ASSET CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT


                                     between


                         LYONDELL PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY,


                        LYONDELL PETROCHEMICAL L.P. INC.


                                       and


                             EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP



                             Dated: DECEMBER 1, 1997






                                     
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------

                                                                            Page

SECTION 1       DEFINITIONS................................................... 1

SECTION 2       CONTRIBUTION OF ASSETS; ASSUMPTION OF CERTAIN
                LIABILITIES................................................... 8
         2.1    Transfer of Assets............................................ 8
         2.2    Excluded Assets...............................................10
         2.3    Instruments of Conveyance and Assignment......................11
         2.4    Further Assurances............................................11
         2.5    Assumption of Liabilities.....................................12
         2.6    Excluded Liabilities..........................................13
         2.7    Master Intellectual Property Agreement........................14
         2.8    Employee Matters..............................................14
         2.9    Joint Contracts...............................................16

SECTION 3       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CONTRIBUTOR.............16
         3.1    Due Organization; Good Standing and Power.....................16
         3.2    Authorization and Validity of Agreements......................16
         3.3    No Consents Required; No Conflict with Instruments to which the
                Contributor is a Party........................................17
         3.4    Employee Benefits.............................................17
         3.5    Title to Assets; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances; Leases....18
         3.6    Title Matters; Defects in Improvements........................19
         3.7    Working Capital...............................................19
         3.8    Technology and Similar Rights.................................20
         3.9    Government Licenses, Permits and Related Approvals............20
         3.10   All Necessary Assets..........................................20
         3.11   Conduct of Business in Compliance with Regulatory and
                Contractual Requirements......................................20
         3.12   Legal Proceedings.............................................20
         3.13   Consents......................................................20
         3.14   Tax Matters...................................................21
         3.15   [Reserved]....................................................21
         3.16   HSE Matters...................................................21
         3.17   Investigation to Acquire Knowledge............................22

SECTION 4       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP.............22
         4.1    Due Organization; Good Standing and Power.....................22
         4.2    Authorization and Validity of Agreement.......................22
         4.3    No Consents Required; No Conflict with Instruments to which the
                Partnership is a Party........................................22

SECTION 5       COVENANTS SUBSEQUENT TO CLOSING DATE..........................23
         5.1    Access to Information.........................................23
         5.2    Mail or Other Communications..................................23
         5.3    Use of Contributor's Trade Name...............................23
         5.4    Closing Date Balance Sheet....................................24
         5.5    Payment of Retained Accounts Payable..........................24
         5.6    Collection of Accounts Receivable.............................24
         5.7    Reimbursement for Prepaid Expenses............................24

SECTION 6       SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION..................................24
         6.1    Survival Limitations..........................................24
         6.2    Indemnification...............................................25
         6.3    Procedures....................................................28
         6.4    Subrogation...................................................30
         6.5    Claims for HSE Work...........................................30
         6.6    EXTENT OF INDEMNIFICATION.....................................30

SECTION 7       MISCELLANEOUS.................................................30
         7.1    Construction..................................................30
         7.2    Payment of Certain Expenses and Taxes.........................31
         7.3    Notices.......................................................32
         7.4    [Reserved]....................................................33
         7.5    Binding Effect; Benefit.......................................33
         7.6    Occasional and Bulk Sales.....................................33
         7.7    Assignability.................................................33
         7.8    Amendment; Waiver.............................................33
         7.9    Dispute Resolution............................................33
         7.10   Severability..................................................33
         7.11   Counterparts..................................................34
         7.12   APPLICABLE LAW................................................34
         7.13   JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER...........34
         7.14   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL..........................................34






                   LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS TO AGREEMENT
                   -------------------------------------------

                                    Schedules
                                    ---------

Schedule A              -        Contributed Business
Schedule 2.1(a)         -        Fee Interests
Schedule 2.1(b)         -        Leases
Schedule 2.1(d)         -        Equipment
Schedule 2.1(k)         -        Contributed Subsidiaries
Schedule 2.2(c)         -        Excluded Tradenames and Logos
Schedule 2.2(h)         -        Certain Excluded Assets
Schedule 2.5(a)(vii)    -        Assumed Indebtedness
Schedule 2.5(a)(x)      -        Assumed Long-Term Liabilities
Schedule 3              -        Disclosure Schedule


                             Appendices
                             ----------

Appendix A              -        Dispute Resolution Procedures


                              Exhibits
                              --------

Exhibit A               -        Form of Deeds for Fee Interests
Exhibit B               -        Form of Assignment of Lease for Leaseholds
Exhibit C               -        Form of Bill of Sale and Assignment
Exhibit D               -        Form of Trademark Assignment
Exhibit E               -        Form of Patent Assignment
Exhibit F               -        Form of Assumption Agreement
Exhibit G               -        Form of Master Intellectual Property Agreement








                          ASSET CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
                          ----------------------------



         ASSET CONTRIBUTION  AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),  dated as of December
1, 1997, between Lyondell  Petrochemical  Company,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Contributor"),  Lyondell  Petrochemical L.P. Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the
"Contributing   Partner")  and  Equistar  Chemicals,   LP,  a  Delaware  limited
partnership (the "Partnership").

         WHEREAS,  the Contributor owns all of the issued and outstanding shares
of capital  stock of  Contributing  Partner  and the  Contributing  Partner is a
partner in the Partnership;

         WHEREAS,  the  Contributor  wishes to contribute  the assets subject to
certain  liabilities  associated  with  the  olefins,  polyolefins  and  related
petrochemicals  businesses described in Schedule A (the "Contributed  Business")
to the Contributing Partner; and

         WHEREAS,  the Contributing Partner wishes to contribute such assets and
liabilities to the Partnership, and the Partnership wishes to accept such assets
and assume such liabilities,  all upon the terms and conditions  hereinafter set
forth; and

         WHEREAS, the Partnership will consummate certain transactions and enter
into certain  agreements  as provided for in the Master  Transaction  Agreement,
dated as of July 25, 1997, between Lyondell Petrochemical Company and Millennium
Chemicals Inc., as amended (the "Master Transaction Agreement").

         NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and of the mutual
covenants of the parties hereto, it is hereby agreed as follows:


                                    SECTION 1
                                   DEFINITIONS
                                   -----------

         The terms used in this Agreement have the following  definitions or are
defined in the Sections referenced below:

         "Accounts  Receivable"   constitute,   as  of  the  Closing  Date,  all
uncollected accounts receivable that have been generated by, or are attributable
to, the  Contributor's  operation  prior to the Closing Date of the  Contributed
Business in the ordinary course and in all respects in a manner  consistent with
the provisions of Section 3.2 of the Master Transaction Agreement.







                              
         "Affiliate" means any Person that directly or indirectly through one or
more  intermediaries,  controls or is controlled  by or is under common  control
with  the  Person  specified;  provided,  however,  that  for  purposes  of this
Agreement:  (i) Atlantic Richfield Company and any Person controlled by it shall
not be considered an Affiliate of Contributor;  and (ii) neither the Partnership
nor any  Person  controlled  by it  shall  be  considered  an  Affiliate  of the
Contributor.  For purposes of this definition, the term "control" shall have the
meaning set forth in 17 CFR 230.405 as in effect on the date hereof.

         "Agreed  Rate" means the base  commercial  lending  rate  announced  by
Citibank, N.A. (or its successor) at its principal office in effect from time to
time,  such interest rate to change  automatically,  effective as of the date of
each change in such base rate.

         "Agreement" is defined in the Preamble.

         "Assets"  means  all  of  the  assets,   rights  and  properties  being
contributed,  conveyed,  assigned,  transferred and delivered to the Partnership
pursuant to Section 2.1.

         "Assignment and Assumption Agreements" means the Deeds, the Assignments
of Lease, the Bill of Sale and Assignment,  the Trademark Assignment, the Patent
Assignment and the Assumption Agreement.

         "Assignments of Lease" is defined in Section 2.3(a).

         "Associated Rights" is defined in Section 2.1(c).

         "Assumed Liabilities" is defined in Section 2.5(a).

         "Authority"  means any government or  governmental  or regulatory  body
thereof, or political subdivision thereof, whether federal (or any commonwealth,
territory  or  possession  thereof),  state,  local or  foreign,  or any agency,
department or  instrumentality  thereof,  or any court or arbitrator  (public or
private).

         "Basic Severance" is defined in Section 2.8(b).

         "Capital  Spares"  means  the  inventory  of  spare  parts  used by the
Contributor in the  Contributed  Business and owned by the Contributor as of the
Closing Date.

         "CERCLA" is defined in Section 3.16(b).

         "Chemical  Substance"  means  any (i)  chemical  substance,  pollutant,
contaminant, constituent, chemical, mixture, raw material, intermediate, product
or byproduct that is regulated  (including any  requirement for the reporting of
any Release  thereof)  under any HSE Law or defined or listed as an  industrial,
toxic,  deleterious,  harmful,  radioactive,   infectious,   disease-causing  or
hazardous substance,  material or waste under any HSE Law, and (ii) petroleum or
any   fraction   thereof,   asbestos   or   asbestos-containing    material   or
polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs").

         "Closing" means  the  closing of  the transactions  contemplated by the
Master Transaction Agreement.
         "Closing Date" means the date hereof.

         "Closing Date Balance Sheet" is defined in Section 5.4.

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "Consent"  means  any  consent,   waiver,   appraisal,   authorization,
exception,  registration,  license  or  declaration  of or by any  Person or any
Authority,  or any expiration or  termination  of any applicable  waiting period
under any Legal Requirement,  required with respect to the Contributed  Business
or the Contributor or any Affiliate thereof in connection with (i) the execution
and  delivery of this  Agreement  or any of the Related  Agreements  or (ii) the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

         "Contracts"  means  contracts,   maintenance  and  service  agreements,
purchase   commitments  for  materials  and  other  services,   advertising  and
promotional  agreements,  leases,  taxation  agreements with any Authority,  and
other agreements.

         "Contributed Contracts" is defined in Section 2.1(f).

         "Contributed Business" is defined in the Preamble.

         "Contributed Intellectual Property" is defined in Section 2.1(g).

         "Contributed Subsidiaries" is defined in Section 2.1(k).

         "Contributor" is defined in the Preamble.

         "Deeds" is defined in Section 2.3(a).

         "De Minimis Claim" means any Third Party Claim  for which the Liability
associated  therewith is less than $25,000.

         "Employee Plan" is defined in Section 3.4(a)(i).

         "Encumbrance" means any lien, charge,  encumbrance,  security interest,
title defect, option or any other restriction or third party right.

         "Environment" is  defined in  this Section 1 in  the definition of "HSE
Laws."

         "Equipment" is defined in Section 2.1(d).

         "Excluded Assets" is defined in Section 2.2.

         "Excluded Liabilities" is defined in Section 2.6.

         "Fee Interests" is defined in Section 2.1(a).

         "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as
in effect from time to time.

         "Government Licenses" means all licenses,  permits or franchises issued
by any Authority  relating to the operation,  development,  use,  maintenance or
occupancy of the Facilities or any other Asset or of the Contributed Business to
extent that such  licenses,  permits or  franchises  relate  principally  to the
normal operation and conduct of the Contributed Business.

         "HSE  Claim"  means  (i)  any   actions,   events,   circumstances   or
responsibilities   (including  compliance  actions  or  requirements)  that  are
necessary  to  comply  with  HSE Laws  but  only to the  extent  that any of the
foregoing  give rise to out of pocket costs or expenses or result in a Liability
that is required by GAAP to be reflected on the balance sheet of the  applicable
party or (ii) any  third  party  (including  private  parties,  Authorities  and
employees acting on each such party's own behalf or on the behalf of other third
parties) actions, lawsuits, claims,  investigations or proceedings arising under
HSE Laws.

         "HSE Laws"  means any Legal  Requirements  or rule of common law now in
effect  (including  any  amendments  now in effect) and any current  judicial or
administrative  interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative
order,  consent decree,  or judgment,  relating to (i) any ambient air,  surface
water,  drinking water,  groundwater,  land surface,  subsurface  strata,  river
sediment,  natural  resources  or  real  property  and the  physical  buildings,
structures and fixtures  thereon,  including sewer,  septic and waste treatment,
storage  or  disposal   systems  (the   "Environment"),   including   pollution,
contamination,   cleanup,  preservation,   protection  and  reclamation  of  the
Environment;  (ii) health or safety,  including  the exposure of  employees  and
other Persons to any Chemical Substance; (iii) the Release or threatened Release
of any  Chemical  Substance,  noxious  noise or odor,  including  investigation,
study,  assessment,  testing,  monitoring,  containment,  removal,  remediation,
response,  cleanup and abatement of such Release or threatened Release; and (iv)
the management of any Chemical Substance, including the manufacture, generation,
formulation,  processing, labeling, use, treatment, handling, storage, disposal,
transportation,  distribution,  re-use, recycling or reclamation of any Chemical
Substance.

         "HSE Proceeding" is defined in Section 3.16(d).

         "Indemnified Party" is defined in Section 6.3(a).

         "Indemnifying Party" is defined in Section 6.3(a).

         "Intellectual Property" means research material, technical information,
marketing   information,   patent  rights,   patent  licenses,   pending  patent
applications,   trade  secrets,  technical  information,   know-how,  management
information systems, technology, quality control data, specifications,  designs,
drawings, software, sales promotion literature and advertising materials.

         "Inventory"  means materials used by the Contributor in the Contributed
Business  and owned by the  Contributor  as of the Closing  Date  including  raw
materials,  feed  stocks,  supplies,  additives,  pigments,  process  chemicals,
packaging  materials  (to the  extent the  Partnership's  use  thereof  would be
consistent with Section 5.3), catalysts, work-in-process and finished goods that
relate  principally  to the normal  operation  and  conduct  of the  Contributed
Business.

         "Inventory Tax" is defined in Section 7.2(d).

         "Knowledge" with respect to the Contributor  means the actual knowledge
of  (i)  any  plant  manager,   (ii)  any  officer  of  the  Contributor  having
responsibilities  with  respect  to the  Contributed  Business,  and  (iii)  any
employee reporting directly to an officer described in clause (ii), in each case
employed by the Contributor in connection with the Contributed Business.

         "Leased Premises" is defined in Section 2.1(b).

         "Leaseholds" is defined in Section 2.1(b).

         "Leases" is defined in Section 2.1(b).

         "Legal Requirement" means any law, statute,  rule,  ordinance,  decree,
requirement, regulation, order or judgment of any Authority, including the terms
of any Government License.

         "Liability" is defined in Section 6.2(a).

         "Licensed  Technology" means the technology licensed to the Partnership
pursuant to the Master Intellectual Property Agreement.

         "Licensed  Trademarks" means the trademarks licensed to the Partnership
pursuant to the Master Intellectual Property Agreement.

         "Lowest Cost Response" means the response required or allowed under HSE
Laws  that  addresses  the  Chemical  Substances  present  at  the  lowest  cost
(considered  as a whole  taking  into  consideration  any  negative  impact such
response may have on the conduct of the  Contributed  Business and any potential
additional  costs or liabilities that may arise as a result of such response) as
compared  to any other  response  that is  consistent  with HSE Laws.  Taking no
action shall constitute the Lowest Cost Response if, after investigation, taking
no action is determined  to be consistent  with HSE Laws. If taking no action is
not  consistent  with HSE Laws, the least costly  non-permanent  remedy (such as
mechanisms to contain or stabilize Chemical  Substances,  including caps, dikes,
encapsulation,  leachate  collection  systems,  etc.)  shall be the Lowest  Cost
Response,  provided that such  non-permanent  remedy is consistent with HSE Laws
and less costly than the least costly  permanent  remedy (such as the excavation
and removal of soil).

         "Master Intellectual Property Agreement" is defined in Section 2.7.

         "Master Transaction Agreement" is defined in the fourth WHEREAS clause.

         "Material Adverse Effect" means any adverse circumstance or consequence
that,  individually  or in the aggregate,  has an effect that is material to the
financial  condition,   results  of  operations,   assets  or  business  of  the
Contributed Business or the Assets, taken as a whole.

         "Neutral"  means a neutral Person  acceptable to each of the appointing
parties and not affiliated with any of the parties or their Affiliates.

         "Partnership" is defined in the Preamble.

         "Partnership Employees" is defined in Section 2.8(a).

         "Patent Assignment" is defined in Section 2.3(a).

         "PCBs" is defined  in  this  Section  in  the  definition  of "Chemical
Substance."

         "Person"  means any  natural  person or any  corporation,  partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association,  trust or other entity or
organization.

         "Pre-Closing  Contingent  Liabilities"  means all  Liabilities of every
kind and nature arising out of, in connection  with or related to the ownership,
operation  or use prior to the  Closing  Date of the  Assets or the  Contributed
Business other than the  Liabilities  referred to in Sections  2.5(a)(i),  (ii),
(iii), (vii) and (ix).

         "Prepaid   Expenses"  means  the  balances  in  the  prepaid   accounts
consistent  with GAAP of the  Contributor or its  Affiliates,  as of the Closing
Date, that are associated with the Contributed Business and that will have value
to the  Partnership in owning and operating the  Contributed  Business after the
Closing Date.

         "Property Tax" is defined in Section 7.2(c).

         "Related  Agreements" means the Master  Transaction  Agreement,  Tier 1
Related  Agreements (other than this Agreement) and Tier 2 Related Agreements of
the  Contributor  or its  Affiliates,  as such  terms are  defined in the Master
Transaction Agreement.

         "Release"  means  any  release,  spill,  emission,   leaking,  pumping,
injection, deposit, disposal, dumping, discharge, dispersal, leaching, escaping,
emanation  or  migration  of  any  Chemical  Substance  in,  into  or  onto  the
Environment  of any kind  whatsoever,  including  the  movement of any  Chemical
Substance through or in the Environment,  exposure of any type in any workplace,
any  release  as  defined  under  the  Comprehensive   Environmental   Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or any other HSE Law and any
noxious noise or odor emission.

         "Retained  Accounts Payable" means, as of the Closing Date, all current
trade accounts  payable and current accrued expenses other than those related to
employee  vacation and lag-week  accruals for employees that become  Partnership
Employees.

         "SEC  Reports"  means the 1996 Annual  Report on Form 10-K and the 10-Q
for the first quarter of 1997 of the  Contributor  required to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Seven Year PCCL Claims"  means Third Party  Claims  (other than any De
Minimis Claim) related to Pre-Closing  Contingent  Liabilities that have been or
are asserted within seven years after the Closing Date.

         "Shared  Services   Agreements"   means  the  agreements   between  the
Contributor (or its Affiliates) and the Partnership set forth on Appendix B-2 of
the Master Transaction Agreement.

         "Stores  Inventory"  means  the  inventory  of spare  parts,  excluding
Capital Spares, that are used by the Contributor or any Affiliate thereof in the
Contributed Business and owned by the Contributor or any Affiliate thereof as of
the  Closing  Date and that  consist  of items  that  generally  can be used for
several  processes or types of  equipment,  including,  but not limited to, such
items as pumps, motors, pipe fittings,  electrical wiring, instruments, nuts and
bolts,   unfabricated   metals,   safety  items,  small  hand  tools  and  other
miscellaneous repair parts or supplies.

         "Taxes" means all taxes,  charges,  fees,  levies or other  assessments
imposed by any taxing Authority,  including,  but not limited to, income,  gross
receipts, excise, property, sales, use, transfer,  payroll, license, ad valorem,
value added, withholding,  social security, national insurance (or other similar
contributions or payments),  franchise, severance and stamp taxes (including any
interest,  fines,  penalties or additions attributable to, or imposed on or with
respect to, any such taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments).

         "Third  Party  Claim" means any  allegation,  claim,  civil or criminal
action,  proceeding,  charge or  prosecution  brought by a Person other than the
Contributor,  any  Affiliate  thereof,  the  Partnership,  or any  member of the
Millennium Group (as defined in the Master Transaction Agreement).

         "Trademarks" means trade names, trademarks,  trademark registrations or
trademark   applications,   copyrights,   copyright  applications  or  copyright
registrations or any derivative thereof or design used in connection therewith.

         "Trademark Assignment" is defined in Section 2.3(a).

         "Unrecorded Assets" is defined in Section 2.1(e).

         "WARN" is defined in Section 2.8(f).


                                    SECTION 2
            CONTRIBUTION OF ASSETS; ASSUMPTION OF CERTAIN LIABILITIES
            ---------------------------------------------------------

         2.1  Transfer of Assets.  On the  terms and subject  to the  conditions
set forth in this Agreement,  on the date hereof, the Contributor contributes to
the  Contributing   Partner  and  the  Contributing   Partner  is  contributing,
conveying,  assigning,  transferring and delivering to the Partnership, or shall
cause to be contributed,  conveyed,  assigned,  transferred and delivered to the
Partnership,  and the  Partnership  shall accept,  acquire and assume all of the
assets,  rights,  and  properties  used  or  held  for  use in the  contemplated
operation  and  conduct  of the  Contributed  Business  of every  kind,  nature,
character and  description,  tangible and intangible,  real,  personal or mixed,
wherever located other than the Excluded Assets;  and which conveyance,  subject
to Section 2.2, shall include, without limitation, the following:

         (a) All right,  title and interest of the Contributor and any Affiliate
thereof in the parcels of land  described  as fee  property on Schedule  2.1(a),
together  with  all  buildings,  structures,  fixtures  and  other  improvements
situated  thereon and all right,  title and interest of the  Contributor and any
Affiliate thereof under easements, privileges, rights-of-way, riparian and other
water rights, lands underlying any adjacent streets or roads,  appurtenances and
licenses to the extent pertaining to or accruing to the benefit of the land (the
"Fee Interests");

         (b) All right,  title and interest of the Contributor and any Affiliate
thereof  under  the  leases  and  subleases,  all  amendments  thereto  and  all
agreements related thereto described on Schedule 2.1(b) (the "Leases"),  for the
use and  occupancy of the premises  described  therein (the "Leased  Premises"),
together  with  all  buildings,  structures,  fixtures  and  other  improvements
situated  thereon  and,  all rights and  interests  of the  Contributor  and any
Affiliate thereof under all easements, privileges,  rights-of-way,  riparian and
other water  rights,  appurtenances  and  licenses  pertaining  to the Leases or
accruing to the benefit of the tenant under the Leases (the "Leaseholds");

         (c) All right,  title and interest of the Contributor and any Affiliate
thereof,  if any, in lands, or real property of others,  used principally in the
normal  operation  and  conduct of the  Contributed  Business  (the  "Associated
Rights"),    including,   without   limitation,   all   contracts,    easements,
rights-of-way, permits, licenses and leases and other similar rights for related
equipment,  power and  communications  cables,  and other  related  property and
equipment  used   principally  in  the  normal  operation  and  conduct  of  the
Contributed Business;

         (d) All of the right,  title and  interest of the  Contributor  and any
Affiliate  thereof in and to the equipment,  furniture,  furnishings,  fixtures,
machinery,  Capital  Spares,  vehicles,  tools,  computers  and  other  tangible
personal  property used  principally in the normal  operation and conduct of the
Contributed  Business  including without limitation the items listed on Schedule
2.1(d),  (the  equipment  described  in this Section  2.1(d),  to be referred to
collectively  as the  "Equipment")  and all warranties and  guarantees,  if any,
express or implied, existing for the benefit of the Contributor or any Affiliate
thereof in connection with the Equipment to the extent assignable;

         (e) Subject, to the extent applicable, to Section 5.3, all (i) customer
lists,  customer  credit  information (to the extent neither the Contributor nor
any Affiliate  thereof is bound to any  confidentiality  obligation with respect
thereto),  customer payment histories and credit limits, vendor lists, catalogs,
and (ii)  Intellectual  Property  to the  extent  used or  contemplated  for use
principally  in the normal  operation  and  conduct  of (or to the extent  under
development for use  principally in the normal  operation and conduct of) or the
marketing  or  promotion  of,  the  Contributed  Business   (collectively,   the
"Unrecorded Assets");

         (f) All Contracts,  whether or not entered into in the ordinary  course
of business,  that relate principally to the normal operation and conduct of the
Contributed  Business,  or in the case of any  Contracts  under which either the
Contributor  or any Affiliate  thereof  retains rights with respect to its other
businesses,  to the extent any such  Contract  relates to the  operation  of the
Contributed  Business (all the foregoing  excluding  Government  Licenses,  but,
together with all agreements and instruments setting forth the Contributor's and
any of  its  Affiliates'  rights  with  respect  to  rights-of-way,  privileges,
riparian and other rights, appurtenances,  licenses or franchises and in respect
of intellectual  property rights,  in each case that constitute Assets described
in clauses (a) through (e), of this  Section 2.1 to be referred to  collectively
as the "Contributed Contracts");

         (g)  Any  Trademarks  to the  extent  used or  contemplated  to be used
principally in the normal operation and conduct of the Contributed Business (all
of the  items  referred  to in this  Section  2.1(g),  together  with the  items
referred  to in clause (ii) of Section  2.1(e),  collectively  the  "Contributed
Intellectual Property");

         (h)  All  Government Licenses  that  are  transferable  and as to which
Consents to transfer are obtained where required;

         (i)  The Inventory, Stores Inventory and Prepaid Expenses;

         (j)  Subject to Section 5.6, Accounts Receivable.

         (k)  All right, title and interest of the Contributor and any Affiliate
thereof  in  the  subsidiaries  listed  on  Schedule  2.1(k)  (the  "Contributed
Subsidiaries");

         (l)  All claims and rights against  third parties  (including,  without
limitation, insurance carriers, indemnitors, suppliers and service providers) to
the extent, but only to the extent that, they relate to the Assumed Liabilities;
provided,  however,  that  to the  extent  that  any  claims  or  rights  of the
Contributor  against any third parties are not assigned to the Partnership,  and
the partnership  incurs  Liabilities  that would create such claims or rights on
behalf of the Contributor,  the Contributor  shall enforce such claims or rights
for the  benefit  (and at the  cost) of the  Partnership  to the  extent  it may
lawfully do so; and

         (m) Any other asset of the Contributor or its Affiliate  contributed to
the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

         2.2  Excluded Assets.  It is expressly  understood  and agreed that the
Assets shall not include the following (the "Excluded Assets"):

         (a)  Except as  otherwise  provided  in Section  2.1(j),  cash and cash
equivalents  or similar  type  investments,  such as  certificates  of  deposit,
Treasury bills and other marketable securities;

         (b)  Except as may be agreed pursuant to Section  2.8(g), any assets of
any  qualified  or  non-qualified  pension  or welfare  plans or other  deferred
compensation arrangements maintained by the Contributor or any Affiliate thereof
for employees of the  Contributor or any Affiliate  thereof prior to the Closing
Date;

         (c)  Any of the  Contributor's  or any  Affiliate's  right,  title  and
interest in and to (i) the names and logos set forth on Schedule  2.2(c) and any
other statutory names, trade names or trademarks, indications or descriptions of
which such  names or any name  similar  thereto  forms a part and (ii) any other
trade names,  trademarks,  trademark  registrations  or trademark  applications,
copyrights,  copyright applications or copyright registrations or any derivative
thereof or design used in connection  therewith that are not used principally in
the normal  operation  and  conduct of and are not  uniquely  applicable  to the
Contributed Business;

         (d)  All claims and rights  against third parties  (including,  without
limitation,  insurance carriers, indemnitors,  suppliers and service providers),
to the extent they do not relate to the Assumed Liabilities;

         (e)  Claims for refunds of Taxes for time  periods  ending on or before
the Closing  Date,  which Taxes remain the liability of  Contributor  under this
Agreement;

         (f)  Subject to the Master Intellectual Property Agreement, any and all
of the Intellectual  Property and Trademarks of the Contributor or any Affiliate
thereof to the extent not used  principally in the normal  operation and conduct
of or to the extent not applicable to the Contributed Business;

         (g)  All items sold in the  ordinary  course of  business  prior to the
Closing Date, none of which individually or in the aggregate are material to the
normal operation and conduct of the Contributed Business; and

         (h)  The tangible assets, intangible assets, real properties, contracts
and rights, described in Schedule 2.2(h).

         2.3  Instruments of Conveyance and Assignment. On the Closing Date, the
Contributor shall:

         (a) deliver or cause to be  delivered to the  Partnership  (i) properly
executed and  acknowledged  warranty deeds, in  substantially  the form attached
hereto  as  Exhibit  A (the  "Deeds"),  for all  Fee  Interests  being  conveyed
hereunder,  (ii) assignments of lease for the Leases in  substantially  the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B, (the "Assignments of Lease"), (iii) a bill of sale
and assignment in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Bill
of Sale and  Assignment")  conveying  title to the  Assets  (other  than the Fee
Interests and Leaseholds) and assigning the Contracts, (iv) an assignment of the
trademarks  included in the Assets in substantially  the form attached hereto as
Exhibit D (the "Trademark  Assignment")  and (v) an assignment of patent rights,
licenses  and  applications  included  in the Assets in  substantially  the form
attached hereto as Exhibit E (the "Patent Assignment"); and

         (b)  transfer  to the  Partnership  the  originals  (to the  extent the
Contributor  or any  Affiliate  thereof  possesses  an original  and retained no
rights  thereunder  after the Closing Date) or copies,  as  appropriate,  of the
Contributed  Contracts  and the  originals  or copies,  as  appropriate,  of all
current  records,  files and other  data that  relate to the Assets and that are
necessary for  continuing  the normal  operation and conduct of the  Contributed
Business by the Partnership.

         2.4  Further Assurances.

         (a) On and from time to time after the Closing  Date,  the  Contributor
will execute and  deliver,  or cause to be executed  and  delivered,  such other
instruments of conveyance,  assignment, transfer and delivery as the Partnership
may  reasonably  request in order to  fulfill  and  implement  the terms of this
Agreement,  to vest in the  Partnership  title to the  Assets,  or to enable the
Partnership to realize the benefits intended to be afforded hereby.

         (b) On and from time to time after the Closing  Date,  the  Partnership
will execute and  deliver,  or cause to be executed  and  delivered,  such other
instruments of assumption,  conveyance,  assignment, transfer, power of attorney
or assurance as the Contributor  may reasonably  request in order to vest in the
Partnership  all of the Assumed  Liabilities  and to enable the  Contributor  to
realize the benefits intended to be afforded hereby.

         (c)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of this  Agreement  to the
contrary,  the Partnership  and the  Contributor  acknowledge and agree that any
Government  Licenses,  Contributed  Contracts or warranties which by their terms
require Consent from any other unaffiliated  contracting party thereto shall not
be assigned to the  Partnership  unless any such Consent has been obtained prior
to the Closing Date.  Following the Closing, the Partnership and the Contributor
shall  cooperate  with each  other and use  commercially  reasonable  efforts to
obtain those  Consents  that were not  obtained  prior to the Closing and (i) if
such  Consents  are obtained  following  the Closing,  the  Partnership  and the
Contributor  shall  execute and deliver  any other and  further  instruments  of
assignment,  assumption, transfer and conveyance and take such other and further
action as the  Partnership may request in order to assign to the Partnership any
Government Licenses,  Contributed Contracts or warranties to which such Consents
relate and (ii)  pending  such  transfer or issuance to the  Partnership,  shall
provide,  to the extent it may lawfully do so, the Partnership with the benefits
of any such Government Licenses,  Contributed Contracts or warranties,  in which
case,  the  Partnership  shall  promptly  assume and discharge (or reimburse the
Contributor or its Affiliate for) all  obligations  and  liabilities  associated
with  the  benefits  of  such  Government  Licenses,  Contributed  Contracts  or
warranties so made available to the  Partnership.  If the Contributor  obtains a
Consent to assign any Government  Licenses,  Contributed  Contract or warranties
after the  Closing,  each such  Government  Licenses,  Contributed  Contract  or
warranties shall be deemed to be assigned to the Partnership promptly after such
Consent is obtained.

         (d)  Following the Closing, the Contributor,  Contributing  Partner and
the Partnership  shall cooperate in good faith and in a commercially  reasonable
manner with respect to all matters pertinent to the carrying into effect of this
Agreement and the  discharge by each party of its  obligations  and  liabilities
hereunder  and  thereunder,  and shall  furnish to each other such  information,
cooperation and assistance as reasonably may be requested in connection with the
foregoing.

         2.5  Assumption of Liabilities.

         (a)  On the terms and subject to the conditions, including Section 6.2,
set forth in this  Agreement,  on the Closing Date, the debts,  liabilities  and
obligations of the  Contributor and its  Contributed  Subsidiaries  set forth in
this Section 2.5 shall be assumed by the Contributing Partner in connection with
the  transfer  of  Assets  to it and  shall be  assumed  by the  Partnership  in
connection with the transfer of Assets to it, and the Partnership agrees to pay,
perform and discharge all such debts, liabilities and obligations when due:

                   (i) All obligations  arising after the Closing Date under the
         Contracts  and Leases that are  assigned to the  Partnership  hereunder
         unless and to the extent that such obligation arises out of a violation
         of such Contract or Lease prior to the Closing Date;

                   (ii) All  obligations  under purchase  orders accepted by the
         Contributor or its  Contributed  Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
         business of the Contributed Business prior to the Closing Date that are
         not filled as of the Closing Date;

                   (iii) Current accrued expenses  related to employee  vacation
         and lag-week accruals for employees that become Partnership Employees;

                   (iv) All  obligations  and  liabilities,  of  every  kind and
         nature,  without  limitation,  arising  out of, in  connection  with or
         related to the  ownership,  operation  or use after the Closing Date of
         the Assets or the Contributed Business;

                   (v)  Seven  Year  PCCL  Claims to the  extent  the  aggregate
         thereof does not exceed  $7,000,000;  

                   (vi) Third Party Claims that are related to Pre-Closing 
         Contingent  Liabilities and that are first asserted seven years or more
         after the Closing Date;

                   (vii)   The obligations for indebtedness described on
         Schedule 2.5(a)(vii);

                   (viii)  [Reserved];

                   (ix) All Liabilities  associated with products sold after the
         Closing Date regardless of when manufactured;

                   (x)     The long-term liabilities set forth on Schedule 
         2.5(a)(x); and

                   (xi)  Any  other  Liability   specifically   assumed  by  the
         Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

The  liabilities and  obligations  assumed by the  Partnership  pursuant to this
Section are  sometimes  hereinafter  referred to  collectively  as the  "Assumed
Liabilities."

         (b)  On  the  Closing  Date,  the  Partnership  shall  deliver  to  the
Contributor an instrument of assumption of the Assumed Liabilities substantially
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the "Assumption Agreement").

         2.6  Excluded  Liabilities.   Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this  Agreement  (including,  without  limitation,  Sections 6.2 and 7.2) or the
Assumption  Agreement,  the Partnership is assuming only the Assumed Liabilities
and is not assuming any other  liability or obligation of the Contributor or any
Affiliate thereof, of whatever nature, whether presently in existence or arising
hereafter,  whether known or unknown, or whether absolute or contingent, and all
such other  liabilities  and  obligations of the  Contributor  and any Affiliate
thereof  that are not  Assumed  Liabilities  shall  be  retained  by and  remain
obligations  and  liabilities  of the  Contributor  or such  Affiliate (all such
liabilities  and   obligations   being  herein  referred  to  as  the  "Excluded
Liabilities"), including the following:

                   (i)  Any Pre-Closing Contingent Liability that is not an 
         Assumed Liability;

                   (ii) any  obligation or liability  relating  to  the Excluded
         Assets; and

                   (iii)  any  obligation  (A)  for  the  payment  of  severance
         benefits  to  employees  of the  Contributor  or any of its  Affiliates
         except as set forth in Sections  2.8(b) or (c), or (B)  attributable to
         Contributor's  or any of its  Affiliates'  employment  of any employee,
         agent or independent contractor prior to the Closing Date.

         2.7   Master Intellectual Property Agreement.

         On the Closing Date, the Partnership and Contributor  shall execute and
deliver a master  intellectual  property  agreement  (the  "Master  Intellectual
Property  Agreement")  in  substantially  the form attached  hereto as Exhibit G
providing, among other things, the following:

         (a)  Non-exclusive,  royalty-free  licenses to the  Partnership  of any
Intellectual Property and Trademarks used, contemplated for use or that could be
used,  in the  Contributed  Business  that is not  conveyed  to the  Partnership
pursuant to Section 2.1.

         (b)  Non-exclusive,  royalty-free  licenses to the  Contributor  or its
Affiliates of any Contributed  Intellectual Property acquired by the Partnership
pursuant to Section 2.1 of this  Agreement  used,  contemplated  for use or that
could be used in the business of the Contributor or its Affiliates.

         (c) The  assignment  of the  Contributed  Intellectual  Property to the
Partnership.

         2.8   Employee Matters.  If the Closing Date occurs prior to January 1,
1998, the effective employment date shall be January 1, 1998 and the Contributor
and the Partnership  shall enter into an agreement to provide employee  services
to the Partnership through December 31, 1997.

         (a) At or prior to the Closing,  the Partnership  shall determine which
employees of the Contributor or any Affiliate thereof will be offered employment
by the Partnership. Any such employee that accepts such offer is herein called a
"Partnership Employee." Partnership Employees shall be employed effective on (i)
January 1,  1998,  or (ii) if the  Closing  Date is after  January 1, 1998,  the
Closing Date.

         (b) If, within six months after the Closing Date or in  anticipation of
Closing,  the Contributor or any Affiliate  thereof  terminates  (other than for
cause) the  employment  of any  employee  of the  Contributor  or any  Affiliate
thereof who is primarily  associated with the Assets or the Contributed Business
but who does not become a Partnership Employee, then the Partnership will pay to
the  Contributor  an  amount  equal to the Basic  Severance  to the  extent  the
Contributor or any Affiliate  thereof pays the Basic Severance to such employee.
"Basic  Severance"  means two weeks of base pay for each full year of service by
the employee with the  Contributor or any Affiliate (or  predecessors of either,
to the extent service therefor is credited by the Contributor),  subject to a 52
week maximum and a 12 week minimum; provided,  however, that with respect to any
employee who has an employment  agreement that contains provisions providing for
one or more  payments  in the event of a change in control  of the  Contributor,
"Basic  Severance"  means  up  to 52  weeks  of  base  pay  notwithstanding  the
employee's years of service.

         (c) Any  Partnership  Employee  whose  employment  is terminated by the
Partnership  (other than for cause)  within six months  after the  Closing  Date
shall be entitled to receive a severance  benefit from the Partnership  equal to
the Basic  Severance  (which,  for purposes of calculating  service time,  shall
include the employee's time of service with the  Contributor,  its  predecessors
(to  the  extent  service  therefor  is  credited  by the  Contributor)  and the
Partnership).

         (d) Any  employees  of the  Contributor  that the  Partnership  and the
Contributor  agree are  necessary  for the orderly  transfer of the  Contributed
Business  to the  Partnership  but who will  not  become  Partnership  Employees
("Transition  Employees")  shall be compensated by the  Contributor on terms and
conditions  and for a  duration  to be agreed  upon by the  Partnership  and the
Contributor. The Partnership shall reimburse the Contributor for any such agreed
upon   compensation,   including  payroll  taxes,   benefit  costs  and  workers
compensation  premiums and claims, paid by the Contributor to or with respect to
any Transition Employee.

         (e) If any employee of the  Contributor  is eligible for and  receiving
short  term  disability  benefits  or sick  pay as of the  Closing  Date and the
Partnership  has offered  such  employee  employment  by the  Partnership,  that
employee  shall become  employed by the  Partnership  (and become a  Partnership
Employee for purposes of this Section 2.8) upon  eligibility to return to active
employment  with  the  Contributor  under  the  applicable   conditions  of  the
Contributor's  short  term  disability  benefits  or sick pay plan.  Partnership
employment  shall not be  effective  until  the  Contributor  verifies  that the
employee has satisfied the conditions  (if any) to return to active  employment.
Until such time as such employee becomes a Partnership  Employee the Contributor
shall continue to bear all costs and expenses associated with such employee.

         (f) Neither the  Contributor  nor any of its Affiliates  shall,  at any
time prior to 60 days after the Closing Date,  effect a "plant closing" or "mass
layoff",  as those terms are  defined in the Worker  Adjustment  and  Retraining
Notification  Act of 1988 ("WARN"),  affecting in whole or in part any facility,
site of employment,  operating unit or employee of the Contributor or any of its
Affiliates  without  complying  fully with the  notice and all other  applicable
requirements of WARN.

         (g) In connection  with the  development by the  Partnership of benefit
plans  and  programs  for  Partnership  Employees  as  provided  in  the  Master
Transaction Agreement,  (i) the Contributor may direct the trustee of any of its
employee  plans to  transfer  assets and  liabilities  in those  employee  plans
associated  with the accrued  benefits of Partnership  Employees to a comparable
Partnership  benefit plan in which the Partnership  Employees  participate,  and
(ii) the  Contributor  or any of its  Affiliates  may direct the  trustee of its
grantor trust to transfer  assets and  liabilities  relating to any accounts for
Partnership Employees under an executive deferral plan to a trust established by
the Partnership to provide  benefits under a comparable  non-qualified  deferred
compensation plan;  provided,  however,  with respect to (i) and (ii) above, the
assets associated with any such plans, as of the Closing Date, are not less than
the  liabilities  associated  therewith as determined by the  Partnership  and a
trust to trust  transfer  of  assets  does not  result in a  taxable  event.  In
connection with the development and  implementation  of such plans and programs,
the  Partnership  agrees,  for purposes of calculating  service time, to include
each employee's time of service with the  Contributor,  its predecessors (to the
extent service therefor is credited by the Contributor) or the Partnership.

         (h) To the extent that the Partnership adopts benefit plans or policies
that contemplate the provision of  post-retirement  life and medical benefits to
the  Partnership  Employees,  the  Partnership  shall record and  recognize,  in
accordance with GAAP, the associated liability for providing the post-retirement
life and medical benefits to the Partnership Employees.

         2.9       Joint Contracts.

         (a) Any Contributed  Contracts  contributed to the Partnership pursuant
to Section 2.1 that relate  principally  to the  Contributed  Business  but also
relate to the business (other than the Contributed  Business) of the Contributor
or its Affiliates  will be made available to the  Contributor and its Affiliates
by the  Partnership  pursuant  to  the  Shared  Services  Agreements  and  other
arrangements by which the Contributor and its Affiliates will enjoy the benefits
of such  Contributed  Contracts as they relate to their business (other than the
Contributed Business) on the same terms and conditions as the Partnership.

         (b) Any Contracts that relate  principally to the business  (other than
the  Contributed  Business) of the Contributor or its Affiliates but also relate
to the  Contributed  Business will be made  available to the  Partnership by the
Contributor or its  Affiliates  pursuant to the Shared  Services  Agreements and
other  arrangements  by which the  Partnership  will enjoy the  benefits of such
Contracts  as they  relate to the  Contributed  Business  on the same  terms and
conditions as the Contributor or its Affiliates.


                                    SECTION 3
                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CONTRIBUTOR
                -------------------------------------------------

         Except  as  set  forth  on  Schedule  3 or  in  the  SEC  Reports,  the
Contributor represents and warrants to the Partnership as follows:

         3.1  Due Organization;  Good Standing  and Power.  The Contributor is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease
and  operate  the  properties  to be  contributed  hereunder  and to conduct the
Contributed  Business as now conducted by it. The  Contributor has all corporate
power  and  authority  to enter  into  this  Agreement  and the  Assignment  and
Assumption  Agreements and to perform its obligations  hereunder and thereunder.
The  Contributor is duly  authorized,  qualified or licensed to do business as a
foreign corporation,  and is in good standing, in the State of Texas and in each
of the other jurisdictions in which its right, title or interest in or to any of
the  Assets  held by it,  or the  conduct  of the  Contributed  Business  by it,
requires  such  authorization,  qualification  or  licensing,  except  where the
failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.2  Authorization and Validity of Agreements.  The execution, delivery
and  performance  of this  Agreement and the other  Related  Agreements by the s
Contributor and the consummation by it of the transactions  contemplated  hereby
and  thereby  have  been  duly  authorized  by the  Board  of  Directors  of the
Contributor.  Except to the extent  heretofore  obtained,  no other corporate or
stockholder action is necessary for the authorization,  execution,  delivery and
performance  by  the  Contributor  of  this  Agreement  and  the  other  Related
Agreements  and  the   consummation  by  the  Contributor  of  the  transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.  This Agreement and the other Related Agreements
have been duly executed and delivered by the Contributor  and constitute  legal,
valid and binding obligations of the Contributor, enforceable in accordance with
their  terms,  except  as the same may be  limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium  and other laws relating to or affecting  creditors'
rights generally and by general equity principles.

         3.3 No Consents  Required;  No Conflict with  Instruments  to which the
Contributor  is a  Party.  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of  this
Agreement  and  the  other  Related  Agreements  by  the  Contributor  or by any
Affiliate of the Contributor that is a party thereto and the consummation by the
Contributor or any such Affiliate of the transactions  contemplated  thereby (i)
will not require any Consent except for such Consents the failure of which to be
obtained or made,  would not in the  aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a
Material  Adverse Effect;  and (ii) will not violate (with or without the giving
of  notice or the lapse of time or both),  or  conflict  with,  or result in the
breach or  termination  of any provision of, or constitute a default  under,  or
result  in  the  acceleration  of the  performance  of  the  obligations  of the
Contributor  or any such  Affiliate  under,  or  result  in the  creation  of an
Encumbrance  upon any Assets or a portion of the Contributed  Business  pursuant
to, the  charter or by-laws of the  Contributor  or any such  Affiliate,  or any
indenture,  mortgage,  deed of  trust,  lease,  licensing  agreement,  contract,
instrument or other  agreement to which the Contributor or any such Affiliate is
a party or by which the  Contributor  or any such Affiliate or any of the Assets
held by the  Contributor  or any  such  Affiliate  is  bound,  except  for  such
violations,  conflicts,  breaches,  terminations,   defaults,  accelerations  or
Encumbrances  which would not in the aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         3.4  Employee Benefits.

         (a)  (i)  Each  of  the  Contributor's   Defined  Benefit  and  Defined
         Contribution  Pension Plans covering employees  ("Employee Plan") is in
         substantial compliance with applicable  requirements  prescribed by any
         and all Legal  Requirements,  including,  but not  limited to the Code,
         except  for  violations  the  occurrence  of  which  would  not  in the
         aggregate  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.
         Each  Employee  Plan that is intended  to be  qualified  under  Section
         401(a) of the Code currently has a favorable  determination letter from
         the  Internal  Revenue  Service as to that Plan's  qualification  under
         Section  401(a) of the Code and nothing has occurred  since the date of
         such letter that could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such
         qualification.

              (ii)  The Contributor  has  in  all  material  respects  performed
         all  obligations  required to be performed by it under ERISA,  the Code
         and any other applicable Legal Requirements and under the terms of each
         Employee  Plan,  except such failures to perform which would not in the
         aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
         Contributor  has  received no written  notice of the  existence  of any
         material  default or  violation by any other party of any of such Legal
         Requirements,  terms or requirements  applicable to any of the Employee
         Plans.

               (iii)  Other  than  routine claims  for benefits, the Contributor
         has not received any written notice of any pending  material  claims or
         lawsuits  which have been  asserted  or  instituted  against any of the
         Employee  Plans,  the assets of the trust or funds  under the  Employee
         Plans,  the sponsor or  administrator  of any of the Employee Plans, or
         against any fiduciary of any of the Employee  Plans with respect to the
         operation of such Plan.

               (iv)  The  Contributor  has  not  received any  written notice of
         any pending  investigation or pending enforcement action by the Pension
         Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation,  the Department of Labor,  the Internal
         Revenue  Service  or any other  Authority  with  respect  to any of the
         Employee Plans.

               (v)   All contributions  required  to be made  under the terms of
         the  Contributor's  Employee  Plans have been timely made.  No Employee
         Plan has an  "accumulated  funding  deficiency"  (within the meaning of
         section 412 of the Code or Section 402 of ERISA).

         (b) All of the  Contributor's  "group health plans" (within the meaning
of Code Section  5000(b)(1))  have been operated in substantial  compliance with
the group health plan continuation coverage requirements of Section 4980B of the
Code and  Sections  601  through 608 of ERISA,  Title XXII of the Public  Health
Service Act and the provisions of the Social Security Act.

         (c) There has been no act or omission by the Contributor that has given
rise to or may give rise to material fines, penalties, taxes, or related charges
under Section  502(c),  (i) or (l) or Section 4071 of ERISA or Chapter 43 of the
Code or the  imposition of a lien  pursuant to Sections  401(a)(29) or 412(n) of
the Code or pursuant to ERISA.

         3.5       Title to Assets; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances.

         (a) The  Contributor  has good and  marketable  title to all of the Fee
Interests described in the Deeds, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except (i)
those  exceptions  contained in the Deeds,  (ii) liens for current taxes not yet
due and  payable  and  mechanics  and  similar  statutory  liens  arising in the
ordinary  course of business,  (iii) liens of employees and laborers for current
wages  not  yet  due;  (iv)  building,  zoning  and  health  regulations  of the
jurisdictions  in which the Assets are located;  and (v) such  imperfections  of
title, easements and Encumbrances, if any, as do not in the aggregate materially
detract  from the value or  materially  interfere  with the use of the Assets as
they are currently  being used or as otherwise  would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) The  Contributor  is the sole lessee  under the Leases and the sole
party entitled to the Leasehold interests in favor of the lessee thereunder, and
the sole owner of the  improvements  situated on the Leased  Premises,  free and
clear of all Encumbrances affecting the Leaseholds except such Encumbrances,  if
any, as do not in the aggregate  materially detract from the value or materially
interfere  with the use of the Assets or as otherwise  would not  reasonably  be
expected  to  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Neither  Contributor  nor  any
Affiliate  thereof has  received  from or  delivered  to the  lessors  under the
Leaseholds  any written  notice of  termination  or threat of termination of the
respective Leaseholds.  True and complete copies of all written lease agreements
(including any written  amendments or modifications  thereof)  constituting,  or
evidencing the terms of, the Leaseholds have been delivered to the  Partnership.
No material  default or event of default on the part of the  Contributor nor any
Affiliate  thereof under the provisions of any of the  Leaseholds,  and no event
that with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would  constitute such
default or event of default on the part of the Contributor,  has occurred (which
default or event of default has not been cured). Neither the Contributor nor any
Affiliate  thereof has  received  any written  notice from any lessor  under any
Leasehold,  that any  material  default  or event of  default on the part of the
Contributor or such Affiliate as lessee under the provisions of any  Leaseholds,
or that any event  that with the  giving  of notice or  passage  of time or both
would  constitute  such a  default  or an  event of  default  on the part of the
Contributor or any such  Affiliate,  as lessee,  has occurred  (which default or
event of default has not been cured). No material default or event of default on
the part of the lessor under the  provisions of any of such  Leaseholds,  and no
event that with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would constitute
such  default or event of default on the part of any such  lessor,  has occurred
(which default or event of default has not been cured).

         (c) The  Contributor  or an Affiliate  thereof has good title to all of
the  personal  property  purported  to be  owned by it,  free  and  clear of all
Encumbrances,  except  for  liens for  Taxes  not yet due and  payable  and such
Encumbrances,  if any, that do not in the aggregate  materially detract from the
value or materially  interfere with the use of the Assets (as they are currently
being used) or as otherwise  would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         3.6  Title Matters;  Defects in Improvements.  There are no trespassers
or other adverse  parties in possession on or affecting the Fee Interests or the
Leased  Premises that would  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  Neither the Contributor nor any Affiliate  thereof has granted and none
of the foregoing is party to any unrecorded  options,  rights of refusal,  sales
contracts  or other  such  contractual  rights  in favor  of any  third  parties
relating to the Fee Interests or the Leased Premises. No written notice has been
received by the Contributor or any Affiliate  thereof from any insurance company
with respect to the Fee Interests or the Leased Premises or by any board of fire
underwriters  claiming any material  defects or  deficiencies  or requiring  the
performance  of any repairs,  replacement,  alteration or other work relating to
the improvements situated thereon (in each case, which have not been cured).

         3.7  Working Capital.   The Contributor has  operated  the  Contributed
Business in the ordinary  course of business  from March 31, 1997 to the Closing
Date such that the Inventory,  Stores  Inventory,  Prepaid Expenses and Accounts
Receivable, as of the Closing Date, are at substantially the same level as would
have existed for the Contributor without regard to the transactions contemplated
by the Master Transaction Agreement.
        
         3.8  Technology and Similar Rights. The Contributor owns or is licensed
to use  all of the  Intellectual  Property,  Licensed  Technology  and  Licensed
Trademarks,  and the  Intellectual  Property,  Licensed  Technology and Licensed
Trademarks   together   constitute   all  relevant   patents,   pending   patent
applications,   invention  disclosures,  copyrights,  software,  trade  secrets,
technical information,  technology, know-how, processes, tradenames, trademarks,
trademark registrations or applications,  copyrights,  copyright applications or
registrations or any derivative  thereof or design used in connection  therewith
necessary for the normal operation and conduct of the Contributed Business as it
is  currently  operated  and  conducted,  except  where the failure to have such
ownership  or  licenses  would not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         3.9  Government Licenses, Permits and Related Approvals. The Government
Licenses  constitute all those necessary for the normal operation and conduct of
the Contributed Business as it is currently operated and conducted, except where
the failure to have such Government Licenses would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.10  All Necessary Assets. The Assets together  with the rights  under
the Related  Agreements  constitute  all property and other rights  necessary to
enable the  Partnership  to operate  and  conduct  the  Contributed  Business in
substantially  the same manner as it is being operated and conducted on the date
of this  Agreement,  except in all cases where the failure of the Partnership to
acquire such  property or other rights by conveyance or license would not in the
aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.11 Conduct of Business in Compliance  with Regulatory and Contractual
Requirements.  The  Contributor,  and any  Affiliate  thereof,  is operating and
conducting the  Contributed  Business in compliance  with all  applicable  Legal
Requirements,  rights of  concession,  licenses,  know-how or other  proprietary
rights of others,  the failure to comply with which would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.12  Legal Proceedings.  There is  no litigation,  proceeding,  claim,
grievance,  arbitration,  investigation or other action to which the Contributor
or any Affiliate  thereof is a party (i) that is pending or, to the Knowledge of
the Contributor,  threatened, (ii) that relates in any way to the Assets, to the
operation  or  conduct  of the  Contributed  Business,  or to  the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement,  and (iii)  that upon  resolution  adverse  to
Contributor  or any of its  Affiliates,  could  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         3.13  Consents.  Except for the Consents  set forth in Schedule  4.2(e)
of the  Master  Transaction  Agreement,  there are no  Consents  required  to be
obtained by the  Contributor  or any of its  Affiliates in  connection  with the
transfer of the Assets or the Contributed  Business to the Partnership except to
the extent the failure to obtain such Consent would not be reasonably  likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect.






         3.14  Tax Matters.

         (a) There are no material liens for Taxes (other than for current Taxes
not yet due and payable) upon the Assets.

         (b) None of the Assets directly or indirectly  secures any indebtedness
for money borrowed the interest on which is tax-exempt.

         3.15  [Reserved]

         3.16  HSE Matters.  Except as would not be reasonably likely to have  a
Material Adverse Effect:

         (a) (i) The Fee  Interests,  the Leased  Premises and the operations of
the  Contributor  and any Affiliate  thereof in connection  with the Contributed
Business are in compliance  with all HSE Laws and (ii) to the extent arising out
of the  Contributor's  or any  Affiliate's  ownership  or use of the  Assets  or
operation of the Contributed  Business,  there are no Chemical  Substances held,
located, released,  generated, treated, stored or disposed of, on, under or from
the Fee  Interests  or the Leased  Premises  or in, on or from any  fixtures  or
improvement thereon in excess of any standard prescribed or permitted by any HSE
Laws or which require  corrective or other action  pursuant to the provisions of
any HSE Laws.

         (b) Neither the  Contributor  nor any Affiliate has received any notice
from any  federal,  state,  or  local  agency  naming  the  Contributor  or such
Affiliate as a potentially responsible party ("PRP"), or otherwise notifying the
Contributor  or such  Affiliate  of any  potential  liability  under  either the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended,  ("CERCLA" or "Superfund"),  the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
of 1976, as amended  ("RCRA"),  or any state statute,  rule or local  regulation
imposing  liability  similar  to CERCLA or RCRA that  relates  in any way to any
Chemical  Substances  generated  by or derived  from the  operations  on the Fee
Interests,  or the  Leased  Premises;  nor  has the  Contributor  nor any of its
Affiliates received any comparable claim or notice from any private party.

         (c) The Contributor or an Affiliate  thereof,  as applicable,  has been
and is, in compliance with, all permits,  licenses,  approvals,  permission,  or
authorizations  necessary for its operations in connection  with the Contributed
Business to comply in all respects with HSE Laws.

         (d) (i) Neither the Contributor nor any Affiliate  thereof has received
written notice of any actual, impending, or potential proceedings,  allegations,
claims, losses,  actions,  investigations or inquiries of any kind in connection
with  the  Contributed  Business  and HSE  Laws  or  Chemical  Substances  ("HSE
Proceedings") and (ii) neither the Contributor nor any Affiliate thereof has any
Knowledge of any facts,  events or occurrences that would reasonably be expected
to result in any HSE Proceedings being brought.

         (e) Neither the Contributor  nor any Affiliate  thereof is party to, or
is subject to the terms of, any consent order, consent judgment, consent decree,
court or administrative order or judgment, agreement, schedule, or decree issued
by any Authority with respect to the Contributed Business.

         3.17  Investigation to Acquire Knowledge.  Each of the persons  covered
by the  definition  of  "Knowledge"  set forth in Section 1 has  reviewed,  with
counsel to the Contributor,  the other  representations and warranties contained
in, and the  Schedules  that relate to,  this  Section 3 to the extent that they
relate to such  person's  area of  responsibility  or  expertise  and has made a
reasonable inquiry as to the accuracy and completeness of such  representations,
warranties and Schedules.

                                    SECTION 4
                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP
                -------------------------------------------------

         The Partnership represents and warrants to the Contributor as follows:

         4.1  Due Organization;  Good Standing and Power.  The  Partnership is a
limited partnership duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the State
of Delaware.  The Partnership  has all partnership  power and authority to enter
into  this  Agreement  and the  other  Related  Agreements  and to  perform  its
obligations  hereunder  and  thereunder.  The  Partnership  is duly  authorized,
qualified  or licensed to do business as a foreign  partnership,  in each of the
jurisdictions  in which its right,  title or interest in or to any asset, or the
conduct  of  its  business,   requires  such  authorization,   qualification  or
licensing,  except  where the  failure to so  qualify  would not have a material
adverse  effect on the ability of the  Partnership  to perform  its  obligations
hereunder or under the Assignment and Assumption Agreements.

         4.2  Authorization and Validity of Agreement.  The execution,  delivery
and  performance  of this  Agreement  and the other  Related  Agreements  by the
Partnership  and  the  consummation  by  the  Partnership  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and  thereby  have been duly  authorized  by all  necessary
partnership  action on the part of the Partnership.  No other partnership action
is necessary for the authorization,  execution,  delivery and performance by the
Partnership of this Agreement, the other Related Agreements and the consummation
by the  Partnership of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby.  This
Agreement and the other Related Agreements have been duly executed and delivered
by the Partnership and constitute  legal,  valid and binding  obligations of the
Partnership,  enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the same may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium and other laws
relating to or  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  and by general  equity
principles.

         4.3 No Consents  Required;  No Conflict with  Instruments  to which the
Partnership  is a  Party.  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of  this
Agreement  and  the  other  Related   Agreements  by  the  Partnership  and  the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby (i) will not require
any  Consent  except for such  Consents  the  failure of which to be obtained or
made,  would not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Partnership's ability to perform its obligations hereunder
or  thereunder,  and (ii) will not violate (with or without the giving of notice
or the  lapse of time or  both),  conflict  with,  or  result  in the  breach or
termination of any provision of, or constitute a default under, or result in the
acceleration of the performance of the obligations of the Partnership under, the
partnership agreement of the Partnership,  or any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of
trust, lease,  licensing agreement,  contract,  instrument or other agreement to
which  the  Partnership  is a party or by which  the  Partnership  or any of its
assets or properties is bound, except for such violations,  conflicts, breaches,
terminations,  defaults, accelerations or liens which would not in the aggregate
reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse  effect on the  Partnership's
ability to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

                                    SECTION 5
                      COVENANTS SUBSEQUENT TO CLOSING DATE
                      ------------------------------------

         5.1  Access to Information. Following the Closing Date, the Partnership
shall afford,  and will cause its Affiliates to afford, to the Contributor,  its
counsel,  accountants  and  other  authorized  representatives,   during  normal
business hours,  reasonable  access to the books,  records and other data of the
Contributed  Business  with respect to the period prior to the Closing Date (and
any  personnel  familiar  therewith)  to the  extent  that  such  access  may be
reasonably  required by the Contributor to facilitate (i) the preparation by the
Contributor  of such tax returns as it may be  required to file with  respect to
the operations of the Assets and the Contributed  Business or in connection with
any audit,  amended  return,  claim for refund or any  proceeding  with  respect
thereto, (ii) the investigation,  litigation and final disposition of any claims
which may have been or may be made against the  Contributor  in connection  with
the  Assets and the  Contributed  Business,  (iii) the  payment of any amount in
connection  with any  liabilities or obligations  which have not been assumed by
the Partnership under this Agreement and (iv) for any other reasonable  business
purpose.  For a  period  of ten  years  after  the date of this  Agreement,  the
Partnership  will not dispose of,  alter or destroy any such books,  records and
other data without giving 90 days' prior notice to the Contributor to permit it,
at its  expense,  to  examine,  duplicate  or  repossess  such  records,  files,
documents and correspondence.

         5.2   Mail or  Other  Communications.  The  Contributor  authorizes and
empowers the  Partnership  on and after the Closing Date to receive and open all
mail received by the  Partnership  relating to the  Contributed  Business or the
Assets  and to deal  with the  contents  of such  communications  in any  proper
manner.  The Contributor  shall promptly  deliver to the Partnership any mail or
other  communication  received by it on and after the Closing Date pertaining to
the Contributed Business or the Assets and any cash, checks or other instruments
of payment to which the Partnership is entitled.  The Partnership shall promptly
deliver to the Contributor any mail or other communication  received by it after
the Closing Date pertaining to the Excluded Assets or Excluded Liabilities,  and
any cash, checks or other instruments of payment in respect of such.

         5.3  Use of Contributor's Trade Name.  Except  as set forth on Schedule
2.2(d),  after the Closing  Date the  Partnership  shall be permitted to use any
items of Inventory or packaging  material,  any sales or promotional  materials,
any  forms or  documents  or any  other  printed  material  that  bears the name
"Lyondell" or other statutory names,  trade names or trademarks,  indications or
descriptions  of which such names or any name similar thereto forms a part until
the earlier to occur of (i) such time as inventory of such materials existing as
of the Closing Date are used, or (ii) two years after the Closing Date.

         5.4  Closing Date  Balance Sheet.   Not later  than 60  days after  the
Closing Date, the  Contributor  shall cause Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.  to prepare
and deliver to the  Contributor  and the Partnership an audited balance sheet of
the  Contributed  Business as of the Closing  Date (the  "Closing  Date  Balance
Sheet").

         5.5  Payment of Retained Accounts Payable.  The Contributor will retain
all  accounts  payable  including   Retained   Accounts  Payable;   however  the
Partnership,  as payment  agent of the  Contributor,  shall pay such  amounts on
behalf of the  Contributor on a timely basis.  As soon as practicable  following
the end of each month after which such Retained Accounts Payable are paid by the
Partnership,  but in any event within  fifteen days after the end of such month,
each Contributor  will reimburse the Partnership for such payments  attributable
to its Contributed Business.

         5.6  Collection of Accounts Receivable.  The Partnership shall take all
commercially reasonable efforts to collect the Accounts Receivable;  however, to
the extent any Accounts  Receivable  set forth on the Closing Date Balance Sheet
are not collected within 180 days after the Closing Date by the Partnership, the
Contributor will buy such uncollected  Accounts  Receivable from the Partnership
at the  amount set forth on the  Closing  Date  Balance  Sheet.  Collections  on
Accounts  Receivable  shall be applied on a specific  identification  basis. The
Partnership  will  report  monthly  in  writing to  Contributor  on the  amounts
collected  during the  preceding  month,  and shall  provide an aging summary of
uncollected  accounts and a detailed  description of each problem account (45 or
more days overdue).  On reasonable notice to the Partnership,  Contributor shall
have the right to take over the collection process for any problem account.

         5.7  Reimbursement  for  Prepaid  Expenses.  The  Partnership  and  the
Contributor   acknowledge  that  the  Prepaid   Expenses   attributable  to  its
Contributed  Business have been conveyed to the  Partnership  solely in order to
facilitate the timely and efficient transfer of the Contributed  Business to the
Partnership.  Consequently,  the Partnership shall reimburse the Contributor for
the Prepaid  Expenses  associated with its Contributed  Business (other than the
prepaid expenses for "turnaround" costs) within 10 days following the receipt of
the Closing Date Balance Sheet.


                                    SECTION 6
                          SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
                          ----------------------------

         6.1  Survival Limitations.   The representations  and warranties of the
parties  hereto  contained  in this  Agreement  or in any  certificate  or other
writing  delivered  pursuant hereto or in connection  herewith shall survive the
Closing  until the date that is 60 months  after the  Closing  Date,  except (i)
Section 3.14, which shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute
of limitations and (ii) Section 3.5, which shall survive without  limitation and
shall not be merged with the Deeds. No action can be brought with respect to any
breach of any  representation  or warranty  (except with respect to Section 3.5)
pursuant to this  Agreement  unless a written  notice that complies with Section
6.3 has been  delivered  pursuant to such Section 6.3 prior to the expiration of
the survival period applicable to such representation or warranty; provided that
upon the giving of such  notice,  notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this
Agreement the representation and warranty that is the basis of such action shall
continue with respect to such action beyond the time at which the representation
and warranty would otherwise terminate.

         6.2  Indemnification.

         (a) Subject to the other  provisions of this Section 6, the Contributor
hereby agrees,  to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Partnership and its Affiliates and their respective
officers,  directors and employees  from,  against and in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, fines, penalties,  assessments by public agencies,  settlement,
cost or  expenses  (including  costs of defense and  attorneys'  fees) and other
liabilities  (any of the foregoing being a "Liability")  incurred or suffered by
the Partnership or any of its Affiliates,  arising out of, in connection with or
relating to:

                   (i) Any misrepresentation in or breach of the representations
         and  warranties  of the  Contributor  or any of its  Affiliates in this
         Agreement,  the  Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreements,   the  Master
         Intellectual Property Agreement, or the Master Transaction Agreement;

                   (ii) Any failure of the  Contributor or any of its Affiliates
         to  perform  any of its  covenants  or  obligations  contained  in this
         Agreement,  the  Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreements,   the  Master
         Intellectual Property Agreement, or the Master Transaction Agreement;

                   (iii)   Excluded Liabilities;

                   (iv)  Any  Pre-Closing  Contingent  Liability  that is not an
         Assumed Liability; or

                   (v) Any  action by the  Contributor  or its  Affiliates  that
         results  in the  occurrence  of a  "Designated  Event"  as such term is
         defined in the  Contributor's  or its  Affiliates'  1989  Indenture and
         Medium Term Notes described in Schedule 2.5 but only to the extent that
         the  Partnership  incurs an economic  loss  directly as a result of the
         occurrence of the "Designated Event" and in such case the Contributor's
         or its Affiliates'  indemnification obligation is limited to the amount
         of such economic loss;

provided,   however,   that  the  following   limitations  shall  apply  to  the
Contributor's indemnification obligations in clauses (i) and (iv) above:

                   (A)  the  Contributor  shall  not  have  any  indemnification
         obligation under clause (i) and (iv) above for any individual Liability
         unless the amount of such Liability  exceeds  $25,000 (the  "Individual
         Basket") (it being  understood  that all  Liabilities  arising from the
         same event, condition or set of circumstances shall be considered as an
         individual  Liability  for  purposes of such  calculation),  but if the
         amount of such  Liability  exceeds the  Individual  Basket,  the entire
         amount  of  such  Liability,   including  the  first  $25,000  of  such
         Liability, may be the subject of indemnification  hereunder;  provided,
         further,  that the parties agree that the amount of Liability for which
         indemnification  may be  sought  for  breach of any  representation  or
         warranty under clause (i) above shall be calculated taking into account
         the  Individual  Basket  but  without  regard to any  qualification  or
         exception   regarding    materiality   or   Material   Adverse   Effect
         qualification  contained in such  representation  or warranty (it being
         understood   that  such   materiality   or  Material   Adverse   Effect
         qualifications  shall apply for purposes of  determining  whether there
         has  been  such a  breach  in the  first  place,  but  once it has been
         established  that  there is such a  breach,  the  Partnership  shall be
         entitled to indemnity relating back to the first dollar); and

                   (B) to the extent any  misrepresentation  in or breach of the
         representations   and  warranties  of  the  Contributor  results  in  a
         Liability of the  Partnership  in excess of the  Individual  Basket and
         such  Liability   would  also   constitute  a  Pre-Closing   Contingent
         Liability,  such  misrepresentation  or breach  shall be  treated  as a
         Pre-Closing Contingent Liability.

         (b)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY OTHER  PROVISION  OF THIS  AGREEMENT,  TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW, NEITHER THE CONTRIBUTOR NOR ANY OF ITS AGENTS,
EMPLOYEES,  REPRESENTATIVES  OR  AFFILIATES  SHALL BE LIABLE FOR  CONSEQUENTIAL,
INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH DIRECT CLAIMS BY THE
PARTNERSHIP  (I.E., A CLAIM BY THE PARTNERSHIP THAT DOES NOT SEEK  REIMBURSEMENT
FOR A THIRD  PARTY  CLAIM PAID OR PAYABLE BY THE  PARTNERSHIP)  WITH  RESPECT TO
THEIR  INDEMNIFICATION  OBLIGATIONS  UNDER THIS AGREEMENT  UNLESS ANY SUCH CLAIM
ARISES OUT OF THE FRAUDULENT  ACTIONS OF THE  CONTRIBUTOR.  IN  DETERMINING  THE
AMOUNT OF ANY LOSS, LIABILITY,  OR EXPENSE FOR WHICH THE PARTNERSHIP IS ENTITLED
TO  INDEMNIFICATION  UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE GROSS  AMOUNT  THEREOF  WILL BE
REDUCED  (BUT NOT  BELOW  ZERO)  BY THE NET  PRESENT  VALUE  OF ANY  CORRELATIVE
INSURANCE  PROCEEDS  ACTUALLY  REALIZED BY THE PARTNERSHIP UNDER POLICIES TO THE
EXTENT THAT THE FUTURE PREMIUM RATE WILL NOT BE INCREASED BY CLAIM EXPERIENCE.

         (c)   Notwithstanding   the   provisions  of  Sections   6.2(a)(i)  and
6.2(a)(iv), it is expressly agreed that the Contributor shall not be required to
indemnify the Partnership  for any Liability  arising out of, in connection with
or  related  to  any  HSE  Claim  to  the  extent  that  the  condition,  event,
circumstance  or other basis for the HSE Claim was exacerbated or accelerated by
the  Partnership.  The  Partnership  shall not be deemed to have  exacerbated  a
condition,  event, circumstance or other basis for an HSE Claim by reason of the
continuance  thereof  after  the  Closing  (i)  under  circumstances  where  the
Partnership  does not know of its  existence and has not breached any legal duty
to have  conducted an  investigation  or inquiry that would have  uncovered  the
matter  or (ii)  under  circumstances  where  the  Partnership  does know of its
existence but is taking commercially reasonable actions to cure the matter or to
otherwise achieve compliance in a commercially reasonable and prudent manner.

         (d) Subject to the other  provisions of this Section 6, the Partnership
hereby indemnifies,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Contributor and
its Affiliates against and agrees to hold each of them harmless from any and all
Liability  incurred  or  suffered by the  Contributor  or any of its  Affiliates
arising out of or relating to:

                   (i) Any misrepresentation in or breach of the representations
         and warranties of the  Partnership or the failure of the Partnership to
         perform any of its covenants or obligations contained in this Agreement
         and the Assignment and Assumption Agreements or the Master Intellectual
         Property Agreement;

                   (ii)    Assumed Liabilities; or

                   (iii)  Any  HSE  Claim  to  the  extent  arising  out  of the
         Partnership's exacerbation or acceleration of such HSE Claim.

         (e)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY OTHER  PROVISION  OF THIS  AGREEMENT,  TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW, NEITHER THE PARTNERSHIP NOR ANY OF ITS AGENTS,
EMPLOYEES,  REPRESENTATIVES  OR  AFFILIATES  SHALL BE LIABLE FOR  CONSEQUENTIAL,
INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH DIRECT CLAIMS BY THE
CONTRIBUTOR  WITH  RESPECT  TO  THEIR  INDEMNIFICATION  OBLIGATIONS  UNDER  THIS
AGREEMENT  UNLESS ANY SUCH CLAIM  ARISES  OUT OF THE  FRAUDULENT  ACTIONS OF THE
PARTNERSHIP.  IN DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF ANY LOSS,  LIABILITY,  OR EXPENSE FOR
WHICH THE CONTRIBUTOR IS ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION  UNDER THIS AGREEMENT,  THE
GROSS  AMOUNT  THEREOF  WILL BE REDUCED  (BUT NOT BELOW ZERO) BY THE NET PRESENT
VALUE OF ANY CORRELATIVE INSURANCE PROCEEDS ACTUALLY REALIZED BY THE CONTRIBUTOR
UNDER  POLICIES TO THE EXTENT THE FUTURE  PREMIUM  RATE WILL NOT BE INCREASED BY
CLAIM EXPERIENCE.

         (f) The rights provided to the Partnership  pursuant to this Section 6,
as limited  by and  subject to the  provisions  of this  Section 6, shall be the
Partnership's  sole  remedy  for breach of  representation  and  warranty  by or
covenant or obligation of the Contributor  under this Agreement,  the Assignment
and Assumption  Agreements and the Master Intellectual  Property Agreement.  The
rights provided to the Contributor pursuant to this Section 6, as limited by and
subject to the  provisions  of this Section 6, shall be the  Contributor's  sole
remedy for breach of representation and warranty by or covenant of obligation of
the Partnership under this Agreement,  the Assignment and Assumption  Agreements
and the Master Intellectual Property Agreement.

         6.3   Procedures.

         (a)  Any  Person  seeking   indemnification   under  Section  6.2  (the
"Indemnified  Party")  agrees to give prompt written notice to the party against
whom  indemnity  is sought (the  "Indemnifying  Party") of the  assertion of any
claim that does not involve a Third Party Claim,  which notice shall describe in
reasonable  detail the nature of the claim, an estimate of the amount of damages
attributable  to  such  claim  to the  extent  feasible  and  the  basis  of the
Indemnified  Party's request for  indemnification  under this Agreement.  If the
Indemnifying  Party  disputes such claim and such dispute is not resolved by the
parties, such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with Section 7.9.

         (b) If an  Indemnified  Party is  notified of a Third Party Claim which
may give rise to a claim for  indemnification  against  any  Indemnifying  Party
under this  Section,  then the  Indemnified  Party  shall  promptly  notify each
Indemnifying  Party  thereof in writing  (including  copies of all papers served
with  respect to such  Third  Party  Claim),  which  notice  shall  describe  in
reasonable detail the nature of the Third Party Claim, an estimate of the amount
of damages  attributable to the Third Party Claim to the extent feasible and the
basis  of  the  Indemnified  Party's  request  for  indemnification  under  this
Agreement;  provided  that any  failure  to timely  give such  notice  shall not
relieve the  Indemnifying  Party of any of its obligations  under this Section 6
except to the extent that such failure  prejudices  or impairs,  in any material
respect, any of the rights or obligations of the Indemnifying Party.

         (c) Any  Indemnifying  Party may, and at the request of the Indemnified
Party  shall,  participate  in and  control the defense of the Third Party Claim
with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. The
Indemnified  Party shall have the right to employ  separate  counsel in any such
action and to participate in the defense  thereof,  but the fees and expenses of
such  counsel  shall be at the expense of the  Indemnified  Party unless (i) the
employment   thereof  has  been  specifically   authorized  in  writing  by  the
Indemnifying Party, (ii) the Indemnifying Party failed to assume the defense and
employ counsel or failed to diligently prosecute or settle the Third Party Claim
or (iii) there shall exist or develop a conflict that would  ethically  prohibit
counsel to the Indemnifying  Party from  representing the Indemnified  Party. If
requested by the Indemnifying  Party, the Indemnified  Party agrees to cooperate
with the Indemnifying  Party and its counsel in contesting any Third Party Claim
that the Indemnifying Party elects to contest, including, without limitation, by
making any  counterclaim  against the person or entity asserting the Third Party
Claim or any cross-complaint  against any person or entity, in each case only if
and to the extent that any such counterclaim or cross-complaint  arises from the
same  actions or facts giving rise to the Third Party  Claim.  The  Indemnifying
Party  shall  be the  sole  judge  of the  acceptability  of any  compromise  or
settlement of any claim,  litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnity
may be sought  hereunder,  provided  that the  Indemnifying  Party will give the
Indemnified   Party  reasonable  prior  written  notice  of  any  such  proposed
settlement  or  compromise  and will not consent to the entry of any judgment or
enter into any  settlement  with  respect to any Third Party  Claim  without the
prior written consent of the Indemnified  Party, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld.  The  Indemnifying  Party (if the  Indemnified  Party is  entitled  to
indemnification  hereunder)  shall  reimburse  the  Indemnified  Party  for  its
reasonable out of pocket costs incurred with respect to such cooperation.

         (d) If the  Indemnifying  Party  fails to assume the defense of a Third
Party Claim within a reasonable  period after receipt of written notice pursuant
to the first sentence of subparagraph (c), or if the Indemnifying  Party assumes
the defense of the  Indemnified  Party  pursuant to  subparagraph  (c) but fails
diligently  to prosecute or settle the Third Party Claim,  then the  Indemnified
Party  shall  have the  right to  defend,  at the sole cost and  expense  of the
Indemnifying  Party (if the  Indemnified  Party is entitled  to  indemnification
hereunder),  the  Third  Party  Claim  by  all  appropriate  proceedings,  which
proceedings shall be promptly and vigorously prosecuted by the Indemnified Party
to a final conclusion or settled.  The Indemnified Party shall have full control
of such defense and proceedings;  provided that the Indemnified  Party shall not
settle such Third Party Claim  without the written  consent of the  Indemnifying
Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld. The Indemnifying Party
may participate in, but not control, any defense or settlement controlled by the
Indemnified  Party pursuant to this Section,  and the  Indemnifying  Party shall
bear its own costs and expenses with respect to such participation.

         (e)  Notwithstanding  the other  provisions of this Section 6.3, if the
Indemnifying  Party disputes its potential  liability to the  Indemnified  Party
under  this  Section  6.3  and if such  dispute  is  resolved  in  favor  of the
Indemnifying  Party,  the  Indemnifying  Party shall not be required to bear the
costs and expenses of the Indemnified  Party's defense  pursuant to this Section
6.3 or of the  Indemnifying  Party's  participation  therein at the  Indemnified
Party's  request,  and the Indemnified  Party shall  reimburse the  Indemnifying
Party in full for all costs  and  expenses  of the  litigation  concerning  such
dispute.  If a dispute  over  potential  liability  is  resolved in favor of the
Indemnified  Party, the Indemnifying Party shall reimburse the Indemnified Party
in full for all costs of the litigation concerning such dispute.

         (f) After it has been  determined,  by  acknowledgment,  agreement,  or
ruling of court of law, that an Indemnifying  Party is liable to the Indemnified
Party under this Section 6, the Indemnifying Party shall pay or cause to be paid
to the Indemnified Party the amount of the Liability within ten business days of
receipt by the Indemnifying Party of a notice reasonably itemizing the amount of
the  Liability  but  only  to  the  extent  actually  paid  or  suffered  by the
Indemnified Party.

         (g) In the event a Third Party Claim is brought in which the  liability
as between the  Partnership and the Contributor is alleged to be joint (it being
agreed that any Third Party Claim related to a Pre-Closing  Contingent Liability
shall be deemed joint) or in which the entitlement to indemnification under this
Section 6 has not been  determined,  the Partnership  and the Contributor  shall
cooperate in the joint defense of such Third Party Claim and shall offer to each
other such  assistance  as may  reasonably  be  requested in order to ensure the
proper and adequate  defense of any such  matter.  Such joint  defense  shall be
under the general  management and  supervision of the party which is expected to
bear the greater share of the  liability,  unless  otherwise  agreed;  provided,
however,  that neither party shall settle or  compromise  any such joint defense
matter without the consent of the other, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed. Any uninsured costs of such joint defense shall be borne as
the parties may agree, provided, however, that in the absence of such agreement,
the defense costs shall be borne by the party  incurring  such costs;  provided,
further,   that,   if  it  is   determined   that  one  party  was  entitled  to
indemnification  under this Section 6, the other party shall reimburse the party
entitled to  indemnification  for all of its costs  incurred in connection  with
such defense.

         6.4  Subrogation.  In the event  of  any  payment  by  an  Indemnifying
Party to an Indemnified Party in connection with any Liability, the Indemnifying
Party shall be  subrogated  to and shall  stand in the place of the  Indemnified
Party as to any events or  circumstances  in  respect  of which the  Indemnified
Party may have any right or claim against any third party relating to such event
or indemnification.  The Indemnified Party shall cooperate with the Indemnifying
Party in any reasonable manner in prosecuting any subrogated claim.

         6.5  Claims for HSE Work.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Section  6,  in the  case  of any  assertion,  claim  or  demand  requiring  the
performance  of  investigatory,   removal  or  remedial  work  with  respect  to
(environmental  conditions,  HSE  Laws or  Chemical  Substances  for  which  the
Partnership may seek  indemnification,  the Partnership  shall have the right to
conduct and control such work provided (i) it uses its good faith,  commercially
reasonable  efforts to achieve the Lowest Cost Response and (ii) it provides the
Contributor  with the opportunity to: (A) review and comment upon any work plans
for any remedial action prior to  finalization  and  implementation;  (B) attend
meetings  with  regulators  concerning  the  remedial  action;  and  (C)  have a
representative present during the performance of any remedial action.

         6.6  EXTENT OF  INDEMNIFICATION.  WITHOUT  LIMITING  OR  ENLARGING  THE
SCOPE OF THE  INDEMNIFICATION,  RELEASE  AND  ASSUMPTION  OBLIGATIONS  SET FORTH
HEREIN,  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW, AN INDEMNIFIED  PARTY SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO  INDEMNIFICATION  HEREUNDER  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH THE TERMS  HEREOF,
REGARDLESS  OF  WHETHER  THE   INDEMNIFIABLE   LOSS  GIVING  RISE  TO  ANY  SUCH
INDEMNIFICATION  OBLIGATION IS THE RESULT OF THE SOLE, GROSS,  ACTIVE,  PASSIVE,
CONCURRENT  OR  COMPARATIVE  NEGLIGENCE,  STRICT  LIABILITY  OR  OTHER  FAULT OR
VIOLATION OF ANY LAW OF OR BY ANY SUCH INDEMNIFIED PARTY. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT
THIS STATEMENT CONSTITUTES A CONSPICUOUS LEGEND.

                                    SECTION 7
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

         7.1  Construction.  In  construing this  Agreement, the following prin-
ciples shall be followed: (i) no consideration shall be given to the captions of
the  articles,  sections,   subsections  or  clauses,  which  are  inserted  for
convenience  in locating the  provisions of this  Agreement and not as an aid in
construction:  (ii) no  consideration  shall be given to the fact or presumption
that any of the parties had a greater or lesser hand in drafting this Agreement;
(iii) examples shall not be construed to limit, expressly or by implication, the
matter they illustrate; (iv) the word "includes" and its syntactic variants mean
"includes,   but  is  not  limited  to"  and  corresponding   syntactic  variant
expressions;  (v) the plural shall be deemed to include the  singular,  and vice
versa;  (vi) each gender shall be deemed to include the other gender;  and (vii)
each exhibit,  appendix,  attachment and schedule to this Agreement is a part of
this Agreement.

         7.2  Payment of Certain Expenses and Taxes.

         (a)  Subject  to the  further  provisions  of  this  Section  7.2,  the
Contributor shall be responsible for all Taxes attributable to the Contributor's
ownership or use of the Assets or operation of the Contributed Business prior to
the Closing and the Partnership shall be responsible for all Taxes  attributable
to  the  Partnership's  ownership  or  use of the  Assets  or  operation  of the
Contributed Business after the Closing. The Contributor shall be responsible for
any  liability of the  Partnership  pursuant to Texas Tax Code  Section  111.020
(including interest, penalties and attorneys' fees in connection therewith) with
respect to any amounts owed or owing by the Contributor under Title 2, Texas Tax
Code.

         (b) All sales,  transfer, or other similar taxes incurred in connection
with  the  transfer  of the  Assets  shall  be  borne  by the  Partnership.  The
Partnership,  the Contributor and the Contributing Partner shall cooperate fully
with each other after the Closing in  connection  with (i) the  preparation  and
filing of any tax return,  exemption certificate,  or other filing in connection
with such taxes,  and (ii) any audit  examination by any taxing Authority of the
tax returns, exemption certificates, or other filings referred to above.

         (c) All real property taxes, personal property taxes, ad valorem taxes,
and other similar  taxes (or payments in lieu of such taxes)  assessed on any of
the Assets in the tax period in which the Closing  Date  occurs  (other than the
Inventory Taxes referred to in Section 7.2(d) below) ("Property Taxes") shall be
prorated between the Partnership and the Contributor as of the Closing.

         (d) All real property taxes, personal property taxes, ad valorem taxes,
and other  similar  taxes (or  payments in lieu of such  taxes)  assessed on the
Inventory or Stores Inventory in the tax period in which the Closing Date occurs
("Inventory Tax") shall be payable by the Contributor.

         (e)  The  Partnership  shall  pay  any  title  or  recordation  fees in
connection with the transfer of the Assets.  The Partnership  shall also pay for
any title insurance  policies or surveys of the Fee Interests that are requested
or ordered by the Partnership.

         (f) After the Closing,  the Contributor  receiving each Property Tax or
Inventory  Tax bill or notice  applicable  to the Assets for the period in which
the Closing Date occurred shall promptly  notify the  Partnership  and shall pay
each such tax bill prior to the last day such taxes may be paid without  penalty
or interest.  The  Partnership  shall  promptly on receipt of a written  request
(accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation) reimburse the paying party
with respect to the Partnership's share of such amount so paid as provided under
this Agreement.  The Contributor and the Partnership  shall cooperate fully with
each other on and after  Closing with respect to any Property Tax  assessment or
valuation (or protest in  connection  therewith)  by any taxing  Authority  with
respect to the tax period in which the Closing Date occurs.

         (g) If either party  receives a refund of any Taxes for which the other
is liable or responsible  under this Agreement,  the party receiving such refund
shall,  within 30 days after the receipt of such  refund,  remit it to the party
who is liable.

         (h)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this  Agreement,   the
obligations of the parties set forth in this Section 7.2 shall be  unconditional
and absolute and shall remain in effect until audit,  assessment  and collection
of any such taxes are barred by the applicable statute of limitations.

         7.3  Notices. All notices,  requests, demands and other  communications
which are required or may be given under this Agreement  shall unless  otherwise
provided for elsewhere in this  Agreement,  be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if and when (i)  transmitted  by telecopier  facsimile with
proof of  confirmation  from the  transmitting  machine,  or (ii)  delivered  by
courier or other hand delivery, as follows:

         (a)       If to the Contributor:

                   Lyondell Petrochemical Company
                   1221 McKinney Street
                   Houston, Texas 77010
                   Attention: Jeffrey R. Pendergraft
                   Telecopy Number: (713) 652-4538

         (b)       If to the Contributing Partner:

                   Lyondell Petrochemical L.P. Inc.
                   1221 McKinney Street
                   Houston, Texas 77010
                   Attention: Jeffrey R. Pendergraft
                   Telecopy Number: (713) 652-4538

         (c)       If to the Partnership:

                   Equistar Chemicals, LP
                   1221 McKinney Street
                   Houston, Texas 77010
                   Attention: Gerald A. O'Brien
                   Telecopy Number: (713) 309-4718

or to such other address or telecopy number as either party shall have specified
by notice in writing to the other party. All such notices, requests, demands and
communications shall be deemed to be effective upon receipt.

         7.4  [Reserved].

         7.5   Subject to Section 7.7, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be  binding  upon the  parties  hereto  and  their  respective  permitted
successors  and assigns.  Nothing in this  Agreement,  expressed or implied,  is
intended  to  confer  on any  Person  other  than the  parties  hereto  or their
respective permitted successors and assigns, any rights,  remedies,  obligations
or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

         7.6  Occasional and Bulk Sales.  To the extent applicable, the Partner-
ship and the Contributor each agree to waive, to the fullest extent permitted by
law,  compliance  by the other with the  provisions of the Bulk Sales Law of any
jurisdiction.

         7.7  Assignability.  Neither  this Agreement nor any  of  the rights or
obligations  hereunder shall be assignable (by operation of law or otherwise) by
the Contributor or the Contributing Partner without the prior written consent of
the Partnership or shall be assignable (by operation of law or otherwise) by the
Partnership  (except to a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  thereof)  without the prior
written consent of the  Contributor.  Any assignment or purported  assignment in
violation of this Section shall be null and void.

         7.8  Amendment; Waiver.  This  Agreement may  be amended,  supplemented
or  otherwise  modified  only by a written  instrument  executed  by the parties
hereto.  No  waiver  by any  party  of any of the  provisions  hereof  shall  be
effective  unless  explicitly  set forth in writing and executed by the party so
waiving.  Subject to the agreements and obligations of the Partnership hereunder
or under applicable Legal  Requirements,  no  investigations  by the Partnership
heretofore or hereafter made shall affect the  representations and warranties of
the  Contributor,  and,  except as  otherwise  provided  in  Section  6.1,  such
representations and warranties shall survive any such investigation.  The waiver
by any party  hereto of a breach of any  provision of this  Agreement  shall not
operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

         7.9  Dispute Resolution.  All disputes  under this  Agreement  shall be
resolved in  accordance  with the  Dispute  Resolution  Procedures  set forth in
Appendix A.

         7.10  Severability.  In the event that any provisions of this Agreement
shall finally be determined to be unlawful, such provision shall, so long as the
economic and legal  substance  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby is not
affected in any materially  adverse manner as to Contributor,  the  Contributing
Partner or the  Partnership,  be deemed  severed from this  Agreement  and every
other provision of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

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

         7.12  APPLICABLE  LAW.   THIS AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CON-
STRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE EXCLUDING CONFLICTS
OF LAW  PRINCIPLES  OF SUCH  JURISDICTION  EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH MATTERS ARE
MANDATORILY SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION  PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF
SUCH OTHER JURISDICTION.

         7.13   JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO  SERVICE   OF   PROCESS;   WAIVER.  ANY
JUDICIAL  PROCEEDING  BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DISPUTE
UNDER OR  ARISING  OUT OF OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY MATTER
RELATED  HERETO  SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE FEDERAL OR STATE COURTS OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT,  EACH OF THE PARTIES
TO  THIS  AGREEMENT  ACCEPTS  THE  EXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION  OF SUCH  COURTS  AND
IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT (AS FINALLY ADJUDICATED) RENDERED
THEREBY IN CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT  EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THIS AGREEMENT
RELATES TO THE  CONVEYANCE  OR  ASSIGNMENT OF ANY INTEREST IN REAL ESTATE OR THE
CREATION,  PERFECTION,  PRIORITY OR  FORECLOSURE  OF ANY LIEN ON ANY INTEREST IN
REAL ESTATE IN WHICH CASE, SUCH COURTS JURISDICTION SHALL BE NON-EXCLUSIVE. EACH
OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT  SHALL APPOINT THE  CORPORATION  TRUST COMPANY,
THE PRENTICE-HALL  CORPORATION SYSTEM, INC. OR A SIMILAR ENTITY (THE "AGENT") AS
AGENT TO RECEIVE ON ITS BEHALF  SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH
COURT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE BY ENTERING  INTO AN  AGREEMENT AS OF THE DATE OF
THIS  AGREEMENT  WITH THE  AGENT  TO SUCH  EFFECT.  THE  FOREGOING  CONSENTS  TO
JURISDICTION  AND  APPOINTMENTS OF AGENT TO RECEIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS SHALL NOT
CONSTITUTE  GENERAL  CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR
ANY PURPOSE EXCEPT AS PROVIDED ABOVE AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO CONFER RIGHTS ON
ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE PARTIES HERETO. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION
IT MAY HAVE BASED UPON LACK OF PERSONAL  JURISDICTION,  IMPROPER  VENUE OR FORUM
NON CONVENIENS.

         7.14   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  THE PARTNERSHIP, THE CONTRIBUTING PARTNER
AND  THE  CONTRIBUTOR  HEREBY  KNOWINGLY  AND  INTENTIONALLY,   IRREVOCABLY  AND
UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING  RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.





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



                                  LYONDELL PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY,     
                                  a Delaware corporation.


                                  By:    /s/ Dan F. Smith
                                  Name:    Dan F. Smith
                                  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  LYONDELL PETROCHEMICAL L.P. INC.,
                                  a Delaware corporation.


                                  By:    /s/ Dan F. Smith
                                  Name:    Dan F. Smith
                                  Title:   President


                                  EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP,
                                  a Delaware limited partnership.


                                  By:    /s/ Debra L. Starnes
                                  Name:    Debra L. Starnes
                                  Title:   Senior Vice President








                                   SCHEDULE A
                                   ----------


                  Lyondell will  contribute to the  Partnership  the Contributed
Business,   which  consists  of  the  production,   distribution   and  sale  of
petrochemicals  and  polymers.   Its  facilities  are  located  in  Channelview,
Matagorda County, Mont Belvieu, Pasadena and Victoria, Texas.

                  A more complete  description of the businesses which are owned
and operated by Lyondell is included in  Lyondell's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended  December 31, 1996 and Lyondell's  Quarterly  Reports on Form
10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1997 and June 30, 1997.





                                 Schedule 2.1(a)

                                  Fee Interests
                                  -------------


         The following are deeds that are to be transferred  to the  Partnership
for Fee Interests:

Bayport Facility
- ----------------
9802 Fairmont Parkway
Pasadena, TX 77505
Harris County

Channelview Facility
- --------------------
8280 Sheldon Road
Channelview, TX 77530
Harris County

Matagorda Facility
- ------------------
Highway 60
Bay City, TX 77414
Matagorda County

Mont Belvieu Facility
- ---------------------
11815 Highway 146
Mont Belvieu, TX 77580
Chambers County





                                 Schedule 2.1(b)

                                     Leases
                                     ------


         The following are leases that are to be assigned to the Partnership for
Leaseholds:

Alvin Facility
- --------------
FM 2004, P. O. Box 4000
Alvin, TX 77511
Brazoria County

Channelview Facility
- --------------------
8280 Sheldon Road
Channelview, TX 77530
Harris County

Chicago Facility
- ----------------
One Pierce Place #250W
Itasca, IL 60143
Dupage County

Philadelphia Facility
- ---------------------
1400 Morris Drive
Wayne, PA 19087
Collin County

Plano Facility
- --------------
2300 W. Plano Parkway #K1106
Plano, TX
Collin County

Victoria Facility
- -----------------
Old Bloomington Highway
Victoria, TX 75075
Victoria County





                                 Schedule 2.1(d)

                                    Equipment
                                    ---------


                  The equipment  set forth in the  Equipment  Listing dated July
31, 1997,  including all additions and deletions up to December 1, 1997,  copies
of which have been  initialed  by  representatives  of the  Contributor  and the
Partnership.





                                 Schedule 2.1(k)

                            Contributed Subsidiaries
                            ------------------------


         (i)      Lyondell Mont Belvieu Corporation

         (ii)     Lyondell Petrochemical de Mexico, Inc.

         (iii)    Lyondell Transportation Company






                                 Schedule 2.2(h)

                             Certain Excluded Assets
                             -----------------------


         (i)  Lyondell's  interest in and assets  associated  with the  methanol
business of Lyondell Methanol Company L.P. and the related hydrogen purification
and sales; (ii) certain technology rights (ARCO Technology  Licensing & Immunity
From Suit Agreements & prod flex technology (including Lyondell improvements))*;
(iii)  mainframe  leases  (computers & equipment);  (iv) mainframe  owned assets
(hardware & software);  (v) assets exclusively with Lyondell's ongoing corporate
operations,  including  equipment,  records,  computer hardware and software and
other personal  property and fixtures;  (vi)  Outstanding  claims related to Mt.
Belvieu  valve  failure  in 1996  and  Colonial  Pipeline  fire in  1995;  (vii)
Lyondell's  interest in the following  subsidiaries:  Lyondell Refining Company,
Lyondell General Methanol Company,  Lyondell Limited Methanol Company,  Lyondell
Petrochemical  L.P., Inc.,  Lyondell  Petrochemical  G.P. Inc. and Lyondell FSC,
Inc.; and (viii) the assets of Lyondell (or its Affiliates)  that are covered by
a Shared  Services  Agreement in which the service is to be provided by Lyondell
or its Affiliates to the Partnership.

*To be licensed  to the  Partnership  pursuant to  Master  Intellectual Property
 Agreement.





                                 Schedule 2.2(c)

               Excluded names, logos, tradenames, trademarks, etc.
               ---------------------------------------------------


(i)   All marks with "Lyondell", including Lyondell.com and all rights to "LYO";

(ii)  Synergist Logo





                              Schedule 2.5(a)(vii)

                              Assumed Indebtedness
                              --------------------


Public Debt

1989 Indenture             $150,000,000              Due June 1999

1992 Indenture             $100,000,000              Due March 2002

1996 Indenture             $150,000,000              Due February 2006
                           $150,000,000              Due February 2026

Medium Term Notes

$195,000,000                        Due Jan. 1998-March 2005






                               Schedule 2.5(a)(x)

                          Assumed Long-term Liabilities
                          -----------------------------


The  following  liabilities  related to (i) the  operations  of the  Contributed
Business or (ii) employees who will become employees of the Partnership:

                  Post-retirement  benefits  other than those related to Defined
                  Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plans.





                                   Schedule 3

                               Disclosure Schedule
                               -------------------

         The  Contributor  makes  no  exceptions  to  the   representations  and
warranties  made by it in Section 3 of this  Agreement  except for the following
exception to its representations made in Section 3.4 of this Agreement:

                  The Contributor has received a letter from the Pension Benefit
Guaranty  Corporation  (the "PBGC") dated October 31, 1997  expressing a concern
that the actions  contemplated  by the Agreement  would increase the risk to the
PBGC relating to the Lyondell Retirement Plan for Non-Represented  Employees. In
that letter,  the PBGC noted that it could seek to  involuntarily  terminate the
Plan prior to the Closing Date if it determined that the transaction would cause
the risk to the PBGC to increase unreasonably.  The letter went on to state that
this measure  would be viewed as a last resort and that the PBGC would prefer to
enter into a consensual agreement to protect the Plan.

                  The  Contributor  has  provided  the  PBGC  with   information
explaining  the  transaction  pursuant to a  Confidentiality  Agreement with the
PBGC. In addition,  the  Contributor  has met with  representatives  at the PBGC
regarding the  transaction  and those  representatives  have suggested  possible
consensual  arrangements  that  could be  acceptable  to the PBGC in lieu of any
attempt to terminate the Plan.






                                   Appendix A

                          Dispute Resolution Procedures
                          -----------------------------


         (1) Binding and Exclusive Means. The dispute resolution  provisions set
forth in this Appendix A shall be the binding and exclusive means to resolve all
disputes arising under this Agreement (each a "Dispute").

         (2) Standards and Criteria. In resolving any Dispute, the standards and
criteria  for  resolving  such dispute  shall,  unless the  Contributor  and the
Partnership in their discretion jointly stipulate otherwise,  be as set forth in
Appendix 1 to this Appendix A.

         (3) ADR and Binding  Arbitration  Procedures.  If a Dispute arises, the
following procedures shall be implemented:

         (a)  The  Indemnifying  Party  may  at  any  time  invoke  the  dispute
resolution  procedures  set  forth  in  this  Appendix  A as to any  Dispute  by
providing  written notice of such action to the  Indemnified  Party,  who within
five  Business  Days after such  notice  shall  schedule a meeting to be held in
Houston,  Texas between the parties.  The meeting shall occur within 10 Business
Days after  notice of the meeting is delivered to the  Indemnifying  Party.  The
meeting   shall  be   attended   by   representatives   of  each  party   having
decision-making   authority  regarding  the  Dispute  as  well  as  the  dispute
resolution process and who shall attempt in a commercially  reasonable manner to
negotiate a resolution of the Dispute.

         (b)  The   representatives   of  the  parties  shall   cooperate  in  a
commercially  reasonable  manner and shall explore  whether  techniques  such as
mediation,  minitrials,  mock trials or other techniques of alternative  dispute
resolution might be useful. In the event that a technique of alternative dispute
resolution is so agreed upon, a specific  timetable and completion  date for its
implementation  shall also be agreed upon. The representatives  will continue to
meet and discuss settlement until the date (the "Interim Decision Date") that is
the earliest to occur of the following events: (i) an agreement shall be reached
by the parties  resolving the Dispute;  (ii) one of the parties shall  determine
and notify the other party in writing that no agreement resolving the Dispute is
likely to be reached;  (iii) if a technique of alternative dispute resolution is
agreed upon, the completion date therefor shall occur without the parties having
resolved  the  Dispute;  or (iv) if another  technique  of  alternative  dispute
resolution is not agreed upon,  two full meeting days (or such other time period
as may be agreed  upon) shall  expire  without the parties  having  resolved the
Dispute.

         (c) If, as of the Interim Decision Date, the parties have not succeeded
in  negotiating  a resolution  of the dispute  pursuant to  subsection  (b), the
parties shall proceed under subsection (d).

         (d) The parties  shall jointly  appoint a Neutral.  If the parties have
been  unable to agree upon such  appointment  within 30 days  after the  Interim
Decision Date, then such Neutral,  upon the application of either of the parties
shall be  appointed  within  10 days of the  filing of such  application  by the
Center for Public Resources, or if such appointment is not so made promptly then
promptly  thereafter by the American  Arbitration  Association in  Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania,  or if such  appointment  is not so made  promptly  then  promptly
thereafter  by  the  senior  United  States  District  Court  judge  sitting  in
Wilmington,  Delaware.  The fees of the  Neutral  shall be paid  equally  by the
parties except that the Neutral shall have discretion to award fees.

         (e) In  consultation  with the Neutral,  the parties shall agree upon a
binding  schedule  and  procedure  (which  procedure  may have  been  previously
discussed  under  subsection (b)) to be used as a means to resolve or to attempt
to resolve  Dispute,  with the Neutral  making the  decision as to the  schedule
and/or procedure if the parties have been unable to agree on any of such matters
within 20 days after the initial selection of the Neutral.  The parties agree to
participate  in a  commercially  reasonable  manner  in  the  procedure  to  its
conclusion as determined  by the Neutral.  If the parties are not  successful in
resolving the Dispute through the procedure  described  above,  then the parties
agree that (i) the Neutral shall act as the arbitrator in a binding  arbitration
in accordance with the American Arbitration Association rules and shall render a
decision  and (ii)  judgment  upon the  decision  rendered by the Neutral may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction.

         (4)  Continuation  of Business.  Notwithstanding  the  existence of any
Dispute or the  pendency  of any  procedures  pursuant  to this  Appendix A, the
parties agree and undertake  that all payments not in dispute shall  continue to
be made and all obligations not in dispute shall continue to be performed.






                                   Appendix 1
                                   ----------


         (a) First priority shall be given to maximizing the  consistency of the
resolution of the Dispute with the  satisfaction  of all express  obligations of
the parties and their Affiliates as set forth in the Agreement.

         (b) Second  priority  shall be given to  resolution of the Dispute in a
manner  which best  achieves  the  objectives  of the  business  activities  and
arrangements under the Agreement and permits the parties to realize the benefits
intended to be afforded thereby.

         (c) Third priority shall be given to such other matters, if any, as the
parties  or  the  Neutral   shall   determine  to  be   appropriate   under  the
circumstances.






                                    Exhibit A

                                  Form of Deed
                                  ------------





                                    Exhibit B

                           Form of Assignment of Lease
                           ---------------------------





                                    Exhibit C

                       Form of Bill of Sale and Assignment
                       -----------------------------------





                                    Exhibit D

                          Form of Trademark Assignment
                          ----------------------------





                                    Exhibit E

                            Form of Patent Assignment
                            -------------------------





                                    Exhibit F

                          Form of Assumption Agreement
                          ----------------------------





                                    Exhibit G

                 Form of Master Intellectual Property Agreement
                 ----------------------------------------------