in respect of taxes and insurance whether or not denominated as rent) shall not exceed $8,000,000 per annum. 6D. ISSUANCE OF STOCK BY SUBSIDIARIES; SUBSIDIARY DISTRIBUTIONS. (i) ISSUANCE OF STOCK BY SUBSIDIARIES. The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of its capital stock or other evidence of beneficial ownership to any Person other than the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, which shares shall have been pledged to the Collateral Agent as part of the Loan Security. (ii) NO RESTRICTIONS ON SUBSIDIARY DISTRIBUTIONS. Except for this Agreement and the Loan Documents and the Bank Agreement, the Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into or be bound by any agreement (including covenants requiring the maintenance of specified amounts of net worth or working capital) restricting the right of any Subsidiary to make Distributions or extensions of credit to the Company (directly or indirectly through another Subsidiary). 6E. DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, foreign currency exchange contract or other financial or commodity derivative contracts except to provide hedge protection for an underlying economic transaction in the ordinary course of business. 6F. NEGATIVE PLEDGE CLAUSES. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement, instrument, deed or lease which prohibits or limits the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of their respective properties, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except the following: ------ 27 (i) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents. (ii) Covenants in documents creating Liens permitted by paragraph 6C(1) prohibiting further Liens on the assets encumbered thereby. (iii) The Bank Agreement. 6G. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, effect any transaction with any of their respective Affiliates (except for the Company and its Subsidiaries) on a basis less favorable to the Company and its Subsidiaries than would be the case if such transaction had been effected with a non-Affiliate. 6H. INACTIVE SUBSIDIARIES. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Investment in or transfer any assets to each of K123 Corporation, a Colorado corporation, and Republic Natural Gas Company, a Kansas corporation, each of which is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company. 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. 7A. ACCELERATION. If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or otherwise): (i) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal of, or Yield Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, any Note when the same shall become due, either by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided; or (ii) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than three Business Days after the date due; or (iii) the Company or any Subsidiary defaults (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) in any payment of principal of or interest on any other Financing Debt beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or the Company or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other agreement, term or condition contained in any agreement under which any such obligation is created (or if any other event thereunder or under any such agreement shall occur and be continuing) and the effect of such failure or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such obligation (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such obligation to become due (or to be repurchased by the Company or any Subsidiary) prior to any stated maturity, provided -------- that the aggregate amount of all obligations as to which such a payment default shall occur and be continuing or such a failure or other event causing or permitting acceleration (or resale to the Company or any Subsidiary) shall occur and be continuing exceeds $3,000,000; or any Lien or any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiary securing any such Financing Debt shall be enforced by foreclosure or 28 similar action; or (iv) any representation or warranty made by the Company herein or by any Obligor in any Loan Document or by the Company, any other Obligor or any of their officers in any writing furnished in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be false in any material respect on the date as of which made; or (v) the Company fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in paragraph 5A(v), 5J, 5O, 6A, 6C(1), 6C(2), 6C(3), 6C(5) or 6C(6); or (vi) the Company or any other Obligor fails to perform or observe any other agreement, covenant, term or condition contained herein or in any other Loan Document and such failure shall not be remedied within 30 days after the earlier of (a) Financial Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof or (b) notice thereof by any holder to the Company; or (vii) the Company or any Subsidiary makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due; or (viii) any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary is entered under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law, whether now or hereafter in effect (the "BANKRUPTCY LAW"), of any jurisdiction; or (ix) the Company or any Subsidiary petitions or applies to any tribunal for, or consents to, the appointment of, or taking possession by, a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or commences a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings (other than proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Subsidiary) relating to the Company or any Subsidiary under the Bankruptcy Law of any other jurisdiction; or (x) any such petition or application is filed, or any such proceedings are commenced, against the Company or any Subsidiary and the Company or such Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 90 days; or (xi) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company decreeing the dissolution of the Company and such order, judgment or 29 decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days: or (xii) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company or any Subsidiary decreeing a split-up of the Company or such Subsidiary which requires the divestiture of assets representing a substantial part, or the divestiture of the stock of a Subsidiary whose assets represent a substantial part, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) or which requires the divestiture of assets, or stock of a Subsidiary, which shall have contributed a substantial part of the consolidated net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) for any of the three fiscal years then most recently ended, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or (xiii) one or more final judgments or orders in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000 is rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary and either (i) enforcement proceedings have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment or order of (ii) within 60 days after entry thereof, such judgment is not discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or within 60 days after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment is not discharged; or (xiv) any "reportable event" (as defined in section 4043 of ERISA) shall have occurred that reasonably could be expected to result in termination of a Plan or the appointment by the appropriate United States District Court of a trustee to administer any Plan or the imposition of a Lien in favor of a Plan; or any ERISA Group Person shall fail to pay when due amounts aggregating in excess of $1,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Plan shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any ERISA Group Person or administrator; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any Plan or a proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any Plan against any ERISA Group Person to enforce section 515 or 4219(c)(5) of ERISA and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 60 days thereafter; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Plan must be terminated. (xv) any Loan Document shall cease for any reason (other than the scheduled termination thereof in accordance with its terms) to be enforceable in accordance with its terms or in full force and effect and such enforceability shall not be restored, or other provision therefor made, to the satisfaction of the Majority Holders within 30 days following such cessation; or any party to any Loan Document shall so assert in a judicial or similar proceeding; or the security interests created by or any Loan Document shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created hereby; or (xvi) except as permitted by paragraph 6C(5): 30 (a) The Company shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, all the capital stock of any Subsidiary which is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary on the date hereof or subsequently becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; (b) any Person, together with "affiliates" and "associates" of such Person within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, which is not now a beneficial owner of equity securities of the Company shall acquire after the date hereof beneficial ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act of 50% or more of either the voting stock or total equity capital of the Company; (c) a majority of the board of directors shall consist of individuals who were not on the date hereof members of such board, except to the extent that the new members were nominated by a majority of the directors serving on the date hereof; and (d) The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Obligor shall initiate any action to dissolve, liquidate or otherwise terminate its existence; or (xvii) there shall occur any "Event of Default" as defined in Section 13.1 of the Subordinated Debentures Agreement, or any of the Obligations shall fail to be "Superior Indebtedness" within the meaning of Section 10 of the Subordinated Debentures Agreement; then (a) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph 7A, any holder of any Note may at its option, by notice in writing to the Company, declare all of the Notes held by such holder to be, and all of the Notes held by such holder shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable together with interest accrued thereon, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, (b) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to the Company, all of the Notes at the time outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable at par together with interest accrued thereon and the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to all such Notes, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, and (C) if such event is any Event of Default other than as specified in preceding clause (b), the Required Holder(s) of the Notes of any Series may at its or their option by notice in writing to the Company, declare all of the Notes of such Series to be, and all of the Notes of such Series shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable together with interest accrued thereon and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note of such Series, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company. 7B. RESCISSION OF ACCELERATION. At any time after any or all of the Notes of any Series shall have been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, the Required Holder(s) of the Notes of such Series may, by notice in 31 writing to the Company, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (i) the Company shall have paid all overdue interest on the Notes of such Series, the principal of and Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, payable with respect to any Notes of such Series which have become due otherwise than by reason of such declaration, and interest on such overdue interest and overdue principal and Yield Maintenance Amount at the rate specified in the Notes of such Series, (ii) the Company shall not have paid any amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, (iii) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to paragraph 12C, and (iv) no judgment or decree shall have been entered for the payment of any amounts due pursuant to the Notes of such Series or this Agreement. No such rescission or annulment shall extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right arising therefrom. 7C. NOTICE OF ACCELERATION OR RESCISSION. Whenever any Note shall be declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A or any such declaration shall be rescinded and annulled pursuant to paragraph 7B, the Company shall forthwith give written notice thereof to the holder of each Note of each Series at the time outstanding. 7D. OTHER REMEDIES. If any Event of Default or Default shall occur and be continuing, the holder of any Note may proceed to protect and enforce its rights under this Agreement and such Note by exercising such remedies as are available to such holder in respect thereof under applicable law, either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both, whether for specific performance of any covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement. No remedy conferred in this Agreement upon the holder of any Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy conferred herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise. 7E. ANNULMENT OF DEFAULTS. Once an Event of Default has occurred, such Event of Default shall be deemed to exist and be continuing for all purposes of the Loan Documents until the Majority Holders (unless otherwise specified in paragraph 12C) shall have waived such Event of Default in writing, stated in writing that the same has been cured to such holders' reasonable satisfaction or entered into an amendment to this Agreement which by its express terms cures such Event of Default, at which time such Event of Default shall no longer be deemed to exist or to have continued. No such action by the holders shall extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any rights of the holders upon the occurrence thereof. The making of any extension of credit (including the purchase of Notes) during the existence of any Default or Event of Default shall not constitute a waiver thereof. 8. REPRESENTATIONS, COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents, covenants and warrants as follows: 32 8A. ORGANIZATION. (i) THE COMPANY. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and the Company has the corporate power to own its respective property and to carry on its respective business as now being conducted. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (including, without limitation to grant the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the holders, the security interests in the Loan Security owned by it to secure the Obligations) are within the Company's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action. Certified copies of the Charter and By-laws of the Company have been previously delivered to the holders and are correct and complete. Schedule 8A, as from time to time hereafter supplemented in ----------- accordance with paragraphs 5A(i) and 5A(ii), sets forth, as of the later of the date hereof or as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to be furnished in accordance with such paragraphs, (i) the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, (ii) the address of the Company's principal executive office and chief place of business, (iii) each name, including any trade name, under which the Company conducts its business and (iv) the jurisdictions in which the Company keeps tangible personal property. (ii) SUBSIDIARIES. Each Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, and each Subsidiary has the corporate power to own its respective property and to carry on its respective business as now being conducted. The execution, delivery and performance by each Subsidiary of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (including, without limitation to grant the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the holders, the security interests in the Loan Security owned by it to secure the Obligations) are within such Subsidiary's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action. Certified copies of the Charter and By-laws of each Guarantor have been previously delivered to the Purchasers and are correct and complete. Schedule 8A, as from time to time hereafter supplemented in accordance with ----------- paragraphs 5A(i) and 5A(ii), sets forth, as of the later of the date hereof or as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to be furnished in accordance with such paragraphs, (i) the jurisdiction of incorporation of each Subsidiary, (ii) the address of each Subsidiary's principal executive office and chief place of business, (iii) each name, including any trade name, under which such Subsidiary conducts its business and (iv) the jurisdictions in which such Subsidiary keeps tangible personal property; provided, however, that there -------- ------- may be omitted from Schedule 8A one or more Subsidiaries which have no ----------- business operations and no assets or liabilities. (iii) CAPITALIZATION. No options, warrants, conversion rights, preemptive rights or other statutory or contractual rights to purchase shares of capital stock or 33 other securities of any Subsidiary now exist, nor has any Subsidiary authorized any such right, nor is any Subsidiary obligated in any other manner to issue shares of its capital stock or other securities. 8B. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has furnished each Purchaser of any Accepted Notes with the following financial statements, provided by a principal Financial Officer of the Company: (i) a Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at April 30 in each of the three fiscal years of the Company most recently completed prior to the date as of which this representation is made or repeated to such Purchaser (other than fiscal years completed within 95 days prior to such date for which audited financial statements have not been released) and Consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each such year, all reported on by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP; and (ii) a Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the quarterly period (if any) most recently completed prior to such date and after the end of such fiscal year (other than quarterly periods completed within 50 days prior to such date for which financial statements have not been released) and the comparable quarterly period in the preceding fiscal year and Consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the periods from the beginning of the fiscal years in which such quarterly periods are included to the end of such quarterly periods, prepared by the Company. Such financial statements (including any related schedules and/or notes) are true and correct in all material respects (subject, as to interim statements, to changes resulting from audits and year-end adjustments), have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently followed throughout the periods involved and show all liabilities, direct and contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be shown in accordance with such principles. The balance sheets fairly present the condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof, and the statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows fairly present the results of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their cash flows for the periods indicated. There has been no material adverse change in the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since the end of the most recent fiscal year for which such audited financial statements have been furnished, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has entered into any material transaction outside the ordinary course of business except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Material Agreements. 8C. ACTIONS PENDING. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any properties or rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, by or before any court, arbitrator or administrative or governmental body which might result in any material adverse change in the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the 34 Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which purports to affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 8D. OUTSTANDING DEBT. Schedule 8D, as from time to time hereafter ----------- supplemented in accordance with paragraph 5A(i) and 5A(ii) sets forth (a) the amounts (as of the dates indicated in Schedule 8D, as so supplemented) of all ----------- Financing Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries and all agreements which relate to such Financing Debt, (b) all Liens and Guarantees with respect to such Financing Debt, (c) all agreements which directly or indirectly require the Company or any Subsidiary to make any Investment and (d) all Investments permitted under paragraph 6C(4)(vi). The Company has furnished the Purchasers with correct and complete copies of any agreements described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above requested by the Purchasers. There exists no default under the provisions of any instrument evidencing such Indebtedness or of any agreement relating thereto. 8E. TITLE TO PROPERTIES. The Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has defensible title to its respective real properties (other than properties which it leases) and good title to all of its other respective properties and assets, including the properties and assets reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in paragraph 8B (other than properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business), subject to no Lien of any kind except Liens permitted by paragraph 6C(1) and except for assets disposed of as permitted by paragraph 6C(5). All leases necessary in any material respect for the conduct of the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect. 8F. TAXES. The Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all federal, state and other income tax returns which, to the best knowledge of the officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are required to be filed, and each has paid all taxes as shown on such returns and on all assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes have become due, except such taxes as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 8G. CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract or agreement or subject to any charter or other corporate restriction which materially and adversely affects its business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents, nor the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes, nor fulfillment of nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and of the Notes or the other Loan Documents will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, the Charter or By-laws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any award of any 35 arbitrator or any agreement (including any agreement with stockholders), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject (other than the Liens created by the Pledge Agreement). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary, any agreement relating thereto or any other contract or agreement (including its Charter) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, Indebtedness of the Company of the type to be evidenced by the Notes except as set forth in the agreements listed in Schedule 8G attached hereto. ----------- 8H. OFFERING OF NOTES. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, offered the Notes or any similar security of the Company for sale to, or solicited any offers to buy the Notes or any similar security of the Company from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect thereto with, any Person other than institutional investors, and neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or Blue Sky law of any applicable jurisdiction. 8I. USE OF PROCEEDS. None of the proceeds of the sale of any Notes will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" as defined in Regulation G (12 CFR Part 207) of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("MARGIN STOCK") or for the purpose of maintaining, reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any stock that is then currently a margin stock or for any other purpose which might constitute the purchase of such Notes a "purpose credit" within the meaning of such Regulation G, unless the Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser which is purchasing such Notes, on the Closing Day for such Notes, an opinion of counsel satisfactory to such Purchaser stating that the purchase of such Notes does not constitute a violation of such Regulation G. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause this Agreement or the Notes to violate Regulation G, T, or X or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or as the same may hereafter be in effect. 8J. ERISA. No accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan). No liability to the PBGC has been or is expected by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) by the Company , any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate which is or would be materially adverse to the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the 36 Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company , any Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or presently expects to incur any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Multiemployer Plan which is or would be materially adverse to the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes will be exempt from or will not involve any transaction which is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA and will not involve any transaction in connection with which a penalty could be imposed under section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975 of the Code. The representation by the Company in the next preceding sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of the representation of each Purchaser in paragraph 9B as to the source of funds to be used by it to purchase any Notes. Each Multiemployer Plan and each plan that constitutes a "defined benefit plan" (as defined in ERISA) are set forth in Schedule 8J. - - ----------- 8K. GOVERNMENTAL CONSENT. Neither the nature of the Company or of any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective businesses or properties, nor any relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes is such as to require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or any action by or notice to or filing with any court or administrative or governmental or regulatory body (other than routine filings after the Closing Day for any Notes with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or state Blue Sky authorities) in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes or fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or of the Notes. 8L. DISCLOSURE. Neither this Agreement nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company in connection herewith contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein not misleading. There is no fact peculiar to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which materially adversely affects or in the future may (so far as the Company can now foresee) materially adversely affect the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and which has not been set forth in this Agreement or in the section of the Company's prospectus dated February 11, 1997 titled "Risk Factors". In the Company's judgment, the financial and operational projections and current capital expenditures plan of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated November 15, 1996 constitute a reasonable basis as of the date of the Initial Closing for the assessment of the future performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the periods indicated therein, it being understood that any projected financial information represents an estimate, based on various assumptions, of future results of operations, which assumption may prove to have been incorrect and which results may not in fact occur. 8M. HOSTILE TENDER OFFERS. None of the proceeds of the sale of any Notes will be used to finance a Hostile Tender Offer. 8N. LICENSES, ETC. To the best knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, the Company and its Subsidiaries have all material patents, patent 37 applications, patent licenses, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, copyrights, licenses, franchises, permits, authorizations and other rights as are necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as now conducted by them. All of the foregoing are in full force and effect in all material respects, and each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in substantial compliance with the foregoing without any known conflict with the valid rights of others which has resulted, or creates a material risk of resulting, in any Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such license, franchise or other right or which affects the rights of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder so as to result, or to create a material risk of resulting, in any Material Adverse Effect. No litigation or other proceeding or dispute exists with respect to the validity or, where applicable, the extension or renewal, of any of the foregoing which has resulted, or creates a material risk of resulting, in any Material Adverse Effect. 8O. CERTAIN BUSINESS REPRESENTATIONS. (i) LABOR RELATIONS. No dispute or controversy between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any of their respective employees has resulted, or is reasonably likely to result, in any Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries anticipates that its relationships with its unions or employees will result, or are reasonably likely to result, in any Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all federal and state laws with respect to (a) non-discrimination in employment with which the failure to comply, in the aggregate, has resulted, or creates a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) the payment of wages. (ii) ANTITRUST. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all federal and state antitrust laws relating to its business and the geographic concentration of its business. (iii) CONSUMER PROTECTION. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any rule, regulation, order, or interpretation of any rule, regulation or order of the Federal Trade Commission (including truth-in-lending), with which the failure to comply, in the aggregate, has resulted, or creates a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect. (iv) BURDENSOME OBLIGATIONS. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to or bound by any agreement, instrument, deed or lease or is subject to any Charter, By-law or other restriction, commitment or requirement which, in the opinion of the management of such Person, is so unusual or burdensome as in the foreseeable future to result, or create a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect. (v) FUTURE EXPENDITURES. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries 38 anticipate that the future expenditures, if any, by the Company and its Subsidiaries needed to meet the provisions of any federal, state or foreign governmental statutes, orders, rules or regulations will be so burdensome as to result, or create a material risk of resulting, in any Material Adverse Effect. 8P. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. (i) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. To the best knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act, RCRA, CERCLA and any other Environmental Law in effect in any jurisdiction in which any properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are located or where any of them conducts its business, and with all applicable published rules and regulations (and applicable standards and requirements) of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and of any similar agencies in states or foreign countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries conducts its business, in each case other than those which in the aggregate have not resulted, and do not create a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect. (ii) ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION. Except in instances in which such event has not resulted, and does not create a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect, no suit, claim, action or proceeding of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been given notice or otherwise has knowledge is now pending before any court, governmental agency or board or other forum, or to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries knowledge, threatened by any Person (nor to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' knowledge, does any factual basis exist therefor) for, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have received written correspondence from any federal, state or local governmental authority with respect to: (a) noncompliance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law; (b) personal injury, wrongful death or other tortious conduct relating to materials, commodities or products used, generated, sold, transferred or manufactured by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including products made of, containing or incorporating asbestos, lead or other hazardous materials, commodities or toxic substances); or (c) the release into the environment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Hazardous Material generated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whether or not occurring at or on a site owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. 39 (iii) HAZARDOUS MATERIAL. Schedule 8P contains a list as of the date ----------- hereof of all waste disposal or dump sites at which Hazardous Material generated by either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been disposed of directly by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and all independent contractors to whom the Company and its Subsidiaries have delivered Hazardous Material, or to the Company's or any of its Subsidiary's knowledge, where Hazardous Material finally came to be located, and indicates all such sites which are or have been included (including as a potential or suspect site) in any published federal, state or local "superfund" or other list of hazardous or toxic waste sites, except sites as to which the involvement of the Company or any Subsidiary has not resulted, and does not present a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect. Any waste disposal or dump sites at which Hazardous Material generated by either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been disposed of directly by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and all independent contractors to whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have delivered Hazardous Material, or to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' knowledge, where Hazardous Material finally came to be located, has not resulted, and does not present a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect. (iv) ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF PROPERTIES. None of the properties owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been used as a treatment, storage or disposal site, other than as disclosed in Schedule -------- 8P, except sites as to which the involvement of the Company or any -- Subsidiary has not resulted, and does not present a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect. No Hazardous Material is present in any real property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except that which has not resulted, and does not present a material risk of resulting, in a Material Adverse Effect. 8Q. FOREIGN TRADE REGULATIONS; GOVERNMENT REGULATION. (i) FOREIGN TRADE REGULATIONS. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, nor issuance by the Company of any Notes, nor the guaranteeing of the Obligations by any Guarantor, nor the securing of the Obligations with the Loan Security, has constituted or resulted in or will constitute or result in the violation of any Foreign Trade Regulation. (ii) GOVERNMENT REGULATION. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any Person controlling the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or under common control with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Investment Company Act, the Interstate Commerce Act or any statute or regulation which regulates the incurring by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Financing Debt as contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. 40 8R. FACILITY CONVERSION DATE. The Facility Conversion Date occurred on February 14, 1997. 8S. BANK AGREEMENT. The Company has previously furnished the Purchasers with a correct and complete copy of the Bank Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits) in effect as of the date of the Initial Closings. 8T. MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. The Company has previously furnished to the Purchasers a correct and complete copy of the Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 28, 1991 (the "SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AGREEMENT") between the Company's predecessor, Continental Ozark Corporation and Dillon, Read & Co., Inc., as nominee, and correct and complete copies, including all exhibits, schedules and amendments thereto, of the agreements, each as in effect on the date hereof, listed in Schedule 8T (together with the Subordinated Debentures, ----------- the Subordinated Debentures Agreements, the Subordinated Debentures Guarantee and the Bank Agreement, the "MATERIAL AGREEMENTS"). 9. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS. Each Purchaser represents as follows: 9A. NATURE OF PURCHASE. Such Purchaser is not acquiring the Notes purchased by it hereunder with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, provided that the disposition of such Purchaser's property shall at all times be and remain within its control. 9B. SOURCE OF FUNDS. The source of the funds being used by such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Notes being purchased by such Purchaser hereunder constitutes assets (i) allocated to the "insurance company general account" of such Purchaser (as such term is defined under Section V of the United States Department of Labor's Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 95-60), and as of the date of the purchase of the Notes such Purchaser satisfies all of the applicable requirements for relief under Section I and IV of PtCE 95-60, (ii) allocated to a separate account maintained by such Purchaser in which no employee benefit plan, other than employee benefit plans identified on a list which has been furnished by such Purchaser to the Company, participates to the extent of 10% or more or (iii) of an investment fund, the assets of which do not include assets of any employee benefit plan within the meaning of ERISA. For the purpose of this paragraph 9B, the terms "SEPARATE ACCOUNT" and "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" shall have the respective meanings specified in section 3 of ERISA. 10. DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Agreement, the terms defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall have the respective meanings specified therein, and the following terms shall have the meanings specified with respect thereto below (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined): 41 10A. YIELD-MAINTENANCE TERMS. "CALLED PRINCIPAL" shall mean, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires. "DESIGNATED SPREAD" shall mean 0.75% in the case of each Series A Note and 0% in the case of each Note of any other Series unless the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to the Notes of such Series specifies a different Designated Spread in which case it shall mean, with respect to each Note of such Series, the Designated Spread so specified. "DISCOUNTED VALUE" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on such Note is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal. "REINVESTMENT YIELD" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the Designated Spread plus the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported, as of 10:00 A.M. (New York City local time) on the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as "Page 678" on the Telerate Service (or such other display as may replace page 678 on the Telerate Service) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time shall not be ascertainable, (ii) the Treasury Constant Maturity Series yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields shall have been so reported as of the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield shall be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between yields reported for various maturities. "REMAINING AVERAGE LIFE" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one- twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum - of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment of such Called Principal (but not of interest thereon) by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth 42 year) which will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment. "REMAINING SCHEDULED PAYMENTS" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due on or after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date. "SETTLEMENT DATE" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires. "YIELD-MAINTENANCE AMOUNT" shall mean, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Called Principal of such Note over the sum of (i) such Called Principal plus (ii) interest accrued thereon as of (including interest due on) the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal. The Yield-Maintenance Amount shall in no event be less than zero. 10B. OTHER TERMS. "ACCEPTANCE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2F. "ACCEPTANCE DAY" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2F. "ACCEPTANCE WINDOW" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2F. "ACCEPTED NOTE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2F. "ACCUMULATED BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS" shall mean the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit obligations under any Plan, calculated in accordance with Statement No. 87 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. "AFFILIATE" shall mean, with respect to the Company (or any other specified Person), any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, and shall include (a) any executive officer or director or general partner of the Company and (b) any Person of which the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in clause (a) above) of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, beneficially own either (i) at least 25% of the outstanding equity securities having the general power to vote or (ii) at least 25% of all equity interests; provided, however, -------- ------- that Lion Oil Company, an Arkansas corporation, shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company under clause (b) of this definition, unless the Company or such Subsidiary shall, directly or indirectly, beneficially own either (x) at least 30% of the outstanding equity securities having the general power to vote of Lion Oil Company or (y) at least 30% of all equity interests in 43 Lion Oil Company. "AUTHORIZED OFFICER" shall mean (i) in the case of the Company, its chief executive officer, its chief financial officer, any vice president of the Company designated as an "Authorized Officer" of the Company in the Information ----------- Schedule attached hereto or any vice president of the Company designated as an - - -------- "Authorized Officer" of the Company for the purpose of this Agreement in an Officer's Certificate executed by the Company's chief executive officer or chief financial officer and delivered to Prudential, and (ii) in the case of Prudential, any officer of Prudential designated as its "Authorized Officer" in the Information Schedule or any officer of Prudential designated as its ----------- -------- "Authorized Officer" for the purpose of this Agreement in a certificate executed by one of its Authorized Officers. Any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of the Company by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of the Company and whom Prudential in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of the Company at the time of such action shall be binding on the Company even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of the Company, and any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of Prudential by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of Prudential and whom the Company in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential at the time of such action shall be binding on Prudential even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential. "AVAILABLE FACILITY AMOUNT" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A. "BANK AGENT" shall mean The First National Bank of Boston and any successor agent under the Bank Agreement. "BANK AGREEMENT" shall mean the Credit Agreement dated as of December 18, 1996 among the Company and the Bank Agent, as amended from time to time. "BANK OBLIGATIONS" shall mean the obligations of the Company and the other Obligors under the Bank Agreement. "BANKRUPTCY DEFAULT" shall mean an Event of Default described in paragraph 7A(vii), 7A(viii) or 7A(ix). "BANKRUPTCY LAW" shall have the meaning specified in clause (viii) of paragraph 7A. "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed and (iii) for purposes of paragraph 2C hereof only, a day on 44 which Prudential is not open for business. "BY-LAWS" shall mean all written by-laws, rules, regulations and all other documents relating to the governance of any Person other than an individual, or interpretive of the Charter of such Person, all as from time to time in effect. "CANCELLATION DATE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2I(3). "CANCELLATION FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2I(3). "CAPITALIZED LEASE" shall mean any lease which is required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP, including Statement Nos. 13 and 98 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. "CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS" shall mean the amount of the liability reflecting the aggregate discounted amount of future payments under all Capitalized Leases calculated in accordance with GAAP, including Statement Nos. 13 and 98 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. "CASH EQUIVALENTS" shall mean: (a) negotiable certificates of deposit, time deposits (including sweep accounts), demand deposits and bankers' acceptances having a maturity of nine months or less and issued by any United States financial institution having capital and surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $100,000,000 and rated at least Prime-1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or A-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service or issued by any Lender; (b) corporate obligations having a maturity of nine months or less and rated at least Prime-1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or A-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service or issued by any Lender; (c) any direct obligation of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or of any state or municipality thereof, (i) which has a remaining maturity at the time of purchase of not more than one year or which is subject to a repurchase agreement with any Lender (or any other financial institution referred to in clause (a) above) exercisable within one year from the time of purchase and (ii) which, in the case of obligations of any state or municipality, is rated at least Aa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or AA by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service; and (d) any mutual fund or other pooled investment vehicle rated at least Aa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or AA by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service which invests principally in obligations described above. "CERCLA" shall mean the federal Comprehensive Environmental 45 Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980. "CHARTER" shall mean the articles of organization, certificate of incorporation, statute, constitution, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement, trust indenture, limited liability company agreement or other charter document of any Person other than an individual, each as from time to time in effect. "CLOSING DAY" for any Accepted Note shall mean the Business Day specified for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Note in the Request for Purchase of such Note, provided that (i) if the Acceptance Day for such -------- Accepted Note is less than five Business Days after the Company shall have made such Request for Purchase and the Company and the Purchaser which is obligated to purchase such Note agree on an earlier Business Day for such closing, the "CLOSING DAY" for such Accepted Note shall be such earlier Business Day, and (ii) if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is rescheduled pursuant to paragraph 2H, the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, for all purposes of this Agreement except paragraph 2I(3), shall mean the Rescheduled Closing Day with respect to such Closing. "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "COLLATERAL AGENT" shall mean the Collateral Agent under the Intercreditor Agreement which shall initially be The First National Bank of Boston. "COMPUTATION COVENANTS" shall mean paragraphs 5O, 6A, 6C(2)(vii), 6C(2)(xv), 6C(2)(xvi), 6C(4)(v), 6C(4)(vii), 6B(ii), 6C(5)(i) and 6C(6)(ii). "CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2F. "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2D. "CONSOLIDATED" and "CONSOLIDATING", when used with reference to any term, shall mean that term as applied to the accounts of the Company (or other specified Person) and all of its Subsidiaries (or other specified group of Persons), or such of its Subsidiaries as may be specified, consolidated (or combined) or consolidating (or combining), as the case may be, in accordance with GAAP and with appropriate deductions for minority interests in Subsidiaries. "CONSOLIDATED CURRENT LIABILITIES" shall mean, at any date, all amounts that are or should be carried as current liabilities on the balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis, including the current portion of all Funded Debt. "CONSOLIDATED INCOME FROM OPERATIONS" shall mean, for any period, 46 gross revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis, minus the sum of (a) the cost of operations ----- of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis, and (b) the selling, general and administrative expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis. "CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" shall mean, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis; provided, however, that Consolidated Net Income -------- ------- shall not include: --- (a) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest; provided, however, that (i) Consolidated Net Income shall include amounts -------- ------- in respect of the income of such Person when actually received in cash by the Company or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar Distributions and (ii) Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of all Investments, regardless of the form thereof, made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in such Person for the purpose of funding any deficit or loss of such Person; (c) all amounts included in computing such net income (or loss) in respect of the write-up of any asset or the retirement of any Indebtedness or equity at less than face value after April 30, 1996; (d) extraordinary and nonrecurring gains; (e) the income of any Subsidiary to the extent the payment of such income in the form of a Distribution or repayment of Indebtedness to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is not permitted, whether on account of any Charter or By-law restriction, any agreement, instrument, deed or lease or any law, statute, judgment, decree or governmental order, rule or regulation applicable to such Subsidiary; and (f) any after-tax gains or losses attributable to returned surplus assets of any Plan. "CONSOLIDATED NET TANGIBLE ASSETS" shall mean at any date the total of: (a) the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis; minus (b) Consolidated Current Liabilities; ----- 47 minus (c) all other liabilities of the Company and its ----- Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis other than liabilities for Funded Debt; minus (d) the amount of intangible assets carried on the balance sheet ----- of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis, including goodwill, patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, tradenames, research and development expense, organizational expense, annualized debt discount and expense, deferred financing charges and debt acquisition costs; minus (e) the amount at which any minority interest in a ----- Subsidiary appears as a liability on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries. "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH" shall mean, at any date, the total of: (a) stockholders' equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis, excluding the effect of any foreign currency translation adjustments; minus (b) the amount by which such stockholders' equity has been ----- increased after April 30, 1996 by the items described in clauses (a) through (f) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income; minus (c) to the extent not already deducted from the amount in clause ----- (a) above, (i) treasury stock, (ii) receivables due from an employee stock ownership plan and (iii) Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by an employee stock ownership plan; minus (d) the amount of intangible assets carried on the balance ----- sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis, including goodwill, patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, tradenames, research and development expense, organizational expense, unamortized debt discount and expense, deferred financing charges and debt acquisition costs. "DELAYED DELIVERY FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2I(2). "DISTRIBUTION" shall mean, with respect to the Company (or other specified Person): (a) the declaration or payment of any dividend or distribution, including dividends payable in shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in the 48 Company (or such specified Person), on or in respect of any shares of any class of capital stock of or other equity interests in the Company (or such specified Person); (b) the purchase, redemption or other retirement of any shares of any class of capital stock of or other equity interest in the Company (or such specified Person) or of options, warrants or other rights for the purchase of such shares, directly, indirectly through a Subsidiary or otherwise; (c) any other distribution on or in respect of any shares of any class of capital stock of or equity or other beneficial interest in the Company (or such specified Person); (d) any payment of principal or interest with respect to, or any purchase, redemption or defeasance of, any Indebtedness of the Company (or such specified Person) which by its terms or the terms of any agreement is subordinated to the payment of the Obligations; and (e) any loan or advance by the Company (or such specified Person) to, or any other Investment by the Company (or such specified Person) in, the holder of any shares of any class of capital stock of or equity interest in the Company (or such specified Person), or any Affiliate of such holder; provided, however, that the term "Distribution" shall not include (i) -------- ------- dividends payable in perpetual common stock of or other similar equity interests in the Company (or such specified Person), (ii) payments in the ordinary course of business in respect of (A) reasonable compensation paid to employees, officers and directors or (B) advances to employees for travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures, (iii) any loan or advance by the Company to any Guarantor or (iv) any other loan or advance by the Company which constitutes an Investment permitted under paragraph 6C(4)(v), 6C(4)(vi) or 6C(4)(vii). "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean all applicable federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations and guidelines (including consent decrees and administrative orders) relating to public health and safety and protection of the environment, including OSHA. "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. "ERISA AFFILIATE" shall mean any corporation which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations as the Company within the meaning of section 414(b) of the Code, or any trade or business which is under common control with the Company within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code. "ERISA GROUP PERSON" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company and any Person which is a member of the controlled group or under common control with the Company or any Subsidiary within the meaning of section 414 of the 49 Code or section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA. "EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act, and "DEFAULT" shall mean any of such events, whether or not any such requirement has been satisfied. "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "FACILITY" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A. "FACILITY FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2I(1). "FACILITY CONVERSION DATE" shall have the meaning specified in the Bank Agreement as in effect on December 18, 1996. "FINANCIAL OFFICER" of the Company (or other specified Person) shall mean its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chairman, president, treasurer or any of its vice presidents whose primary responsibility is for its financial affairs, all of whose incumbency and signatures have been certified to the Majority Holders by the secretary or other appropriate attesting officer of the Company (or such specified Person). "FINANCING DEBT" shall mean each of the items described in clauses (a) through (f) of the definition of the term "Indebtedness". "FOREIGN TRADE REGULATIONS" means (a) any act that prohibits or restricts, or empowers the President or any executive agency of the United States of America to prohibit or restrict, exports to or financial transactions with any foreign country or foreign national, (b) the regulations with respect to certain prohibited foreign trade transactions set forth at 22 C.F.R Parts 120-130 and 31 C.F.R. Part 500 and (c) any order, regulation, ruling, interpretation, direction, instruction or notice relating to any of the foregoing. "FUNDED DEBT" shall mean all Indebtedness of the Company or other specified Person which is payable more than one year from the date of creation thereof and shall include (a) current maturities of such Indebtedness and (b) all Indebtedness consisting of reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit other than letters of credit issued to finance inventory purchases or to secure other debt appearing on the balance sheet of the obligor. "GUARANTEE" shall mean, with respect to the Company (or other specified Person): 50 (a) any guarantee by the Company (or such specified Person), of the payment or performance of, or any contingent obligation by the Company (or such specified Person), in respect of, any Indebtedness or other obligation of any primary obligor; (b) any other arrangement whereby credit is extended to a primary obligor on the basis of any promise or undertaking of the Company (or such specified Person), including any binding "comfort letter" or "keep well agreement" written by the Company (or such specified Person), to a creditor or prospective creditor of such primary obligor, to (i) pay the Indebtedness of such primary obligor, (ii) purchase an obligation owed by such primary obligor, (iii) pay for the purchase or lease of assets or services regardless of the actual delivery thereof or (iv) maintain the capital, working capital, solvency or general financial condition of such primary obligor; (c) any liability of the Company (or such specified Person), as a general partner of a partnership in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of such partnership; (d) any liability of the Company (or such specified Person) as a joint venturer of a joint venture in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of such joint venture; and (e) reimbursement obligations of the Company (or such specified Person) with respect to letters of credit, bankers acceptances, surety bonds, other financial guarantees and Interest Rate Protection Agreements, whether or not any of the foregoing are reflected on the balance sheet of the Company (or such specified Person) or in a footnote thereto; provided, -------- however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for collection - - ------- or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee and the amount of Indebtedness resulting from such Guarantee shall be the maximum amount that the guarantor may become obligated to pay in respect of the obligations (whether or not such obligations are outstanding at the time of computation). "GUARANTOR" shall mean each Subsidiary listed on the signature page hereto or which subsequently becomes party to this Agreement as a Guarantor. "HAZARDOUS MATERIAL" shall mean any pollutant, toxic or hazardous material or waste, including any "hazardous substance" or "pollutant" or "contaminant" as defined in section 101(14) of CERCLA or any other Environmental Law or regulated as toxic or hazardous under RCRA or any other Environmental Law. "HEDGE TREASURY NOTE(S)" shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the United States Treasury Note or Notes whose duration (as determined by 51 Prudential) most closely matches the duration of such Accepted Note. "HOLDERS" shall mean the holders of the Notes from time to time. "HOSTILE TENDER OFFER" shall mean, with respect to the use of proceeds of any Note, any offer to purchase, or any purchase of, shares of capital stock of any corporation or equity interests in any other entity, or securities convertible into or representing the beneficial ownership of, or rights to acquire, any such shares or equity interests, if such shares, equity interests, securities or rights are of a class which is publicly traded on any securities exchange or in any over-the-counter market, other than purchases of such shares, equity interests, securities or rights representing less than 5% of the equity interests or beneficial ownership of such corporation or other entity for portfolio investment purposes, and such offer or purchase has not been duly approved by the board of directors of such corporation or the equivalent governing body of such other entity prior to the date on which the Company makes the Request for Purchase of such Note. "INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean all obligations, contingent or otherwise, which in accordance with GAAP are required to be classified upon the balance sheet of the Company (or other specified Person) as liabilities, but in any event including (without duplication): (a) borrowed money; (b) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures or similar instruments; (c) Capitalized Lease Obligations; (d) the deferred purchase price of assets or securities, including related noncompetition, consulting and stock repurchase obligations (other than ordinary trade accounts payable within six months after the incurrence thereof in the ordinary course of business); (e) mandatory redemption or dividend obligations on capital stock (or other equity); (f) reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers acceptances, surety bonds, other financial guarantees and Interest Rate Protection Agreements; (g) unfunded pension liabilities; (h) obligations that are immediately and directly due and payable out of the proceeds of or production from property; 52 (i) liabilities secured by any Lien existing on property owned or acquired by the Company (or such specified Person), whether or not the liability secured thereby shall have been assumed; and (j) all Guarantees in respect of Indebtedness of others. "INITIAL CLOSING" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2H(1). "INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT" shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit F hereto, as amended from time to time. --------- "INTEREST RATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT" shall mean any interest rate swap, interest rate cap, interest rate hedge or other contractual arrangement that converts variable interest rates into fixed interest rates, fixed interest rates into variable interest rates or other similar arrangements. "INVESTMENT" shall mean, with respect to the Company (or other specified Person): (a) any share of capital stock, partnership or other equity interest, evidence of Indebtedness or other security issued by any other Person to the Company (or such other specified Person); (b) any loan, advance or extension of credit to, or contribution to the capital of, any other Person; (c) any Guarantee of the Indebtedness of any other Person; (d) any acquisition of all or any part of the business of any other Person or the assets comprising such business or part thereof; and (e) any other similar investment. The investments described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) shall be included in the term "Investment" whether they are made or acquired by purchase, exchange, issuance of stock or other securities, merger, reorganization or any other method; provided, however, that the term -------- ------- "Investment" shall not include (i) current trade and customer accounts receivable for property leased, goods furnished or services rendered in the ordinary course of business and payable in accordance with customary trade terms, (ii) advances and prepayments to suppliers for property leased, goods furnished and services rendered in the ordinary course of business, (iii) advances to employees for travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures, (iv) stock or other securities acquired in connection with the satisfaction or enforcement of Indebtedness or claims due to the Company (or such specified Person) or as security for any such Indebtedness or claim or (v) demand deposits in banks or similar financial 53 institutions. In determining the amount of outstanding Investments: (A) the amount of any Investment shall be the cost thereof minus any ----- returns of capital in cash on such Investment (determined in accordance with GAAP without regard to amounts realized as income on such Investment); (B) the amount of any Investment in respect of a purchase described in clause (d) above shall be increased by the amount of any Indebtedness assumed in connection with such purchase or secured by any asset acquired in such purchase (whether or not any Indebtedness is assumed) or for which any Person that becomes a Subsidiary is liable on the date on which the securities of such Person are acquired; and (C) no Investment shall be increased as the result of an increase in the undistributed retained earnings of the Person in which the Investment was made or decreased as a result of an equity interest in the losses of such Person. "ISSUANCE PERIOD" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B. "LEVERAGE RATIO" shall mean on any date the quotient, expressed as a percentage, equal to the Consolidated Funded Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries divided by the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries. "LIEN" shall mean, with respect to the Company (or any other specified Person): (a) Any lien, encumbrance, mortgage, pledge, charge or security interest of any kind upon any property or assets of the Company (or such specified Person), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or upon the income or profits therefrom; (b) The acquisition of, or the agreement to acquire, any property or asset upon conditional sale or subject to any other title retention agreement, device or arrangement (including a Capitalized Lease); (c) The sale, assignment, pledge or transfer for security of any accounts, general intangibles or chattel paper of the Company (or such specified Person), with or without recourse; (d) The transfer of any tangible property or assets for the purpose of subjecting such items to the payment of previously outstanding Indebtedness in priority to payment of the general creditors of the Company (or such specified Person); and 54 (e) The existence for a period of more than 120 consecutive days of any Indebtedness against the Company (or such specified Person) which if unpaid would by law or upon a Bankruptcy Default be given any priority over general creditors. "LOAN DOCUMENTS" shall mean: (a) this Agreement, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, and each Interest Rate Protection Agreement provided by a holder (or an Affiliate of a holder) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, each as from time to time in effect; (b) all financial statements, reports, notices, mortgages, assignments, UCC financing statements or certificates delivered to the Collateral Agent or any of the holders by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Obligor in connection herewith or therewith; and (c) any other present or future agreement or instrument from time to time entered into among the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Obligor, on one hand, and the Collateral Agent, any or all the holders, on the other hand, relating to, amending or modifying this Agreement or any other Loan Document referred to above or which is stated to be a Loan Document, each as from time to time in effect. "LOAN SECURITY" shall mean all assets now or from time to time hereafter subjected to a security interest, mortgage or charge (or intended or required so to be subjected pursuant to this agreement or any other Loan Document) to secure the payment or performance of any of the Obligations, including the assets described in the Pledge Agreement. "MAJORITY HOLDERS" shall mean, at any time, the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes outstanding at such time. "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" shall mean, since any specified date or from the circumstances existing immediately prior to the happening of any specified event, a material adverse change in the business, assets, financial condition or income of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, whether as a result of (a) general economic conditions affecting the petroleum industry, (b) difficulties in obtaining supplies and raw materials, (c) fire, flood or other natural calamities, (d) environmental pollution, (e) regulatory changes, judicial decisions, war or other governmental action or (f) any other event or development, whether or not related to those enumerated above. "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall mean a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or income of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis. 55 "MATERIAL AGREEMENTS" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 8T. "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean any Plan which is a "multiemployer plan" (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA). "NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1. "OBLIGATIONS" shall mean all present and future liabilities, obligations and Indebtedness of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Obligor owing to the any holder under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including without limitation obligations in respect of principal, interest and Interest Rate Protection Agreements provided by a holder (or an Affiliate of a holder), Yield-Maintenance Amount, commitment fees, Facility Fees, Structuring Fees, amounts provided for in paragraphs 2I(2), 2I(3) and 12B and other fees, charges, indemnities and expenses from time to time owing hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether accruing before or after a Bankruptcy Default). "OBLIGOR" shall mean the Company, each Guarantor and each Person guaranteeing, providing collateral for or subordinating obligations to the Obligations. "OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer of the Company. "OPEN POSITION" shall mean any difference (whether positive or negative) between (a) the number of barrels of petroleum product the Company and its Subsidiaries hold in inventory or have contracted to buy and (b) the number of barrels of petroleum product the Company and its Subsidiaries have contracted to sell. "OSHA" shall mean the federal Occupational Health and Safety Act. "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor entity. "PERCENTAGE INTEREST" shall mean, at any time, the ratio that the respective amounts of the Obligations owing to the holders in respect of the Notes to the total outstanding Obligations owing to all holders in respect of the Notes. "PERSON" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a limited liability, joint stock or other company, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, and a government or any department or agency thereof. "PLAN" shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or have been made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate. 56 "PLEDGE AGREEMENT" shall mean the Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, as amended from time to time. --------- "PLEDGED INDEBTEDNESS" has the meaning specified in the Pledge Agreement. "PLEDGED RIGHTS" has the meaning specified in the Pledge Agreement. "PLEDGED SECURITIES" means the Pledged Stock, the Pledged Rights and the Pledged Indebtedness, collectively. "PLEDGED STOCK" has the meaning specified in the Pledge Agreement. "PRUDENTIAL" shall mean The Prudential Insurance Company of America. "PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE" shall mean any corporation or other entity all of the Voting Stock (or equivalent voting securities or interests) of which is owned by Prudential either directly or through Prudential Affiliates and any investment fund over which Prudential (or a subsidiary of Prudential) has investment authority. "PURCHASERS" shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Notes the Persons, either Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate, who is purchasing such Accepted Notes. "RCRA" shall mean the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 690, et seq. "REFUND EVENT" shall mean a termination of the Facility resulting from Prudential's provision of a notice of termination as contemplated by clause (ii) of paragraph 2B unless a Default or Event of Default existed at the time of the provision of such notice. "REFUNDABLE PORTION" shall mean with respect to the Structuring Fee, that portion thereof determined by multiplying $62,500 by a fraction, the denominator of which shall be 365 and the numerator of which shall be the difference between 365 and the number of days elapsed between the date of this Agreement and the date of the Refund Event. "RENEWAL FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2I(4). "REQUEST FOR PURCHASE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2D. "REQUIRED HOLDER(S)" shall mean, with respect to the Notes of any Series, at any time, the holder or holders of at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal 57 amount of the Notes of such Series outstanding at such time. "RESCHEDULED CLOSING DAY" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2H. "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" shall mean the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company or any other officer of the Company involved principally in its financial administration or its controllership function. "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. "SERIES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1. "SERIES A NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2H(1). "SIGNIFICANT HOLDER" shall mean (i) Prudential, so long as Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate shall hold (or be committed under this Agreement to purchase) any Note, or (ii) any other holder of at least 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes from time to time outstanding. "STRUCTURING FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2I(5). "SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6C(2)(x). "SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in paragraph 8T. "SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES GUARANTEE" has the meaning specified in paragraph 6C(3)(v). "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Person of which the Company (or other specified Person) shall at the time, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Subsidiaries, (a) own more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock (or other shares of beneficial interest) entitled to vote generally or (b) hold more than 50% of the partnership, joint venture or similar interests. "TRANSFEREE" shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any part of any Note purchased by any Purchaser under this Agreement. "WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Subsidiary of which all of the outstanding capital stock (or other shares of beneficial interest) entitled to vote generally (other than directors' qualifying shares) is owned by the Company (or other specified Person) directly, or indirectly through one or more Wholly Owned 58 Subsidiaries. 10C. ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS. All references in this Agreement to "GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES" or "GAAP" shall be deemed to refer to generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States at the time of application thereof. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all unaudited financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph 5A or, if no such statements have been so delivered, the most recent audited financial statements referred to in clause (i) of paragraph 8B. 11. GUARANTEES. 11A. GUARANTEES OF OBLIGATIONS. Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees that the Obligations will be performed and will be paid in full in cash when due and payable, whether at the stated or accelerated maturity thereof or otherwise, this guarantee being a guarantee of payment and not of collectability and being absolute and in no way conditional or contingent. In the event any part of the Obligations shall not have been so paid in full when due and payable, each Guarantor will, immediately upon notice by any holder or, without notice, immediately upon the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Default, pay or cause to be paid to the holders in accordance with the holders' respective Percentage Interests the amount of such Obligations which are then due and payable and unpaid. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by the invalidity, unenforceability or irrecoverability of any of the Obligations as against any other Obligor, any other guarantor thereof or any other Person. For purposes hereof, the Obligations shall be due and payable when and as the same shall be due and payable under the terms of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document notwithstanding the fact that the collection or enforcement thereof may be stayed or enjoined under any Bankruptcy Law or other applicable law. 11B. CONTINUING OBLIGATION. Each Guarantor acknowledges that Prudential and the other Purchasers have entered into this Agreement (and, to the extent that the Purchasers or the holders may enter into any future Loan Document, will have entered into such agreement) in reliance on the Guarantee in this paragraph 11 being a continuing irrevocable agreement, and such Guarantor agrees that its guarantee may not be revoked in whole or in part. The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall terminate when the Facility shall have terminated and all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and discharged; provided, however, that -------- ------- (a) if a claim is made upon the holders at any time for repayment or 59 recovery of any amounts or any property received by the holders from any source on account of any of the Obligations and the holders repay or return any amounts or property so received (including interest thereon to the extent required to be paid by the holders) or (b) if the holders become liable for any part of such claim by reason of (i) any judgment or order of any court or administrative authority having competent jurisdiction, or (ii) any settlement or compromise of any such claim of which the Company has notice and an opportunity to comment, then the Guarantors shall remain liable under this Agreement for the amounts so repaid or property so returned or the amounts for which the holders become liable (such amounts being deemed part of the Obligations) to the same extent as if such amounts or property had never been received by the holders, notwithstanding any termination hereof or the cancellation of any instrument or agreement evidencing any of the Obligations. Not later than five days after receipt of notice from the Majority Holders, the Guarantors shall jointly and severally pay to the holders an amount equal to the amount of such repayment or return for which such holders have so become liable. Payments hereunder by a Guarantor may be required by the holders on any number of occasions. 11C. WAIVERS WITH RESPECT TO OBLIGATIONS. Except to the extent expressly required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Guarantor waives all of the following (including all defenses, counterclaims and other rights of any nature based upon any of the following): (i) presentment, demand for payment and protest of nonpayment of any of the Obligations, and notice of protest, dishonor or nonperformance; (ii) notice of acceptance of this guarantee and notice that credit has been extended in reliance on the Guarantor's guarantee of the Obligations; (iii) notice of any Default or of any inability to enforce performance of the obligations of the Company or any other Person with respect to any Loan Document, or notice of any acceleration of maturity of any Obligations; (iv) demand for performance or observance of, and any enforcement of any provision of, the Obligations, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any pursuit or exhaustion of rights or remedies with respect to any Loan Security or against the Company or any other Person in respect of the Obligations or any requirement of diligence or promptness on the part of the holders in connection with any of the foregoing; (v) any act or omission on the part of the holders which may impair or prejudice the rights of the Guarantor, including rights to obtain subrogation, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or any other reimbursement from the 60 Company or any other Person, or otherwise operate as a deemed release or discharge; (vi) failure or delay to perfect or continue the perfection of any security interest in any Loan Security or any other action which harms or impairs the value of, or any failure to preserve or protect the value of, any Loan Security; (vii) any statute of limitations or any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than the obligation of the principal; (viii) any "single action" or "anti-deficiency" law which would otherwise prevent the Lenders from bringing any action, including any claim for a deficiency, against the Guarantor before or after the holders' commencement or completion of any foreclosure action, whether judicially, by exercise of power of sale or otherwise, or any other law which would otherwise require any election of remedies by any holder; (ix) all demands and notices of every kind with respect to the foregoing; and (x) to the extent not referred to above, all defenses (other than payment) which the Company may now or hereafter have to the payment of the Obligations, together with all suretyship defenses, which could otherwise be asserted by such Guarantor. Each Guarantor represents that it has obtained the advice of counsel as to the extent to which suretyship and other defenses may be available to it with respect to its obligations hereunder in the absence of the waivers contained in this paragraph 11C. No delay or omission on the part of any holder in exercising any right under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or under any guarantee of the Obligations or with respect to the Loan Security shall operate as a waiver or relinquishment of such right. No action which any holder or the Company may take or refrain from taking with respect to the Obligations, including any amendments thereto or modifications thereof or waivers with respect thereto, shall affect the provisions of this Agreement or the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder. None of the holders' rights shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of any Obligor, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Agreement, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any holder may have or otherwise be charged with. 11D. LENDERS' POWER TO WAIVE, ETC. Each Guarantor grants to the holders full power in their discretion, without notice to or consent of such Guarantor, such notice and consent being expressly waived, and without in any way affecting the 61 liability of the Guarantor under its guarantee hereunder: (a) To waive compliance with, and any Default or Event of Default under, and to consent to any amendment to or modification or termination of any terms or provisions of, or to give any waiver in respect of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Loan Security, the Obligations or any guarantee thereof (each as from time to time in effect); (b) To grant any extensions of the Obligations (for any duration), and any other indulgence with respect thereto, and to effect any total or partial release (by operation of law or otherwise), discharge, compromise or settlement with respect to the obligations of the Obligors or any other Person in respect of the Obligations, whether or not rights against the Guarantor under this Agreement are reserved in connection therewith; (c) To take security in any form for the Obligations, and to consent to the addition to or the substitution, exchange, release or other disposition of, or to deal in any other manner with, any part of any property contained in the Loan Security whether or not the property, if any, received upon the exercise of such power shall be of a character or value the same as or different from the character or value of any property disposed of, and to obtain, modify or release any present or future guarantees of the Obligations and to proceed against any of the Loan Security or such guarantees in any order; (d) To collect or liquidate or realize upon any of the Obligations or the Loan Security in any manner or to refrain from collecting or liquidating or realizing upon any of the Obligations or the Loan Security; and (e) To extend credit under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise in such amount as the holders or Prudential may determine, including increasing the amount of credit and the interest rate and fees with respect thereto, even though the condition of the Obligors (financial or otherwise on an individual or Consolidated basis) may have deteriorated since the date hereof. 11E. INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY, ETC. Each Guarantor has made such investigation as it deems desirable of the risks undertaken by it in entering into this Agreement and is fully satisfied that it understands all such risks. Each Guarantor waives any obligation which may now or hereafter exist on the part of Prudential or the holders to inform it of the risks being undertaken by entering into this Agreement or of any changes in such risks and, from and after the date hereof, each Guarantor undertakes to keep itself informed of such risks and any changes therein. Each Guarantor expressly waives any duty which may now or hereafter exist on the part of Prudential or the holders to disclose to the Guarantor any matter related to the business, operations, character, collateral, credit, condition (financial or otherwise), income or prospects of the Company or its Affiliates or their properties or management, 62 whether now or hereafter known by the Prudential or the holders. Each Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that it assumes sole responsibility for obtaining from the Company all information concerning this Agreement and all other Loan Documents and all other information as to the Company and its Affiliates or their properties or management as such Guarantor deems necessary or desirable. 11F. CERTAIN GUARANTOR REPRESENTATIONS. Each Guarantor represents that: (a) it is in its best interest and in pursuit of the purposes for which it was organized as an integral part of the business conducted and proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and reasonably necessary and convenient in connection with the conduct of the business conducted and proposed to be conducted by them, to induce the Prudential and the other Purchasers to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Company by making the Guarantees contemplated by this paragraph 11, (b) the credit available hereunder will directly or indirectly inure to its benefit, (c) by virtue of the foregoing it is receiving at least reasonably equivalent value from the holders for its Guarantee, (d) it will not be rendered insolvent as a result of entering into this Agreement, (e) after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, it will have assets having a fair saleable value in excess of the amount required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured, (f) it has, and will have, access to adequate capital for the conduct of its business, (g) it has the ability to pay its debts from time to time incurred in connection therewith as such debts mature, and (h) it has been advised by Prudential that the other Purchasers are unwilling to enter into this Agreement unless the Guarantees contemplated by this paragraph 11 are given by it. 11G. SUBROGATION. Each Guarantor agrees that, until the Obligations are paid in full, it will not exercise any right of reimbursement, subrogation, contribution, offset or other claims against the other Obligors arising by contract or operation of law in connection with any payment made or required to be made by such Guarantor under this Agreement. After the payment in full of the Obligations, each Guarantor shall be entitled to exercise against the Company and the other Obligors all such rights of 63 reimbursement, subrogation, contribution and offset, and all such other claims, to the fullest extent permitted by law. 11H. SUBORDINATION. Each Guarantor covenants and agrees that, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, all Indebtedness, claims and liabilities then or thereafter owing by the Company or any other Obligor to such Guarantor whether arising hereunder or otherwise are subordinated to the prior payment in full of the Obligations and are so subordinated as a claim against such Obligor or any of its assets, whether such claim be in the ordinary course of business or in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, insolvency or bankruptcy, so that no payment with respect to any such Indebtedness, claim or liability will be made or received while any Event of Default exists. 11I. FUTURE SUBSIDIARIES; FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Company will from time to time cause (a) any present Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor within 30 days after notice from the Majority Holders or (b) any future Wholly Owned Subsidiary within 30 days after any such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, to join this Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Majority Holders. Each Guarantor will, promptly upon the request of the Majority Holders from time to time, execute, acknowledge and deliver, and file and record, all such instruments, and take all such action, as the Majority Holders deem necessary or advisable to carry out the intent and purposes of this paragraph 11. 12. MISCELLANEOUS. 12A. NOTE PAYMENTS. The Company agrees that, so long as any Purchaser shall hold any Note, it will make payments of principal of, interest on, and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, such Note, which comply with the terms of this Agreement, by wire transfer of immediately available funds for credit (not later than 12:00 noon, New York City local time, on the date due) to the account or accounts of such Purchaser, if any, as are specified in the Information Schedule, attached hereto, or, in the case of any ----------- -------- Purchaser not named in the Information Schedule or any Purchaser wishing to ----------- -------- change the account specified for it in the Information Schedule, such account or ----------- -------- accounts in the United States as such Purchaser may from time to time designate in writing, notwithstanding any contrary provision herein or in any Note with respect to the place of payment. Each Purchaser agrees that, before disposing of any Note, it will make a notation thereon (or on a schedule attached thereto) of all principal payments previously made thereon and of the date to which interest thereon has been paid. The Company agrees to afford the benefits of this paragraph 12A to any Transferee which shall have made the same agreement as the Purchasers have made in this paragraph 12A. 12B. EXPENSES. The Company agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, to pay, and save Prudential, each Purchaser and any Transferee harmless against liability for the payment of, all 64 out-of-pocket expenses arising in connection with such transactions, including (i) all document production and duplication charges and the fees and expenses of any special counsel engaged by the Purchasers or any Transferee in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby and any subsequent proposed modification of, or proposed consent under, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, whether or not such proposed modification shall be effected or proposed consent granted, (ii) the costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by any Purchaser or any Transferee in enforcing (or determining whether or how to enforce) any rights under this Agreement or the Notes or the other Loan Documents or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or by reason of any Purchaser's or any Transferee's having acquired any Note, including without limitation costs and expenses incurred in any bankruptcy case and (iii) the costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by the Collateral Agent in enforcing (or determining whether or how to enforce) any rights under the Pledge Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement. The obligations of the Company under this paragraph 12B shall survive the transfer of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein by any Purchaser or any Transferee and the payment of any Note. 12C. CONSENT TO AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be amended, and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, if the Company shall obtain the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Majority Holders except that, (i) with the written consent of the holders of all - - ------ ---- Notes of a particular Series, and if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, of the holders of all Notes of all Series, at the time outstanding (and not without such written consents), the Notes of such Series may be amended or the provisions thereof waived to change the maturity thereof, to change or affect the principal thereof, or to change or affect the rate or time of payment of interest on or any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to the Notes of such Series, (ii) without the written consent of the ------- holder or holders of all Notes at the time outstanding, no amendment to or waiver of the provisions of this Agreement shall change or affect the provisions of paragraph 7A or this paragraph 12C insofar as such provisions relate to proportions of the principal amount of the Notes of any Series, or the rights of any individual holder of Notes, required with respect to any declaration of Notes to be due and payable or with respect to any consent, amendment, waiver or declaration, (iii) with the written consent of Prudential (and not without the ---- written consent of Prudential) the provisions of paragraph 2 may be amended or waived (except insofar as any such amendment or waiver would affect any rights or obligations with respect to the purchase and sale of Notes which shall have become Accepted Notes prior to such amendment or waiver), and (iv) with the ---- written consent of all of the Purchasers which shall have become obligated to purchase Accepted Notes of any Series (and not without the written consent of all such Purchasers), any of the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 may be amended or waived insofar as such amendment or waiver would affect only rights or obligations with respect to the purchase and sale of the Accepted Notes of such Series or the terms and provisions of such Accepted Notes. Each holder of any Note at the time or thereafter outstanding 65 shall be bound by any consent authorized by this paragraph 12C, whether or not such Note shall have been marked to indicate such consent, but any Notes issued thereafter may bear a notation referring to any such consent. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein and in the Notes, the term "THIS AGREEMENT" and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented. 12D. FORM, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES; LOST NOTES. The Notes are issuable as registered notes without coupons in denominations of at least $100,000, except as may be necessary to reflect any principal amount not evenly divisible by $100,000. The Company shall keep at its principal office a register in which the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the principal office of the Company, the Company shall, at its expense, execute and deliver one or more new Notes of like tenor and of a like aggregate principal amount, registered in the name of such transferee or transferees. At the option of the holder of any Note, such Note may be exchanged for other Notes of like tenor and of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Note to be exchanged at the principal office of the Company. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall, at its expense, execute and deliver the Notes which the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Each installment of principal payable on each installment date upon each new Note issued upon any such transfer or exchange shall be in the same proportion to the unpaid principal amount of such new Note as the installment of principal payable on such date on the Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange bore to the unpaid principal amount of such Note. No reference need be made in any such new Note to any installment or installments of principal previously due and paid upon the Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange. Every Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the holder of such Note or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Any Note or Notes issued in exchange for any Note or upon transfer thereof shall carry the rights to unpaid interest and interest to accrue which were carried by the Note so exchanged or transferred, so that neither gain nor loss of interest shall result from any such transfer or exchange. Upon receipt of written notice from the holder of any Note of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of such Note and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of such holder's unsecured indemnity agreement, or in the case of any such mutilation upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Company will make and deliver a new Note, of like tenor, in lieu of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note. 12E. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS; PARTICIPATIONS. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the owner and holder of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on, and any Yield- Maintenance Amount 66 payable with respect to, such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note shall be overdue, and the Company shall not be affected by notice to the contrary. Subject to the preceding sentence, the holder of any Note may from time to time grant participations in all or any part of such Note to any Person on such terms and conditions as may be determined by such holder in its sole and absolute discretion. 12F. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT. All representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing by or on behalf of the Company in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the transfer by any Purchaser of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any Transferee, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of any Purchaser or any Transferee. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter. 12G. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All covenants and other agreements in this Agreement contained by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto (including, without limitation, any Transferee) whether so expressed or not. 12H. NOTICES. All written communications provided for hereunder (other than communications provided for under paragraph 2) shall be sent by first class mail or nationwide overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) and (i) if to any Person listed in the Information Schedule attached hereto, ----------- -------- addressed to it at the address specified for such communications in such Information Schedule, or at such other address as it shall have specified in - - ----------- -------- writing to the Person sending such communication, and (ii) if to any Purchaser or holder of any Note which is not a Person listed in such Information Schedule, ----------- -------- addressed to it at such address as it shall have specified in writing to the Person sending such communication or, if any such holder shall not have so specified an address, then addressed to such holder in care of the last holder of such Note which shall have so specified an address to the Person sending such communication, provided, however, that any such communication to the Company may -------- ------- also, at the option of the Person sending such communication, be delivered by any other means either to the Company at its address specified in the Information Schedule or to any Authorized Officer of the Company. Any - - ----------- -------- communication pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be made by the method specified for such communication in paragraph 2, and shall be effective to create any rights or obligations under this Agreement only if, in the case of a telephone communication, an Authorized Officer of the party conveying the information and of the party receiving the information are parties to the telephone call, and in the case of a telecopier communication, the communication is signed by an Authorized Officer of the party conveying the information, addressed to the attention of an Authorized Officer of the party receiving the information, and in fact received at the telecopier terminal the number of which is listed for the party receiving the communication in the Information Schedule or at such ----------- -------- 67 other telecopier terminal as the party receiving the information shall have specified in writing to the party sending such information. 12I. PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAYS. Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or interest on, or Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, any Note that is due on a date other than a Business day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day. 12J. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 12K. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of the several paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. 12L. SATISFACTION REQUIREMENT. If any agreement, certificate or other writing, or any action taken or to be taken, is by the terms of this Agreement required to be satisfactory to any Purchaser, to any holder of Notes or to the Majority Holder(s), the determination of such satisfaction shall be made by such Purchaser, such holder or the Majority Holder(s), as the case may be, in the sole and exclusive judgment (exercised in good faith) of the Person or Persons making such determination. 12M. MAXIMUM INTEREST PAYABLE. The Company, each other Obligor, the Purchasers and any other holders of the Notes specifically intend and agree to limit contractually the amount of interest payable under this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents and all other instruments and agreements related hereto and thereto to the maximum amount of interest lawfully permitted to be charged under applicable law. Therefore, none of the terms of this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents or any instrument pertaining to or relating to this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay interest at a rate in excess of the maximum rate permitted to be charged under applicable law, and neither the Company, each other Obligor, any other guarantor nor any other party liable or to become liable hereunder, under the Notes, any guaranty or under any other instruments and agreements related hereto and thereto shall ever be liable for interest in excess of the amount determined at such maximum rate, and the provisions of this paragraph 12M shall control over all other provisions of this Agreement, any Notes, the other Loan Documents, any guaranty or any other instrument pertaining to or relating to the transactions herein contemplated. If any amount of interest taken or received by any Purchaser or any holder of a Note shall be in excess of said maximum amount of interest which, under applicable law, could lawfully have been collected by any Purchaser or such holder incident to such transactions, then such excess shall be deemed to have been the result of a mathematical error by all parties hereto and shall 68 be refunded promptly by the Person receiving such amount to the party paying such amount, or, at the option of the recipient, credited ratably against the unpaid principal amount of the Note or Notes held by such holder. All amounts paid or agreed to be paid in connection with such transactions which would under applicable law be deemed "interest" shall, to the extent permitted by such applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the stated term of this Agreement and the Notes. "APPLICABLE LAW" as used in this paragraph means that law in effect from time to time applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents which permits the charging and collection of the highest permissible lawful, nonusurious rate of interest on the transactions herein contemplated including laws of the United States of America, and "MAXIMUM RATE" as used in this paragraph means, with respect to each of the Notes, the maximum lawful, nonusurious rates of interest (if any) which under applicable law may be charged to the Company from time to time with respect to such Notes. 12N. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 12O. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. (i) THE COMPANY, EACH OTHER OBLIGOR AND EACH HOLDER HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION OF ANY CLAIM WHICH IS BASED HEREON, OR ARISES OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN), OR ACTIONS OF THE COMPANY, ANY OTHER OBLIGOR OR THE HOLDERS. THE COMPANY AND EACH OTHER OBLIGOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PURCHASERS TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. (ii) EACH OBLIGOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS ITSELF TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK COUNTY, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, AND HEREBY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT, BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE, IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDINGS, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE ABOVE-NAMED COURTS FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN 69 AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. THE GUARANTOR HEREBY AGREES THAT PROCESS MAY BE SERVED ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. ANY AND ALL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ANY OTHER NOTICE IN ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST SUCH PARTIES IF GIVEN BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS OR MAIL WHICH REQUIRES A SIGNED RECEIPT, POSTAGE PREPAID, MAILED TO SUCH PARTIES HAS HEREIN PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 12H. DURING THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, IN THE EVENT THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT SERVICE OF PROCESS AS AFORESAID AND IF THE OBLIGORS SHALL NOT MAINTAIN AN OFFICE IN NEW YORK CITY, THE OBLIGORS SHALL, PROMPTLY APPOINT AND MAINTAIN AN AGENT QUALIFIED TO ACT AS AN AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS WITH RESPECT TO ALL COURTS IN AND OF NEW YORK CITY, AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE HOLDERS, AS THE OBLIGOR'S AUTHORIZED AGENT TO ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE ON THE OBLIGOR'S BEHALF SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS WHICH MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING. THE OBLIGOR HEREBY AGREES THAT THE SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION REFERRED TO IN THIS PARAGRAPH 12O SHALL NOT LIMIT IN ANY MANNER THE RIGHTS OF ANY OF THE HOLDERS TO TAKE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SUCH OBLIGOR IN SOME OTHER COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION WHETHER WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. 12P. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. 12Q. BINDING AGREEMENT. When this Agreement is executed and delivered by the Company and Prudential, it shall become a binding agreement between the Company and Prudential. This Agreement shall also inure to the benefit of each Purchaser which shall have executed and delivered a Confirmation of Acceptance, and each such Purchaser shall be bound by this Agreement to the extent provided in such Confirmation of Acceptance. If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of acceptance on the enclosed counterpart of this letter and return the same to the Company, whereupon this letter shall become a binding agreement between the Company and you. Very truly yours, TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY 70 By: /s/ RICHARD E. GATHRIGHT ---------------------------- Title: President and Chief Operating Officer GUARANTORS TRANSMONTAIGNE PRODUCT SERVICES INC. TRANSMONTAIGNE PIPELINE INC. TRANSMONTAIGNE TERMINALING INC. TRANSMONTAIGNE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC. By: /s/ RICHARD E. GATHRIGHT ---------------------------- As C.E.O. of each of the foregoing corporations BEAR PAW ENERGY INC. By: /s/ ROBERT J. CLARK ---------------------------- Title: President The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted as of the date first above written. THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA By: /s/ RANDALL M. KOB ------------------------------- Vice President U.S. PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUND By: Prudential Private Placement Investors, L.P., Investment Advisor By: Prudential Private Placement 71 Investors, Inc., its General Partner By: /s/ RANDALL M. KOB ------------------------------- Vice President 72 INFORMATION SCHEDULE PRUDENTIAL/PURCHASER(S) Aggregate Principal Amount of Series A Notes to be Purchased Denominations --------------------- ------------- $45,000,000 $40,000,000 $ 5,000,000 THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (1) All payments on account of Notes held by such purchaser shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds for credit to: Account No. 890-0303-391 (in the case of payments on account of the Note originally issued in the principal amount of $40,000,000) Account No. 890-0304-944 (in the case of payments on account of the Note originally issued in the principal amount of $5,000,000) The Bank of New York New York, New York (ABA No.: 021-000-018) SERIES A NOTES Each such wire transfer shall set forth the name of the Company, a reference to "7.85% Senior Notes, Series A, due April 17, 2003, Security No. !INV5596!" (in the case of payments on account of the Note originally issued in the principal amount of $40,000,000) and "Security No.!INV5597!" (in the case of payments on account of the Note originally issued in the principal amount of $5,000,000), and the due date and application (as among principal, interest and Yield- Maintenance Amount) of the payment being made. (2) Address for all notices relating to payments: The Prudential Insurance Company of America c/o Prudential Capital Group Four Gateway Center 100 Mulberry Street Newark, New Jersey 07102-4069 Investment Operations Group (Attention: Manager) (3) Address for all other communications and notices: The Prudential Insurance Company of America c/o Prudential Capital Group 2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 4200E Dallas, Texas 75201 Attention: Managing Director 73 (4) Recipient of telephonic or facsimile prepayment notices: Manager, Investment Structure and Pricing (201) 802-7398 (201) 624-6432 (facsimile) (5) Tax Identification No.: 22-1211670 (6) Authorized Officers: R.A. Walker, Randall M. Kob, Robert G. Gwin, Steven D. Arnold, and Jay D. Squiers 74 INFORMATION SCHEDULE PRUDENTIAL/PURCHASER(s) Aggregate Principal Amount of Series A Notes to be Purchased Denominations --------------------- ------------- $5,000,000 $5,000,000 U.S. PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUND (1) All payments on account of Notes held by such purchaser shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds for credit to: Account No. UIFF1000002 Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company One Boston Place Boston, MA 02108 ABA No.: 0l1-001-234 DDA No.: 108111 Account Name: U.S. Private Placement Fund Each such wire transfer shall set forth the name of the Company, a reference to "7.85% Senior Secured Notes, Series A, due April 17, 2003", and the due date and application (as among principal, interest and Yield-Maintenance Amount) of the payment being made. (2) Address for all notices relating to payments: Mellon Trust One Cabot Road Mail Stop #028-003C Medford, MA 02155-5159 Attention: Derek von Vliet Telephone: (617) 382-4850 Facsimile: (617) 382-4003 (3) Address for copies of notices under (2) above and all other communications and notices: Prudential Private Placement Investors, Inc. Four Gateway Center 100 Mulberry Street Newark, NJ 07102-4069 Attention: Vice President Telephone:(201) 802-8608 Facsimile: (201) 802-7045 (4) Recipient of telephonic prepayment notices: See (2) above. 75 The Company TransMontaigne Oil Company (1) Address for Notices: TransMontaigne Oil Company 370 17th Street, Suite 2750 Denver, Colorado 80202 Attention: President (2) Receipt of telephonic or facsimile notices: (303) 626-8200 (telephone) (303) 626-8228 (facsimile) (3) Authorized Officers: Cortlandt S. Dietler, Chief Executive Officer Richard E. Gathright, President and Chief Operating Officer Harold R. Logan, Jr., Executive Vice President-Finance and Treasurer W.A. Sikora, Executive Vice President 75A SCHEDULE 3A(vii) ---------------- SUMMARY OF UCC SEARCHES ----------------------- TRANSMONTAIGNE/PRUDENTIAL PRIVATE PLACEMENT A. Listing of all companies searched including total number of listings: Secretary of Total Number Company Name State Office of Listings - - ------------ ------------ ------------ 1. TransMontaigne Oil Company Delaware* NONE Arkansas 3 Filings Colorado 2 Filings 2. TransMontaigne Product Services Inc. Arkansas* 4 Filings (f/k/a Continental Ozark, Inc.) Colorado None Illinois None Indiana None Iowa None Kansas None Kentucky None Louisiana None Michigan None Minnesota None Mississippi Not Rec'd Missouri None Nebraska None North Dakota None Ohio None Oklahoma None South Dakota None Texas None Wisconsin None 3. TransMontaigne Pipeline Inc. Arkansas* 3 Filings (f/k/a COZ Pipeline, Inc.) Missouri None Texas None Norco Pipeline, Inc. (merged into COZ Pipeline, Inc. Arkansas* 3 Filings 12/96 and no longer exists) Illinois None Indiana None Iowa None Ohio None 4. TransMontaigne Terminaling Inc. Arkansas* 3 Filings (f/k/a COZ Terminaling,Inc.) Indiana None Missouri None 75B Ohio None 5. Bear Paw Energy Inc. Colorado* 3 Filings (f/k/a Sheffield Gas Processors, Inc.) Montana 1 Filing North Dakota 1 Filing B. Detailed summary of companies that have ucc filings listed in Part A: 1. Debtor: TransMontaigne Oil Company a. Jurisdiction: Arkansas Secretary of State File No.: 992441 File Date: 12/7/95 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owing to Debtor from subs b. Jurisdiction: Arkansas Secretary of State File No..: 992442 File Date: 12/7/95 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owing to Debtor from subs c. Jurisdiction: Arkansas Secretary of State File No.: 1050595 File Date:12/20/96 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owing to Debtor from subs; rights to receive profits, surplus or distributions, all proceeds and products d. Jurisdiction: Colorado Secretary of State File No.: 952090078 File Date:12/7/95 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owing from subs e. Jurisdiction: Colorado Secretary of State File No.: 962095280 File Date: 12/23/96 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness from subs; rights to receive profits, surplus or distributions; all proceeds and products 75C 2. Debtor: Continental Ozark, Inc. (n/k/a TransMontaigne Product Services Inc.) a. Jurisdiction: Arkansas Secretary of State File No.: 889591 File Date: 3/1/94 Secured Party: B&B Resources Inc. Assigned to Associates Commercial Corporation Collateral: Equipment b. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.a. above c. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.b. above d. Jurisdiction: Arkansas Secretary of State File No.: 1050596 File Date: 12/20/96 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owing to Debtor from parent or subs; all rights to receive profits, surplus or distributions; all proceeds and products 3. Debtor: COZ Pipeline, Inc. (n/k/a TransMontaigne Pipeline Inc.) a. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.a. above b. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.b. above c. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.2.d. above 4. Debtor: Norco Pipeline, Inc. (merged into COZ Pipeline, Inc.) a. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.a. above b. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.b. above c. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.2.d. above 5. Debtor: COZ Terminaling (n/k/a TransMontaigne Terminaling Inc.) a. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.a. above b. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.1.b. above c. Included as Debtor on filing described in B.2.d. above 75d 6. Debtor: Bear Paw Energy Inc. (f/k/a Sheffield Gas Processors, Inc.) a. Jurisdiction: Colorado Secretary of State File No.: 962095296 File Date: 12/23/96 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owned to Debtor from parent or subs; all rights to receive profits, surplus or distributions; all proceeds and products b. Jurisdiction: Colorado Secretary of State Debtor Name: Sheffield Gas Processors Inc. and Torch Energy Corp. File No.: 932027685 File Date: 4/13/93 Secured Party: Norwest Bank Denver N.A. Collateral: Note: Orig. Financing Statement was partially released and amended c. Jurisdiction: Colorado Secretary of State Debtor Name: Sheffield Operating Company Additional Debtors: Republic National Gas Co. Sheffield Gas Processors, Inc. K123 Corporation File No.: 962047326 File Date: 6/20/96 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: d. Jurisdiction: Montana Secretary of State Debtor Name: Bear Paw Energy, Inc. File No.: 498717 File Date: 12/24/96 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owing Debtor from parent or subs; all rights to receive profits, surplus or distributions; all proceeds or products e. Jurisdiction: North Dakota Secretary of State Debtor Name: Bear Paw Energy, Inc. File No.: 97-000649931 File Date: 1/6/97 Secured Party: The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent Collateral: All indebtedness owing Debtor from parent or subs; all rights to receive profits, surplus or distributions; all proceeds or products - - ---------- *State of Incorporation 75e SCHEDULE 5A(i) -------------- FORM OF COVENANT COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE The Prudential Insurance Company of America U.S. Private Placement Fund c/o Prudential Capital Group 2200 Ross Ave., Suite 4200E Dallas, Texas 75201 Attn: Managing Director [other Holders] Ladies and Gentlemen: Reference is made to the Master Shelf Agreement dated as of April 17, 1997 among TransMontaigne Oil Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), certain Guarantors named therein, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and the other holders from time to time of Notes issued thereunder (the "Shelf Agreement"). Terms defined in the Shelf Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Shelf Agreement. Pursuant to paragraph 5A of the Shelf Agreement, the Company is furnishing to you herewith [or has most recently furnished to you] the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal period ended_________(the "Balance Sheet Date"). Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries covered thereby at the date thereof and the results of their operations for the period covered thereby, subject in the case of interim statements only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the addition of footnotes and except that permanent base product inventory will be recorded at historical cost. This certificate is submitted in compliance with the requirements of paragraph 5A(i)(d) or 5A(ii)(c) of the Shelf Agreement. The undersigned officer of the Company is a duly authorized Financial Officer. The undersigned officer has caused the provisions of the Shelf Agreement to be reviewed and has no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default. [Note: If the signer does have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, the form of certificate should be revised to specify the Default or Event of Default, the nature thereof and the actions taken, being taken or proposed to be taken by the Company with respect thereto.] The Company is providing the following information to demonstrate compliance as of the Balance Sheet Date with the following Computation Covenants: 75f 1. Paragraph 6A(1). Fixed Charges Coverage. ---------------------------------------- A. Consolidated Income from Operations Consolidated gross revenues (per income statement) $ --------------- Minus Consolidated cost of operations (per income statement) ( ) --------------- Minus Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses ( ) (per income statement) --------------- Subtotal for most recent quarter $ --------------- Consolidated Income from Operations for three prior quarters: Quarter ended --------------- Quarter ended --------------- Quarter ended --------------- Total $ --------------- Consolidated Interest Expense Subtotal for most recent quarter (per income $ statement) $ --------------- Consolidated interest expense for three prior quarters: Quarter ended --------------- Quarter ended --------------- Quarter ended --------------- Total $ --------------- A divided by B equals (may not be less than 225%) 2. Paragraph 6A(2). Leverage Ratio. -------------------------------- A. Consolidated Funded Debt Long term debt (per balance sheet) --------------- Current maturities of long term debt, unless included above (per balance sheet) --------------- Other Funded Debt, including certain letter of credit reimbursement obligations --------------- Total $ --------------- 75g B. Consolidated Net Tangible Assets Consolidated Total Assets (per balance sheet) $ --------------- Minus Consolidated Current Liabilities (per balance sheet) ( ) --------------- Minus Consolidated other liabilities (other than liabilities for Funded Debt) per balance sheet) ( ) --------------- Minus Consolidated intangible assets (per balance sheet) ( ) --------------- Minus book value of any minority interest in a Subsidiary (per balance sheet) ( ) --------------- Total $ --------------- A divided by B equals (may not equal or exceed the applicable percentage) % --------------- 3. Paragraph 6A(3). Consolidated Tangible Net Worth ------------------------------------------------ A. Consolidated Tangible Net Worth Consolidated stockholders' equity (per balance sheet) (excluding effect of any foreign currency translation adjustments) $ --------------- Minus increase in such stockholders' equity after April 30, 1997 because of items (a) - (f) in definition of Consolidated Net Income --------------- Minus (without duplication) the book value of treasury stock, receivables due from an employee stock ownership plan and Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by an employee stock ownership plan ( ) --------------- Minus Consolidated intangible assets ( ) --------------- Total $ --------------- B. Requirement Initial requirement $ 100,000,000 Cumulative increases through quarter preceding most recent quarter ---------------- 50% of Consolidated Net Income (if positive) in most recent quarter (commencing quarter ended April 30, 1997) ---------------- 75h 50% of Consolidated net proceeds from issuance of equity securities in most recent quarter (commencing quarter ended April 30, 1997) ------------------ Total $ ------------------ A must exceed B. 4. Paragraph 6C(2). Certain Indebtedness. -------------------------------------- A. Aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and other Indebtedness incurred for acquisition of equipment Total (may not exceed $2,000,000) $ ------------------ B. Aggregate principal amount of paragraph 6C(2)(vii) Indebtedness issued to sellers of any business or part thereof or operating assets for the acquisition thereof Total (may not exceed $10,000,000) $ ------------------ 5. Paragraph 6C(2)(xv). Unsecured Funded Debt. ------------------------------------------- A. Aggregate outstanding principal of Indebtedness permitted by paragraph 6C(2)(xv) Total $ ------------------ B. Aggregate outstanding principal of Indebtedness permitted by clause (b) of paragraph 6C(2)(xv) and not consented to under clause (a) thereof. Total $ ------------------ A plus B equals (may not exceed $50,000,000) $ ------------------ 6. Paragraph 6C(2)(xvi). Other Indebtedness. ----------------------------------------- A. Indebtedness (other than Financing Debt) in addition to other types of indebtedness permitted by paragraph 6C(2) [List Indebtedness] Total (may not exceed $2,000,000) $ ------------------ 7. Paragraph 6C(4). Investments in Certain Subsidiaries. ----------------------------------------------------- A. Investments in Subsidiaries listed in Schedule 8A other than Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (after December 18, 1996): 75i [List Investments] Total $ ------------ B. Consolidated Net Tangible Assets Total (per (P)2B) $ ------------ A divided by B equals (may not exceed 10%) % ------------ 8. Paragraph 6C(4)(vii). Other Investments. ---------------------------------------- A. Investments in Subsidiaries listed in Schedule 8A otherwise not permitted in paragraph 6C(4) [List Investments] Total $ ------------ B. Consolidated Tangible Net Worth Total (per (P)3A) $ ------------ A divided by B equals (may not exceed 10%) % ------------ 9. Paragraph 6B. Distributions. ---------------------------- A. Consolidated Net Income (cumulative since November 1, 1996) Cumulative Consolidated Net Income from November 1, 1996 to beginning of most recent quarter $ ------------ Consolidated net income (or loss) (per income statement) ------------ Minus income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to becoming a Subsidiary ( ) ------------ Minus income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which the Company or a Subsidiary has an ownership interest (subject to certain exceptions in Section) [definition of Consolidated Net Income] ( ) ------------ Minus amounts included in net income (or loss) in respect of the write-up of any asset or retirement of any Indebtedness or equity at less than face value after October 31, 1996 ( ) ------------ Minus extraordinary and nonrecurring gains ( ) ------------ Minus income from an impermissible Distribution or repayment of Indebtedness by any Subsidiary ( ) ------------ 75j Minus after-tax gains or losses attributable to returned ( ) surplus assets of any Plan -------------- Total $ -------------- B. Distributions Total of cumulative Distributions after October 31, 1996 $ -------------- B minus ($5,000,000 plus 50% of A) equals (may not exceed zero) % -------------- 10. Paragraph 6C(5). Dispositions of Certain Assets. -------------------------------------------------- A. Assets disposed of (at fair market value or book value if greater) to date in fiscal year [List assets] Total $ -------------- B. Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as of last day of next preceding fiscal year) Consolidated total assets (per balance sheet) $ -------------- Minus Consolidated Current Liabilities (per balance sheet) ( ) -------------- Minus Consolidated other liabilities (other than liabilities for Funded Debt) (per balance sheet) ( ) -------------- Minus Consolidated intangible assets (per balance sheet) ( ) -------------- Minus book value of any minority interest in a Subsidiary (per ( ) -------------- balance sheet) Total $ -------------- A divided by B equals (may not exceed 4% in any fiscal year) % -------------- 11. Paragraph 6C(6). Certain Lease Obligations. --------------------------------------------- A. Leases Other than Capitalized Leases Aggregate fixed rental obligations for fiscal year $ -------------- Minus payments required in respect of taxes and insurance-(if ( ) -------------- included above) Total (may not exceed $8,000,000) $ -------------- 75k 12. Paragraph 5O. Open Positions. ----------------------------- A. Consolidated Open Positions Number of barrels of petroleum product held in inventory or subject to purchase contracts ----------- Minus number of barrels of petroleum product subject to sale contracts ( ) ---------- Total (may not exceed Company policy of barrels) ---------- If the Balance Sheet Date is the last day of a fiscal quarter of the Company, this certificate is accompanied by supplements to Schedule 7A, 8D and 8J to the extent required by paragraph 5A(i)(f) or 5A(ii)(d). If the Balance Sheet Date is the last day of the fiscal year of the Company, this certificate is accompanied by a written statement of the independent certified public accountants of the Company complying with the terms of paragraph 5A(i)(a) of the Shelf Agreement and the calculations of Accumulated Benefit Obligations and Plan assets complying with the terms of paragraph 5A(1)(e) of the Shelf Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Financial Officer of the Company has set his or her hand and seal this day of __________, 199__. TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY By: ---------------------------------- Title 75l SCHEDULE 5J ----------- RISK AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT POLICY 76 SCHEDULE 8A ----------- COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION 78 SCHEDULE 8D ----------- FINANCING DEBT, LIENS, GUARANTEES AND INVESTMENTS Bank of Boston financing $62,600,000 outstanding as of March 31, 1997 Guaranteed by subsidiaries Secured by stock of subsidiaries and intercompany debt 12.75% Guaranteed Senior Subordinated Debentures due December 15, 2000 $4,000,000 outstanding as of March 31, 1997 Guaranteed by TransMontaigne Product Services, Inc. Ownership by TransMontaigne Holding Inc. of approximately 28% of the common stock of Lion Oil Company. Ownership by TransMontaigne Pipeline Inc. of a 60% ownership interest in Razorback Pipeline Company. Ownership by Bear Paw Energy Inc. of a 50% ownership interest in InterEnergy Sheffield Processing Company. 79 EXHIBIT A-1 ----------- [FORM OF NOTE] THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT. TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY 7.85% SENIOR NOTE, SERIES A, DUE APRIL 17, 2003 No. R-____ ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE: APRIL 17, 1997 INTEREST RATE: 7.85% INTEREST PAYMENT DATES: OCTOBER 17 AND APRIL 17 OF EACH YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 17, 1997. FINAL MATURITY DATE: APRIL 17, 2003 PRINCIPAL INSTALLMENT DATES AND AMOUNTS: NONE, DUE AT MATURITY FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY (herein called the "COMPANY"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State Delaware, hereby promises to pay to ____________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ______________________________________ DOLLARS on the Final Maturity Date specified above with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30-day month) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof from the date hereof at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, payable on each Interest Payment Date specified above and on the Final Maturity Date specified above, commencing with the Interest Payment Date next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest, and any overdue payment of any Yield-Maintenance Amount (as defined in the Master Shelf Agreement referred to below), payable on each Interest Payment Date as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the lesser of (a) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law or (b) the greater of (i) 9.85% or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by The Bank of New York from time to time in New York City as its Prime Rate. Payments of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to this Note are to be made at the main office of The Bank of New York in New 84 York City or at such other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America. This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the "NOTES") issued pursuant to a Master Shelf Agreement, dated as of April 17, 1997 (herein called the "AGREEMENT"), between the Company and The Prudential Insurance Company of America and is entitled to the benefits thereof. As provided in the Agreement, this Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part on the terms specified in the Agreement. This Note is guaranteed as provided in paragraph 11 of the Agreement and is secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Pledge Agreement (as defined in the Agreement). This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. This Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, on the terms specified in the Agreement. In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, shall occur and be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement. The Company and any and all endorsers, guarantors and sureties severally waive grace, demand, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor or default, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration (to the extent set forth in the Agreement), protest and diligence in collecting. Should any indebtedness represented by this Note be collected at law or in equity, or in bankruptcy or other proceedings, or should this Note be placed in the hands of attorneys for collection, the Company agrees to pay, in addition to the principal, premium, if any, and interest due and payable hereon, all costs of collecting or attempting to collect this Note, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses (including those incurred in connection with any appeal). 85 The Company, each other Obligor (as defined in the Agreement) and the Purchaser and the registered holder of this Note specifically intend and agree to limit contractually the amount of interest payable under this Note to the maximum amount of interest lawfully permitted to be charged under applicable law. Therefore, none of the terms of this Note shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay interest at a rate in excess of the maximum rate permitted to be charged under applicable law, and neither the Company nor any other party liable or to become liable hereunder shall ever be liable for interest in excess of the amount determined at such maximum rate, and the provisions of paragraph 12M of the Agreement shall control over any contrary provision of this Note. THIS NOTE IS INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF SUCH STATE. TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY By: ____________________________ [Vice] President 86 EXHIBIT A-2 ----------- [FORM OF NOTE] THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT. TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY ________% SENIOR NOTE, SERIES _______, DUE _____________ No. R-____ ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE: INTEREST RATE: INTEREST PAYMENT DATES: FINAL MATURITY DATE: PRINCIPAL INSTALLMENT DATES AND AMOUNTS: FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY (herein called the "COMPANY"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby promises to pay to ____________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ______________________________________ DOLLARS [on the Final Maturity Date specified above] [, payable in installments on the Principal Installment Dates and in the amounts specified above, and on the Final Maturity Date specified above in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the principal hereof,] with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30- day month) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof from the date hereof at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, payable on each Interest Payment Date specified above and on the Final Maturity Date specified above, commencing with the Interest Payment Date next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest, and any overdue payment of any Yield-Maintenance Amount (as defined in the Master Shelf Agreement referred to below), payable on each Interest Payment Date as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the lesser of (a) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law or (b) the greater of (i) ____%/1/ or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by The Bank of New York from time to time in New York City as its Prime Rate. - - ------------------------------- /1/ Interest rate plus 2%. 87 Prime Rate. Payments of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to this Note are to be made at the main office of The Bank of New York in New York City or at such other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America. This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the "NOTES") issued pursuant to a Master Shelf Agreement, dated as of April 17, 1997 (herein called the "AGREEMENT"), between the Company and The Prudential Insurance Company of America and U.S. Private Placement Fund and is entitled to the benefits thereof. As provided in the Agreement, this Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part on the terms specified in the Agreement. This Note is guaranteed as provided in paragraph 11 of the Agreement and is secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Pledge Agreement. This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. [The Company agrees to make required prepayments of principal on the dates and in the amounts specified in the Agreement.] [This Note is [also] subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, on the terms specified in the Agreement.] In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, shall occur and be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement. The Company and any and all endorsers, guarantors and sureties severally waive grace, demand, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor or default, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration (to the extent set forth in the Agreement), protest and diligence in collecting. Should any indebtedness represented by this Note be collected at law or in equity, or in bankruptcy or other proceedings, or should this Note be placed in the hands of attorneys for collection, the Company agrees to pay, in addition to the principal, premium, if any, and interest due and payable hereon, all costs of collecting or attempting to collect this Note, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses (including those incurred in connection with any appeal). 88 The Company, each other Obligor (as defined in the Agreement) and the Purchaser and the registered holder of this Note specifically intend and agree to limit contractually the amount of interest payable under this Note to the maximum amount of interest lawfully permitted to be charged under applicable law. Therefore, none of the terms of this Note shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay interest at a rate in excess of the maximum rate permitted to be charged under applicable law, and neither the Company nor any other party liable or to become liable hereunder shall ever be liable for interest in excess of the amount determined at such maximum rate, and the provisions of paragraph 12M of the Agreement shall control over any contrary provision of this Note. THIS NOTE IS INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF SUCH STATE. TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY By: _____________________________ [Vice] President 89 EXHIBIT B --------- [FORM OF REQUEST FOR PURCHASE] [ON LETTERHEAD OF COMPANY] TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY Reference is made to the Master Shelf Agreement (the "AGREEMENT"), dated as of April 17, 1997, between TransMontaigne Oil Company (the "COMPANY") and The Prudential Insurance Company of America and U.S. Private Placement Fund. All terms used herein that are defined in the Agreement have the respective meanings specified in the Agreement. Pursuant to Paragraph 2D of the Agreement, the Company hereby makes the following Request for Purchase: 1. Aggregate principal amount of the Notes covered hereby (the "NOTES")............. $ 2. Individual specifications of the Notes: Principal Final Installment Interest Principal Maturity Dates and Payment Amount Date Amounts Period/2/ - - ----------- ----------- --------- --------- 3. Use of proceeds of the Notes: 4. Proposed day for the closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes: - - --------------------------- /2/ Specify quarterly or semi-annual. 90 5. The purchase price of the Notes is to be transferred to: Name and Name and Address Number of Telephone No. of Bank Account of Bank Officer ---------------- --------- --------------- 6. The Company certifies (a) that the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 of the Agreement are true on and as of the date of this Request for Purchase except to the extent of changes caused by the transactions contemplated in the Agreement and (b) that there exists on the date of this Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default. 7. In connection with any rate quotes it may provide, Prudential should assume a Designated Spread of ___%. Dated: TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY By: _________________________ Authorized Officer 91 EXHIBIT C --------- [FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE] TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY Reference is made to the Master Shelf Agreement (the "AGREEMENT"), dated as of April 17, 1997, between TransMontaigne Oil Company (the "COMPANY") and The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the U.S. Private Placement Fund. All terms used herein that are defined in the Agreement have the respective meanings specified in the Agreement. Each of the undersigned institutions which is named below as a Purchaser of any Accepted Notes hereby confirms the representations as to such Accepted Notes set forth in paragraph 9 of the Agreement, and agrees to be bound by the provisions of paragraphs 2F and 2H of the Agreement relating to the purchase and sale of such Accepted Notes. Pursuant to paragraph 2F of the Agreement, an Acceptance with respect to the following Accepted Notes is hereby confirmed: I. Aggregate principal amount $____________ (A) (a) Name of Purchaser: (b) Principal amount: (c) Final maturity date: (d) Principal installment dates and amounts: (e) Interest rate: (f) Interest payment period: (g) Designated Spread: (B) (a) Name of Purchaser: (b) Principal amount: (c) Final maturity date: (d) Principal installment dates and amounts: (e) Interest rate: (f) Interest payment period: (g) Designated Spread: [(C),(D) ....: same information as to any other 92 II. Closing Day: III. Facility Fee: Dated: TRANSMONTAIGNE OIL COMPANY By: ___________________ Title: THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA By: ___________________ Vice President [Signature block for each named Purchaser other than Prudential] 93 EXHIBIT D --------- [FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL] [Letterhead of _______________] [Date of Closing] [Name(s) and address(es) of purchaser(s)] Dear Sirs: We have acted as counsel for [Name of Issuer] (the "Company") in connection [As _____________________ of [Name of Issuer] (the "Company"), I am familiar] with the Master Shelf Agreement, dated as of ____________ 19__, between the Company and The Prudential Insurance Company of America (the "Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company has issued to you today Senior Notes of the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $_____________(the "Notes"). All terms used herein that are defined in the Agreement have the respective meanings specified in the Agreement. This letter is being delivered to you in satisfaction of the condition set forth in paragraph 3A of the Agreement and with the understanding that you are purchasing the Notes in reliance on the opinions expressed herein. In this connection, we [I] have examined such certificates of public officials, certificates of officers of the Company and copies certified to our [my] satisfaction of corporate documents and records of the Company and of other papers, and have made such other investigations, as we [I] have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for our [my] opinion hereinafter set forth. We [I] have relied upon such certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company with respect to the accuracy of material factual matters contained therein which were not independently established. With respect to the opinion expressed in paragraph 3 below, we [I] have also relied upon the representation made by [each of] you, and by each other Purchaser, in the first sentence of paragraph 9 of the Agreement. Based on the foregoing, it is our [my] opinion that: 1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of ____________. [Each Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation.] The Company [and its Subsidiaries] has [have] the corporate power to carry on its [their respective] businesses[es] as now being conducted. [The Company has no Subsidiaries.] 94 2. The Agreement and the Notes have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and duly executed and delivered by authorized officers of the Company, and are valid obligations of the Company, legally binding upon and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and the Notes are entitled to the benefits of the Agreement. We [I] express no opinion as to the provisions of paragraph 11I of the Agreement. 3. It is not necessary in connection with the offering, issuance, sale and delivery of the Notes under the circumstances contemplated by the Agreement to register the Notes under the Securities Act or to qualify an indenture in respect of the Notes under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. 4. The extension, arranging and obtaining of the credit represented by the Notes do not result in any violation of regulation G, T or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 5. The execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Notes, the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes and fulfillment of and compliance with the respective provisions of the Agreement and the Notes do not conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company [or any of its Subsidiaries] pursuant to, or require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption, or other action by or notice to or filing with any court, administrative or governmental body or other Person (other than routine filings after the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or state Blue Sky authorities) pursuant to, the charter or by-laws of the Company [or any of its Subsidiaries], any applicable law (including any securities or Blue Sky law), statute, rule or regulation or (insofar as is known to us [me] after having made due inquiry with respect thereto) any agreement (including, without limitation, any agreement listed in Exhibit E to the Agreement), instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Company [or any of its Subsidiaries] is a party or otherwise subject. A copy of this letter may be delivered by you or any Transferee to any Person to which you or such Transferee sells or offers to sell any Note or a participation in any Note, and such Person may rely upon this letter as if it were addressed and had been delivered to such Person on the date hereof. Subject to the foregoing, this letter may be relied upon by you only in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and may not be used or relied upon by you or any other Person for any other purpose whatsoever, without [our] [my] prior written consent. Very truly yours, 95