Document:

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                                                                EXHIBIT 10-C (a)

                                                  September 14, 1989
                                                  as amended June 11, 1998
                                                  and June 14, 2001

                           COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
               EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

1.   PURPOSE.
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     The purpose of the Colgate-Palmolive Company Executive Severance Plan (the
     "Plan") is to provide executives who are in a position to contribute
     materially to the success of Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Parent
     Company") or any company at least 80% of whose voting shares are owned
     directly or indirectly by it (collectively, the "Company") with reasonable
     compensation in the event of their termination of employment with the
     Company under the circumstances described herein.

2.   EFFECTIVE DATE.
     --------------

     The Plan, as amended and restated, is effective as of June 14, 2001.

3.   ADMINISTRATION.
     --------------

     The Plan shall be administered by a Committee. Committee shall mean (i)
     prior to a Change of Control, the Personnel and Organization Committee of
     the Board of Directors of the Parent Company (the "Board") as then
     constituted and (ii) following a Change of Control, the Committee described
     in (i) above, as constituted immediately before the Change of Control, with
     such changes in the membership thereof as may be approved from time to time
     following the Change of Control by a majority of the members of such
     Committee as constituted prior to the Change of Control. Notwithstanding
     any other provision of this Plan, neither the Board nor the Company shall
     have any right to appoint members to or to remove members from the
     Committee following, or otherwise in connection with, a Change of Control.
     Any interpretation of the Plan or construction of any of its provisions by
     the Committee shall be final.

4.   PARTICIPATION.
     -------------

     The Committee shall from time to time select the employees who are to
     participate in the Plan (the "Participants") from among those employees who
     are determined by the Committee to be in a position to contribute
     materially to the success of the Company. The Company shall advise each
     Participant of his participation in the Plan by a letter setting forth (i)
     the benefits to which the Participant would become entitled, (ii) the
     period, expressed in months, during or for which the Participant would
     become entitled to such benefits which period shall not be less than 12
     months nor more than
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     36 months (the "Earned Benefit Period") and (iii) such other terms,
     provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be
     determined by the Committee.

     A Participant shall cease to be a Participant in the Plan upon termination
     of employment with the Company or, if earlier, upon termination of the
     Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who terminates
     employment prior to termination of the Plan shall remain a Participant
     until receipt of all of the payments, if any, to which he is entitled under
     the terms hereof.

5.   PAYMENTS UPON QUALIFIED TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
     -------------------------------------------------

     In the event of a Participant's Qualified Termination of Employment, the
     Participant shall be entitled, as compensation for services rendered
     (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld)
     to:

     (a)  receive an amount equal to the product of (i) the sum of (A) the
          Participant's annualized Monthly Base Salary at the rate in effect
          immediately prior to a Qualified Termination of Employment pursuant to
          Section 8(a)(i) or immediately prior to an Adverse Change in
          Conditions of Employment, as the case may be, or, if higher, at the
          highest rate in effect during the 90-day period preceding the Change
          of Control plus any salary-related allocations that may be made to the
          Participant's account under the Company's Savings and Investment Plan
          for the year in which the Qualified Termination of Employment occurs
          (for purposes of this Plan, Monthly Base Salary shall mean regular
          monthly salary as indicated by the Company's payroll records) and (B)
          the higher of (X) the highest annual bonus award paid or payable to
          the Participant (either pursuant to the Company's Executive Incentive
          Compensation Plan, the Bonus Savings Account of the Company's Savings
          and Investment Plan (net of applicable gross-up) or other bonus,
          incentive or compensation plan of the Company or otherwise) for any
          year during the five-year period ending immediately prior to the year
          in which the Qualified Termination of Employment occurs (provided,
          however, that if such five-year period includes the year in which the
          Change of Control occurs, then the annual bonus paid or payable for
          such year shall be deemed to be the higher of the said bonus actually
          paid or payable and the bonus that would have been paid for such year,
          determined as if all earnings, profit and other goals (whether
          established for the Participant or the Company), if any, had been met
          for such year and as if the Participant's employment had continued
          through the end of such year on the same basis as immediately prior to
          the Change of Control) and (Y) the bonus that would have been paid to
          the Participant (either pursuant to the Company's Executive Incentive
          Compensation Plan, the Bonus Savings Account of the Company's Savings
          and Investment Plan (net of applicable gross-up) or other bonus,
          incentive or compensation plan of the Company or otherwise) for the
          year in which the Qualified Termination of Employment occurs,
          determined as if all earnings, profit or other goals (whether
          established for the Participant or the Company), if

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          any, had been met for such year and as if the Participant had
          continued to be employed by the Company through the end of such year
          on the same basis as immediately prior to a Qualified Termination of
          Employment pursuant to Section 8(a)(i) or immediately prior to an
          Adverse Change in Conditions of Employment, as the case may be, and
          (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in his
          Earned Benefit Period and the denominator of which is twelve,
          provided, however, that such resulting amount shall be reduced if and
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          to the extent required by the terms of Section 9 hereof; such amount
          shall be payable in an undiscounted cash lump sum within 30 days of
          the Participant's Qualified Termination of Employment;

     (b)  remain for his Earned Benefit Period an active Participant in all
          welfare benefit plans, including but not limited to plans providing
          life insurance, disability, accident, sickness, and/or medical
          benefits, in which, and on the same basis as, he was participating at
          the time of the Change of Control (or, if more favorable to the
          Participant, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to other
          key executives), but subject to any coordination of benefits
          provisions contained in such plans, or, alternatively, be provided
          with substantially similar benefits for such period; provided, in any
          case, that the Participant shall be required to make contributions to
          the cost of such plans or benefits and pay co-payments to the same
          extent and on the same basis as required before the Participant's
          Qualified Termination of Employment or, if more favorable to the
          Participant, as active employees who continue to participate in such
          welfare benefit plans during the Earned Benefit Period;

     (c)  receive a single cash lump sum within 30 days of the Participant's
          Qualified Termination of Employment equal to the excess of (i) over
          (ii) as described below:

          (i)  The present value of benefits under the Employees' Retirement
               Income Plan and the Supplemental Salaried Employees' Retirement
               Plan or any successor plans thereto to which the Participant
               would have been entitled commencing on the earliest date on which
               such benefits could have commenced if he had remained in the
               employ of the Company during the Earned Benefit Period or until
               age 65, whichever occurs first, based on his Recognized Earnings
               (as defined in the Employees' Retirement Income Plan) as
               determined most recently prior to the Qualified Termination of
               Employment and assuming for this purpose that all accrued
               benefits are fully vested and that benefit accrual formulas are
               no less advantageous to the Participant than those in effect
               during the 90-day period preceding the Change of Control;

          (ii) The present value, as of the Qualified Termination of Employment,
               of benefits to which the Participant would actually be entitled
               under the Employees' Retirement Income Plan and the Supplemental
               Salaried

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               Employees' Retirement Plan commencing on the earliest date on
               which such benefits could actually commence.

      The present-value amounts in (i) and (ii) above will be calculated based
      on the same methods and assumptions used when calculating lump sum amounts
      under the Supplemental Salaried Employees' Retirement Plan and inclusive
      of all subsidized forms of annuities under both the Employees' Retirement
      Income Plan and the Supplemental Salaried Employees' Retirement Plan.

6.   PAYMENTS UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL.
     -------------------------------

     In the event of a Change of Control of the Company (and whether or not the
     Participant's employment terminates), each Participant shall be entitled,
     as compensation for services rendered before the Change of Control,
     regardless of whether the Participant remains employed after the Change of
     Control (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be
     withheld) to:

     (a)  receive for the year in which the Change of Control occurs a bonus
          (either pursuant to the Company's Executive Incentive Compensation
          Plan, the Bonus Savings Account of the Company's Savings and
          Investment Plan or other bonus, incentive or compensation plan of the
          Company or otherwise) equal to the product of (i) the amount
          determined pursuant to Section 5(a)(i)(B)(Y), provided, however, that
          if no such goals have been established for such year, the amount
          determined pursuant to Section 5(a)(i)(B)(X), and (ii) a fraction, the
          numerator of which is the number of months (or part thereof) in the
          period beginning January 1 of the year in which the Change of Control
          occurs and ending on the date of the Change of Control and the
          denominator of which is twelve; such bonus shall be payable in cash
          not later than the 30/th/ day following the day on which the Change of
          Control occurs; and provided, further, that to the extent the
          Participant becomes entitled to another annual bonus based upon
          performance and/or service for the same period (or a longer period
          including such period), the amount thereof may be offset by the amount
          paid pursuant to this Section 6(a);

     (b)  receive within 30 days following the Change of Control, all
          compensation amounts that the Participant previously has elected to
          defer, unless the Company has established procedures to permit the
          Participant to elect, and the Participant has timely elected in
          accordance with those procedures, to have the normal payment schedule
          under the applicable deferred compensation plan or arrangement
          continue to apply following a Change of Control.

7.   EXERCISABILITY OF STOCK OPTIONS UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL.
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     In the event of a Change of Control, each stock option then held by a
     Participant that was granted under any of the Company's stock option plans
     (whether or not otherwise

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     exercisable as of such Change of Control and whether or not the
     Participant's employment terminates) that either was not granted in
     conjunction with a stock appreciation unit or was granted in conjunction
     with a stock appreciation unit whose value has been limited, shall become
     exercisable as of such Change of Control.

8.   QUALIFIED TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
     -----------------------------------

     (a)  Qualified Termination of Employment with respect to any Participant
          shall mean termination of employment of the Participant with the
          Company, other than as a consequence of the death or Disability of the
          Participant, within two years after a Change of Control of the
          Company,

          (i)  by the Company for any reason other than for Cause, or

          (ii) by the Participant by reason of an Adverse Change in Conditions
               of Employment.

     (b)  For the purpose of this Section, Cause shall mean serious, willful
          misconduct in respect of the Participant's obligations to the Company
          (including but not limited to final conviction for a felony or
          perpetration of a common-law fraud) that has resulted, or is likely to
          result, in material economic damage to the Company.

     (c)  An Adverse Change in Conditions of Employment shall mean the
          occurrence of any of the following events:

          (i)    the assignment to the Participant of any duties inconsistent in
                 any respect with the Participant's position (including status,
                 offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties
                 or responsibilities from those in effect immediately before the
                 Change of Control, or any other diminution in such position,
                 authority, duties or responsibilities (whether or not occurring
                 solely as a result of the Company's ceasing to be a publicly-
                 traded entity), excluding for this purpose an isolated,
                 insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and
                 that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of
                 notice thereof given by the Participant;

          (ii)   a reduction by the Company of the Participant's Monthly Base
                 Salary as in effect immediately preceding the Change of Control
                 or as the same may thereafter be increased from time to time;

          (iii)  failure by the Company to provide the Participant with
                 incentive compensation opportunities that are, in the
                 aggregate, at least as favorable (in terms of the value of the
                 opportunities and the difficulty of achieving any associated
                 goals) as those provided to the Participant immediately before
                 the Change of Control, or to provide the Participant with
                 employee

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               benefits that are, in the aggregate, at least as favorable as
               those provided to the Participant immediately before the Change
               of Control;

          (iv) the Company's requiring the Participant (a) to be based at an
               office located more than fifty (50) miles and at least twenty
               (20) additional miles from the place at which the Participant's
               principal residence was located immediately prior to the Change
               of Control, (b) to be based at a location other than the
               principal executive offices of the Company, if the Participant
               was based at the principal executive offices immediately
               preceding the Change of Control, or (c) to travel on Company
               business to a substantially greater extent than required
               immediately before the Change of Control.

A Participant's failure to object to a change described in (i), (ii), (iii) or
(iv) shall not constitute a waiver of such change as an Adverse Change in
Conditions of Employment.  Any good faith determination by a Participant of an
Adverse Change in Conditions of Employment shall be determinative.

     (d)  For purposes of the Plan, a Change of Control of the Company shall
          mean the happening of any of the following events:

          (i)  An acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
               meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
               Exchange Act of 1934) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership
               (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 20% or more of either (A) the
               then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
               "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting
               power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company
               entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
               "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); excluding, however, the
               following: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, other
               than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion
               privilege unless the security being so converted itself was
               acquired directly from the Company, (2) any repurchase by the
               Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or
               related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
               entity controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition pursuant
               to a transaction that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of
               subsection (iii) of this Section 8(d); or

          (ii) A change in the composition of the Board such that the
               individuals who, as of the Effective Date of the Plan, constitute
               the Board (such Board shall be hereinafter referred to as the
               "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
               majority of the Board; provided, however, that, for purposes of
               this Section 8(d) any individual who becomes a member of the
               Board subsequent to the Effective Date of the Plan, whose
               election, or

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               nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was
               approved by a vote of at least a majority of those individuals
               who are members of the Board and who were also members of the
               Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso)
               shall be considered as though such individual were a member of
               the Incumbent Board; provided, further, that any such individual
               whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either
               an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used
               in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities
               Exchange Act of 1934) or other actual or threatened solicitation
               of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
               Board shall not be so considered as a member of the Incumbent
               Board; or

        (iii)  The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or
               sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
               assets of the Company ("Corporate Transaction"); excluding,
               however, such a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (A) all
               or substantially all of the individuals and entities who are the
               beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company
               Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities
               immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially
               own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the
               outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power
               of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
               generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of
               the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction
               (including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of
               such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of
               the Company's assets either directly or through one or more
               subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
               ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of
               the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company
               Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (other than
               the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
               Company or such corporation resulting from such Corporate
               Transaction) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 20%
               or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock
               of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or
               the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of
               such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
               directors except to the extent that such ownership derives from
               ownership of a 20% or more interest in the Outstanding Company
               Common Stock and/or Outstanding Company Voting Security that
               existed prior to the Corporate Transaction, and (C) individuals
               who were members of the Incumbent Board will constitute at least
               a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
               corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or (iv)
               the approval by shareholders of a complete liquidation or
               dissolution of the Company.

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     (e)  Termination by the Company of a Participant's employment based on
          Disability shall mean termination because of absence from duties with
          the Company on a full-time basis for six consecutive months, as a
          result of the Participant's incapacity due to physical or mental
          illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician
          selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the
          Participant or the Participant's legal representative (such agreement
          as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably).

9.   EXCISE TAX PROVISION.
     --------------------

     (a)  Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding and except as
          set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any Payment
          would be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Participant shall be
          entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an
          amount such that after payment by the Participant of all taxes
          (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such
          taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any
          interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax
          imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Participant retains an amount
          of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the
          Payments (regardless of whether the Participant's employment has
          terminated). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
          9(a), if it shall be determined that the Participant is entitled to a
          Gross-Up Payment, but that the Parachute Value of Payments does not
          exceed 110% of the Safe Harbor Amount, then no Gross-Up Payment shall
          be made to the Participant and the Plan Payments, in the aggregate,
          shall be reduced (but not below zero) such that the Parachute Value of
          all Payments equals the Safe Harbor Amount, determined in such a
          manner as to maximize the Value of all Payments actually made to the
          Participant.

     (b)  Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all determinations required
          to be made under this Section 9, including whether and when a Gross-Up
          Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the
          assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be
          made by Arthur Andersen LLP (the "Accounting Firm") which shall
          provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the
          Participant within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the
          Participant that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is
          requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is
          serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group
          effecting the Change of Control, the Participant may (but shall not be
          required to) appoint another nationally-recognized accounting firm to
          make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm
          shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees
          and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the
          Company. Subject to Section 9(e) below, any Gross-Up Payment, as
          determined pursuant to this Section 9, shall be paid by the Company to
          the Participant within five days of the receipt of the Accounting

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          Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall
          be binding upon the Company and the Participant. As a result of the
          uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue
          Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code") at the time of
          the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is
          possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the
          Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
          calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the
          Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 9(c) and the
          Participant thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise
          Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the
          Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be
          promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Participant.

     (c)  The Participant shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by
          the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the
          payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification
          shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business
          days after the Participant is informed in writing of such claim and
          shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on
          which such claim is requested to be paid. The Participant shall not
          pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following
          the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter
          period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to
          such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Participant in writing
          prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such
          claim, the Participant shall:

          (i)    give the Company any information reasonably requested by the
                 Company relating to such claim,

          (ii)   take such action in connection with contesting such claim as
                 the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to
                 time, including, without limitation, accepting legal
                 representation with respect to such claim by an attorney
                 reasonably selected by the Company,

          (iii)  cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively
                 to contest such claim, and

          (iv)   permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating
                 to such claim;

          provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all
          costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties)
          incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold
          the Participant harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or
          income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto)
          imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and
          expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this
          Section 9(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in

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          connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or
          forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
          conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and
          may, at its sole option, either direct the Participant to pay the tax
          claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible
          manner, and the Participant agrees to prosecute such contest to a
          determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of
          initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the
          Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company
          directs the Participant to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the
          Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Participant,
          on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Participant
          harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
          (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with
          respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with
          respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of
          the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the
          taxable year of the Participant with respect to which such contested
          amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
          amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be
          limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be
          payable hereunder and the Participant shall be entitled to settle or
          contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal
          Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

     (d)  If, after the receipt by the Participant of an amount advanced by the
          Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the Participant becomes entitled to
          receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Participant shall
          (subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section
          9(c) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together
          with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable
          thereto). If, after the receipt by the Participant of an amount
          advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination is
          made that the Participant shall not be entitled to any refund with
          respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Participant
          in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the
          expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such advance
          shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the
          amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount
          of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

     (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9, the Company may
          withhold and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service for the benefit
          of the Participant all or any portion of the Gross-Up Payment that it
          determines in good faith that it is or may be in the future required
          to withhold, and the Participant hereby consents to such withholding.

     (f)  Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings for
          -----------
          purposes of this Section 9:

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          (i)    "Excise Tax" shall mean the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
                 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed
                 with respect to such excise tax.

          (ii)   The "Net After-Tax Amount" of a Payment shall mean the Value of
                 a Payment net of all taxes imposed on the Participant with
                 respect thereto under Sections 1 and 4999 of the Code and
                 applicable state and local law, determined by applying the
                 highest marginal rates that are expected to apply to the
                 Participant's taxable income for the taxable year in which the
                 Payment is made.

          (iii)  "Parachute Value" of a Payment shall mean the present value as
                 of the date of the Change of Control for purposes of Section
                 280G of the Code of the portion of such Payment that
                 constitutes a "parachute payment" under Section 280G(b)(2), as
                 determined by the Accounting Firm for purposes of determining
                 whether and to what extent the Excise Tax will apply to such
                 Payment.

          (iv)   A "Payment" shall mean any payment or distribution in the
                 nature of compensation (within the meaning of Section
                 280G(b)(2) of the Code) to or for the benefit of the
                 Participant, whether paid or payable pursuant to this Plan or
                 otherwise.

          (v)    A "Plan Payment" shall mean a Payment paid or payable pursuant
                 to this Plan (disregarding this Section 9).

          (vi)   The "Safe Harbor Amount" means the maximum Parachute Value of
                 all Payments that the Participant can receive without any
                 Payments being subject to the Excise Tax.

          (vii)  "Value" of a Payment shall mean the economic present value of a
                 Payment as of the date of the Change of Control for purposes of
                 Section 280G of the Code, as determined by the Accounting Firm
                 using the discount rate required by Section 280G(d)(4) of the
                 Code.

10.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
     ------------------------

     The Participant shall hold, in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the
     Company, all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating
     to the Company and its businesses which shall have been obtained by the
     Participant during his employment by the Company and which shall not be
     public knowledge (other than by acts of the Participant in violation of
     this provision). After termination of the Participant's employment with the
     Company, the Participant shall not, without the prior written consent of
     the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data
     to any one other than the Company and those persons designated by it. In no
     event shall an asserted violation of this Section constitute a basis for
     deferring or

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     withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant under the
     Plan. It shall be a condition to a Participant's right to receive payments
     and benefits under the Plan that the Participant agree to and comply with
     the foregoing covenant.

11.  FINANCING.
     ---------

     Benefit payments under the Plan shall constitute general obligations of the
     Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan. A Participant shall have
     only an unsecured right to payment thereof out of the general assets of the
     Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, by agreement with
     one or more trustees to be selected by the Company, create a trust on such
     terms as the Company shall determine to make payments to Participants in
     accordance with the terms of the Plan.

12.  TERMINATION AND PAYMENT OF THE PLAN.
     -----------------------------------

     The Plan shall terminate on the later of (i) June 30, 2004, unless extended
     by the Board or (ii) in the event of a Change of Control of the Company on
     or before the termination date of the Plan, two years after such Change of
     Control, provided that the termination of the Plan shall not impair or
     abridge the obligations of the Company incurred under the Plan to any
     Participant as a result of a Qualified Termination of Employment that
     occurs before the date the Plan is terminated.

     Except as provided in the next sentence, the Board may from time to time
     terminate the Plan or amend the Plan in whole or in part. The Plan may not
     be terminated or amended in any manner which would adversely affect the
     rights or potential rights of Participants, if the action to effect such
     termination or amendment occurs (i) after a Change of Control, or (ii) in
     connection with a Change of Control, unless and to the extent that the
     Committee determines that such termination or amendment is required by law.

13.  BENEFIT OF PLAN.
     ---------------

     The Plan shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the
     Participants and their respective heirs and legal representatives, and the
     Company and its successors. The term "successor" shall mean any person,
     firm, corporation or other business entity that, at any time, whether by
     merger, acquisition or otherwise, acquires all or substantially all of the
     stock, assets or business of the Company.

14.  NON-ASSIGNABILITY.
     -----------------

     Each Participant's rights under this Plan shall be non-transferable except
     by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and except insofar as
     applicable law may otherwise require. Subject to the foregoing, no right,
     benefit or interest hereunder, shall be subject to anticipation,
     alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, hypothecation,
     or set-off in respect of any claim, debt or obligation, or to

                                       12
<PAGE>

     execution, attachment, levy or similar process, or assignment by operation
     of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such
     action shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be null, void and of no
     effect.

15.  OTHER BENEFITS.
     --------------

     Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, nothing in the Plan shall
     affect the level of benefits provided to or received by any Participant (or
     the Participant's estate or beneficiaries) as part of any employee benefit
     plan of the Company, and the Plan shall not be construed to affect in any
     way a Participant's rights and obligations under any other plan maintained
     by the Company on behalf of employees.

     The Participant shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment
     under the Plan by seeking employment or otherwise, and there shall be no
     right of set-off or counterclaim, in respect of any claim, debt or
     obligation, against any payments to the Participant, his dependents,
     beneficiaries or estate provided for in the Plan.

16.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
     -------------------------

     Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to entitle a Participant to continued
     employment with the Company, and the rights of the Company to terminate the
     employment of a Participant shall continue as fully as though the Plan were
     not in effect.

17.  SEVERABILITY.
     ------------

     In the event that any provision or portion of the Plan shall be determined
     to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions and
     portions of the Plan shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full
     force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

18.  INDEMNIFICATION.
     ---------------

     If the Participant seeks, in any action, suit or arbitration, to enforce,
     or to recover damages for breach of, his rights under the Plan, the
     Participant shall be entitled to recover from the Company promptly as
     incurred, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all
     expenses and disbursements, including attorneys' fees, actually and
     reasonably incurred by the Participant. The Company shall also pay to the
     Participant prejudgment interest on any money judgment obtained by the
     Participant calculated at the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
     corporate base rate of interest in effect from time to time from the date
     that payment to him should have been made under the Plan.

                                       13
<PAGE>

19.  DELAWARE LAW TO GOVERN.
     ----------------------

     All questions pertaining to the construction, regulation, validity and
     effect of the provisions of the Plan shall be determined in accordance with
     the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflict of law
     principles thereof.

                                       14<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.25

================================================================================

                           SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                     PETROLEUM HEAT AND POWER COMPANY, INC.

                                       and

                         VARIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,
                                 as the Lenders

                                       and

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
              as administrative agent for the Lenders and as Issuer
                          of certain Letters of Credit

                                       and

                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                              as Syndication Agent,

                                       and

                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                             as Documentation Agent

                                      as of
                                  June 15, 2001

                                   Arranged by

                         BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
                        as Lead Arranger and Book Manager

================================================================================
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                          Page

<S>               <C>                                                                     <C>
Article I         DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS..........................................1
        SECTION 1.1       Defined Terms.....................................................1
        SECTION 1.2       Use of Defined Terms.............................................31
        SECTION 1.3       Other Interpretive Provisions....................................31
        SECTION 1.4       Accounting and Financial Determinations..........................32

Article II        COMMITMENTS, BORROWING PROCEDURES AND NOTES..............................32
        SECTION 2.1       Commitments......................................................32
               SECTION 2.1.1       Facility A Commitment...................................33
               SECTION 2.1.2       Facility B Commitment...................................33
               SECTION 2.1.3       Facility C Commitment...................................33
               SECTION 2.1.4       Restrictions on Loans...................................34
               SECTION 2.1.5       Increase of Facility C Commitments; New Commitments.....34
        SECTION 2.2       Reduction and Termination of Commitments.........................36
               SECTION 2.2.1       Optional................................................36
               SECTION 2.2.2       Mandatory...............................................36
               SECTION 2.2.3       Termination.............................................36
        SECTION 2.3       Borrowing Procedure..............................................36
        SECTION 2.4       Continuation and Conversion Elections............................37
        SECTION 2.5       Funding..........................................................37
        SECTION 2.6       Loan Accounts/Notes..............................................37
        SECTION 2.7       Swing Line.......................................................38

Article III       REPAYMENTS, PREPAYMENTS, INTEREST AND FEES...............................41
        SECTION 3.1       Repayments and Prepayments.......................................41
               SECTION 3.1.1       Repayment...............................................41
               SECTION 3.1.2       Voluntary Prepayments...................................42
               SECTION 3.1.3       Mandatory Prepayments...................................42
        SECTION 3.2       Interest Provisions..............................................44
               SECTION 3.2.1       Rates...................................................44
               SECTION 3.2.2       Post-Default Rate.......................................45
               SECTION 3.2.3       Payment Dates...........................................45

                                      -i-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                          (continued)

<S>     <C>               <C>                                                             <C>
        SECTION 3.3       Fees.............................................................45
               SECTION 3.3.1       Facility Fee............................................45
               SECTION 3.3.2       Letter of Credit Fee....................................46
               SECTION 3.3.3       Letter of Credit Issuing Fee............................46
               SECTION 3.3.4       Other Fees..............................................46

ARTICLE IV        LETTERS OF CREDIT........................................................46
        SECTION 4.1       The Letter of Credit Facility and Subfacilities..................46
        SECTION 4.2       Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit.............48
        SECTION 4.3       Expenses.........................................................50
        SECTION 4.4       Other Lenders' Participation.....................................50
        SECTION 4.5       Disbursements....................................................51
        SECTION 4.6       Reimbursement....................................................52
        SECTION 4.7       Cash Collateral Pledge...........................................52
        SECTION 4.8       Nature of Reimbursement Obligations..............................52
        SECTION 4.9       Increased Costs; Indemnity.......................................53
        SECTION 4.10      Uniform Customs and Practice.....................................54

ARTICLE V         CERTAIN LIBOR AND OTHER PROVISIONS.......................................54
        SECTION 5.1       LIBOR Lending Unlawful...........................................54
        SECTION 5.2       Deposits Unavailable.............................................54
        SECTION 5.3       Increased LIBOR Loan Costs, etc..................................55
        SECTION 5.4       Funding Losses...................................................55
        SECTION 5.5       Increased Capital Costs..........................................56
        SECTION 5.6       Taxes............................................................56
        SECTION 5.7       Payments, Computations, etc......................................58
        SECTION 5.8       Sharing of Payments..............................................58
        SECTION 5.9       Setoff...........................................................58
        SECTION 5.10      Recourse.........................................................59
        SECTION 5.11      Replacement of Lenders...........................................59

ARTICLE VI        CONDITIONS TO BORROWING..................................................60
        SECTION 6.1       Conditions to Effectiveness......................................60
               SECTION 6.1.1       Credit Agreement and Notes..............................60

                                      -ii-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                          (continued)

<S>            <C>                 <C>                                                   <C>
               SECTION 6.1.2       [Intentionally Omitted.]................................60
               SECTION 6.1.3       [Intentionally Omitted.]................................60
               SECTION 6.1.4       Closing Certificate.....................................60
               SECTION 6.1.5       Permits.................................................60
               SECTION 6.1.6       Opinion of Counsel......................................60
               SECTION 6.1.7       Closing Fees, Expenses, etc.............................61
               SECTION 6.1.8       Insurance...............................................61
               SECTION 6.1.12      Borrowing Base Certificate..............................61
               SECTION 6.1.13      Other Documents.........................................61
               SECTION 6.1.14      Prepayment and Reborrowing of Loans.....................61
               SECTION 6.1.15      Consent of Holders of Other Debt........................61
        SECTION 6.2       All Borrowings and Issuances of Letters of Credit................61
               SECTION 6.2.1       Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc.............61
               SECTION 6.2.2       Borrowing Request.......................................62
               SECTION 6.2.3       Lien Searches...........................................62
               SECTION 6.2.4       Satisfactory Legal Form.................................62

ARTICLE VII       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...........................................62
        SECTION 7.1       Organization etc.................................................63
        SECTION 7.2       Subsidiaries.....................................................63
        SECTION 7.3       Qualification....................................................63
        SECTION 7.4       Enforceability...................................................64
        SECTION 7.5       Due Authorization; Non-contravention; etc........................64
        SECTION 7.6       Government Approvals; Regulations, etc...........................64
        SECTION 7.7       Business; Financial Statements...................................64
        SECTION 7.8       No Material Adverse Change.......................................65
        SECTION 7.9       Litigation; Labor Controversies, etc.............................65
        SECTION 7.10      Ownership of Properties; Liens...................................66
        SECTION 7.11      Taxes............................................................66
        SECTION 7.12      ERISA Compliance.................................................66
        SECTION 7.13      Environmental Warranties.........................................67
        SECTION 7.14      Regulations U and X and Use of Proceeds..........................69

                                            -iii-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                          (continued)

<S>     <C>               <C>                                                             <C>
        SECTION 7.15      Accuracy of Information..........................................69
        SECTION 7.16      Solvency.........................................................69
        SECTION 7.17      [Intentionally Omitted.].........................................69
        SECTION 7.18      Compliance with Laws.............................................69
        SECTION 7.19      Investment Company Act; Other Regulations........................70
        SECTION 7.20      Restrictive Agreements...........................................70

ARTICLE VIII      COVENANTS................................................................70
        SECTION 8.1       Affirmative Covenants............................................70
               SECTION 8.1.1       Financial Information, Reports, Notices, etc............70
               SECTION 8.1.2       Maintenance of Properties...............................74
               SECTION 8.1.3       Insurance...............................................74
               SECTION 8.1.4       Payment of Obligations..................................74
               SECTION 8.1.5       Compliance with Laws....................................75
               SECTION 8.1.6       Books and Records.......................................75
               SECTION 8.1.7       Inspection..............................................75
               SECTION 8.1.8       Environmental Covenant..................................75
               SECTION 8.1.9       Compliance with ERISA...................................76
               SECTION 8.1.10      Ranking/Security........................................76
               SECTION 8.1.11      Clean Down Period.......................................76
               SECTION 8.1.12      Preservation of Corporate Existence.....................76
               SECTION 8.1.13      Use of Proceeds.........................................77
               SECTION 8.1.14      Update of Customer Lists................................77
               SECTION 8.1.15      Further Assurances......................................77
        SECTION 8.2       Negative Covenants...............................................78
               SECTION 8.2.1       Business Activities.....................................78
               SECTION 8.2.2       Indebtedness............................................78
               SECTION 8.2.3       Liens...................................................80
               SECTION 8.2.4       Financial Covenants.....................................81
               SECTION 8.2.5       Investments.............................................82
               SECTION 8.2.6       Restricted Payments, etc................................83
               SECTION 8.2.7       Consolidation, Merger, etc..............................84

                                             -iv-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                          (continued)

<S>            <C>                 <C>                                                   <C>
               SECTION 8.2.8       Asset Dispositions, etc.................................84
               SECTION 8.2.9       Modification of Certain Agreements......................85
               SECTION 8.2.10      Transactions with Affiliates............................85
               SECTION 8.2.11      Negative Pledges, Restrictive Agreements, etc...........85
               SECTION 8.2.12      Limitation on Issuance of Stock.........................85
               SECTION 8.2.13      Operating Leases........................................86
               SECTION 8.2.14      Prepayments.............................................86
               SECTION 8.2.15      Organic Documents.......................................86
               SECTION 8.2.16      Capital Expenditures....................................86
               SECTION 8.2.17      Contingent Liabilities..................................86
               SECTION 8.2.18      ERISA...................................................87
               SECTION 8.2.19      Accounting Changes......................................87
               SECTION 8.2.20      Bank Accounts...........................................87

ARTICLE IX        EVENTS OF DEFAULT........................................................87
        SECTION 9.1       Listing of Events of Default.....................................87
               SECTION 9.1.1       Non-Payment of Obligations..............................87
               SECTION 9.1.2       Breach of Warranty......................................87
               SECTION 9.1.3       Non-Performance of Other Covenants and Obligations......88
               SECTION 9.1.4       Default on Other Indebtedness...........................88
               SECTION 9.1.5       Judgments...............................................88
               SECTION 9.1.6       ERISA...................................................88
               SECTION 9.1.7       Change in Control.......................................88
               SECTION 9.1.8       Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc.............................89
               SECTION 9.1.9       Impairment of Security, etc.............................89
               SECTION 9.1.10      Split-Up................................................90
               SECTION 9.1.11      Guarantor Defaults......................................90
        SECTION 9.2       Action if Bankruptcy.............................................90
        SECTION 9.3       Action if Other Event of Default.................................90

ARTICLE X         THE AGENT................................................................91
        SECTION 10.1      Appointment and Authorization of Agent...........................91

                                             -v-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                          (continued)

<S>    <C>               <C>                                                              <C>
        SECTION 10.2      Delegation of Duties.............................................92
        SECTION 10.3      Liability of Agent...............................................92
        SECTION 10.4      Reliance by Agent................................................92
        SECTION 10.5      Notice of Default................................................93
        SECTION 10.6      Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agent..............93
        SECTION 10.7      Indemnification of Agent.........................................94
        SECTION 10.8      Agent in its Individual Capacity.................................94
        SECTION 10.9      Successor Agent..................................................94
        SECTION 10.10     Other Agents; Lead Managers......................................95
        SECTION 10.11     Foreign Lenders..................................................95
        SECTION 10.12     Collateral Matters...............................................96

ARTICLE XI        MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.................................................96
        SECTION 11.1      Waivers, Amendments, etc.........................................96
        SECTION 11.2      Notices..........................................................97
        SECTION 11.3      Payment of Costs and Expenses....................................98
        SECTION 11.4      Indemnification..................................................98
        SECTION 11.5      Survival.........................................................99
        SECTION 11.6      Severability.....................................................99
        SECTION 11.7      Headings.........................................................99
        SECTION 11.8      Execution in Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc....................99
        SECTION 11.9      Governing Law; Entire Agreement.................................100
        SECTION 11.10     Successors and Assigns..........................................100
        SECTION 11.11     Sale and Transfer of Loans and Notes; Participations in its
               Loans and Notes............................................................100
               SECTION 11.11.1     Assignments............................................100
               SECTION 11.11.2     Participations.........................................101

        SECTION 11.12     Other Transactions..............................................102

        SECTION 11.13     Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction.....................102

        SECTION 11.14     Waiver of Jury Trial............................................103

                                             -vi-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

Exhibits
--------

        Exhibit A-1   Form of Facility A Promissory Note
        Exhibit A-2   Form of Facility C Promissory Note
        Exhibit A-3   Form of Swing Note
        Exhibit B     Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
        Exhibit C     Form of Borrowing Request
        Exhibit D     Intentionally Omitted
        Exhibit E     Form of Continuation/Conversion Notice
        Exhibit F     Form of Assignment and Acceptance Agreement
        Exhibit G     Form of Compliance Certificate
        Exhibit H-1   Form of Subordination Agreement (Affiliate)
        Exhibit H-2   Form of SGP Subordination Agreement (Affiliate)
        Exhibit I     Form of Opinion of Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon
        Exhibit J     Form of Swing Loan Request
        Exhibit K-1   Form of Guarantee Agreement of Star Gas Partners and
                       Holdings
        Exhibit K-2   Form of Guarantee Agreement of the Material Subsidiaries
        Exhibit L     Form of Solvency Certificate

Schedules
---------

        Schedule I      Disclosure Schedule
                          Item 7.1          (Organization)
                          Item 7.2          (Subsidiaries)
                          Item 7.3          (Qualification)
                          Item 8.2.2(a)(i)  (Secured Indebtedness)
                          Item 8.2.2(a)(iii)(Subordinated Indebtedness)
                          Item 8.2.2(a)(vii)(Acquisition Debt)
                          Item 8.2.17       (Contingent Obligations)
        Schedule II     Facility Percentages and Commitments
        Schedule III    Intentionally Omitted
        Schedule IV     List of Outstanding Facility B Letters of Credit
        Schedule V      List of Outstanding Facility C Letters of Credit
        Schedule VI     Bank Accounts
        Schedule VII    Lien Search Locations
<PAGE>

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (as the same may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this
"Agreement"), dated as of June 15, 2001, among PETROLEUM HEAT AND POWER COMPANY,
 ---------
INC., a Minnesota corporation (the "Borrower"), the various financial
                                    --------
institutions as are or may become parties hereto (collectively, the "Lenders"),
                                                                     -------
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ("BofA"), as administrative agent (the "Agent") for the
                        ----                                  -----
Lenders and as issuer of certain letters of credit, FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as
Syndication Agent, and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Documentation Agent, is an
amendment and restatement of that earlier Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
dated as of December 8, 2000, by and among the Borrower, the Agent and the other
parties thereto, as the same had been heretofore amended, which agreement
amended and restated that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1999,
by and among the Borrower, the Agent and the other parties thereto, as the same
had been amended (collectively, the "Original Credit Facility").
                                     ------------------------

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Borrower is a distributor of home heating oil and
petroleum products and related heating equipment and maintenance services (the
"Fuel Oil Distribution Business");
 ------------------------------

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders amend and restate
the Original Credit Facility to include the following credit facilities: (i) a
$133,000,000 revolving credit facility for working capital purposes which will
include a $15,000,000 sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit and
a $5,000,000 sublimit for swing line loans, (ii) a $10,000,000 revolving credit
facility for the issuance of standby letters of credit issued by BofA in
connection with surety, worker's compensation and other financial guarantees,
and (iii) a $50,000,000 revolving credit facility (which converts to a term loan
facility) for financing and refinancing acquisitions and capital expenditures
relating to existing properties or future acquired businesses of the Borrower
(including the issuance of standby letters of credit), to refinance certain
maturing debt and, to the extent that there is insufficient availability under
the revolving credit facility described in clause (i) above from time to time,
                                           ----------
for working capital purposes; and

         WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing, on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, to agree to the Borrower's requests.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions
and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

         SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms. The following terms (whether or not
                     -------------
underscored) when used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals,
shall, except where the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
<PAGE>

         "Acquisition Debt" means unsecured Indebtedness for which Holdings, the
          ----------------
Borrower or any Material Subsidiary becomes liable in connection with
acquisitions of businesses permitted by Section 8.2.1 in favor of the sellers of
                                        -------------
such businesses (provided that such Indebtedness may be secured to the extent
permitted by Section 8.2.3(e) and, subject to the other terms and conditions of
             ---------------
this Agreement, by Facility C Letters of Credit).

         "Affiliate" of any Person means as applied to any Person, any other
          ---------
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common
control with such Person, provided that, for purposes of this definition,
"control" as used with respect to any Person shall mean the possession, directly
or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of such Person, whether as a general partner or through the
ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

         "Agent" is defined in the preamble and includes each other Person as
          -----                    --------
shall have subsequently been appointed as the successor Agent pursuant to
Section 10.9.
------------

         "Agent-Related Person" means BofA in its capacity as agent and any
          --------------------
successor agent arising under Section 10.9, the Issuer hereunder, together with
                              ------------
Banc of America Securities LLC and their respective Affiliates, and the
officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and
Affiliates.

         "Agreement" is defined in the preamble.
          ---------                    --------

         "Alternate Base Rate" means, on any date and with respect to all Base
          -------------------
Rate Loans, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the higher of:

              (a) the rate of interest most recently announced by the Agent at
         its principal office as its reference rate for Dollar loans; and

              (b) the most recently determined Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of
         1%.

         The Alternate Base Rate is not necessarily intended to be the lowest
rate of interest determined by the Reference Lender in connection with
extensions of credit. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion of any
Loans maintained as Base Rate Loans will take effect simultaneously with each
change in the Alternate Base Rate. The Agent will give notice promptly to the
Borrower and the Lenders of changes in the Alternate Base Rate.

         "Applicable Base Rate Margin" means, with respect to any Base Rate
          ---------------------------
Loan, the then applicable per annum rate (based on the then applicable Level)
set forth in the Pricing Grid.

         "Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender, with
          -------------------------
respect to each type of Loan, the lending office as designated for such type of
Loan below its name on the signature pages hereof or such other office of such
Lender or of an affiliate of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time
specify to the Agent and the Borrower as the office at which its Loans of such
type are to be made and maintained.

         "Applicable LIBOR Margin" means, with respect any LIBOR Loan, the then
          -----------------------
applicable per annum rate (based on the then applicable Level) set forth in the
Pricing Grid.

                                       2
<PAGE>

         "Arranger" means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as
          --------
arranger.

         "Asset Disposition" is defined in Section 8.2.8.
          -----------------                -------------

         "Assignee Lender" is defined in Section 11.11.1.
          ---------------                ---------------

         "Assignment and Acceptance Agreement" means an Assignment and
          -----------------------------------
Acceptance Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto.
                                                  ---------

         "Available Cash" means the cumulative sum beginning January 1, 1999 of
          --------------
(a) the sum of (i)$15,000,000, (ii) Consolidated Cash Flow (excluding pro forma
cash flow from acquisitions and dispositions), (iii) certain cash and non-cash
charges previously deducted from net income relating to the Restructuring
Transactions in an amount equal to $8,662,000, (iv) 50% of unsecured
subordinated Indebtedness issued after March 25, 1999, and (v) net proceeds of
new equity issued, and capital contributions made, after March 25, 1999 less (b)
                                                                        ----
the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) Maintenance Capital
Expenditures, (iii) Restricted Payments and (iv) cash income taxes (the
calculation of cash income taxes shall exclude cash income taxes payable as a
result of the Restructuring Transactions up to an amount of $9,000,000).

         "Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11 of the United States Code or any
          ---------------
successor statute.

         "Bankruptcy Law" is defined in Section 9.1.8.
          --------------                --------------

         "Base Rate Loan" means a Loan bearing interest at a fluctuating rate
          --------------
determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

         "BofA" is defined in the preamble.
          ----                    --------

         "Borrower" is defined in the preamble.
          --------                    --------

         "Borrowing" means the Loans of the same type and, in the case of LIBOR
          ---------
Loans, having the same Interest Period made by all Lenders on the same Business
Day and pursuant to the same Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.3.
                                                                  ------------

         "Borrowing Base Certificate" means a certificate executed by a
          --------------------------
Responsible Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit B
hereto.                                                          ---------

         "Borrowing Request" means a Loan request and certificate duly executed
          -----------------
by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C
hereto.                                                                ---------

         "Business Day" means:
          ------------

              (a) any day which is neither a Saturday or Sunday nor a legal
         holiday on which banks are authorized or required to be closed in San
         Francisco, California or New York, New York; and

                                       3
<PAGE>

              (b) relative to the making, continuing, prepaying or repaying of
         any LIBOR Loans, any day on which dealings in Dollars are carried on in
         the London interbank market.

         "Capital Expenditures" means, for any period, the aggregate amount of
          --------------------
all payments made during such period by any Person directly or indirectly for
the purpose of acquiring, constructing or maintaining fixed assets, real
property or equipment that, in accordance with GAAP, would be added as a debit
to the fixed asset account of such Person, including, without limitation, all
amounts paid or payable during such period with respect to Capitalized Lease
Liabilities and interest that are required to be capitalized in accordance with
GAAP.

         "Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock
          -------------
(including preferred stock), shares, units, interests, participations or other
ownership interests (however designated, including without limitation such items
as they may apply to a partnership, limited liability company or similar Person)
of such Person and any rights, warrants or options to purchase any thereof.

         "Capitalized Lease Liabilities" means all monetary obligations of
          -----------------------------
Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary under any leasing or similar
arrangement which, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as capitalized
leases, and, for purposes of this Agreement and each other Loan Document, the
amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof, determined
in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of
the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the
first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment
of a penalty.

         "Cash Collateralize" means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the
          ------------------
Trustee, for the benefit of the Senior Debt pursuant to the Intercreditor
Agreement, as additional collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit
account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent and the Issuer. Derivatives of such term shall have corresponding
meanings.

         "Casualty Event" means, with respect to any Property of Holdings, the
          --------------
Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries, any loss of or damage to, or any
condemnation or other taking of, such Property for which such Person receives
insurance proceeds, or proceeds of a condemnation award or other compensation.

         "Casualty Proceeds" is defined in Section 3.1.3(i).
          -----------------                ----------------

         "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
          ------
and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C.ss.9601 et seq., as amended.

         "CERCLIS" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation
          -------
Liability Information System List.

         "Change in Control" means:
          -----------------

                                       4
<PAGE>

              (a) the Sevin Group shall fail to own directly at least a 51%
         ownership interest in the Managing General Partner with voting power to
         elect the Board of Directors or other governing body; or

              (b) the Managing General Partner shall fail to own directly 100%
         of the general partnership interests in Star Propane, or if Star
         Propane shall have been converted to corporate form, at least 51% of
         the voting shares of Star Propane; or

              (c) the Managing General Partner shall fail to own directly 100%
         of the general partnership interests in Star Gas Partners, or if Star
         Gas Partners shall have been converted to corporate form, at least 51%
         of the voting shares of Star Gas Partners; or

              (d) (i) Star Gas Partners shall fail to own directly or indirectly
         at least 51% of the voting shares of Holdings and the Borrower, or (ii)
         Star Gas Partners shall fail to own directly or indirectly at least a
         51% ownership interest in Holdings and the Borrower; or

              (e) Star Gas Partners shall fail to own directly at least 99.00%
         in Star Propane; or

              (f) (i) Holdings shall fail to own directly at least 99.00% of the
         voting shares of the Borrower, or (ii) Holdings shall fail to own
         directly at least a 99.00% ownership interest in the Borrower; or

              (g) (i) the Borrower or Holdings shall fail to own directly at
         least 99.00% of the voting shares of their Material Subsidiaries, or
         (ii) the Borrower or Holdings shall fail to own directly at least a
         99.00% ownership interest in their Material Subsidiaries.

         "Chase Account" means account no. 022098571 of the Borrower maintained
          -------------
at The Chase Manhattan Bank.

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or
          ----
otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Collateral" is defined in the respective Security Documents.
          ----------

         "Commitment" means, as the context may require, a Lenders' Facility A
          ----------
Commitment, Facility B Commitment or Facility C Commitment, or all thereof.

         "Commitment Change" is defined in Section 2.1.5(a).
          -----------------                ----------------

         "Commitment Termination Date" means, as the context may require, the
          ---------------------------
Facility A Commitment Termination Date, the Facility B Commitment Termination
Date or the Facility C Loan Conversion Date.

         "Commitment Termination Event" means:
          ----------------------------

              (a) the occurrence of any Default described in Section 9.1.8; or
                                                             -------------

                                       5
<PAGE>

              (b) the occurrence and continuance of any other Event of Default
         and either:

                      (i)    the declaration of the Loans to be due and payable
         pursuant to Section 9.3; or
                     -----------

                      (ii)   in the absence of such declaration in clause (i)
                                                                   ----------
         above, the giving of notice by the Agent, acting at the direction of
         the Required Lenders, to the Borrower that the Commitments have been
         terminated.

         "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate signed by a Responsible
          ----------------------
Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit G, demonstrating
                                                     ---------
compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 8.2.2(a), 8.2.4, 8.2.5,
                                           -----------------  -----  -----
8.2.6, 8.2.8, 8.2.13 and 8.2.16 and the forty-five (45) day cleanup period
-----  -----  ------     ------
contained in Section 8.1.11 and certifying that no Default or Event of Default
             --------------
exists, or, if any Default or Event of Default exists, stating the nature and
status thereof.

         "Consolidated" or "consolidated" means, when used with reference to any
          ------------      ------------
accounting term, the amount described by such accounting term, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after elimination of intercompany
items.

         "Consolidated Cash Flow" means, for any period, with respect to
          ----------------------
Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries, Consolidated Net Income
for such period, plus (a) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net
loss realized in connection with asset sales during such period, to the extent
such losses were deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, minus (b) an
amount equal to any extraordinary gain during such period plus any net gain
realized in connection with asset sales during such period, to the extent such
gains were added in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus (c) provision for
taxes based on income or profits of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material
Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such provision for taxes was
deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus (d) Consolidated Interest
Expense for such period, whether paid or accrued (including amortization of
original issue discount, non-cash interest payments and the interest component
of any payments associated with Capitalized Lease Liabilities and Synthetic
Lease Obligations and net payments (if any) pursuant to interest rate hedging
obligations), to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated
Net Income, plus (e) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of
goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash
expenses that were paid in a prior period), to the extent such depreciation and
amortization were deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period,
plus (f) all other non-cash expenses to the extent deducted in computing
Consolidated Net Income (less any payments with respect to such non-cash
expenses subsequently made in cash) as indicated on the income statements of
Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries, in each case on a
consolidated basis without duplication and determined in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Cash Flow shall be calculated after giving effect, on a pro forma
basis for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters most recently completed, to,
without duplication, any asset sales, dispositions or asset acquisitions
(including, without limitation, any asset acquisition giving rise to the need to
make such calculation as a result of Holdings, the Borrower or one of the
Material Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Material Subsidiary as
a result of the asset acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable
for acquired debt) occurring during the period commencing on the first day of
such period to and including the date of determination

                                       6
<PAGE>

(the "Reference Period"), as if such asset sale or asset acquisition occurred on
      ----------------
the first day of the Reference Period. Whenever pro forma effect is to be given
to an acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto
and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness
incurred in connection therewith, such pro forma calculations will be determined
in good faith by the senior financial officer of such Person; provided, however,
that such officer shall assume (i) the historical sales and gross profit margins
associated with such assets for the most recent consecutive twelve (12) month
period ended prior to the date of purchase for which financial statements are
available (provided that the first month of such period will be no more than
eighteen (18) months prior to such date of purchase), less estimated
post-acquisition loss of customers (not to be less than 5%) and (ii) other
expenses as if such assets had been owned by such Person since the first day of
such period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being
given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness will be calculated as
if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate
for the entire period. For purposes of the foregoing, asset sales and asset
acquisitions shall include all manners of accomplishing the same by way of
direct sale or acquisition, by sale or acquisition of stock or otherwise.

         "Consolidated Cash Flow to Interest Expense Ratio" means, as of the
          ------------------------------------------------
date of determination, the pro forma Consolidated Cash Flow for the four (4)
full Fiscal Quarters immediately preceding the date of determination divided by
the pro forma Consolidated Interest Expense for such Fiscal Quarters.

         "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the aggregate
          -----------------------------
consolidated interest expense of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material
Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP net of up to $3,000,000 of
interest income received during such period but including, without duplication,
(a) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to
letters of credit and banker's acceptances for such period, (b) net costs under
interest rate protection agreements for such period, (c) the Synthetic Lease
Interest Components of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries for
such period, (d) the portion of any Capitalized Lease Liabilities allocable to
consolidated interest expense for such period and (e) the product of (1) the
amount of all dividends (whether in cash or otherwise (except dividends payable
solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock)) on all Disqualified Stock of such
Person and its Subsidiaries, times (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is one
and the denominator of which is one minus the then current effective
consolidated federal, state and local income tax rate of such Person, expressed
as a decimal; provided, however, (i) that "Consolidated Interest Expense" shall,
in the event Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries has
incurred, assumed, guaranteed, redeemed or repaid any Indebtedness subsequent to
commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Cash Flow to Interest
Expense Ratio is being calculated but prior to the last day included in such
period, be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption,
guarantee, redemption or repayment of Indebtedness, as if the same had occurred
at the beginning of such period, and (ii) interest on the Exchanged Notes shall
be included only at their stated rate or rates then in effect. The foregoing
calculation shall give pro forma effect to acquisitions (including all mergers
and consolidations), asset sales and other dispositions and discontinuations of
businesses or assets during the referenced period or subsequent to the
referenced period and on or prior to the calculation of the Consolidated Cash
Flow to Interest Expense Ratio assuming that all acquisitions, asset sales and

                                       7
<PAGE>

other dispositions and discontinuations of business or assets has occurred on
the first day of the referenced period.

         "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net income (or
          -----------------------
deficit) of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries for such period
(taken as a cumulative whole) including, without limitation, the net income (or
deficit) attributable to the Sold Assets, after deducting all operating
expenses, provisions for all taxes and reserves (including reserves for deferred
income taxes) and all other proper deductions, all determined in accordance with
GAAP on a consolidated basis, after eliminating all intercompany transactions,
provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person
accrued prior to the date it becomes a Material Subsidiary or is merged into or
consolidated with Holdings, the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary, (b) the
income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Material Subsidiary) in which
Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary has an ownership interest,
except to the extent that any such income has been actually received by the
Borrower or such Material Subsidiary in the form of dividends, or similar
distributions, (c) the undistributed earnings of Holdings, the Borrower and any
Material Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends
or similar distributions by Holdings, the Borrower and such Material Subsidiary
is not at the time permitted by the terms of its charter of any agreement,
instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation
applicable to Holdings, the Borrower and such Material Subsidiary, (d) any
restoration to income of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that
provision for such reserve was made out of income accrued during such period,
(e) any aggregate net after tax gain or net after tax loss during such period
arising from the sale, exchange or other disposition of capital assets (such
term to include all fixed assets, whether tangible or intangible, all Inventory
sold in conjunction with the disposition of fixed assets, and all securities),
(f) any write-up of any asset, (g) any net gain from the collection of the
proceeds of life insurance polices, (h) any gain arising from the acquisition of
any securities, or the extinguishment, under GAAP, of any Indebtedness, of
Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, (i) any after tax gain or
loss during such period from any change in accounting, from any discontinued
operations or the disposition thereof, from any extraordinary events or from any
prior period adjustments, (j) any deferred credit representing the excess of
equity in any Material Subsidiary at the date of acquisition over the cost of
the investment in such Material Subsidiary, and (k) in the case of a successor
to the Borrower by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of its assets, any
earnings of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or
transfer of assets.

         "Consolidated Total Assets" means, as of any date of determination, the
          -------------------------
total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "Consolidated Total Tangible Assets" means, as of any date of
          ----------------------------------
determination, the total tangible assets of Holdings, the Borrower and the
Material Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with
GAAP.

         "Contemplated Acquisition" means means the acquisition by Holdings, the
          ------------------------
Borrower or any Material Subsidiary of the capital stock (or equivalent
interest) of that certain retail heating oil company identified to the Lenders
in a letter from the Borrower dated May 24, 2001.

                                       8
<PAGE>

         "Contingent Liability" means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement
          --------------------
by which any Person guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently
liable upon (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to
provide funds for payment, to supply funds to, or otherwise to invest in, a
debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss) the indebtedness,
obligation or any other liability of any other Person (other than by
endorsements of instruments in the course of collection), or guarantees the
payment of dividends or other distributions upon the shares of any other Person.
The amount of any Person's obligation under any Contingent Liability shall
(subject to any limitation set forth therein) be deemed to be the outstanding
principal amount of the debt, obligation or other liability guaranteed thereby.

         "Continuation/Conversion Notice" means a notice of continuation or
          ------------------------------
conversion of LIBOR Loans or Base Rate Loans, as applicable, and a certificate
duly executed by an Responsible Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the
form of Exhibit E hereto.
        ---------

         "Current Assets " means, at any date, the amount at which the current
          --------------
assets of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries (on a
consolidated basis), would be shown on the consolidated balance sheet of
Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with
GAAP; plus the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount of long term receivables of
such entities arising out of sales of equipment to customers with original
payoff terms not exceeding three years, and (ii) nine million dollars.

         "Current Liabilities" means, at any date, the amount at which the
          -------------------
current liabilities of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries (on
a consolidated basis), would be shown on a balance sheet of Holdings, the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP
excluding the current portion of long term indebtedness (as such terms are
defined in GAAP), all outstanding Facility A Loans and all outstanding Facility
C Working Capital Loans.

         "Customer List" means, at any time, the names and addresses of all
          -------------
customers of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries at such time,
together with all trade names and trademarks and all supporting documents,
including but not limited to computer discs, programs, tapes, trial balances and
carrying media.

         "Default" means any event or occurrence which, after notice or lapse of
          -------
time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

         "Disbursement Date" is defined in Section 4.5.
          -----------------                -----------

         "Disclosure Schedule" means the Disclosure Schedule attached hereto as
          -------------------
Schedule I, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
----------
to time by the Borrower with the written consent of the Agent and the Required
Lenders.

         "Disqualified Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any Capital
          ------------------
Stock of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or exercisable), upon
the happening of any event or otherwise (i) matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Indebtedness or Disqualified
Stock, or (iii) is redeemable

                                       9
<PAGE>

at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, in each case on or
prior to the first anniversary of the stated maturity of such Capital Stock.

         "Dollar" and the sign "$" mean lawful money of the United States.
          ------                -

         "Effective Amount" means (i) with respect to any Loans on any date, the
          ----------------
aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any
Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date, and
(ii) with respect to any outstanding L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of
such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any issuances of
Letters of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate
amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any
reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any
reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit
taking effect on such date. For purposes of Section 3.1 the Effective Amount
shall be determined without giving effect to any mandatory prepayments to be
made under such Section 3.1.
                -----------

         "Effective Date" means the date on which all conditions precedent set
          --------------
forth in Section 6.1, Section 6.2 and Section 11.8 are satisfied or waived by
         -----------  -----------     ------------
all Lenders.

         "Eligible Accounts" means, as to any Person at a particular date, the
          -----------------
total outstanding balance of Accounts (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code
in effect in the State of New York) of such Person recorded on the books of such
Person in accordance with GAAP after giving effect to all normal reserves
(including, without limitation, bad debt reserves) in connection therewith (a)
which are bona fide, valid and legally enforceable obligations of the account
debtor in respect thereof and arise from the actual sale and delivery of goods
or rendition and acceptance of services in the ordinary course of business to
such account debtor, (b) which are not owed by an obligor which is an affiliate
or Subsidiary of such Person, (c) which are not owed by an obligor which has
taken any of the actions or suffered any of the events of the kind described in
Section 9.1.8, (d) which are owed solely by such Person free and clear of all
------------------
liens or other rights or claims of any other Person (except in favor of the
Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders), (e) with respect to which no more
than sixty (60) days have elapsed since the date payment is due, and (f) in
which the Agent has a perfected, first priority security interest.

         "Environmental Claim" means any written or oral notice, claim, demand
          -------------------
or other communication (collectively, a "claim") for investigatory costs,
cleanup, costs, Government Authority response costs, damages to natural
resources or other property, personal injuries, fines or penalties arising out
of, based on or resulting from (a) the presence, or release into the
environment, of any Hazardous Material at any location, or (b) circumstances
forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental
Law. The term "Environmental Claim" shall include, without limitation, any claim
by any Government Authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response,
remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental
Law, and any claim by any third party seeking damages, contribution,
indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from
the presence of Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of
injury to health, public safety or the environment.

                                       10
<PAGE>

         "Environmental Law" means any law, regulation, statute, ordinance,
          -----------------
code, rule, regulation, order or guideline (including consent decrees or
administrative orders) relating to human health, public safety or the
environment or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of
Hazardous Materials into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient
air, soil, surface water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata), or
otherwise relating to the presence, existence, manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
Hazardous Materials.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and
          -----
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
          ---------------
incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for
purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

         "ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension
          -----------
Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension
Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a
substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation
of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of
ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is
in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the
treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of
ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension
Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which could constitute
grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment
of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; or (f) the imposition of any
liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due but not
delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate.

         "Event of Default" is defined in Section 9.1.
          ----------------                -----------

         "Excess Sale Proceeds" is defined in Section 8.2.8(b).
          --------------------                ----------------

         "Exchanged Notes" means the Borrower's $62,697,000 9% senior secured
          ---------------
notes due October 1, 2002, $2,140,000 aggregate 10.25% senior secured notes due
January 15, 2001, and $2,140,000 10.25% subordinated notes due January 15, 2001,
as each may be extended in accordance with its terms.

         "Existing Facility B Letters of Credit" means those letters of credit
          -------------------------------------
issued by BofA prior to the Effective Date which are listed on Schedule IV
hereto.                                                        -----------

         "Existing Facility C Letters of Credit" means those letters of credit
          -------------------------------------
issued by BofA prior to the Effective Date which are listed on Schedule V
hereto.                                                        ----------

         "Existing Letters of Credit" means the Existing Facility B Letters of
          --------------------------
Credit and the Existing Facility C Letters.

                                       11
<PAGE>

         "Existing Subordinated Debt" means the unsecured subordinated
          --------------------------
Indebtedness listed on Item 8.2.2(a)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule.

         "Facility A Borrowing Base" means, on any date of determination
          -------------------------
thereof, the amount equal to 85% of the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts of
the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries and Holdings. The Facility A
Borrowing Base (including without limitation, the amount of Eligible Accounts)
on any date shall be determined by the Agent in accordance with the provisions
of Section 2.1.1(c).
   ----------------

         "Facility A Commitment" is defined in Section 2.1.1.
          ---------------------                -------------

         "Facility A Commitment Termination Date" means the earliest of:
          --------------------------------------

               (a)    June 30, 2004;

               (b)    the date on which the Facility A Commitments are
         terminated in full or reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.2; and
                                                           -----------

               (c)    the date on which any Commitment Termination Event occurs.

         "Facility A L/C Amendment Application" means an application form for
          ------------------------------------
the amendment or renewal of outstanding Facility A Letters of Credit as shall at
any time be in use at the Issuer, as the Issuer shall request.

         "Facility A L/C Application" means an application form for the issuance
          --------------------------
of a Facility A Letter of Credit as shall at any time be in use at the Issuer,
as the Issuer may request.

         "Facility A L/C Issuance Date" is defined in Section 4.1(a).
          ----------------------------                --------------

         "Facility A L/C Obligations" means, at any time, the sum of (a) the
          --------------------------
aggregate undrawn amount of all Facility A Letters of Credit then outstanding,
plus (b) the aggregate amount of all unreimbursed drawings under all Facility A
Letters of Credit, plus (c) all other Obligations of the Borrower under or in
connection with Facility A L/C-Related Documents, to the extent not included
within clauses (a) and (b) hereof.
       -----------     ---

         "Facility A L/C-Related Documents" means the Facility A Letters of
          --------------------------------
Credit, the Facility A L/C Applications, the Facility A L/C Amendment
Applications, and any other document relating to any Facility A Letter of Credit
including any of the Issuer's standard form of reimbursement agreements and
other documents for letter of credit issuances and amendments.

         "Facility A Letters of Credit" is defined in Section 4.1(a).
          ----------------------------                --------------

         "Facility A Loan" is defined in Section 2.1.1(a).
          ---------------                ----------------

         "Facility A Note" is defined in Section 2.6(b).
          ---------------                --------------

                                       12
<PAGE>

         "Facility A Percentage" means, relative to any Lender, the Facility A
          ---------------------
Percentage set forth on Schedule II, as such percentage may be adjusted from
time to time pursuant to Assignment and Acceptance Agreement(s) executed by such
Lender and its Assignee Lender(s) and delivered pursuant to Section 11.11.1.
                                                            ---------------

         "Facility B Commitment" means, as to any Lender, its obligation to
          ---------------------
participate in Facility B Letters of Credit pursuant hereto in an aggregate
principal and/or face amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the
amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule II under the caption
                                                -----------
"Facility B Commitment" as such amount must be reduced from time to time as
provided herein.

         "Facility B Commitment Termination Date" means the earliest of:
          --------------------------------------

               (a)    June 30, 2004;

               (b)    the date on which the Facility B Commitments are
         terminated in full or reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.2; and
                                                           -----------

               (c)    the date on which any Commitment Termination Event occurs.

         "Facility B L/C Amendment Application" means an application form for
          ------------------------------------
the amendment or renewal of outstanding Facility B Letters of Credit as shall at
any time be in use at the Issuer, as the Issuer shall request.

         "Facility B L/C Application" means an application form for the issuance
          --------------------------
of a Facility B Letter of Credit as shall at any time be in use at the Issuer,
as the Issuer may request.

         "Facility B L/C Issuance Date" is defined in Section 4.1(b).
          ----------------------------                --------------

         "Facility B L/C Obligations" means, at any time, the sum of (a) the
          --------------------------
aggregate undrawn amount of all Facility B Letters of Credit then outstanding,
plus (b) the aggregate amount of all unreimbursed drawings under all Facility B
Letters of Credit, plus (c) all other Obligations of the Borrower, under or in
connection with the Facility B L/C-Related Documents, to the extent included
within clauses (a) and (b) hereof.

         "Facility B L/C-Related Documents" means the Facility B Letters of
          --------------------------------
Credit, the Facility B L/C Applications, the Facility B L/C Amendment
Applications and any other document relating to any Facility B Letter of Credit,
including any of the Issuer's standard form of reimbursement agreements and
other documents for letter of credit issuances and amendments.

         "Facility B Letters of Credit" is defined in Section 4.1(b).
          ----------------------------                --------------

         "Facility B Percentage" means, relative to any Lender, the Facility B
          ---------------------
Percentage set forth on Schedule II, as such percentage may be adjusted from
                        -----------
time to time pursuant to Assignment and Acceptance Agreement(s) executed by such
Lender and its Assignee Lender(s) and delivered pursuant to Section 11.11.1.
                                                            ---------------

                                       13
<PAGE>

         "Facility C Commitment" is defined in Section 2.1.3.
          ---------------------                -------------

         "Facility C L/C Amendment Application" means an application form for
          ------------------------------------
amendment or renewal of outstanding Facility C Letters of Credit as shall at any
time be in use at the Issuer, as the Issuer shall request.

         "Facility C L/C Application" means an application form for the issuance
          --------------------------
of a Facility C Letter of Credit as shall at any time be in use at the Issuer,
as the Issuer may request.

         "Facility C L/C Issuance Date" is defined in Section 4.1(c).
          ----------------------------                --------------

         "Facility C L/C Obligations" means, at any time, (a) the aggregate
          --------------------------
undrawn amount of all Facility C Letters of Credit, plus (b) the aggregate
amount of all unreimbursed drawings under all Facility C Letters of Credit, plus
(c) all other Obligations of the Borrower under or in connection with Facility C
L/C-Related Documents, to the extent not included within clauses (a) and (b)
hereof.                                                  ------- ---     ---

         "Facility C L/C-Related Documents" means the Facility C Letter of
          --------------------------------
Credit, the Facility C L/C Applications, the Facility C L/C Amendment
Applications and any other document relating to Facility C Letter of Credit,
including any of the Issuer's standard form of reimbursement agreements and
other documents for letter of credit issuances and amendments.

         "Facility C Letters of Credit" is defined in Section 4.1(c).
          ----------------------------                --------------

         "Facility C Loan" is defined in Section 2.1.3, and shall include,
          ---------------                -------------
without limitation, Facility C Working Capital Loans.

         "Facility C Loan Conversion Date" means the earliest of:
          -------------------------------

               (a)    June 30, 2004;

               (b)    the date on which the Facility C Commitments are
         terminated in full or reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.2; and
                                                           -----------

               (c)    the date on which any Commitment Termination Event occurs.

         "Facility C Note" is defined in Section 2.6(c).
          ---------------                --------------

         "Facility C Percentage" means, relative to any Lender, the Facility C
          ---------------------
Percentage set forth on Schedule II, as such percentage may be adjusted from
                        -----------
time to time pursuant to Assignment and Acceptance Agreement(s) executed by such
Lender and its Assignee Lender(s) and delivered pursuant to Section 11.11.1.
                                                            ---------------

         "Facility C Working Capital Loans" is defined in Section 7.14(b).
          --------------------------------                ---------------

         "Facility C Working Capital Loan Cap" means (a) at any time on or prior
          -----------------------------------
to June 25, 2004, an amount equal to the then unused amount of the combined
Facility C Commitments then in effect and (b) at any time after June 25, 2004,
zero.

                                       14
<PAGE>

         "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate
          ------------------
per annum equal for each day during such period to:

               (a)    the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal
         funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
         by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is
         not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal
         Reserve Bank of New York; or

               (b)    if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
         Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
         transactions received by the Reference Lender from three federal funds
         brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

         "Fiscal Quarter" means, with respect to any Person, the three (3) month
          --------------
period ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

         "Fiscal Year" means with respect to Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
          -----------
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries, any period of twelve consecutive
calendar months ending on September 30; references to a Fiscal Year with a
number corresponding to any calendar year (e.g., the "2000 Fiscal Year") refer
to the Fiscal Year ending on the September 30 occurring during such calendar
year.

         "F.R.S. Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
          ------------
System or any successor thereto.

         "Fuel Oil Distribution Business" is defined in the recitals.
          ------------------------------                    --------

         "Funded Debt" means, as of any date of determination, without
          -----------
duplication, (i) all interest bearing Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and
the Material Subsidiaries (but excluding Facility A Loans, Swing Loans and
amounts not drawn in respect of the Facility A Letters of Credit and the
Facility B Letters of Credit); provided, however, that in determining the
principal amount of the Exchanged Notes to be included in the calculation of
Indebtedness, there shall be included the stated principal amount of the
Exchanged Notes rather than the principal amount of the Exchanged Notes
reflected in the financial statements, (ii) Capitalized Lease Liabilities, and
(iii) Synthetic Lease Obligations; provided, however, that "Funded Debt" shall,
in the event that Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary has
incurred, assumed, guaranteed, redeemed or repaid any Indebtedness subsequent to
commencement of the period in which any Leverage Ratio is being calculated but
prior to the date on which the calculation of the Leverage Ratio is made, be
calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee,
redemption or repayment of Indebtedness, as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable reference period. The foregoing calculation shall
give pro forma effect to acquisitions (including all mergers and
consolidations), asset sales and other dispositions and discontinuations of
businesses or assets during the reference period or subsequent to the reference
period and on or prior to the calculation of Leverage Ratio assuming that all
acquisitions, asset sales and other dispositions and discountenances of business
or assets had occurred on the first day of the reference period. Funded Debt
shall be reduced by amounts attributable to businesses and assets that are so
disposed of or discontinued only to the extent that

                                       15
<PAGE>

the Indebtedness included within such Funded Debt would no longer be an
obligation of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries.

         "GAAP" is defined in Section 1.4.
          ----                -----------

         "Government Authority" means any agency, authority, board, bureau,
          --------------------
commission, department, office or instrumentality of any nature whatsoever of
any governmental or quasi-governmental unit, whether federal, state, county,
district, city or other political subdivision, foreign or otherwise and whether
now or hereafter in existence, or any officer or official of any thereof.

         "Guarantee Agreements" means (i) the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of
          --------------------
March 25, 1999, among Star Gas Partners, Holdings and the Trustee in the form of
Exhibit K-1, and (ii) the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1999, among
-----------
the Material Subsidiaries and the Trustee in the form of Exhibit K-2.

         "Hazardous Material" means:
          ------------------

               (a)    any "hazardous substance," as defined by CERCLA;

               (b)    any "hazardous waste," as defined by the Resource
         Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended;

               (c)    any "pollutant" pursuant to the Clean Water Act, as
         amended;

               (d)    any petroleum product or related compound;

               (e)    any polychlorinated biphenyls or friable asbestos;

               (f)    any radioactive material or substance; or

               (g)    any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or
         toxic chemical, material, substance or waste within the meaning of any
         other Environmental Law, all as amended or hereafter amended.

         "Holdings" means Petro Holdings, Inc., a Minnesota corporation.
          --------

         "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication:
          ------------

               (a)    any indebtedness for borrowed money which such Person has
         directly or indirectly created, incurred or assumed;

               (b)    any indebtedness, whether or not for borrowed money, with
         respect to which such Person has become directly or indirectly liable
         and which represents the deferred purchase price (or a portion thereof)
         or has been incurred to finance the purchase price (or a portion
         thereof) of any property or service or business acquired by such
         Person, whether, by purchase, consolidation, merger or otherwise;

                                       16
<PAGE>

                      (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes,
         bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so
         evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
         assets or businesses;

                      (d) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising
         under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or
         incurred as financing, in either case with respect to property acquired
         by the Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or
         lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to
         repossession or sale of such property);

                      (e) all Capitalized Lease Liabilities;

                      (f) any indebtedness, whether or not for borrowed money,
         secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an
         existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien in
         respect of property owned by such Person, whether or not such Person
         has assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness,
         provided that the amount of such Indebtedness if not so assumed shall
         in no event be deemed to be greater than the fair market value from
         time to time (as determined in good faith, by such Person) of the
         property subject to such Lien;

                      (g) all liabilities of such Person in respect of letters
         of credit or instruments serving a similar function issued or accepted
         for its account by banks and other financial institutions (whether or
         not representing obligations for borrowed money);

                      (h) any indebtedness of the character referred to in
         clause (a) through (g) of this definition deemed to be extinguished
         under GAAP but for which such Person remains legally liable but only to
         the extent of such legal liability; and

                      (i) any indebtedness of any other Person of the character
         referred to in clause (a) through (h) of this definition with respect
         to which the Person whose Indebtedness is being determined has become
         liable by way of a Contingent Liability.

        "Indemnified Liabilities" is defined in Section 11.4.
         -----------------------                ------------

        "Indemnified Parties" is defined in Section 11.4.
         -------------------                ------------

         "Insolvency Proceeding" means (a) any case, action or proceeding before
          ---------------------
any court or other Government Authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization,
insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of
debtors, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
composition, marshalling of assets for creditors, or other similar arrangement
in respect of a Person's creditors generally or any substantial portion of a
Person's creditors; undertaken under U.S. Federal, state or foreign law,
including the Bankruptcy Code.

         "Intercreditor Agreement" means that certain Intercreditor and Trust
          -----------------------
Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1999, among Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries, as Obligors, HSBC Bank USA (formerly
known as Marine Midland Bank), as Trustee, the Note Purchasers named therein, as
Note Holders, the Lenders named therein, and the

                                       17
<PAGE>

Agent, in its capacity as Agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented,
restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.

         "Interest Period" means, relative to any LIBOR Loan, the period
          ---------------
beginning on (and including) the date on which such LIBOR Loan is made or
continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan pursuant to Section 2.3 or 2.4 and
                                                          -----------    ---
ending on (but excluding) the day which numerically corresponds to such date
one, two, three or six months thereafter (or, if such month has no numerically
corresponding day, on the last Business Day of such month) or any shorter period
if acceptable to all the Lenders, in each case as the Borrower may select in its
relevant notice pursuant to Section 2.3 or 2.4; provided, however, that:
                            -----------    ---

               (a)    the Borrower shall not be permitted to select Interest
         Periods to be in effect at any one time which have expiration dates
         occurring on more than five (5) different dates;

               (b)    Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Loans
         comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;

               (c)    if such Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which
         is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next
         following Business Day (unless, if such Interest Period applied to
         LIBOR Loans, such next following Business Day is the first Business Day
         of a calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on
         the Business Day next preceding such numerically corresponding day);
         and

               (d)    no Interest Period may end later than the date set forth
         in clause (a) of the definition "Facility A Commitment Termination
            ---------
         Date," in the case of Interest Periods for Facility A Loans, or in the
         case of Interest Periods for Facility C Loans any date on which a
         principal payment is due if it would be necessary to repay Facility C
         Loans before the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

         "Investment" means, relative to any Person, any direct or indirect
          ----------
purchase or other acquisition by such Person of stock or other securities of any
other Person, or any direct or indirect loan, advance or capital contribution by
such Person to any other Person, and any other item which would be classified as
an "investment" on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with
GAAP, including, without limitation, any direct or indirect contribution by such
Person of property or assets to a joint venture, partnership or other business
entity in which such Person retains an interest, but excluding any Permitted
Hedging Agreement and investments in any company by which such company becomes a
Material Subsidiary. For the purposes of Section 8.2.5, the amount involved in
                                         -------------
Investments made during any period shall be the aggregate cost during such
period to Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries of all such
Investments, determined in accordance with GAAP, but without regard to
unrealized increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or
write-offs, of such investments and without regard to the existence of any
undistributed earnings or accrued interest with respect thereto accrued after
the respective dates on which such Investments were made, less any net return of
capital realized during such period upon the sale, repayment or other
liquidation of such Investment (determined in accordance with GAAP, but without
regard to any amounts received

                                       18
<PAGE>

as earnings (in the form of dividends not constituting a return of capital,
interest or otherwise) on such Investment or as loans from any Person in whom
such Investment has been made).

         "Issue" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, to issue or extend
          -----
the expiry of, or to renew or increase the amount of, such Letter of Credit; and
the terms Issued, Issuing, and Issuance have corresponding meanings.
          ------  -------      --------

         "Issuer" means BofA, in its capacity as issuer of one or more Letters
          ------
of Credit, or any successor issuer thereto as may be reasonably agreed upon by
the Agent, the Required Lenders and the Borrower.

         "L/C Amendment Applications" means, as relevant, a Facility A L/C
          --------------------------
Amendment Application, a Facility B L/C Amendment Application or a Facility C
L/C Amendment Application or all.

         "L/C Applications" means, as relevant, a Facility A L/C Application, a
          ----------------
Facility B L/C Application or a Facility C L/C Application or all.

         "L/C Obligations" means the Facility A L/C Obligations, the Facility B
          ---------------
L/C Obligations and the Facility C L/C Obligations.

         "L/C-Related Documents" means, as relevant, the Facility A L/C-Related
          ---------------------
Documents, the Facility B L/C-Related Documents or the Facility C L/C-Related
Documents, or all.

         "Lenders" is defined in the preamble.
          -------                    --------

         "Letters of Credit" means the collective reference to the Facility A
          -----------------
Letters of Credit, the Facility B Letters of Credit and the Facility C Letters
of Credit, including all Existing Letters of Credit.

         "Level" means, at any time, Level I, Level II, Level III, Level IV or
          -----
Level V determined in accordance with the following table on the basis of the
Pricing Ratio computed as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter immediately preceding
the date of determination:

                             Pricing Ratio determined as of
                               the end of the immediately
                   Level        preceding Fiscal Quarter
                   -----        ------------------------

                     I          less than 3.00

                    II          greater than or equal to 3.00 less than 3.50

                    III         greater than or equal to 3.50 less than 3.75

                    IV          greater than or equal to 3.75 less than 4.00

                     V          greater than or equal to 4.00

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any change in the Level shall be determined by
the Agent based upon the financial information required to be contained in the
Compliance Certificates delivered by the Borrower to the Agent with respect to
each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower and shall,

                                       19
<PAGE>

subject to the next two succeeding sentences, become effective as of the day
following the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate. If the Borrower
shall have failed to deliver a Compliance Certificate for any Fiscal Quarter by
the day which is ten (10) days after the date on which such Compliance
Certificate is required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Agent, and
without limiting the other rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders
hereunder, the Level shall, notwithstanding the actual Pricing Ratio at such
time, be deemed to be Level V as of the first day of the Fiscal Quarter
beginning after the Fiscal Quarter for which such Compliance Certificate was due
and shall continue at such Level until such Compliance Certificate shall have
been delivered. During the period from the Effective Date through December 31,
2001, the Level shall, notwithstanding the actual Pricing Ratio at such time, be
deemed to be Level IV unless such actual Pricing Ratio exceeds Level IV, in
which event the applicable Level shall be Level V.

         "Leverage Ratio" means, at any date of determination, the ratio of
          --------------
Funded Debt at such date to Consolidated Cash Flow for the then immediately
preceding four (4) Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower.

         "LIBOR" means, for each Interest Period for each LIBOR Loan, the
          -----
interest per annum obtained by the Agent as offered quotations (rounded upwards,
if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) that appear on the Telerate Screen
which displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate
(such page number 3740 or 3750, as applicable) for deposits (on the date two (2)
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period) with a term
equivalent to such period in Dollars, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time; provided that if such rate does not appear on such page or service
or such service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) which the Agent has
determined to be the offered rate on such other page or other service which
displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for
deposits on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such period in Dollars, determined as
of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time.

         "LIBOR Loan" means any Loan bearing interest, at all times during an
          ----------
Interest Period applicable to such Loan, at a fixed rate of interest determined
by reference to the LIBOR (Reserve Adjusted).

         "LIBOR (Reserve Adjusted)" means, relative to any Loan to be made,
          ------------------------
continued or maintained as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan for any Interest
Period, a rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of
1%) determined pursuant to the following formula:

                    LIBOR                            LIBOR
            ----------------------  =   -------------------------------
              (Reserve Adjusted)        1.00 - LIBOR Reserve Percentage

The LIBOR (Reserve Adjusted) for any Interest Period for LIBOR Loans will be
determined by the Agent on the basis of the LIBOR Reserve Percentage in effect
on, and the applicable rates furnished to and received by the Agent from the
Reference Lender, two (2) Business Days before the first day of such Interest
Period.

                                       20
<PAGE>

         "LIBOR Reserve Percentage" means, relative to any Interest Period for
          ------------------------
LIBOR Loans, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal) equal to the
maximum aggregate reserve requirements (including all basic, emergency,
supplemental, marginal and other reserves and taking into account any
transitional adjustments or other scheduled changes in reserve requirements)
specified under regulations issued from time to time by the F.R.S. Board and
then applicable to assets or liabilities consisting of and including
"Eurocurrency Liabilities," as currently defined in Regulation D of the F.R.S.
Board, having a term approximately equal or comparable to such Interest Period.

         "Lien" means, as to any Person, any mortgage, lien (statutory or
          ----
otherwise), pledge, reservation, right of entry, encroachment, easement, right
of way, restrictive covenant, license, charge, security interest or other
encumbrance in or on, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or
other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement or capital lease with respect to, any property or
asset owned or held by such Person, or the signing or filing of a financing
statement with respect to any of the foregoing which names such Person as
debtor, the signing of any security agreement with respect to any of the
foregoing authorizing any other party as the secured party thereunder to file
any financing statement or any other agreement to give or grant any of the
foregoing. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be
the owner of any asset which it has placed in trust for the benefit of the
holders of Indebtedness of such Person and such trust shall be deemed to be a
Lien if such Person remains legally liable therefor, notwithstanding that such
Indebtedness is or may be deemed to be extinguished under GAAP.

         "Loan" means, as the context may require, a Facility A Loan, a Facility
          ----
C Loan or a Swing Loan.

         "Loan Document" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee
          -------------
Agreements, the Security Documents, the L/C-Related Documents, the Intercreditor
Agreement, the letter agreement referred to in Section 3.3.4 and any pledge
                                               -------------
agreement, security agreement, guaranty, or mortgage or subordination agreement
delivered to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement, as the same may be amended,
supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Maintenance Capital Expenditures" means, after consideration is given
          --------------------------------
for attrition of volume, those capital expenditures made after January 1, 1999,
required to maintain weather normalized volume of heating oil sold on an annual
basis. For purposes of the foregoing, Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall not
include (i) capital expenditures made for the purposes of upgrading facilities
for the purpose of generating incremental net cash flow, and (ii) capital
expenditures made in connection with acquisitions of businesses.

         "Managing General Partner" means Star Gas LLC, a Delaware limited
          ------------------------
liability company.

         "Material Adverse Effect" means, without limitation, a material adverse
          -----------------------
effect on (i) the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects,
operations, assets or properties of Star Gas Partners, (ii) the condition
(financial or otherwise), business, prospects, operations, assets or properties
of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries (taken as a whole),
(iii) any Obligor's ability to perform its obligations under any Loan Document
to which it is a party,

                                       21
<PAGE>

(iv) the security interests (or the value or priority thereof) granted under the
Security Documents, or (v) the validity of the Loan Documents.

         "Material Subsidiary" means Petro, Inc., Ortep of Connecticut, Inc.,
          -------------------
Maxwhale Corp., Petro/Crystal Corp., Ortep of New Jersey, Inc., Ortep of
Pennsylvania, Inc., Marex Corporation, Star Gas Corporation and A.P. Woodson
Company, Inc., any Subsidiary formed or acquired in connection with the
Contemplated Acquisition and, unless waived by the Agent, all other existing,
future, direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Borrower and Holdings.

         "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan," within the meaning
          ------------------
of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions or, during the preceding
three (3) calendar years, has made, or been obligated to make, contributions.

         "Note" means, as the context may require, either a Facility A Note, a
          ----
Facility C Note or a Swing Note, or any or all of them.

         "Note Agreements" means, collectively, (a) the several substantially
          ---------------
identical note exchange agreements dated as of March 25, 1999 pursuant to which
$64,837,000 original principal amount of the Borrower's senior secured notes
(which Indebtedness constitutes Private Placement Debt) and $2,140,000 original
principal amount of the Borrower's subordinated notes (which Indebtedness
constitutes Existing Subordinated Debt ) was issued, (b) the several
substantially identical note purchase agreements dated as of March 25, 1999
pursuant to which $90,000,000 original principal amount of the Borrower's senior
secured notes (which Indebtedness constitutes Private Placement Debt) was issued
and (c) the several substantially identical note purchase agreements dated as of
October 1, 2000 pursuant to which $40,000,000 original principal amount of the
Borrower's senior secured notes (which Indebtedness constitutes Private
Placement Debt) was issued.

         "Note Holders" is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.
          ------------

         "Obligations" means the obligations of the Borrower to the Agent, the
          -----------
Issuer and the Lenders under this Agreement, the Letters of Credit, the Notes
and each other Loan Document.

         "Obligor" means Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower, the Material
          -------
Subsidiaries or any other Person (other than the Agent, the Issuer, the Arranger
or any Lender) obligated under any Loan Document.

         "Other Facilities" is defined in Section 11.12.
          ----------------                -------------

         "Organic Document" means, relative to any Obligor, its partnership
          ----------------
agreement, certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, its by-laws
or operating agreement and all shareholder agreements, voting trusts and similar
arrangements applicable to any of its authorized shares of Capital Stock or
other equity interests.

         "Parity Debt" means the obligations of the Borrower described in clause
          -----------                                                     ------
(iv) of Section 8.2.2(a) (other than secured subordinated Indebtedness referred
----    ---------------
to in clause (E) thereof), which are secured and will rank pari passu with the
      ----------
Obligations hereunder.

                                       22
<PAGE>

         "Participant" is defined in Section 11.11.2.
          -----------                ---------------

         "Participating Lender" is defined in Section 2.1.5(a)(v).
          --------------------                -------------------

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any Government
          ----
Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under ERISA.

         "Pension Plan" means a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of
          ------------
ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which the
Borrower and/or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes,
is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of multiple
employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions
at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

         "Percentage" means the Facility A Percentage, the Facility B Percentage
          ----------
or the Facility C Percentage, as applicable, or all.

         "Permitted Hedging Agreements" means fuel oil hedging agreements for
          ----------------------------
the purpose of hedging (a) price fluctuations of inventory of the Borrower and
its Material Subsidiaries, and (b) the Borrower's obligation to deliver fuel oil
at capped prices (and not for investment or speculative purposes).

         "Permitted Subordinated Debt" means Indebtedness that is subordinated
          ---------------------------
to the Obligations on and subject to the following terms and conditions (as
applicable):

         (a) if such Indebtedness is provided by an Affiliate of any Obligor,
such Indebtedness (i) shall be created under an agreement containing
subordination provisions as are set forth in Exhibit H-1 (in the case of
                                             -----------
Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary) or Exhibit
                                                                      -------
H-2 (in the case of Indebtedness of Star Gas Partners) and (ii) shall otherwise
---
be on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

         (b) if such Indebtedness is provided by a Person that is not an
Affiliate of any Obligor, such Indebtedness (i) shall not exceed $25,0000,000 in
aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time, (ii) shall bear interest at
market rates, (iii) shall not provide for any principal repayments (whether at
maturity, upon prepayment, upon scheduled installment or otherwise) that would
exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate during any Fiscal Year during the term of
this Agreement and (iv) shall be created under an agreement containing
subordination and other provisions that are reasonably satisfactory to the
Agent; provided that the limitations set forth in clauses (i) and (iii) above
                                                  -----------     ----
shall not apply with respect to Indebtedness of Star Gas Partners; and

         (c) such Indebtedness shall not be secured by any property or other
assets of any Obligor unless the Senior Debt is secured by the same property or
assets and, if such Indebtedness is to be so secured, the Liens of the holder or
holders of such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Liens securing the
Senior Debt on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (and, if such
Indebtedness is to be secured by any Collateral, the Intercreditor Agreement and
the Security Documents shall be amended in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent to reflect such subordination).

                                       23
<PAGE>

         "Person" means any natural person, corporation, partnership, firm,
          ------
association, trust, government, governmental agency or any other entity, whether
acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

         "Plan" means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of
          ----
ERISA), subject to Part 4 of Title I (B) of ERISA which the Borrower sponsors or
maintains or to which the Borrower makes, is making, or is obligated to make
contributions and includes any Pension Plan.

         "Post-Default Rate" means (a) in respect of any Loans a rate per annum
          -----------------
equal to: (i) if such Loans are Base Rate Loans, 2% above the Alternate Base
Rate as in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Base Rate Margin (but in
no event less than the interest rate in effect on the due date), or (ii) if such
Loans are LIBOR Loans, 2% above the rate of interest in effect thereon at the
time of the Event of Default that resulted in the Post-Default Rate being
instituted until the end of the then current Interest Period therefor and,
thereafter, 2% above the Alternate Base Rate as in effect from time to time plus
the Applicable Base Rate Margin (but in no event less than the interest rate in
effect on the due date); and (b) in respect of other amounts payable by the
Borrower hereunder (other than interest) not paid when due (whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), a rate per annum during the period
commencing on the due date until such other amounts are paid in full equal to 2%
above the Alternate Base Rate as in effect from time to time plus the Applicable
Base Rate Margin (but in no event less than the interest rate in effect on the
due date).

         "Pricing Grid" means the following:
          ------------
                                            Applicable            Applicable
         Level           Facility Fee      LIBOR Margin        Base Rate Margin
         -----           ------------      ------------        ----------------

         Level I            0.375%            1.125%                0.000%

         Level II           0.375%            1.375%                0.125%

         Level III          0.500%            1.500%                0.250%

         Level IV           0.500%            1.625%                0.500%

         Level V            0.500%            1.750%                0.500%

         "Pricing Ratio" means, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter of the
          -------------
Borrower, the ratio of (a) the sum of Funded Debt plus the aggregate undrawn or
drawn amount of all issued Facility B Letters of Credit on such last day to (b)
Consolidated Cash Flow for such Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower and the three (3)
immediately preceding Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower.

         "Private Placement Debt" means all of the existing secured Indebtedness
          ----------------------
set forth on Item 8.2.2(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule and other Parity Debt
now or hereinafter incurred.

         "Pro Forma Basis" as used only in the definition of SGP Consolidated
          ---------------
Pro Forma Operating Cash Flow, means the adjustment of any item of income or
expense of any Person for any period as follows, (a) if such Person or any of
its Subsidiaries has incurred, repaid, discharged or defeased any Indebtedness
since the beginning of such period, the SGP

                                       24
<PAGE>

Consolidated Operating Cash Flow and the SGP Consolidated Interest Expense of
such Person for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro
forma basis to (i) the incurrence of any Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness
has been incurred on the first day of such period, (ii) the discharge of any
other Indebtedness repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged as if
such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period, and (iii) the
interest income realized by such Person and its Subsidiaries on the proceeds of
such Indebtedness, to the extent not yet applied at the date of determination,
assuming such proceeds earned interest at the rate of 5% per annum from the date
such proceeds were received through such date of determination, (b) if since the
beginning of such period such Person or any of its Subsidiaries will have made
any Asset Disposition, the SGP Consolidated Operating Cash Flow for such period
will be reduced by an amount equal to the SGP Consolidated Operating Cash Flow
(if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such
Asset Disposition for such period, or increased by an amount equal to the SGP
Consolidated Operating Cash Flow (if negative), directly attributable thereto
for such period, and the SGP Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will
be reduced by an amount equal to the SGP Consolidated Interest Expense directly
attributable to any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries
repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to such
Person and its continuing Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset
Dispositions for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any of its
Subsidiaries is sold, the SGP Consolidated Interest Expense for such period
directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary to the extent such
Person and its continuing Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such
Indebtedness after such sale), (c) if since the beginning of such period such
Person or any of its Subsidiaries (by merger or otherwise) will have made an
Investment in any Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Subsidiary) or an
acquisition of assets, including any acquisition of assets occurring in
connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, which
constitutes all or substantially all of the assets of an operating unit of a
business, the SGP Consolidated Operating Cash Flow and the SGP Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma
effect hereto (including the incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such
Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period, and (d) the
SGP Consolidated Net Income will be calculated without reduction for expenses
incurred in connection with the Restructuring Transactions. For purposes of this
definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of
assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of the
SGP Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness incurred in
connection therewith, such pro forma calculations will be determined in good
faith by the senior financial officer of such Person; provided, however, that
such officer shall assume (A) the historical sales and gross profit margins
associated with such assets for the most recent consecutive twelve (12) month
period ended prior to the date of purchase for which financial statements are
available (provided that the first month of such period will be no more than
eighteen (18) months prior to such date of purchase), less estimated
post-acquisition loss of customers (not to be less than 5%) and (B) other
expenses as if such assets had been owned by such Person since the first day of
such period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being
given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness will be calculated as
if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate
for the entire period.

         "Property" means any right or interest in or to property whatsoever,
          --------
whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible.

                                       25
<PAGE>

         "Qualified Capital Stock" means Capital Stock not constituting
          -----------------------
Disqualified Stock.

         "Quarterly Payment Date" means the last day of each March, June,
          ----------------------
September, and December or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next
succeeding Business Day.

         "Reference Lender" means BofA, so long as BofA is the Agent, or the
          ----------------
Lender serving for the time being as a successor Agent to BofA pursuant to
Section 10.9.
------------

         "Regulatory Change" means, relative to the Agent or any Lender, any
          -----------------
change after the date hereof in any (or the adoption after the date hereof of
any new):

               (a)    United States Federal or state law or foreign law
         applicable to the Agent or such Lender; or

               (b)    regulation, interpretation, directive, or request (whether
         or not having the force of law) applicable to such Agent or such Lender
         or any court or government authority charged with the interpretation or
         administration of any law referred to in the immediately preceding
         clause (a) or of any fiscal, monetary, or other authority having
         ----------
         jurisdiction over the Agent or such Lender.

         "Reimbursement Obligation" is defined in Section 4.6.
          ------------------------                -----------

         "Release" means a "release," as such term is defined in CERCLA.
          -------

         "Reportable Event" means, any of the events set forth in Section
          ----------------
4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder, other than any such event for
which the 30-day notice requirement under ERISA has been waived in regulations
issued by the PBGC.

         "Required Lenders" means, except as otherwise provided in the
          ----------------
Intercreditor Agreement with respect to matters covered thereby, Lenders holding
51% or more of the Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated,
Lenders holding 51% or more of the aggregate outstanding Obligations).

         "Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or
          ------------------
common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of a
Government Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or
any of its property or to which the Person or any of its property is subject.

         "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act" means the Resource
          --------------------------------------
Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901, et seq., as amended.

         "Responsible Officer" means with respect to any Person, the President,
          -------------------
any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer and the Secretary
of such Person and any other officer of such Person who is responsible for
compliance with or performance of any obligation under or matter referred to in
this Agreement with respect to the Borrower, and, in any case, any employee of
the Borrower performing any of the above functions.

                                       26
<PAGE>

         "Restricted Investment" means any Investment other than those permitted
          ---------------------
by Section 8.2.5.
   -------------

         "Restricted Payment" means any payment or other distribution made after
          ------------------
March 25, 1999 in respect of stock in Holdings, except a distribution payable
solely in additional stock of Holdings, and any payment by Holdings on account
of the redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of stock.

         "Restructuring Transactions" means a series of related transactions
          --------------------------
which occurred in March of 1999 pursuant to which (i) the Borrower became a
99.99% owned subsidiary of Holdings, (ii) Holdings became an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Gas Partners, (iii) Star/Petro (a direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Gas Partners and the direct parent of Holdings)
assumed Star Propane's 8.04% First Mortgage Notes and 7.17% First Mortgage
Notes, and (iv) the Managing General Partner replaced Star Gas Corporation as
the sole general partner of Star Gas Partners and Star Propane.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
          --------------
to time.

         "Security" is defined in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act.
          --------

         "Security Agreements" means (i) the Pledge and Security Agreement,
          -------------------
dated as of March 25, 1999, among the Borrower, the Material Subsidiaries and
the Trustee, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time
to time, and (ii) the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1999,
between Holdings and the Trustee, as amended, supplemented, restated or
otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Security Documents" means any of the documents securing the Notes,
          ------------------
including without limitation, the Security Agreements.

         "Senior Debt" means the Obligations and the Private Placement Debt.
          -----------

         "Sevin Group" means Irik P. Sevin, Audrey L. Sevin and any testamentary
          -----------
trust, all beneficiaries of which are members of the immediate family of Irik P.
Sevin or Audrey L. Sevin, and all trustees which are members of the immediate
family of Irik P. Sevin or Audrey L. Sevin and, under the terms of the trust,
have the power to vote membership interests in the Managing General Partner.

         "SGP Consolidated Interest Expense" means, of any Person for any
          ---------------------------------
period, the sum (without duplication) of (i) all interest deducted (including
the interest component of Capitalized Lease Liabilities) net of up to $3,000,000
of interest income received in any four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters (or a
ratable portion for any other period) in determining its SGP Consolidated Net
Income, together with all interest capitalized or deferred during such period
and not deducted in determining the SGP Consolidated Net Income for such period,
and (ii) all Indebtedness issuance cost, discount and expense amortized.
Interest on the Exchanged Notes shall be included only at their stated rate or
rates at the time in effect.

         "SGP Consolidated Net Income" means, with reference to any Person for
          ---------------------------
any period, the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for
such period (taken as a cumulative

                                       27
<PAGE>

whole), as determined in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all offsetting
debits and credits between such Person and its Subsidiaries and all other items
required to be eliminated in the course of the preparation of consolidated
financial statements of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with
GAAP, provided that there shall be excluded:

               (a)    the income (or loss) of any other Person accrued prior to
         the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with
         such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, and the income (or loss) of
         any such Person, substantially all of the assets of which have been
         acquired in any manner, realized by such other Person prior to the date
         of acquisition,

               (b)    the income (or loss) of any other Person (other than a
         Subsidiary of such Person) in which such Person or any Subsidiary of
         such Person has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any
         such income has been actually received by such Person or its Subsidiary
         in the form of cash dividends or similar cash distributions, it being
         understood that all amounts actually received by such Person shall be
         included in the SGP Consolidated Net Income,

               (c)    the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of such
         Person to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or
         similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted
         by the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment,
         decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to
         such Subsidiary,

               (d)    any restoration to income of any contingency reserve,
         except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of
         income accrued during such period,

               (e)    any aggregate net gain (but not any aggregate net loss)
         during such period arising from the sale, conversion, exchange or other
         disposition of capital assets (such term to include, without
         limitation, (i) all non-current assets and, without duplication, (ii)
         the following, whether or not current: all fixed assets, whether
         tangible or intangible, all inventory sold in conjunction with the
         disposition of fixed assets, and all Securities),

               (f)    any gains resulting from any write-up of any assets (but
         not any loss resulting from any write-down of any assets),

               (g)    any net gain from the collection of the proceeds of life
         insurance policies,

               (h)    any gain arising from the acquisition of any Security, or
         the extinguishment, under GAAP, of any Indebtedness, of such Person or
         any Subsidiary of such Person,

               (i)    any net income or gain (but not any net loss) during such
         period from (i) any change in accounting principles in accordance with
         GAAP, (ii) any prior period adjustments resulting from any change in
         accounting principles in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any extraordinary
         items, or (iv) any discontinued operations or the disposition thereof,

                                       28
<PAGE>

               (j)    any deferred credit representing the excess of equity in
         any Subsidiary of such Person at the date of acquisition over the cost
         of the investment in such Subsidiary,

               (k)    in the case of a successor to such Person by consolidation
         or merger or as a transferee of its assets, any earnings of the
         successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer
         of assets, and

               (l)    any portion of such net income that cannot be freely
         converted into United States Dollars.

         "SGP Consolidated Operating Cash Flow" means, of any Person for any
          ------------------------------------
period, the sum of (i) the SGP Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such
period plus, to the extent deducted in arriving at such SGP Consolidated Net
Income; (ii) (w) depreciation, depletion, amortization, and all other non-cash
expenses of such Person for such period; (x) income tax expense of such Person
for such period; and (y) interest expense of such Person for such period, all
determined for such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

         "SGP Consolidated Pro Forma Interest Expense" means, of any Person for
          -------------------------------------------
any period, the SGP Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period
determined on a Pro Forma Basis.

         "SGP Consolidated Pro Forma Operating Cash Flow" means, of any Person
          ----------------------------------------------
for any period, the SGP Consolidated Operating Cash Flow of such Person for such
period determined on a Pro Forma Basis.

         "SGP Restricted Payment" is defined in Section 8.2.6(b).
          ----------------------                ----------------

         "Sold Assets" means those assets sold by Petro to Star Propane on the
          -----------
date the Restructuring Transactions are consummated and which are immediately
thereafter transferred to Holdings on such date.

         "Star Gas Corporation" means Star Gas Corporation, a Delaware
          --------------------
corporation, that is the general partner of Star Gas Partners prior to the
consummation of any of the Restructuring Transactions.

         "Star Gas Partners" means Star Gas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
          -----------------
partnership.

         "Star/Petro" means Star/Petro, Inc., a Minnesota corporation.
          ----------

         "Star Propane" means Star Gas Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited
          ------------
partnership.

         "Stated Maturity Date" means, with respect to the Facility A Loans,
          --------------------
Swing Loans and Facility C Working Capital Loans, June 30, 2004 and, with
respect to the Facility C Loans (other than the Facility C Working Capital
Loans), June 30, 2006.

         "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
          ----------
limited liability company, business trust, association, partnership, joint
venture or other business entity at least a majority (by number of votes) of the
stock of any class or classes (or equivalent interest) of

                                       29
<PAGE>

which is at the time owned by such Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, if the
holders of the stock of such class or classes (or equivalent interests) (a) are
ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election
of a majority of the directors (or Persons performing similar functions) of such
business entity, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the
happening of such a contingency, or (b) are at the time entitled, as such
holders, to vote for the election of the majority of the directors (or Persons
performing similar functions) of such business entity, whether or not the right
so to vote exists by reason of the happening of a contingency. Unless the
context otherwise requires, any reference to a Subsidiary shall mean a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, Holdings or Star Gas Partners. Star Propane shall be
deemed to be a Subsidiary of Star Gas Partners so long as Star Gas Partners owns
a majority of the limited partnership interests in Star Propane and the Managing
General Partner is the sole general partner of Star Propane.

         "Swing Line" is defined in Section 2.7.
          ----------                -----------

         "Swing Line Lender" is defined in Section 2.7.
          -----------------                -----------

         "Swing Loan" is defined in Section 2.7.
          ----------                -----------

         "Swing Loan Request" means a loan request and certificate duly executed
          ------------------
by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower and
substantially in the form of Exhibit J.

         "Swing Note" is defined in Section 2.7.
          ----------                -----------

         "Synthetic Lease" means each arrangement, however described, under
          ---------------
which the obligor: (a) accounts for its interest in the property covered thereby
under GAAP as if the obligor were the lessee of a lease which is not a capital
lease; and (b) accounts for its interest in the property covered thereby for
Federal income tax purposes as if the obligor were the owner.

         "Synthetic Lease Interest Component" means, with respect to any Person
          ----------------------------------
for any period, the portion of rent paid or payable (without duplication) for
such period under Synthetic Leases of such Person that would be treated as
interest in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No.
13 if such Synthetic Leases were treated as capital leases under GAAP.

         "Synthetic Lease Obligation" means, as to any Person with respect to
          --------------------------
any Synthetic Lease at any time of determination, the amount of the liability of
such Person in respect of such Synthetic Lease that would (if such lease was
required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance
sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP) be required to be capitalized on
the balance sheet of such Person at such time.

         "Synthetic Lease Principal Component" means, with respect to any Person
          -----------------------------------
for any period, the portion of rent (exclusive of the Synthetic Lease Interest
Component) paid or payable (without duplication) for such period under Synthetic
Leases of such Person that was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income
of such Person for such period.

                                       30
<PAGE>

         "Taxes" is defined in Section 5.6.
          -----                -----------

         "Trustee" means HSBC Bank USA (formerly known as Marine Midland Bank)
          -------
or any permitted successor under the Intercreditor Agreement.

         "type" means, relative to any Loan, the portion thereof, if any, being
          ----
maintained as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

         "Unfunded Pension Liability" means the excess of a Pension Plan's
          --------------------------
benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value
of that Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for
funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable
plan year.

         "United States" or "U.S." means the United States of America, its fifty
          -------------      ---
States and the District of Columbia.

         "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" means any corporation in which (other than
          -----------------------
directors' qualifying shares required by law) 100% of the capital stock of each
class having ordinary voting power, and 100% of the capital stock of every other
class, in each case, at the time as of which any determination is being made, is
owned, beneficially and of record, by the Borrower, Holdings, or by one or more
of the other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower or Holdings, or any of
them. The Borrower shall be deemed to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings
so long as Holdings owns at least 99.00% of the Borrower's issued and
outstanding equity securities.

         SECTION 1.2 Use of Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined or the
                     --------------------
context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in this
Agreement shall have such meanings when used in the Disclosure Schedule and in
each Note, Borrowing Request, Continuation/Conversion Notice, Loan Document,
notice and other communication delivered from time to time in connection with
this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

         SECTION 1.3 Other Interpretive Provisions.
                     -----------------------------

               (a)    The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to
         the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

               (b)    The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and similar
         words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
         provision of this Agreement; and clause, subsection, section, schedule
         and exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
         specified.

               (c)    (i)    The term "documents" includes any and all
         instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, indentures, notices
         and other writings, however evidenced.

                      (ii)   The term "including" is not limiting and means
               "including without limitation."

                                       31
<PAGE>

                      (iii)  In the computation of periods of time from a
               specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means
               "from and including"; the words "to" and "until" each mean "to
               but excluding," and the word "through" means "to and including."

               (d)    Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references
         to agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual
         instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and
         other modifications thereto, but only to the extent such amendments and
         other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Loan
         Document, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be
         construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions
         consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting the
         statute or regulation.

               (e)    The captions and headings of this Agreement are for
         convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation
         of this Agreement.

               (f)    This Agreement and other Loan Documents may use several
         different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or
         similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are
         cumulative and shall each be performed in accordance with their terms.

               (g)    Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, financial
         calculations applicable to the Borrower shall be made on a consolidated
         basis among Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 1.4 Accounting and Financial Determinations. Unless otherwise
                     ---------------------------------------
specified, all accounting terms used herein or in any other Loan Document shall
be interpreted, all accounting determinations and computations hereunder or
thereunder (including under Section 8.2.4) shall be made, and all financial
                            -------------
statements required to be delivered hereunder or thereunder shall be prepared in
accordance with, those generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the
United States of America from time to time ("GAAP"). Notwithstanding the
                                             ----
foregoing, if the Borrower, the Required Lenders or the Agent determines that a
change in GAAP from that in effect on the date hereof, has altered the treatment
of certain financial data to its detriment under this Agreement, such party may
seek of the others a renegotiations of any financial covenant affected thereby.
If the Borrower, the Required Lenders and Agent cannot agree on renegotiated
covenants, then, for the purposes of this Agreement, GAAP will refer to
generally accepted accounting principles on the date just prior to the date on
which the change that gave rise to the renegotiation occurred.

                                   ARTICLE II

                   COMMITMENTS, BORROWING PROCEDURES AND NOTES

         SECTION 2.1 Commitments. On the terms and subject to the conditions of
                     -----------
this Agreement (including Article VI), each Lender severally agrees to make
                          ----------
Loans and participate in Letters of Credit pursuant to the Commitments described
in this Section 2.1.
        -----------

                                       32
<PAGE>

               SECTION 2.1.1  Facility A Commitment.
                              ---------------------

               (a)    On the terms and subject to the conditions of this
        Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.1.4 and Section
                                                  -------------     -------
        8.1.11), from time to time on any Business Day occurring prior to the
        ------
        Facility A Commitment Termination Date, each Lender will make loans
        (relative to such Lender, its "Facility A Loans") to the Borrower in an
                                       ----------------
        aggregate principal amount not to exceed at anytime outstanding the
        lesser of (a) the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on
        Schedule II under the caption "Facility A Commitment" (such amount as
        -----------
        the same may be reduced hereunder or as reduced or increased as a result
        of one or more assignments under Section 11.11.1, such Lender's
                                         ---------------
        "Facility A Commitment"), and (b) such Lender's pro rata portion of an
         ---------------------
        amount equal to (i) the Facility A Borrowing Base minus (ii) the
        Effective Amount of all Facility C Working Capital Loans. On the terms
        and subject to the conditions hereof, the Borrower may from time to time
        borrow, prepay and reborrow Facility A Loans.

               (b)     As a subfacility of the combined Facility A Commitments,
        the Borrower may, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
        request (i) the Issuer to issue Facility A Letters of Credit pursuant to
        Article IV and (ii) the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Loans pursuant
        ----------
        to Section 2.7.
           -----------

               (c)     The Borrower shall deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate
         to the Agent on or prior to the Effective Date to permit the Agent to
         determine the Facility A Borrowing Base to be in effect on the
         Effective Date and, thereafter, shall deliver Borrowing Base
         Certificates and such other materials to the Agent in accordance with
         the provisions of Section 8.1.1(j). Each such Borrowing Base
                           ----------------
         Certificate shall certify the Facility A Borrowing Base in effect on
         the last day of the applicable reporting period. Promptly following its
         receipt of each Borrowing Base Certificate, the Agent shall determine
         the then current Facility A Borrowing Base using the information
         contained in such Borrowing Base Certificate and shall notify the
         Borrower and each Lender of the Facility A Borrowing Base so
         determined. Each determination of the Facility A Borrowing Base by the
         Agent shall remain in effect until notice of a redetermined Facility A
         Borrowing Base shall have been given by the Agent in accordance with
         the provisions of this Section 2.1.1(c); provided, however, if the
                                ----------------
         Borrower fails to deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate, the Borrower
         will be unable to borrow Facility A Loans until such time that a
         Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered.

         SECTION 2.1.2 Facility B Commitment. On the terms and subject to the
                       ---------------------
conditions of this Agreement (including without limitations Section 2.1.4), from
                                                            -------------
time to time on any Business Day occurring prior to the Facility B Commitment
Termination Date, the Issuer shall issue and the Lenders shall participate in
Facility B Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 4.1.
                                         -----------

         SECTION 2.1.3 Facility C Commitment. On the terms and subject to the
                       ---------------------
conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation Section 2.1.4), from
                                                           -------------
time to time on any Business Day occurring prior to the Facility C Loan
Conversion Date, each Lender will make loans (relative to such Lender, its
"Facility C Loans") to the Borrower and/or issue, or participate in, Facility C
 ----------------
Letters of Credit pursuant to Article IV in an aggregate principal
                              ----------

                                       33
<PAGE>

amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount set forth opposite such
Lender's name on Schedule II under the caption "Facility C Commitment" (such
                 -----------
amount as the same may be reduced hereunder or as reduced or increased as a
result of one or more assignments under Section 11.11.1, such Lender's "Facility
                                        ---------------                 --------
C Commitment"). On the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, the Borrower
------------
may from time to time borrow, prepay and reborrow Facility C Loans prior to the
Facility C Loan Conversion Date.

         SECTION 2.1.4 Restrictions on Loans. None of the Lenders shall be
                       ---------------------
permitted or required to:

               (a)    make any Facility A Loan or Facility C Working Capital
         Loan if, after giving effect thereto, the sum of (i) the Effective
         Amount of all Facility A Loans, plus (ii) the Effective Amount of all
         Facility A L/C Obligations, plus (iii) the Effective Amount of all
         Swing Loans plus (iv) the Effective Amount of all Facility C Working
         Capital Loans, would exceed the lesser of (x) the sum of (i) combined
         Facility A Commitments and (ii) the Facility C Working Capital Loan Cap
         and (y) the Facility A Borrowing Base; or

               (b)    make any Swing Loan, if after giving effect thereto, the
         Effective Amount of all Swing Loans would exceed $5,000,000; or

               (c)    make any Facility C Loan if, after giving effect thereto,
         the Effective Amount of all Facility C Loans together with the
         Effective Amount of all Facility C L/C Obligations would exceed the
         Facility C Commitment; or

               (d)    make any Facility C Loan, if after giving effect thereto,
         Section 8.1.13(b) would be breached.
         ----------------

               SECTION 2.1.5  Increase of Facility C Commitments; New
                              ---------------------------------------
Commitments.
-----------

               (a)    With the consent of the Agent and the Participating
         Lenders referred to below, the Borrower may, following the Effective
         Date, either establish new loan commitments under this Agreement or
         increase the then effective aggregate amount of the Facility C
         Commitments (in either case, a "Commitment Change") if the Borrower
                                         -----------------
         determines that it requires additional funding in order for it to
         consummate the Contemplated Acquisition; provided that:

                      (i)    the aggregate amount of the Commitment Change
               pursuant to this Section 2.1.5 shall not exceed $25,000,000; the
                                -------------
               minimum aggregate amount of the Commitment Change shall be
               $1,000,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
               thereof;

                      (ii)   the Borrower may make not more than one request for
               a Commitment Change, which request must be made on or before May
               31, 2002 in connection with the consummation of the Contemplated
               Acquisition;

                      (iii)  at the time any advance is made in respect of the
               Commitment Change, the Borrower shall have complied with Section
                                                                        -------
               8.2.5(b) with respect to the Contemplated Acquisition;
               -------

                                       34
<PAGE>

                      (iv)   no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
               and be continuing or shall occur as a result of the Commitment
               Change;

                      (v)    the Commitment Change shall be on such terms and
               subject to such conditions as the Borrower, the Agent and the
               Lenders that agree to participate in the Commitment Change (each
               such Lender, a "Participating Lender") shall mutually agree
                               --------------------
               (provided that any amount advanced in respect of such Commitment
               Change shall mature and be required to be repaid in full within
               one year after the date of such advance); and

                      (vi)   the Borrower shall, and shall cause the other
               Obligors to, execute and deliver such amendments, documents,
               promissory notes and other instruments and take such other
               actions (including obtaining any necessary consents from third
               parties) as may be reasonably requested by the Agent in
               connection with the Commitment Change.

               (b)    Any request for a Commitment Change pursuant to this
         Section 2.1.5 shall be submitted by the Borrower to the Agent (which
         -------------
         shall promptly forward copies to the Lenders) specifying the proposed
         effective date and amount of the requested Commitment Change and be
         accompanied by a certificate of the Borrower stating that no Default or
         Event of Default exists or will occur as a result of such Commitment
         Change. The Borrower may also specify any fees offered to the
         Participating Lenders, which fees may be variable based upon the amount
         by which any such Participating Lender is willing to participate in the
         Commitment Change. No Lender shall have any obligation, express or
         implied, to participate in the Commitment Change, and only the consent
         of the Agent and each Participating Lender shall be required for a
         Commitment Change to be made effective pursuant to this Section 2.1.5.
                                                                 -------------
         Any Lender that does not become a Participating Lender shall not have
         any of its Commitments reduced or replaced without such Lender's prior
         written consent. Each Participating Lender shall as soon as practicable
         specify to the Agent and the Borrower the amount that such Lender is
         willing to commit to the proposed Commitment Change, and the Borrower
         may accept some or all of the offered commitments of such Lenders (such
         accepted amount, the "Accepted Commitment Amount").
                               --------------------------

               (c)    Subject to compliance with the foregoing provisions of
         this Section 2.1.5 (including the effectiveness of all required
              -------------
         documentation and third party consents), the Commitment Change shall
         become effective as of the date requested by the Borrower in an amount
         equal to the Accepted Commitment Amount. The Agent shall at the time of
         the effectiveness of the Commitment Change or with reasonable
         promptness thereafter prepare and deliver to the Lenders a substitute
         Schedule II to this Agreement reflecting such Commitment Change (as
         -----------
         well as any changes to the Commitments and the related Percentages
         resulting from any interim assignments by the Lenders pursuant to
         Section 11.11.1), which substitute Schedule II shall (i) become
         ---------------                    -----------
         effective for all purposes of this Agreement upon the effectiveness of
         the Commitment Change and (ii) be conclusive absent manifest error. To
         the extent that the Commitment Change results in any losses or expenses
         to any of the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.4, such losses or expenses
                                           -----------
         shall be for the account of the Borrower.

                                       35
<PAGE>

         SECTION 2.2 Reduction and Termination of Commitments. The Commitments
                     ----------------------------------------
are subject to reduction and termination from time to time pursuant to this
Section 2.2.
------------

               SECTION 2.2.1 Optional. The Borrower may, from time to time on
                             --------
any Business Day occurring after the Effective Date, voluntarily reduce the
unused amount of any Commitment; provided, however, that all such reductions
shall require at least three (3) Business Days' prior notice to the Agent and be
permanent, and any partial reduction of any Commitment shall be in an integral
multiple of $1,000,000.

               SECTION 2.2.2 Mandatory. The applicable Commitment shall be
                             ---------
reduced by an amount equal to any amount required as a mandatory prepayment of
the Facility A Loans or Facility C Loans as applicable pursuant to Section
                                                                   -------
3.1.1, 3.1.3(a), 3.1.3(f) or 3.1.3(i) (whether or not any Loans shall then be
-----  --------  --------    --------
outstanding under the applicable Commitment).

               SECTION 2.2.3 Termination.
                             -----------

               (a)    Upon the occurrence of any event described in the
         definition of Facility A Commitment Termination Date, the Facility A
         Commitment shall be reduced to zero and shall terminate automatically
         and without further action.

               (b)    Upon the occurrence of any event described in the
         definition of Facility B Commitment Termination Date, the Facility B
         Commitment shall be reduced to zero and shall terminate automatically
         and without further action.

               (c)    Upon the occurrence of any event described in the
         definition of Facility C Commitment Termination Date, the Facility C
         Commitment shall be reduced to zero and shall terminate automatically
         and without further action.

         SECTION 2.3 Borrowing Procedure. By delivering a Borrowing Request to
                     -------------------
the Agent on or before 9:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on a Business Day, the
Borrower may from time to time irrevocably request, on not less than three nor
more than five (5) Business Days' notice in the case of LIBOR Loans, and on the
same day or no more than five (5) Business Days' notice in the case of Base Rate
Loans, that a Borrowing be made in a minimum amount of $3,000,000 in the case of
LIBOR Loans, and in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 in the case of Base Rate
Loans, and in both instances in any integral multiple of $100,000 in excess
thereof, or in the unused amount of the applicable Commitment. On the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each Borrowing shall be comprised
of the type of Loans, and shall be made on the Business Day, specified in such
Borrowing Request. Each Borrowing Request must be signed by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower. Upon receipt of any Borrowing Request, the Agent shall
promptly notify the Lenders of such Borrowing Request. On or before 11:00 a.m.,
San Francisco time, on such Business Day each Lender shall deposit with the
Agent same day funds in an amount equal to such Lender's Percentage of the
requested Borrowing. Such deposit will be made to an account which the Agent
shall specify from time to time by notice to the Lenders. To the extent funds
are received from the Lenders, the Agent shall make such funds available to the
Borrower by wire transfer to the accounts specified in the applicable Borrowing
Request. No Lender's obligation to make any Loan shall be affected by any other
Lender's failure to make any Loan. Swing Loans shall not be subject to this
Section 2.3.
-----------
                                       36
<PAGE>

         SECTION 2.4 Continuation and Conversion Elections. By delivering a
                     -------------------------------------
Continuation/Conversion Notice to the Agent on or before 9:00 a.m., San
Francisco time, on a Business Day, the Borrower may from time to time
irrevocably elect, on not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) Business
Days' notice that all, or any portion in a minimum amount of $3,000,000, in the
case of LIBOR Loans, and in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 in the case of Base
Rate Loans, and in both instances any integral multiple of $100,000 in excess
thereof, of any Loans be, in the case of Base Rate Loans, converted into LIBOR
Loans or, in the case of LIBOR Loans, be converted into a Base Rate Loan or a
LIBOR Loan or continued as a LIBOR Loan (in the absence of delivery of a
Continuation/Conversion Notice with respect to any LIBOR Loan at least three (3)
Business Days before the last day of the then current Interest Period with
respect thereto, such LIBOR Loan shall, on such last day, automatically convert
to a Base Rate Loan); provided, however, that (i) each such conversion or
continuation shall be pro rated among the applicable outstanding Loans of all
Lenders, and (ii) no portion of the outstanding principal amount of any Loans
may be continued as, or be converted into, LIBOR Loans when any Default or Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         SECTION 2.5 Funding. Each Lender may, if it so elects, fulfill its
                     -------
obligation to make, continue or convert LIBOR Loans hereunder by causing one of
its foreign branches or Affiliates (or an international banking facility created
by such Lender) to make or maintain such LIBOR Loan; provided, however, that
such LIBOR Loan shall nonetheless be deemed to have been made and to be held by
such Lender, and the obligation of the Borrower to repay such LIBOR Loan shall
nevertheless be to such Lender for the account of such foreign branch, Affiliate
or international banking facility. In addition, the Borrower hereby consents and
agrees that, for purposes of any determination to be made for purposes of
Section 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4, it shall be conclusively assumed that each Lender
-----------  ---  ---    ---
elected to fund all LIBOR Loans by purchasing, as the case may be, Dollar
certificates of deposit in the U.S. or Dollar deposits in its Applicable Lending
Office.

         SECTION 2.6 Loan Accounts/Notes.
                     -------------------

               (a)    The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or
         more loan accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the ordinary
         course of business. The loan accounts or records maintained by the
         Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the
         amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the Letters
         of Credit Issued for the account of the Borrower and the interest and
         payments thereon. Any failure so to record or any error in doing so
         shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the
         Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Loans.
         In case of a discrepancy between the entries in the Agent's books and
         any Lender's books, the Agent's books shall be conclusive absent
         manifest error.

                (b)   Upon the request of any Lender made through the Agent, the
         Facility A Loans made by such Lender shall be evidenced by a single
         promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit
                                                                      -------
         A-1 hereto (each, a "Facility A Note" and collectively, the "Facility A
         ---                  ---------------                         ----------
         Notes"), instead of loan accounts. Each Facility A Note shall be dated
         -----
         the Effective Date, shall be payable to the order of such Lender in a
         principal

                                       37
<PAGE>

         amount equal to such Lender's Facility A Commitment as originally in
         effect, and shall otherwise be duly completed. The Notes shall be
         payable as provided in Article III.
                                -----------

               (c)    Upon the request of any Lender made through the Agent, the
         Facility C Loans made by such Lender shall be evidenced by a single
         promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit
                                                                      -------
         A-2 hereto (each, a "Facility C Note" and collectively, the "Facility C
         ---                  ---------------                         ----------
         Notes"). Each Facility C Note shall be dated the Effective Date, shall
         -----
         be payable to the order of such Lender in a principal amount equal to
         such Lender's Facility C Commitment as originally in effect, and shall
         otherwise be duly completed. The Notes shall be payable as provided in
         Article III.

               (d)    Each Lender shall enter on a schedule attached to its
         Notes a notation with respect to each Loan made hereunder of: (i) the
         date and principal amount thereof, (ii) each payment and prepayment of
         principal thereof, (iii) whether the interest rate is initially to be
         determined in accordance with Section 3.2.1(a) or Section 3.2.1(b), and
                                       ---------------     ---------------
         (iv) the Interest Period, if applicable. Such notations shall be
         conclusive and binding on the Borrower absent manifest error; provided,
         however, that the failure of any Lender to make a notation on the
         schedule to its Note as aforesaid shall not limit or otherwise affect
         the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with
         their respective terms as set forth herein.

         SECTION 2.7  Swing Line.
                      ----------

               (a)    Upon the Borrower's request, and on the terms and subject
         to the conditions of this Agreement, BofA (in such capacity, the "Swing
                                                                           -----
         Line Lender") may, in its sole discretion, on and after the Effective
         -----------
         Date and prior to the Facility A Commitment Termination Date, make
         swing line loans (each, a "Swing Loan") available to the Borrower under
                                    ----------
         a swing line credit facility (the "Swing Line") in an aggregate amount
                                            ----------
         of up to $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding; provided that the
         Swing Line Lender shall not in any event be permitted or required to
         make any Swing Loan under the Swing Line if, after giving effect
         thereto, (i) the sum of the then aggregate outstanding principal amount
         of all Facility A Loans, Facility C Working Capital Loans, and Swing
         Loans plus the then aggregate amount of all Facility A L/C Obligations
               ----
         would exceed the lesser of (x) the sum of the combined Facility A
         Commitments plus the Facility C Working Capital Loan Cap and (y) the
         Facility A Borrowing Base, or (ii) the then aggregate outstanding
         principal amount of all Swing Loans made by the Swing Line Lender would
         exceed $5,000,000. The Swing Line Lender shall not be at any time
         obligated to make any Swing Loan.

               (b)    Each request for Swing Loans shall be made from time to
         time by the Borrower delivering a Swing Loan Request therefor to the
         Agent and the Swing Line Lender at or before 12:00 noon, San Francisco
         time, on any Business Day. On the terms and subject to the conditions
         of this Agreement, each Swing Loan shall be disbursed on the Business
         Day on which the request therefor was timely made, in same day funds by
         wire transfer to such transferee(s), or to such account(s) of the
         Borrower, as the Borrower shall have specified in the request therefor.
         Swing Loans shall be in an aggregate

                                       38
<PAGE>

         minimum principal amount of $100,000 and any integral multiple of
         $50,000 in excess thereof.

               (c)    Each Swing Loan outstanding under the Swing Line shall
         accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the interest accrued on a
         Base Rate Loan (the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Base Rate
         Margin) which interest shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each
         Quarterly Payment Date and on the Facility A Commitment Termination
         Date, and shall be payable to the Swing Line Lender; provided that,
         notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each Swing Loan
         shall bear interest for a minimum of one (1) day.

               (d)    Each Swing Loan under the Swing Line shall be due and
         payable on the earlier of:

                      (i)    at or before 10:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on
         the fifth Business Day immediately following the date such Swing Loan
         was made pursuant to the Swing Line; and

                      (ii)   in any event on the Facility A Commitment
         Termination Date;

provided that, if no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
then unless the Borrower notifies the Swing Line Lender that it will repay such
Swing Loan, on the due date of such Swing Loan, if and to the extent that the
Borrower is permitted to borrow Facility A Loans under the terms of this
Agreement (the Facility A Commitment being determined for such purpose without
giving effect to any reduction thereof occasioned by such Swing Loans due and
payable) at the time such Swing Loans are due and provided that the Agent shall
have had sufficient prior written notice, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
submitted a Borrowing Request for Facility A Loans at the Base Rate in an amount
necessary to repay the amount demanded, and the provisions of Section 2.3
                                                              -----------
concerning the minimum principal amounts and integral multiples thereof required
for Borrowings of Facility A Loans shall not apply to Facility A Loans made
pursuant to this Section 2.7(d).
                 --------------

               (e)    The Borrower may, from time to time on any Business Day,
         make a voluntary prepayment, in whole or in part, of the outstanding
         principal amount of any Swing Loans, without incurring any premium or
         penalty; provided that:

                      (i)    each such voluntary prepayment shall require prior
         written notice given to the Agent and Swing Line Lender no later than
         11:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the day on which the Borrower
         intends to make a voluntary prepayment; and

                      (ii)   each such voluntary prepayment shall be in a
         minimum amount of $100,000 and in any integral multiple of $50,000 in
         excess thereof (or, if less, the aggregate outstanding principal amount
         of all Swing Loans then outstanding).

               (f)    Each Lender shall be deemed to have unconditionally and
         irrevocably purchased a pro rata risk participation from the Swing Line
         Lender in such Swing Line Lender's Swing Loans, without recourse,
         representation or warranty in an amount equal

                                       39
<PAGE>

         to such Lender's Facility A Percentage of such Swing Loans. In
         addition, from and after the date that any Lender funds such
         participation pursuant to Section 2.7(g) below, such Lender shall, to
                                   -------------
         the extent of its Facility A Percentage, be entitled to receive a
         ratable portion of any payment of principal and interest received by
         the Swing Line Lender on account of such Swing Loans, payable promptly
         to such Lender upon such receipt.

               (g)    The Swing Line Lender may, in its sole and absolute
         discretion at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default,
         upon prior written notice to the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders
         not later than 10:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the same Business
         Day, terminate the Swing Line and cause all outstanding Swing Loans
         automatically upon the giving of such notice to be repaid from the
         proceeds of Facility A Loans made by the Lenders in accordance with
         their respective Facility A Percentages (which Facility A Loans shall
         be Base Rate Loans bearing interest at the applicable rate) in an
         aggregate amount sufficient to repay all outstanding Swing Loans, and
         the provisions of Section 2.3 concerning the minimum principal amounts
                           -----------
         and integral multiples thereof required for Borrowings of Facility A
         Loans shall not apply to Facility A Loans made pursuant to this Section
                                                                         -------
         2.7(g); provided, that if any Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced
         -----
         with respect to the Borrower on or prior to the date on which any Swing
         Loan is due, and in lieu of funding its Facility A Percentage of
         Facility A Loans as provided above, each Lender shall immediately fund
         its risk participation in such Swing Loan by funding to the Agent, for
         the account of the Swing Line Lender, such Lender's pro rata share of
         such Swing Loan, based on such Lender's Facility A Percentage. None of
         the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2.3 and Section 6.2 shall
                                               -----------     -----------
         apply to any funding by a Lender of its Facility A Percentage of
         Facility A Loans or its risk participation in a Swing Loan, in each
         case pursuant to this Section 2.7(g).
                               --------------

               (h)    The Swing Line Lender shall not, without the approval of
         all Lenders, make a Swing Loan if the Swing Line Lender then has
         received a written notice of default from the Borrower, any Lender or
         the Agent of the type referred to in the first sentence of Section
                                                                    -------
         10.5.
         -----

               (i)    Each Lender's obligation in accordance with this Agreement
         to make Facility A Loans upon the failure of a Swing Loan to be repaid
         in full when due, or to fund its participation in such Swing Loans,
         shall, in each case, be absolute and unconditional and without recourse
         to the Swing Line Lender and shall not be affected by any circumstance,
         including (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other
         right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the
         Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the
         occurrence or continuance of a Default, an Event of Default or any
         circumstance or event which could have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii)
         the receipt by the Swing Line Lender of a written notice of default
         from the Borrower, any Lender or the Agent of the type referred to in
         the first sentence of Section 10.5 after a Swing Loan was made by the
                               ------------
         Swing Line Lender or (iv) any other circumstance, happening or event
         whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

                                       40
<PAGE>

               (j)    The Swing Loans made by the Swing Line Lender shall be
         evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the
         Swing Line Lender in the ordinary course of business. The loan accounts
         or records maintained by the Agent and the Swing Line Lender shall be
         conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Swing Loans made
         by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower. Any failure so to record or
         any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the
         obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with
         respect to the Swing Loans. In case of a discrepancy between the
         entries in the Agent's books and the Swing Line Lender's books, the
         Agent's books shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

               (k)    Upon the request of the Swing Line Lender through the
         Agent, the Swing Loans made by the Swing Line Lender shall be evidenced
         by a single promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form
         of Exhibit A-3 hereto (the "Swing Note") instead of loan accounts. The
            -----------              ----------
         Swing Note shall be dated the Effective Date, shall be payable to the
         order of the Swing Line Lender in a principal amount equal to
         $5,000,000 and shall otherwise be duly completed.

               (l)    The Swing Line Lender shall enter on a schedule attached
         to its Swing Note a notation with respect to each Swing Loan made
         hereunder of: (i) the date and principal amount thereof, and (ii) each
         payment and prepayment of principal thereof. Such notations shall be
         conclusive and binding on the Borrower absent manifest error; provided,
         however, that the failure of the Swing Line Lender to make a notation
         on the schedule to its Swing Note as aforesaid shall not limit or
         otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Swing
         Loans in accordance with their respective terms as set forth herein.

                                   ARTICLE III

                   REPAYMENTS, PREPAYMENTS, INTEREST AND FEES

         SECTION 3.1 Repayments and Prepayments..
                     ---------------------------

               SECTION 3.1.1  Repayment
                              ---------

               (a)    Facility A Loans. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for
                      ----------------
         the account of each Lender on the Facility A Commitment Termination
         Date the aggregate principal amount of Facility A Loans and Swing Loans
         outstanding on such date, together with all accrued and unpaid interest
         thereon.

               (b)    Facility C Working Capital Loans. The Borrower shall pay
                      --------------------------------
         to the Agent for the account of each Lender on the Facility C Loan
         Conversion Date the aggregate principal amount of Facility C Working
         Capital Loans outstanding on such date, together with all accrued and
         unpaid interest thereon.

               (c)    Other Facility C Loans. Except as provided in Section
                      ----------------------                        -------
         3.1.1(b) above with respect to Facility C Working Capital Loans, the
         -------
         Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender the
         principal of the Facility C Loans made by such Lender outstanding at
         the close of business on the Facility C Loan Conversion Date in eight
         (8)

                                       41
<PAGE>

         consecutive quarterly installments on the Quarterly Payment Dates
         (together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon) commencing on
         the Quarterly Payment Date immediately succeeding the Facility C Loan
         Conversion Date (provided that the last such payment shall be on June
         30, 2006 in an amount sufficient to repay in full the principal amount
         of such Facility C Loans), with the amount of the installment paid on
         each Quarterly Payment Date to be equal 1/8 of the principal of such
         Facility C Loans outstanding at the close of business on the Facility C
         Loan Conversion Date together with all accrued and unpaid interest
         thereon.

               SECTION 3.1.2 Voluntary Prepayments The Borrower may, from time
                             ---------------------
to time on any Business Day, make a voluntary prepayment, in whole or in part,
of the outstanding principal amount of any Loans; provided, however, that:

               (a)    any such prepayment shall be made pro rata among Loans of
         the same type and, if applicable, having the same Interest Period of
         all Lenders;

                (b)   all such voluntary prepayments of LIBOR Loans shall
         require at least three (3) but no more than five (5) Business Days'
         prior written notice to the Agent and all such voluntary prepayments of
         Base Rate Loans shall require prior written notice to the Agent at
         least by 1:00 p.m., San Francisco time, at least one (1) Business Day
         prior to such repayment but no more than five (5) Business Days prior
         to such repayment; and

                (c)   all such voluntary prepayments of LIBOR Loans or Facility
         C Loans shall be made in a minimum amount of $3,000,000 and any
         integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, or in the whole
         outstanding principal amount of such Loans, and all such voluntary
         prepayments of Facility A Loans maintained as Base Rate Loans shall be
         made in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and an integral multiple of
         $100,000, or in the whole outstanding principal amount of such Loan;

Each prepayment of any Loans made pursuant to this Section shall be without
premium or penalty, except as required by Section 5.4.
                                          -----------

               SECTION 3.1.3 Mandatory Prepayments.
                             ---------------------

               (a)    The Borrower shall, on each date when any reduction in the
         applicable Commitment shall become effective, including pursuant to
         Section 2.2, make a mandatory prepayment of all applicable Loans equal
         -----------
         to the excess, if any, of the aggregate principal amount of all
         applicable Loans over the applicable Commitment.

                (b)   If at any time the sum of the Effective Amounts of the
         Facility A Loans, the Swing Loans, the Facility A L/C Obligations and
         Facility C Working Capital Loans exceed the lesser of (x) sum of (i)
         the combined Facility A Commitments then in effect plus (ii) the
         Facility C Working Capital Loan Cap and (y) the Facility A Borrowing
         Base, the Borrower shall immediately prepay such Facility A Loans and
         Swing Loans and Facility C Working Capital Loans (and, to the extent
         necessary, Cash Collateralize the Facility A Letters of Credit) in an
         aggregate principal amount equal to such excess. If at any time the sum
         of the Effective Amounts of the Facility A Loans, the Swing Loans and
         the Facility A L/C Obligations exceeds the lesser of (x) the combined
         Facility A

                                       42
<PAGE>

         Commitments then in effect and (y) the Facility A Borrowing Base, the
         Borrower shall immediately prepay such Facility A Loans and Swing Loans
         (and, to the extent necessary, Cash Collateralize the Facility A
         Letters of Credit) in an aggregate principal amount equal to such
         excess. Any such prepayment shall be applied, first, to the Swing
         Loans, second, to the Facility A Loans, third, to Facility C Working
         Capital Loans, and fourth, to Cash Collateralize, in a manner
         acceptable to the Agent, the Issuer, and the Lenders, the then
         outstanding Facility A L/C Obligations. Amounts prepaid pursuant to
         this Section may be reborrowed; provided that the aggregate Facility A
         Commitment is not exceeded thereby, the aggregate Facility C Commitment
         is not exceeded thereby, and the Effective Amount of Facility C Working
         Capital Loans does not thereby exceed the Facility C Working Capital
         Loan Cap.

               (c)    If at any time the Effective Amount of the Facility A L/C
         Obligations exceed $15,000,000, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize
         on such date the outstanding Facility A Letters of Credit in an amount
         equal to such excess.

               (d)    If at any time the Effective Amount of the Facility B L/C
         Obligations exceed the Facility B Commitment, the Borrower shall Cash
         Collateralize on such date the outstanding Facility B Letters of Credit
         in an amount equal to such excess.

               (e)    If at any time the Effective Amount of the Facility C
         Loans and the Effective Amount of the Facility C L/C Obligations exceed
         the combined Facility C Loan Commitments then in effect or the
         Effective Amount of Facility C Working Capital Loans exceeds the
         Facility C Working Capital Loan Cap, the Borrower shall immediately
         prepay such Facility C Loans (and, to the extent necessary, Cash
         Collateralize the Facility C Letters of Credit) in an aggregate
         principal amount equal to such excess, together with commitment fees
         accrued to the date of such payment. Any such prepayment shall be
         applied, first, to the Facility C Loans, and second, to Cash
         Collateralize, in a manner acceptable to the Agent and the Lenders, the
         then outstanding Facility C L/C Obligations.

               (f)    In the event any Asset Disposition results in Excess Sale
         Proceeds which are (i) not reinvested within ninety (90) days of such
         disposition in replacement assets or not deposited with the Trustee
         within ninety (90) days of such disposition to be reinvested in such
         replacement assets, or (ii) deposited with the Trustee within ninety
         (90) days of such disposition but which are not reinvested within
         one-hundred eighty (180) days of such disposition all as provided
         Section 8.2.8(b), such Excess Sale Proceeds shall be applied to the
         ----------------
         prepayment of the Senior Debt on a pro rata basis in accordance with
         Section 20 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

               (g)    The Borrower shall, immediately upon any acceleration of
         the Stated Maturity Date of any Loans pursuant to Section 9.2 or
                                                           -----------
         Section 9.3, repay all such Loans.
         -----------

               (h)    The Borrower shall prepay amounts in accordance with
         Section 8.1.11.
         --------------

               (i)    In the event any Casualty Event affecting any property of
         Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries which
         results in insurance, condemnation

                                       43
<PAGE>

         award or other compensation in excess of $500,000 ("Casualty Proceeds")
                                                             -----------------
         which Casualty Proceeds are (i) not reinvested within ninety (90) days
         of receipt of such Casualty Proceeds in replacement assets or not
         deposited with the Trustee within ninety (90) days of such receipt of
         Casualty Proceeds to be reinvested, or (ii) deposited with the Trustee
         within ninety (90) days of receipt of such Casualty Proceeds but which
         are not reinvested within one-hundred eighty (180) days of receipt of
         such Casualty Proceeds, such Casualty Proceeds shall be applied to the
         prepayment of the Senior Debt on a pro rata basis in accordance with
         Section 20 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

Except as otherwise provided above, mandatory prepayments shall be applied first
to the Facility C Loans, then the Facility A Loans, then to the payment of the
then outstanding Swing Loans and then to Cash Collateralize the outstanding
aggregate amount of all L/C Obligations. Subsequent to the Facility C Loan
Conversion Date, each voluntary prepayment of Facility C Loans made pursuant to
Section 3.1.2 and each mandatory prepayment of Facility C Loans made pursuant to
-------------
Section 3.1.3 shall be applied, to the extent of such prepayment, to the
-------------
repayments of the Facility C Loans installments in inverse order of maturity.
Each prepayment of any Loans made pursuant to this Section shall be without
premium or penalty, except as may be required by Section 5.4. No voluntary
                                                 -----------
prepayment of principal of any Facility A Loan or Facility C Loan prior to the
applicable Commitment Termination Date, shall cause a reduction in the Facility
A Commitment or Facility C Commitment, as applicable.

         SECTION 3.2 Interest Provisions. Interest on the outstanding principal
                     -------------------
amount of Loans shall accrue and be payable in accordance with this Section 3.2.
                                                                    ------------

               SECTION 3.2.1 Rates. Pursuant to an appropriately delivered
                             -----
Borrowing Request or Continuation/Conversion Notice, the Borrower may elect that
Loans comprising a Borrowing accrue interest at a rate per annum:

               (a)    on and prior to the Facility C Loan Conversion Date,

                      (i)    on that portion maintained from time to time as a
               Base Rate Loan, equal to the sum of the Alternate Base Rate from
               time to time in effect plus the Applicable Base Rate Margin; and

                      (ii)   on that portion maintained as a LIBOR Loan, during
               each Interest Period applicable thereto, equal to the sum of the
               LIBOR (Reserve Adjusted) for such Interest Period plus the
               Applicable LIBOR Margin.

               (b)    after the Facility C Loan Conversion Date,

                      (i)    on that portion maintained from time to time as a
               Base Rate Loan, equal to the sum of the Alternate Base Rate from
               time to time in effect plus the Applicable Base Rate Margin plus
               0.25%, and

                      (ii)   on that portion maintained as a LIBOR Loan, during
               each Interest Period applicable thereto, equal to the sum of the
               LIBOR (Reserve Adjusted) for such period plus the Applicable
               LIBOR Margin plus 0.25%.

                                       44
<PAGE>

         All LIBOR Loans shall bear interest from and including the first day of
the applicable Interest Period to (but not including) the last day of such
Interest Period at the rate determined as applicable to such LIBOR Loan.

               SECTION 3.2.2 Post-Default Rate. Notwithstanding Section 3.2.1,
                             -----------------                  -------------
whenever an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall
pay interest on any Loan, and on any other amount payable by the Borrower
hereunder (to the extent permitted by law) for the period commencing on the
occurrence of such Event of Default until such Event of Default has been cured
or waived as acknowledged in writing by the Agent at the applicable Post-Default
Rate.

               SECTION 3.2.3 Payment Dates. Interest accrued on each Loan shall
                             -------------
be payable, without duplication:

               (a)    on the Stated Maturity Date applicable to such Loan;

               (b)    with respect to any prepayment of a Loan in connection
         with a reduction in the applicable Commitment, on the date of any such
         prepayment;

               (c)    with respect to Base Rate Loans, on each Quarterly Payment
         Date occurring after the date of the initial Borrowing hereunder;

               (d)    with respect to LIBOR Loans, on the last day of each
         applicable Interest Period (and, if such Interest Period shall exceed
         three months, on the three month anniversary of the first day of such
         Interest Period); and

               (e)    on that portion of any Loans the Stated Maturity Date of
         which is accelerated pursuant to Section 9.2 or Section 9.3,
                                          -----------    -----------
         immediately upon such acceleration.

Interest accruing on the Loans or other monetary Obligations arising under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document (i) shall be payable upon demand during the
continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) shall include interest that accrues
after the commencement of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law by or against
any Obligor or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any such Obligor.

         SECTION 3.3 Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay the fees set forth in this
Section 3.3. All such fees shall be non-refundable.
-----------

               SECTION 3.3.1 Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent
                             ------------
for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the daily actual amount of (a)
such Lender's Facility A Commitment (whether or not used) from the date hereof
until the Facility A Commitment Termination Date, (b) such Lender's Facility B
Commitment (whether or not used) from the date hereof until the Facility B
Commitment Termination Date and (c) such Lender's Facility C Commitment (whether
or not used) from the date hereof until the Facility C Loan Conversion Date, in
each case at the rate per annum set forth in the Pricing Grid. Accrued facility
fees shall be payable in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date and on the date
on which the Commitments terminate as provided herein, commencing on the first
of such dates to occur after the date hereof.

                                       45
<PAGE>

               SECTION 3.3.2 Letter of Credit Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to
                             --------------------
the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, a fee for each Letter of Credit for
the period from and including the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit
to (but not including) the date upon which such Letter of Credit expires, equal
to the product of, the Applicable LIBOR Margin per annum times the face amount
of such Letter of Credit; provided, however, if such Letter of Credit is Cash
Collateralized, the fee shall be 0.25% times the face amount of such Letter of
Credit. Such fee shall be payable by the Borrower in arrears on each Quarterly
Payment Date, and on the relevant Commitment Termination Date (or June 30, 2004
(or such later expiry date if renewed at the sole discretion of the Issuer) in
respect of Facility C Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized and
are outstanding after the Facility C Loan Conversion Date) for any period then
ending for which such fee shall not theretofore have been paid, commencing on
the first such date after the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

               SECTION 3.3.3 Letter of Credit Issuing Fee. The Borrower agrees
                             ----------------------------
to pay to the Issuer for its own account, an issuing fee for each Letter of
Credit of 1/8 of 1% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit. Such fee shall
be payable by the Borrower upon issuance of such Letter of Credit. In addition,
the Borrower agrees to pay the Issuer from time to time on demand the normal
issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard
costs and charges of the Issuer relating to the Letters of Credit as from time
to time in effect.

               SECTION 3.3.4 Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent,
                             ----------
for the account of the Lenders or the Agent (as applicable), the fees specified
in a letter agreement dated April 17, 2001 (as amended by letter dated May 30,
2001) among the Borrower, BofA and Banc of America Securities LLC, in each case
at the times specified in such letter agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                LETTERS OF CREDIT

         SECTION 4.1 The Letter of Credit Facility and Subfacilities.
                     ------------------------------------------------

               (a)    On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
         herein (i) the Issuer agrees from time to time on any Business Day
         during the period from the Effective Date to the Facility A Commitment
         Termination Date to issue standby letters of credit (the "Facility A
                                                                   ----------
         Letters of Credit") for the account of the Borrower in accordance with
         -----------------
         this Article IV, and to amend or renew, extend the expiration of or
              ----------
         increase the amount of the Facility A Letters of Credit previously
         issued by and in accordance with Section 4.2(c) and Section 4.2(d) and
                                          --------------     --------------
         (ii) the Lenders agree to participate in the Facility A Letters of
         Credit; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be obligated to
         Issue, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in, any Facility
         A Letter of Credit if, as of the date of Issuance of such Facility A
         Letter of Credit (the "Facility A L/C Issuance Date") (1) the Effective
                                ----------------------------
         Amount of all Facility A L/C Obligations plus the Effective Amount of
         all Facility A Loans plus the Effective Amount of all Swing Loans
         exceeds the lesser of (x) the combined Facility A Commitments and (y)
         the Facility A Borrowing Base or (2) the Effective Amount of the
         Facility A L/C Obligations exceeds $15,000,000. Within the foregoing
         limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the
         ability of the

                                       46
<PAGE>

         Borrower to obtain Facility A Letters of Credit shall be fully
         revolving, and accordingly, the Borrower may, during the foregoing
         period, obtain Facility A Letters of Credit to replace the Facility A
         Letters of Credit which have expired or which have been drawn upon and
         reimbursed.

               (b)    On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
         herein (i) the Issuer agrees from time to time on any Business Day
         during the period from the Effective Date to the Facility B Commitment
         Termination Date to issue standby letters of credit (together with the
         Existing Facility B Letters of Credit, the "Facility B Letters of
                                                     ---------------------
         Credit") for the account of the Borrower in accordance with this
         ------
         Article IV, and to amend or renew, extend the expiration of or increase
         ----------
         the amount of the Facility B Letters of Credit previously issued by and
         in accordance with Section 4.2(c) and Section 4.2(d) and (ii) the
                            -------------      -------------
         Lenders agree to participate in the Facility B Letters of Credit
         (including the Existing Facility B Letters of Credit); provided,
         however, that the Issuer shall not be obligated to issue, and no Lender
         shall be obligated to participate in, any Facility B Letter of Credit
         (including the Existing Facility B Letters of Credit) if, as of the
         date of issuance of such Facility B Letter of Credit (the "Facility B
                                                                    ----------
         L/C Issuance Date") the Effective Amount of all Facility B L/C
         -----------------
         Obligations exceeds the combined Facility B Commitments. Within the
         foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof,
         the ability of the Borrower to obtain Facility B Letters of Credit
         shall be fully revolving, and accordingly, the Borrower may, during the
         foregoing period, obtain Facility B Letters of Credit to replace the
         Facility B Letters of Credit which have expired or which have been
         drawn upon and reimbursed.

               (c)    On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
         herein (i) the Issuer agrees from time to time on any Business Day
         during the period from the Effective Date to the Facility C Loan
         Conversion Date to issue standby letters of credit (together with the
         Existing Facility C Letters of Credit, the "Facility C Letters of
                                                     ---------------------
         Credit") for the account of the Borrower in accordance with this
         ------
         Article IV, and to amend or renew, extend the expiration of or increase
         the amount of the Facility C Letters of Credit previously issued by and
         in accordance with Section 4.2(c) and Section 4.2(d) and (ii) the
                            --------------     --------------
         Lenders agree to participate in the Facility C Letters of Credit
         (including the Existing Facility C Letters of Credit); provided,
         however, that the Issuer shall not be obligated to Issue, and no Lender
         shall be obligated to participate in, any Facility C Letter of Credit
         (including the Existing Facility C Letters of Credit) if, as of the
         date of Issuance of such Facility C Letter of Credit (the "Facility C
                                                                    ----------
         L/C Issuance Date") the Effective Amount of all Facility C L/C
         -----------------
         Obligations plus the Effective Amount of all Facility C Loans exceeds
         the combined Facility C Commitments. Within the foregoing limits, and
         subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the ability of the
         Borrower to obtain Facility C Letters of Credit shall be fully
         revolving, and accordingly, the Borrower may, during the foregoing
         period, obtain Facility C Letters of Credit to replace the Facility C
         Letters of Credit which have expired or which have been drawn upon and
         reimbursed.

               (d)    The Issuer is under no obligation to Issue any Letter of
         Credit if:

                      (i)    any order, judgment or decree of any Government
               Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or
               restrain the Issuer from issuing

                                       47
<PAGE>

               such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law applicable to
               the Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the
               force law) from any Government Authority with jurisdiction over
               the Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the Issuer refrain
               from, the Issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter
               of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuer any
               restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuer
               is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the
               Effective Date, or shall impose upon the Issuer any unreimbursed
               loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective
               Date and which the Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

                      (ii)   the Issuer has received written notice from any
               Lender, the Agent or the Borrower, on or prior to the Business
               Day prior to the requested date of Issuance of such Letter of
               Credit, that one or more of the applicable conditions contained
               in Article VI is not then satisfied;
                  ----------

                      (iii)  the expiry date of any requested Letter of Credit
               is (A) with respect to Facility A Letters of Credit, more than
               (1) one-hundred twenty (120) days after the Facility A L/C
               Issuance Date or (2) after the Facility A Commitment Termination
               Date (B) with respect to the Facility B Letters of Credit, more
               than (1) three-hundred sixty (360) days after the Facility B L/C
               Issuance Date or (2) after the Facility B Commitment Termination
               Date or (C) with respect to the Facility C Letters of Credit,
               after the Facility C Loan Conversion Date, or if such Facility C
               Letter of Credit is 100% Cash Collateralized on the Facility C
               Loan Conversion Date, after June 30, 2006. Notwithstanding the
               foregoing, any Facility C Letter of Credit expiring on June 30,
               2006 may be automatically renewed in accordance with its terms
               for an additional year unless the Issuer notifies the Borrower
               and the beneficiary of such Facility C Letter of Credit thirty
               (30) days prior to the expiry date of such Facility C Letter of
               Credit that such Facility C Letter of Credit is not being renewed
               by the Issuer. The Issuer shall not renew any Facility C Letter
               of Credit beyond June 30, 2006 unless all of the Lenders shall
               have consented to such renewal;

                      (iv)   any requested Letter of Credit is not otherwise in
               form and substance acceptable to the Issuer, or the issuance of a
               Letter of Credit shall violate any applicable policies of the
               Issuer; and

                      (v)    such Letter of Credit is to be used for a purpose
               other than as permitted by Section 8.1.13.
                                          --------------

         SECTION 4.2 Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit.
                     ----------------------------------------------------

               (a)    Each Letter of Credit shall be Issued upon the receipt by
         the Issuer of an L/C Application or L/C Amendment Application (with a
         copy sent by the Borrower to the Agent) prior to 10:00 a.m., San
         Francisco time, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed
         date of Issuance for Letters of Credit.

                                       48
<PAGE>

               (b)    Not later than 10:00 a.m., San Francisco time, one (1)
         Business Day Prior to the Issuance of any Letter of Credit, the Issuer
         will confirm with the Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Agent
         has received a copy of the L/C Application or L/C Amendment Application
         from the Borrower and, if not, the Issuer will provide the Agent with a
         copy thereof. Unless the Issuer has on or before 11:00 a.m., San
         Francisco time, on the Business Day the Issuer is to Issue a requested
         Letter of Credit (i) received notice from the Agent directing the
         Issuer not to Issue such Letter of Credit because such Issuance is not
         then permitted under Sections 4.1(a), 4.1(b), and 4.1(c) as a result of
                              ---------------  ------      ------
         the limitations set forth therein; or (ii) received a notice described
         in Section 4.1(d)(ii), then, subject to the terms and conditions
            ------------------
         hereof, the Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of
         Credit in accordance with the Issuer's usual and customary business
         practices.

               (c)    From time to time while a Letter of Credit is outstanding
         and prior to the relevant Commitment Termination Date, the Issuer will,
         upon the written, request of the Borrower received by the Issuer (with
         a copy sent by the Borrower to the Agent) at least three (3) Business
         Days (or such shorter time as the Issuer may agree in a particular
         instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of
         amendment, amend any Letter of Credit issued by it. Each such request
         for amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be made by facsimile made in
         the form of an L/C Amendment Application and shall specify in form and
         detail satisfactory to the Issuer: (i) the Letter of Credit to be
         amended; (ii) the proposed date of amendment of the Letter of Credit
         (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the nature of the proposed
         amendment; and (iv) such other matters as the Issuer may reasonably
         require. The Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if: (A) the
         Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of
         Credit in its amended form under the terms of this Agreement; or (B)
         the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit does not accept the
         proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit. The Agent will promptly
         notify the Lenders of the receipt by it of any L/C Application or L/C
         Amendment Application.

               (d)    Subject to Section 4.1(d), the Issuer and the Lenders
                                 --------------
         agree that, while a Letter of Credit is outstanding and prior to the
         relevant Commitment Termination Date, at the option of the Borrower and
         upon the written request of the Borrower received by the Issuer (with a
         copy sent by the Borrower to the Agent) at least three (3) Business
         Days (or such shorter time as the Issuer and the Agent may agree in a
         particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed
         date of notification of renewal, the Issuer shall authorize the
         automatic renewal of any Letter of Credit issued by it. Each such
         request for renewal of a Letter of Credit shall be made by facsimile,
         confirmed promptly in an original writing, in the form of an L/C
         Amendment Application, and shall specify in form and detail
         satisfactory to the Issuer: (i) the Letter of Credit to be renewed;
         (ii) the proposed date of notification of renewal of the Letter of
         Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the revised expiry date
         of the Letter of Credit; and (iv) such other matters as the Issuer may
         reasonably require. The Issuer shall not renew any Letter of Credit if:
         (A) the Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue or amend
         such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms of this
         Agreement; or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not
         accept the proposed renewal of the Letter of Credit. If any outstanding
         Letter of Credit shall provide that it shall be automatically renewed
         in accordance with its terms unless the beneficiary thereof receives
         notice from the Issuer

                                       49
<PAGE>

         that such Letter of Credit shall not be renewed, and if at the time of
         renewal the Issuer would be required to authorize the automatic request
         renewal of such Letter of Credit in accordance with this Section 4.2(d)
                                                                  --------------
         upon the request of the Borrower but the Issuer shall not have received
         any L/C Amendment Application from the Borrower with respect such
         renewal or other written direction by the Borrower with respect
         thereto, the Issuer shall nonetheless be permitted (upon prior written
         notice to the Agent) to allow such Letter of Credit to renew, and the
         Borrower and the Lenders hereby authorize such renewal, and,
         accordingly, the Issuer shall be deemed to have received an L/C
         Amendment Application from the Borrower requesting such renewal.

               (e)    The Issuer may, at its election (or as required by the
         Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders), deliver any notices of
         termination or other communications as appropriate, at any time and
         from time to time, in order to cause the expiry date of such Letter of
         Credit to be a date not later than the relevant Commitment Termination
         Date.

               (f)    This Agreement shall control in the event of any conflict
         with any L/C-Related Document (other than any Letter of Credit).

               (g)    The Issuer will also deliver to the Agent, concurrently or
         promptly following its delivery of a Letter of Credit, or amendment to
         or renewal of a Letter of Credit, to an advising bank or a beneficiary,
         a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment to or
         renewal of a Letter of Credit.

         SECTION 4.3 Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Issuer all
                     --------
administrative expenses of the Issuer in connection with the issuance,
maintenance, modification (if any) and administration of each Letter of Credit
issued by the Issuer upon demand from time to time.

         SECTION 4.4 Other Lenders' Participation.
                     ----------------------------

               (a)    Each Letter of Credit Issued pursuant to this Article IV
                                                                    ----------
         and each Existing Letter of Credit shall, effective upon its issuance
         and without further action, be issued on behalf of all Lenders
         (including the Issuer thereof) pro rata according to their respective
         relevant Percentages. Each Lender shall, to the extent of its relevant
         Percentage, be deemed irrevocably to have participated in the issuance
         of such Letter of Credit and shall be responsible to reimburse promptly
         the Issuer thereof for Reimbursement Obligations which have not been
         reimbursed by the Borrower in accordance with Section 4.5, or which
                                                       -----------
         have been reimbursed by the Borrower but must be returned, restored or
         disgorged by the Issuer for any reason, and each Lender shall, to the
         extent of its relevant Percentage, be entitled to receive from the
         Agent a ratable portion of the letter of credit fees received by the
         Agent pursuant to Section 3.3.2, with respect to each Letter of Credit.
                           -------------
         In the event that the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the Issuer, or
         if for any reason relevant Loans shall not be made to fund any
         Reimbursement Obligation (including without limitation, the failure to
         satisfy the conditions in Section 6.2 or an Insolvency Proceeding), all
         as provided in Section 4.5 and in an amount equal to the amount of any
                        -----------
         drawing honored by the Issuer under a Letter of Credit issued by it, or
         in the event the Issuer must for any reason return or disgorge such
         reimbursement, the Issuer shall promptly notify the Agent and each
         Lender of the unreimbursed amount of

                                       50
<PAGE>

         such drawing and of such Lender's respective participation therein.
         Each Lender shall make available to the Agent, who shall thereupon make
         available to the Issuer, whether or not any Default shall have occurred
         and be continuing, an amount equal to its respective participation in
         immediately available funds at the office of the Issuer specified in
         such notice not later than 8:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the
         Business Day after the date notified by the Issuer. In the event that
         any Lender fails to so make available the amount of such Lender's
         participation in such Letter of Credit as provided herein, the Issuer
         shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender
         together with interest at the daily average Federal Funds Rate for
         three (3) Business Days (together with such other compensatory amounts
         as may be required to be paid by such Lender to the Agent pursuant to
         the Rules for Interbank Compensation of the Council on International
         Banking or the Clearinghouse Compensation Committee, as the case may
         be, as in effect from time to time) and thereafter at the Alternate
         Base Rate plus the Applicable Base Rate Margin plus 2%. The Issuer
         shall pay to the Agent, who shall distribute to each other Lender which
         has paid all amounts payable by it under this Section with respect to
         any Letter of Credit issued by the Issuer, such other Lender's
         Percentage of all payments received by the Issuer from the Borrower in
         reimbursement of drawings honored by the Issuer under such Letter of
         Credit when such payments are received.

               (b)    Each Lender's obligation in accordance with this Agreement
         to fund its participation in Letters of Credit issued by the Issuer,
         shall, in each case, be absolute and unconditional and without recourse
         to the Issuer and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including
         (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which
         such Lender may have against the Issuer, the Borrower or any other
         Person for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the occurrence or continuance of
         a Default, an Event of Default or an event or circumstance which could
         have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) any other circumstance,
         happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
         foregoing.

         SECTION 4.5 Disbursements. The Issuer will notify the Borrower and the
                     -------------
Agent promptly of the presentment for payment of any Letter of Credit, together
with notice of the date (a "Disbursement Date") such payment shall be made.
                            -----------------
Subject to the terms and provisions of such Letter of Credit, the Issuer shall
make such payment to the beneficiary (or its designee) of such Letter of Credit.
Prior to 10:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the Disbursement Date, the Borrower
will reimburse the Issuer for all amounts which the Issuer has notified the
Borrower that it has disbursed under the Letter of Credit. To the extent the
Issuer is not reimbursed in full in accordance with the third sentence of this
Section, the Borrower's Reimbursement Obligation shall accrue interest at a
fluctuating rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate plus the
Applicable Base Rate Margin plus 2% per annum, payable on demand. In the event
the Issuer is not reimbursed by the Borrower on the Disbursement Date, or if the
Issuer must for any reason return or disgorge such reimbursement, the Lenders
shall, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, including
without limitation Section 6.2 and Section 2.1.4, fund the Reimbursement
                   -----------     -------------
Obligation (i) in respect of Facility A Letters of Credit and Facility C Letters
of Credit therefor by making, on the next Business Day, either Facility A Loans
or Facility C Loans, as applicable, which are Base Rate Loans as provided in
Section 3.2.1 (the Borrower being deemed to have given a timely Borrowing
-------------
Request therefor for such amount), and (ii) in

                                       51
<PAGE>

respect of the Facility B Letters of Credit by making, on the next Business Day,
the Facility A Loans, which are Base Rate Loans as provided in Section 3.2.1
                                                               -------------
(the Borrower being deemed to have given a timely Borrowing Request for such
amounts); provided, further, for the purpose of determining the availability of
the Commitment in respect of such Loans to make such Loans immediately prior to
giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans, such
Reimbursement Obligation shall be deemed not to be outstanding at such time.

         SECTION 4.6 Reimbursement. The Borrower's obligation (a "Reimbursement
                     -------------                                -------------
Obligation") under Section 4.5 to reimburse the Issuer with respect to each
----------         -----------
disbursement (including interest thereon), and each Lender's obligation to make
participation payments in each drawing which has not been reimbursed by the
Borrower, shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances
and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim, or defense to payment which the
Borrower may have or have had against any Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter
of Credit, including any defense based upon the occurrence of any Default, any
draft, demand or certificate or other document presented under a Letter of
Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient, the failure of
any disbursement to conform to the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit (if,
in the Issuer's good faith opinion, such disbursement is determined to be
appropriate) or any non-application or misapplication by the beneficiary of the
proceeds of such disbursement, or the legality, validity, form, regularity, or
enforceability of such Letter of Credit.

         SECTION 4.7 Cash Collateral Pledge. Upon (i) notice from the Agent or
                     ----------------------
the Required Lenders, if, as of any Commitment Termination Date, or upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, any Letters of Credit may for any reason
remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, or (ii) the occurrence of
the circumstances described in Section 3.1.3 requiring the Borrower to Cash
                               -------------
Collateralize Letters of Credit, then the Borrower shall, unless waived by the
Required Lenders, immediately Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an
amount equal to the L/C Obligations.

         SECTION 4.8 Nature of Reimbursement Obligations. The Borrower shall
                     -----------------------------------
assume all risks of the acts, omissions, or misuse of any Letter of Credit by
the beneficiary thereof. None of the Issuer, the Agent or any Lender (except to
the extent of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) shall be
responsible for:

               (a)    the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness, or
         legal effect of any Letter of Credit or any document submitted by any
         party in connection with the application for and issuance or amendment
         of a Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or
         all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent, or forged;

               (b)    the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness, or
         legal effect of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting
         to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits,
         thereunder or proceeds thereof in whole or in part, which may prove to
         be invalid or ineffective for any reason;

               (c)    failure of the beneficiary to comply fully with conditions
         required in order to demand payment under a Letter of Credit;

                                       52
<PAGE>

               (d)    errors, omissions, interruptions, or delays in
         transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph,
         telex, or otherwise; or

               (e)    any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any
         document or draft required in order to make a disbursement under a
         Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof.

None of the foregoing shall affect, impair, or prevent the vesting of any of the
rights or powers granted the Issuer, the Agent or any Lender hereunder. In
furtherance and extension, and not in limitation or derogation, of any of the
foregoing, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer in good faith
shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not put the Issuer, the Agent or
any Lender under any resulting liability to the Borrower.

         SECTION 4.9  Increased Costs; Indemnity. If by reason of:
                      --------------------------

               (a)    any change in applicable law, regulation, rule, decree or
         regulatory requirement or any change in the interpretation or
         application by any judicial or regulatory authority of any law,
         regulation, rule, decree or regulatory requirement occurring after the
         Effective Date; or

               (b)    compliance by the Issuer, the Agent or any Lender with any
         direction, request or requirement made after the Effective Date
         (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental or
         monetary authority, including Regulation D of the F.R.S. Board:

                      (i)    the Issuer, the Agent or any Lender shall be
                subject to any tax (other than taxes on net income including
                franchise taxes on income and franchises), levy, charge or
                withholding of any nature or to any variation thereof or to any
                penalty with respect to the maintenance or fulfillment of its
                obligations under this Article IV, whether directly or by such
                                       ----------
                being imposed on or suffered by the Issuer, or any Lender;

                      (ii)   any reserve, deposit or similar requirement is or
                shall be applicable, imposed or modified in respect of any
                Letters of Credit issued by the Issuer or participations therein
                purchased by any Lender; or

                      (iii)  there shall be imposed on the Issuer, the Agent or
                any Lender any other condition regarding this Article IV, any
                                                              ----------
                Letter of Credit or any participation therein;

and the result of the foregoing is directly or indirectly to increase the cost
to the Issuer or such Lender of issuing, making or maintaining any Letter of
Credit or of purchasing or maintaining any participation therein, or to reduce
any amount receivable in respect thereof by the Issuer or such Lender, when and
in any such case the Issuer or such Lender may, at any time after the additional
cost is incurred or the amount received is reduced, notify the Borrower thereof
(with copies to the Agent), and the Borrower shall within five (5) days of
receipt of such notification pay on demand such amounts as the Issuer, the Agent
or Lender may specify to be necessary to compensate the Issuer, the Agent or
Lender for such additional cost or reduced receipt, together

                                       53
<PAGE>

with interest on such amount from the date demanded until payment in full
thereof at a rate equal at all times to the Alternate Base Rate plus the
Applicable Base Margin plus 2% per annum; provided, however, neither the Issuer
nor any Lender may make any demand for any amounts accrued for any period
commencing more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of demand or, should
such cost have accrued retroactively, within ninety (90) days of the
determination of such cost. The determination by the Issuer, the Agent or
Lender, as the case may be, of any amount due pursuant to this Section, as set
forth in a statement setting forth the calculation thereof in reasonable detail,
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding on
all of the parties hereto. In addition to amounts payable as elsewhere provided
in this Article IV, the Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and
save the Issuer harmless from and against any and all claims, demands,
liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and allocated costs of internal counsel) which the Issuer may
incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of;

               (A)    the issuance of the Letters of Credit, other than as a
         result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuer as
         determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, or

               (B)    the failure of the Issuer to honor a drawing under any
         Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful
         or wrongful, of any present or future de jury or de facto government or
         government authority.

         SECTION 4.10 Uniform Customs and Practice. The Uniform Customs and
                      ----------------------------
Practice for Documentary Credits as published by the International Chamber of
Commerce most recently at the time of any Letter of Credit shall (unless
otherwise expressly provided in the Letters of Credit) apply to all Letters of
Credit.

                                    ARTICLE V

                       CERTAIN LIBOR AND OTHER PROVISIONS

         SECTION 5.1 LIBOR Lending Unlawful. If any Lender shall determine
                     ----------------------
(which determination shall, upon notice thereof to the Borrower, the Agent and
the Lenders, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that after the Effective
Date the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law
makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other government authority asserts
that it is unlawful, for such Lender to make, continue or maintain any Loan as,
or to convert any Loan into, a LIBOR Loan of a certain type, the obligations of
such Lender to make, continue, maintain or convert any such Loans shall, upon
such determination, forthwith be suspended until such Lender shall notify the
Agent that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and all
LIBOR Loans of such type shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans at the
end of the then current Interest Periods with respect thereto or sooner, if
required by such law or assertion.

         SECTION 5.2 Deposits Unavailable. If the Agent shall have determined
that:                --------------------

               (a)   Dollar deposits in the relevant amount and for the
         relevant Interest Period are not available to the Reference Lender in
         the London interbank market; or

                                       54
<PAGE>

               (b)   by reason of circumstances affecting the London interbank
         market, adequate means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate
         applicable hereunder to LIBOR Loans of such type;

then, upon notice from the Agent to the Borrower and the Lenders, the
obligations of all Lenders under Section 2.3 and Section 2.4 to make or continue
                                 -----------     -----------
any Loans as, or to convert any Loans into, LIBOR Loans of such type shall
forthwith be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders
that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

         SECTION 5.3 Increased LIBOR Loan Costs, etc. The Borrower agrees to
                     -------------------------------
reimburse each Lender for any increase in the cost to such Lender of, or any
reduction in the amount of any sum receivable by such Lender in respect of,
making, continuing or maintaining (or of its obligation to make, continue or
maintain) any Loans as, or of converting (or of its obligation to convert) any
Loans into, LIBOR Loans, in any case from time to time by reason of:

               (a)   to the extent not included in the calculation of the LIBOR
         (Reserve Adjusted), any reserve, special deposit, or similar
         requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or
         credit extended by such Lender, under or pursuant to any change in any
         law, treaty, rule, regulation (including any F.R.S. Board regulation),
         or requirement from that in effect on the Effective Date, or as the
         result of any Regulatory Change; or

               (b)   any Regulatory Change which shall subject such Lender to
         any tax (other than taxes on net income including franchise taxes based
         on income, and franchises), levy, impost, charge, fee, duty, deduction,
         or withholding or any kind whatsoever or change the taxation of any
         Loan made or maintained as a LIBOR Loan and the interest thereon (other
         than any change which affects, and to the extent that it affects, the
         taxation of net income including franchise taxes based on income and
         franchises).

Such Lender shall promptly and in no event later than ninety (90) days after its
knowledge of the occurrence of any such event notify the Agent and the Borrower
in writing of the occurrence of any such event, such notice to state, in
reasonable detail, the reasons therefor and the additional amount required fully
to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount; provided,
however, no Lender may make any demand for any such amounts accrued under this
Section 5.3 for any period commencing more than ninety (90) days prior to the
-----------
receipt by the Borrower of such notice or, should such cost have accrued
retroactively, within ninety (90) days of the determination by such Lender of
such cost. Such additional amounts shall be payable by the Borrower directly to
such Lender within five (5) days of its receipt of such notice, and such notice
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the
Borrower.

         SECTION 5.4 Funding Losses. In the event any Lender shall incur any
                     --------------
loss or expense (including any loss or expense incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender
to make, continue or maintain any portion of the principal amount of any Loan
as, or to convert any portion of the principal amount of any Loan into, a LIBOR
Loan) as a result of:

                                       55
<PAGE>

               (a)    any conversion or repayment or prepayment of the principal
         amount of any LIBOR Loans on a date other than the scheduled last day
         of the Interest Period applicable thereto, whether pursuant to Section
                                                                        -------
         3.1 or otherwise;
         ---

               (b)    any Loans not being made as LIBOR Loans in accordance with
         the Borrowing Request therefor; or

               (c)    any Loans not being continued as, or converted into, LIBOR
         Loans in accordance with the Continuation/Conversion Notice therefor;

then, upon the written notice of such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Agent), the Borrower shall, within five (5) days of its receipt thereof, pay
directly to such Lender such amount as will (in the reasonable determination of
such Lender) reimburse such Lender for such loss or expense. Such written notice
(which shall include calculations in reasonable detail) shall, in the absence of
manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower.

         SECTION 5.5 Increased Capital Costs. If after the Effective Date any
                     -----------------------
change in, or the introduction, adoption, effectiveness, interpretation,
reinterpretation or phase-in of, any law or regulation, directive, guideline,
decision or request (whether or not having the force of law) of any court,
central bank, regulator or other government authority affects or would affect
the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or any
Person controlling such Lender, and such Lender determines (in its sole and
absolute discretion) that the rate of return on its or such controlling Person's
capital as a consequence of its Commitments or the Loans made by such Lender is
reduced to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling Person could
have achieved but for the occurrence of any such circumstance, then, in any such
case upon notice from time to time by such Lender to the Borrower (with copies
to the Agent), the Borrower shall within five (5) days of its receipt thereof
pay directly to such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such
Lender or such controlling Person for such reduction in rate of return. Such
Lender shall promptly and in no event later than ninety (90) days after its
knowledge of any such event notify the Agent and the Borrower of the occurrence
of any such event; provided, however, no Lender may make any demand for any such
amounts accrued under this Section 5.5 for any period commencing more than
                           -----------
ninety (90) days prior to the receipt by the Borrower of any such notice or,
should such cost have accrued retroactively, within ninety (90) days of the
determination by such Lender of such cost. A statement of such Lender as to any
such additional amount or amounts (including calculations thereof in reasonable
detail) shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on
the Borrower. In determining such amount, such Lender may use any reasonable
method of averaging and attribution that it (in its sole and absolute
discretion) shall deem applicable.

         SECTION 5.6 Taxes. Without duplication of any payments made under any
                     -----
other provisions of this Article V, all payments by the Borrower of principal
                         ---------
of, and interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder shall be
made free and clear of and without deduction for any present or future income,
excise, stamp or franchise taxes and other taxes, fees, duties, withholdings or
other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority, but
excluding franchise taxes and taxes imposed on or measured by any Lender's net
income (including franchise taxes based upon income) or receipts (such
non-excluded items being called "Taxes"). In the event that any withholding or
                                 -----
deduction from any payment to be made by the

                                       56
<PAGE>

Borrower hereunder is required in respect of any Taxes pursuant to any
applicable law, rule or regulation, then the Borrower will:

               (a)    pay directly to the relevant authority the full amount
         required to be so withheld or deducted;

               (b)    promptly forward to the Agent an official receipt or other
         documentation satisfactory to the Agent evidencing such payment to such
         authority; and

               (c)    pay to the Agent for the account of the Agent and the
         Lenders such additional amount or amounts as is necessary to ensure
         that the net amount actually received by the Agent and each Lender will
         equal the full amount such Lender or the Agent would have received had
         no such withholding or deduction been required; provided that the Agent
         or each Lender shall promptly and in no event later than ninety (90)
         days after its knowledge that any amount is payable under this clause
                                                                        ------
         (c) notify the Agent and the Borrower of the same;
         ---

provided, however, no Lender or the Agent may make any demand for any such
amounts accrued under this Section 5.6 for any period commencing more than
                           -----------
ninety (90) days prior to the receipt by the Borrower of any such notice or,
should such cost have accrued retroactively, within ninety (90) days of the
determination by such Lender or the Agent of such cost.

         Moreover, if any Taxes are directly asserted against the Agent or any
Lender with respect to any payment received by the Agent or such Lender
hereunder, the Agent or such Lender may pay such Taxes and the Borrower will pay
on demand such additional amounts (including any penalties, interest or
expenses) as is necessary in order that the net amount received by such person
after the payment of such Taxes (including any Taxes on such additional amount)
shall equal the amount such person would have received had not such Taxes been
asserted.

         If the Borrower fails to pay any Taxes when due to the appropriate
taxing authority or fails to remit to the Agent, for the account of the
respective Lenders and the Agent, the required receipts or other required
documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the Lenders and the Agent for
any incremental Taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by any
Lender as a result of any such failure.

For purposes of this Section 5.6, a distribution hereunder by the Agent or any
                     -----------
Lender to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent shall be deemed a
payment by the Borrower.

         Each Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other
than the United States shall, prior to the due date of any payments under the
Notes, (i) execute and deliver to the Borrower and the Agent, on or about the
first scheduled payment date in each Fiscal Year, one or more (as the Borrower
or the Agent may reasonably request) United States Internal Revenue Service
Forms 4224 or Forms 1001 or such other forms or documents (or successor forms or
documents), appropriately completed, as may be applicable to establish the
extent, if any, to which a payment to such Lender is exempt from withholding or
deduction of Taxes, and (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 10.10.
                                                             -------------

                                       57
<PAGE>

         SECTION 5.7 Payments, Computations, etc. Unless otherwise expressly
                     ---------------------------
provided, all payments by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, the Notes or
any other Loan Document shall be made in Dollars, in immediately available funds
by the Borrower to the Agent for the pro rata account of the Lenders entitled to
receive such payment. All such payments required to be made to the Agent shall
be made, without setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or other deduction, not later
than 11:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the date due, in immediately available
funds, to such account as the Agent shall specify from time to time by notice to
the Borrower. Funds received after that time shall be deemed to have been
received by the Agent on the next succeeding Business Day. The Agent shall
promptly remit in same day funds to each Lender its share, if any, of such
payments received by the Agent for the account of such Lender. All interest
(other than interest computed at the Alternate Base Rate) and fees shall be
computed on the basis of the actual number of days (including the first day but
excluding the last day) occurring during the period for which such interest or
fee is payable over a year comprised of three-hundred sixty (360) days. Interest
computed at the Alternate Base Rate shall be computed on the basis of its actual
number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring
during the period for which such interest is payable over a year comprised of
365 or 366 days, as the case may be. Whenever any payment falls due on a day
which is not a Business Day, such payment shall (except as otherwise required by
clause (c) of the definition of the term "Interest Period" with respect to LIBOR
----------                                ---------------
Loans) be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time
shall be included in computing interest and fees, if any, in connection with
such payment.

         SECTION 5.8 Sharing of Payments. If any Lender shall obtain any payment
                     -------------------
or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of setoff or
otherwise) on account of any Loan (other than pursuant to the terms of Section
                                                                       -------
5.3, 5.4 or 5.5) or Letter of Credit in excess of its pro rata share of payments
---- ---    ---
then or therewith obtained by all Lenders, such Lender shall purchase from the
other Lenders such participations in Loans made by them and/or Letters of Credit
as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess
payment or other recovery ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if
all or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter
recovered from such purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and each
Lender which has sold a participation to the purchasing Lender shall repay to
the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the ratable extent of such recovery
together with an amount equal to such selling Lender's ratable share (according
to the proportion of (a) the amount of such selling Lender's required repayment
to the purchasing Lender to (b) the total amount so recovered from the
purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the
purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower
agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender
pursuant to this Section may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise
all its rights of payment (including pursuant to Section 5.9) with respect to
                                                 -----------
such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the
Borrower in the amount of such participation. If under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim
in lieu of a setoff to which this Section applies, such Lender shall, to the
extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a
manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this Section to
share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

         SECTION 5.9 Setoff. Each Lender shall, upon the occurrence of any
                     ------
Default or any other Event of Default, have the right to appropriate and apply
to the payment of the Obligations

                                       58
<PAGE>

(whether or not then due), and (as security for such Obligations) the Borrower
hereby grants to each Lender a continuing security interest in, any and all
balances, credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of the Borrower then or
thereafter maintained with such Lender; provided, however, that any such
appropriation and application shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5.8.
                                                                    -----------
Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Agent after any such
setoff and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure
to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and
application. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to
other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff under applicable law
or otherwise) which such Lender may have.

         SECTION 5.10 Recourse. The Obligations of the Borrower to the Agent,
                      --------
the Issuer and the Lenders are secured and rank pari passu with all other Senior
Debt. All of the Collateral of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material
Subsidiaries will be pledged to secure the Obligations and all other Senior Debt
(and the Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Obligations are
Secured Obligations under (and as defined in) the Security Agreement to which
the Borrower is a party and confirms its pledge and grant of a security interest
in and to the Collateral to secure the Obligations pursuant to such Security
Agreement). In the event and at the time that Holdings or the Borrower obtains
or creates any Material Subsidiaries (a) each such Material Subsidiary must
issue and deliver to the Agent a guarantee of the Obligations in the form of
Exhibit K-2 and each such guarantee will be in favor of the Trustee and secured
-----------
by a pledge of all of the accounts receivable, inventory, cash, Customer Lists
and stock of such Material Subsidiary, and (b) the Borrower shall cause the
Security Agreements to be amended to add such Material Subsidiary as an Obligor
thereunder and shall deliver, or cause such Material Subsidiary to deliver, such
other agreements, documents, instruments and opinions in connection therewith as
the Agent may request. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent in the event
that Holdings or the Borrower obtains or creates any Material Subsidiary.

In furtherence of Section 21(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement, each Lender by
its execution of this Agreement (or, if such Lender is an Assignee Lender, by
its execution of an Assignment and Acceptance Agreement pursuant to Section
                                                                    -------
11.11.1) confirms for the benefit of the Trustee and the other parties to the
-------
Intercreditor Agreement that such Lender shall be bound by the terms of, and be
entitled to the benefits and Security under, the Intercreditor Agreement as a
Bank Lender thereunder. Each of the Lenders further confirms its consent to the
amendment of the defined term "Bank Lenders" under the Intercreditor Agreement
to include each of the Lenders listed on the signature pages to this Agreement
and other Lenders under this Agreement from time to time, and each such Lender
authorizes the Agent to execute an amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement to
such effect on behalf of such Lender.

         SECTION 5.11 Replacement of Lenders. In the event any Lender shall
                      ----------------------
provide notice to the Agent pursuant to Section 4.9, 5.3, 5.5 or 5.6 hereunder,
                                        -----------  ---  ---    ---
the Borrower shall be permitted to replace such Lender, provided, however, that
such Lender's replacement shall agree to all the obligations and conditions
relating to an Assignee Lender contained in Section 11.11.1 hereto. Any such
                                            ---------------
replacement shall be subject to the Agent's consent which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.

                                       59
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                             CONDITIONS TO BORROWING

         SECTION 6.1 Conditions to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this
                     ---------------------------
Agreement shall be subject to the prior or concurrent satisfaction of each of
the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 6.1.

               SECTION 6.1.1 Credit Agreement and Notes. This Agreement and the
                             --------------------------
other Loan Documents shall have been executed by each party thereto.

               SECTION 6.1.2 [Intentionally Omitted.]

               SECTION 6.1.3 [Intentionally Omitted.]

               SECTION 6.1.4 Closing Certificate. A certificate signed by a
                             -------------------
Responsible Officer of the Borrower, dated as of the Effective Date, certifying:

               (a)    the representations and warranties contained in Article
                                                                      -------
         VII are true and correct on and as of such date, as though made on and
         ---
         as of such date;

               (b)    since March 31, 2001, there has been no material adverse
         change in the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business
         assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or prospects taken as a
         whole of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries from that set forth
         in the financial statements as of March 31, 2001 for the period ending
         on that date (which financial statements shall be attached);

               (c)    since March 31, 2001, there has been no material adverse
         change in the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business
         assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or prospects taken as a
         whole of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries taken as a whole from
         that set forth in the financial statements as of March 31, 2001 (which
         financial statements shall be attached);

               (d)    There shall not have occurred a material adverse change in
         the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, assets,
         liabilities (actual or contingent) or prospects of Holdings or in the
         facts and information regarding Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
         Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries; and

               (e)    the financial statements previously delivered to the
         Lenders, the Issuer and the Agent are true and correct.

               SECTION 6.1.5 Permits. The Agent shall have received a
                             -------
certificate of a responsible officer of the Borrower certifying that there are
no permits, licenses or regulatory approvals required for the execution,
delivery and performance of the this Agreement.

               SECTION 6.1.6 Opinion of Counsel. The Agent shall have received
                             ------------------
opinions, dated the Effective Date and addressed to the Agent and all Lenders,
from Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon, special counsel to the Managing
General Partner, Star Gas Partners,

                                       60
<PAGE>

Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries substantially in the form
of Exhibit I hereto.
   ---------

               SECTION 6.1.7 Closing Fees, Expenses, etc. The Agent shall have
                             ---------------------------
received evidence satisfactory to it of payment for its own account, or for the
account of each Lender or the Issuer, as the case may be, all fees, costs and
expenses due and payable pursuant to Section 3.3 and, if then invoiced, Section
                                     -----------                        -------
11.3.
-----

               SECTION 6.1.8 Insurance. Insurance complying with the Loan
                             ---------
Documents shall be in full force and effect and the Agent shall have received a
certificate satisfactory to it to that effect from the Borrower.

               SECTION 6.1.9 Facility A Notes. The Borrower shall have duly
                             ----------------
delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender a duly executed Facility A
Note payable to each Lender.

               SECTION 6.1.10 Facility C Notes. The Borrower shall have duly
                              ----------------
delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender a duly executed Facility C
Note payable to each Lender.

               SECTION 6.1.11 Acceptance Letters. The Agent shall have received
                              ------------------
letters of acceptance in respect of the Guarantee Agreements and the Security
Agreements.

               SECTION 6.1.12 Borrowing Base Certificate. The Agent shall have
                              --------------------------
received a Borrowing Base Certificate.

               SECTION 6.1.13 Other Documents. The Agent or any Lender shall
                              ---------------
have received such other approvals, opinions, documents or materials as the
Agent or such Lender may reasonably request.

               SECTION 6.1.14 Prepayment and Reborrowing of Loans. On the
                              -----------------------------------
Effective Date, the Borrower shall prepay, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3.1.2, all outstanding Loans, and may, thereupon, reborrow Loans in
-------------
amounts permitted under this Agreement.

               SECTION 6.1.15 Consent of Holders of Other Debt. The holders of
                              --------------------------------
the Senior Debt (other than Senior Debt in respect of this Agreement) and the
Existing Subordinated Debt shall, to the extent required by the agreements
governing such Indebtedness, have given their consent to the transactions
contemplated hereby, and the Agent shall have received evidence thereof in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to it.

         SECTION 6.2 All Borrowings and Issuances of Letters of Credit. The
                     -------------------------------------------------
obligation of each Lender to fund any Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing
(including the initial Borrowing) and the obligation of the Issuer to Issue any
Letters of Credit shall be subject to the satisfaction of each of the conditions
precedent set forth in this Section 6.2.
                            -----------

               SECTION 6.2.1 Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc. Both
                             -------------------------------------------
before and after giving effect to any Borrowing and the Issuance of any Letter
of Credit (but, if any Default of the nature referred to in Section 9.1.4 shall
                                                            -------------
have occurred with respect to any other Indebtedness, without giving effect to
the application, directly or indirectly, of the proceeds thereof) the following
statements shall be true and correct:

                                       61
<PAGE>

               (a)    the representations and warranties set forth in Article
                                                                      -------
         VII and the Security Agreements shall be true and correct with the same
         ---
         effect as if then made (unless stated to relate solely to an earlier
         date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true
         and correct as of such earlier date);

               (b)    no Default or Event of Default shall have then occurred
         and be continuing;

               (c)    for borrowings of Facility A Loans and Facility C Working
         Capital Loans and issuance of Facility A Letters of Credit, the ratio
         of Current Assets to Current Liabilities is not less than 1.00 to 1
         from December 31 through June 30 of each year and not less than 0.85 to
         1 from July 1 through December 30 of each year; and

               (d)    no event or circumstance has occurred which could have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

               SECTION 6.2.2 Borrowing Request. The Agent shall have received a
                             -----------------
Borrowing Request, L/C Application or L/C Amendment Application (as applicable)
or request for a Swing Loan pursuant to Section 2.7, as the case may be, for
                                        -----------
such Borrowing or Issuance of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be. Each of
the delivery of a Borrowing Request, L/C Application or L/C Amendment
Application (as applicable) or request for a Swing Loan pursuant to Section 2.7
                                                                    -----------
and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or the
Issuance of the Letter of Credit, as applicable, shall constitute a
representation and warranty by Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower and the
Material Subsidiaries that on the date of such Borrowing (both immediately
before and after giving effect to such Borrowing and the application of the
proceeds thereof) or the Issuance of the Letter of Credit, as applicable, each
of the statements made in Section 6.2.1 is true and correct.
                          -------------

               SECTION 6.2.3 Lien Searches. With respect to the initial
                             -------------
Borrowing only, satisfactory results of lien searches against the Borrower and
the other Obligors in the locations set forth on Schedule VII.

               SECTION 6.2.4 Satisfactory Legal Form. All documents executed or
                             -----------------------
submitted pursuant hereto by or on behalf of the Borrower, any other Obligor or
any Subsidiary shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and its
counsel and the Issuer and its counsel in respect of any L/C-Related Document or
in respect of the Issuance of the Existing Letters of Credit; the Agent and its
counsel shall have received all information, approvals, opinions, documents or
instruments as the Agent or its counsel and the Issuer and its counsel in
respect of any L/C-Related Document or in respect of the Issuance of the
Existing Letters of Credit may reasonably request.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         In order to induce the Lenders, the Agent and the Issuer to enter into
this Agreement and to make Loans and Issue Letters of Credit hereunder, the
Borrower represents and warrants unto the Agent, the Issuer and each Lender as
set forth in this Article VII.
                  -----------

                                       62
<PAGE>

         SECTION 7.1 Organization etc.
                     ----------------

               (a)    Each of the Managing General Partner, Holdings, the
         Borrower and their Subsidiaries is a corporation (or a limited
         liability company in the case of the Managing General Partner) duly
         organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
         state of organization and has all requisite power and authority to own
         and operate its properties, to conduct its business as conducted on the
         Effective Date, to enter into this Agreement, the Notes and the other
         Loan Documents to which it is a party, and to carry out the terms of
         this Agreement, the Notes and such other Loan Documents.

               (b)    Star Gas Partners is a limited partnership duly organized,
         validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of
         its organization and has all requisite partnership power and authority
         to own and operate its properties, to conduct its business as conducted
         on the Effective Date, and to execute, deliver and carry out the terms
         of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

               (c)    Item 7.1 of the Disclosure Schedule accurately and
         completely lists, as to each of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
         Borrower and each Material Subsidiary: (i) the state of incorporation
         or organization of each such entity, and the type of legal entity that
         each of them is, (ii) as to each of them that is a corporation, the
         classes and number of authorized and outstanding shares of capital
         stock of each such corporation, and the owners of such outstanding
         shares of capital stock, (iii) as to each of them that is a legal
         entity other than a corporation (but not a natural person), the type
         and amount of equity interests authorized and outstanding of each such
         entity, and the owners of such equity interests, and (iv) the business
         in which each of such entities is engaged. All of the foregoing shares
         or other equity interests that are issued and outstanding have been
         duly and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are
         owned by the Persons referred to in Item 7.1 of the Disclosure
         Schedule, free and clear of any Lien except as otherwise provided for
         herein. Except as set forth on Item 7.1 of the Disclosure Schedule,
         there are no outstanding warrants, options, contracts or commitments of
         any kind entitling any Person to purchase or otherwise acquire any
         shares of capital stock or other equity interests of Holdings, the
         Borrower or any Material Subsidiary nor are there outstanding any
         securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of
         capital stock or other equity interests of Holdings, the Borrower or
         any Material Subsidiary.

         SECTION 7.2 Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Item 7.2
                     ------------
("Subsidiaries") of the Disclosure Schedule, Star Gas Partners, Holdings and the
  ------------
Borrower do not have any Subsidiaries or any Investments in any Person (other
than Investments of the types permitted in Section 8.2.5).
                                           --------------

         SECTION 7.3 Qualification. Each of the Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
                     -------------
Borrower and their Subsidiaries is duly qualified or registered and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation or partnership for the transaction of
business, in the jurisdictions set forth in Item 7.3 of the Disclosure Schedule
which are the only jurisdictions, on the date hereof, in which the nature of
their respective activities or the character of the properties they own, lease
or use makes such

                                       63
<PAGE>

qualification or registration necessary and in which the failure so to qualify
or to be so registered could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         SECTION 7.4 Enforceability. Each of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
                     --------------
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries has taken all necessary partnership or
corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of
this Agreement, the Notes and each other Loan Document to which is a party. Each
of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries has
duly executed and delivered each of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan
Documents to which it is a party, and each of them constitutes its legal, valid
and binding obligation enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application relating to
or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general equitable
principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law; provided, however, that such laws shall not
materially interfere with the practical realization of the Security Documents or
the Liens created thereby, except for (i) possible delay, (ii) situations that
may arise under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (iii) equitable orders of
a bankruptcy court.

         SECTION 7.5 Due Authorization; Non-contravention; etc. The execution,
                     -----------------------------------------
delivery and performance by each of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower
and the Material Subsidiaries of this Agreement, the Notes and each other Loan
Document required to be executed by it hereunder are within Star Gas Partner's,
Holding's, the Borrower's and such Material Subsidiary's powers, have been duly
authorized by all necessary action, and do not:

               (a)    contravene Star Gas Partners', Holdings', the Borrower's
         or any Material Subsidiary's Organic Documents;

               (b)    contravene any contractual restriction, law or
         governmental regulation or court decree or order binding on or
         affecting Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any Material
         Subsidiary; or

               (c)    result in, or require the creation or imposition of, any
         Lien on any of Star Gas Partners', Holding, the Borrower's or such
         Material Subsidiary's properties, except as contemplated hereby.

         SECTION 7.6 Government Approvals; Regulations, etc. No authorization or
                     ---------------------------------------
approval or other action, by, and no notice to or filing with, any government
authority or regulatory body or other Person (that has not been obtained) is
required for the due execution, delivery or performance by Star Gas Partners,
Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary of this Agreement, the Notes
or any other Loan Document to which it is a party. All such required
authorizations and approvals have been obtained and such required notices and
filings have been made.

         SECTION 7.7 Business; Financial Statements.
                     ------------------------------

                (a)   The audited consolidated financial statements of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries for its

                                       64
<PAGE>

         Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2000, and the unaudited consolidated
         financial statements of Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
         its Fiscal Quarter ended March 31, 2001, in each case together with the
         related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders'
         equity and cash flows for the fiscal periods ended on those respective
         dates:

                      (i)    were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
                applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as
                otherwise expressly noted therein;

                      (ii)   fairly present in accordance with GAAP the
                financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower and its
                Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and results of operations
                for the period covered thereby; and

                      (iii)  show all material indebtedness and other
                liabilities, direct or contingent of Holdings, the Borrower and
                its Subsidiaries required to be disclosed in accordance with
                GAAP as of the date thereof including liabilities for taxes,
                material commitment and Contingent Liabilities.

               (b)    The audited consolidated financial statements of Star Gas
         Partners and its Subsidiaries for its fiscal year ended September 30,
         2000, and the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Star Gas
         Partners and its Subsidiaries for its Fiscal Quarter ended March 31,
         2001, together with the related consolidated statements of income or
         operations, partners' capital and cash flow for the fiscal periods
         ended on those respective dates:

                      (i)    were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
                applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as
                otherwise expressly noted therein;

                      (ii)   fairly present in accordance with GAAP the
                financial condition of Star Gas Partners and its Subsidiaries as
                of the date thereof and results of operations for the period
                covered thereby; and

                      (iii)  show all material indebtedness and other
                liabilities, direct or contingent, of Star Gas Partners and its
                consolidated Subsidiaries required to be disclosed in accordance
                with GAAP as of the date thereof, including liabilities for
                taxes, material commitments and Contingent Liabilities.

         SECTION 7.8 No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the financial
                     --------------------------
statements described in Section 7.7 or, for any determination after the delivery
                        -----------
of the first financial statements pursuant to Section 8.1.1(b), since the date
                                              ----------------
of such financial statements (if such financial statements shall be satisfactory
to the Required Lenders), there has been no material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, operations, assets or
properties of (a) Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries (taken as
a whole), or (b) Star Gas Partners.

         SECTION 7.9 Litigation; Labor Controversies, etc. There is no pending
                     ------------------------------------
or, to the knowledge of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower, or any of
their Subsidiaries, threatened litigation, action, proceeding, or labor
controversy affecting Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the

                                       65
<PAGE>

Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties,
businesses, assets or revenues, (a) which has, or could have, a Material Adverse
Effect, (b) which could affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this
Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, or (c) which could affect the
transaction contemplated hereby or the ability of Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary to perform their respective obligations
under the Loan Documents.

         SECTION 7.10 Ownership of Properties; Liens. Star Gas Partners,
                      ------------------------------
Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Material Subsidiaries have (a) title to
all of their respective assets constituting real property owned in fee simple,
(b) good and valid leasehold interests in their respective assets constituting
leased real property, pursuant to which they enjoy undisturbed possession
thereof, except for defects in, or lack of recorded title and exceptions to,
leasehold interests could not, in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) sufficient title to the portion of their
respective assets constituting personal property (including patents, trademarks,
trade names, service marks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights)
reasonably necessary for the use and operation of such personal property as it
has been used in the past and as it is proposed to be used, in each case subject
to no Liens except as permitted pursuant to Section 8.2.3. The Liens that have
                                            -------------
been created and granted by the Security Documents constitute valid perfected
first Liens on the properties and assets covered by the Security Documents,
subject to prior or equal Liens as permitted by Section 8.2.3.
                                                -------------

         SECTION 7.11 Taxes. Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower and each
                      -----
Subsidiary, and any predecessor entity thereto, have filed all tax returns and
reports required by law to have been filed by them and have paid all taxes and
governmental charges thereby shown to be owing, except (a) any such taxes or
charges which are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have
been set aside on its books, and (b) where the failure to do so could not have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 7.12 ERISA Compliance.
                      ----------------

               (a)    Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with
         the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state
         law. Each Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
         Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal
         Revenue Service and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has
         occurred which would cause the loss of such qualification. The Borrower
         and each ERISA Affiliate has made all required contributions to any
         Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a
         funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to
         Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

               (b)    There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of
         Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any
         Government Authority, with respect to any Plan which has resulted or
         could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
         condition (financial or otherwise), business, operations, assets or
         properties of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower and the
         Subsidiaries (taken as a whole). There has been no prohibited
         transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules,

                                       66
<PAGE>

         or failure to be able to accurately value Plan assets with respect to
         any Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

               (c)    (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or could reasonably be
         expected to occur; (ii) except with respect to a $6,500,000
         underfunding in the Pension Plan for the Borrower, no Pension Plan has
         any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any
         ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or could reasonably be expected to incur,
         any could liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension
         Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of
         ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred,
         or reasonably could be expected to incur, any liability (and no event
         has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of
         ERISA, could result in such liability under Section 4201 or 4243 of
         ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the
         Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that
         could reasonably be expected to be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c)
         of ERISA.

               (d)    From this date hereafter, each year the Borrower shall
         have contributed, or cause to have been contributed, $500,000 among the
         underfunded Pension Plans. This amount shall have been in addition to
         contributions necessary to satisfy Section 412 of the Code for such
         year.

         SECTION 7.13  Environmental Warranties.
                       ------------------------

               (a)    all facilities and property owned, leased, used, occupied
         or controlled (in whole or in part) by Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary have been, and continue to be, owned,
         leased, used, occupied or controlled by Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
         the Borrower or such Subsidiary in compliance with all Environmental
         Laws except where the failure of any of the foregoing to be done could
         not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

               (b)    there have been no past, and there are no pending or
         threatened

                      (i)    Environmental Claims received by Star Gas Partners,
                Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to any
                alleged violation of any Environmental Law, or

                      (ii)   complaints, notices or inquiries to Star Gas
                Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary regarding
                potential liability under any Environmental Law;

which in either the case of clause (i) or (ii) above, could be reasonably
                            ----------    ----
expected to have a materially adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), business, operations, assets or properties of Star Gas Partners,
Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (taken as a whole);

               (c)    to the knowledge of each of Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
         the Borrower and the Subsidiaries there have been no Releases of
         Hazardous Materials at, on or under any property now or previously
         owned or leased by Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the

                                       67
<PAGE>

         Borrower or any Subsidiary that, singly or in the aggregate, have, or
         could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

               (d)    Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower and each
         Subsidiary have been issued and are in material compliance with all
         permits, certificates, approvals, licenses and other authorizations
         relating to environmental matters and necessary or desirable for their
         businesses the absence of or non compliance with which would be
         materially adverse, and no order has been issued, no Environmental
         Claim has been made, no penalty has been assessed and, to the knowledge
         of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, no investigation or review has
         occurred or is pending or threatened by any Person with respect to any
         alleged failure by Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary to have any permit, certificate, approval, license or other
         governmental authorization required under applicable Environmental Laws
         in connection with the conduct of the business or operations of any of
         them, except where the failure of any of the foregoing to be done could
         not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a
         Material Adverse Effect;

               (e)    no property now or previously owned or leased by the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary is listed or proposed for listing (with
         respect to owned property only) on the National Priorities List
         pursuant to CERCLA, on the CERCLIS or on any similar state list of
         sites requiring investigation or clean-up where the circumstances
         giving rise to such listing or proposed listing or the effect of such
         listing or proposed listing has, or could reasonably be expected to
         have, a Material Adverse Effect;

               (f)    to the knowledge of each of Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
         the Borrower and the Subsidiaries there are no underground storage
         tanks, active or abandoned, including petroleum storage tanks, on or
         under any property now leased, used, occupied or controlled (in whole
         or in part) by Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary that, singly or in the aggregate, have, or could reasonably
         be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

               (g)    to the knowledge of each of Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
         the Borrower and each Material Subsidiary, none of Star Gas Partners,
         Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has directly transported or
         directly arranged for the transportation of any Hazardous Material to
         any location, including locations which are listed or proposed for
         listing on the National Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA, on the
         CERCLIS or on any similar state list or which is the subject of
         federal, state or local enforcement actions or other investigations
         which, or otherwise which, could reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect; and

               (h)    to the knowledge of each of Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
         the Borrower and each Subsidiary there are no polychlorinated biphenyls
         or friable asbestos present at any property now or previously owned,
         leased, used, occupied or controlled (in whole or in part) by Star Gas
         Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that, singly or in
         the aggregate, have, or could reasonably be expected to have, a
         Material Adverse Effect.

                                       68
<PAGE>

         SECTION 7.14  Regulations U and X and Use of Proceeds.
                       ---------------------------------------

               (a)    The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending
         credit for the purpose of buying or carrying margin stock, and no
         proceeds of any Loans will be used for a purpose which violates, or
         would be inconsistent with, F.R.S. Board Regulation U or X. Terms for
         which meanings are provided in F.R.S. Board Regulation U or X or any
         regulations substituted therefor, as from time to time in effect, are
         used in this Section with such meanings.

               (b)    The Borrower shall (i) use the proceeds of the Facility A
         Loans and Swing Loans, and request the issuance of Facility A Letters
         of Credit, solely for working capital purposes, (ii) request the
         issuance of Facility B Letters of Credit, solely in connection with
         surety, worker's compensation, insurance and other financial
         guarantees, and (iii) use the proceeds of the Facility C Loans and
         request the issuance of Facility C Letters of Credit, solely for
         purposes of financing and refinancing acquisitions by the Borrower, to
         finance capital expenditures relating to existing properties or future
         acquired businesses of the Borrower and to refinance senior secured
         Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.1.13(b), provided that Facility C
                                  -----------------  --------
         Loans may be used for working capital purposes (such loans being
         "Facility C Working Capital Loans") up to an Effective Amount equal to
          --------------------------------
         the Facility C Working Capital Loan Cap solely to the extent that there
         is insufficient availability to utilize the Facility A Commitments for
         such purposes at the time of the requested borrowing.

         SECTION 7.15 Accuracy of Information. All factual information
                      -----------------------
heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of Star Gas Partners,
Holdings, the Borrower in writing to the Agent or any Lender for purposes of or
in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby which
were furnished to the Agent and all other such factual information hereafter
furnished by or on behalf of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of
their Subsidiaries to the Agent or any Lender will be true and accurate in every
material respect on the date as of which such information is dated or certified
and as of the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Agent and
such Lender, and such information, when all such information is considered as a
whole, is not, or shall not be, as the case may be, incomplete by omitting to
state any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading.

         SECTION 7.16 Solvency. The Borrower, both before and after giving
                      --------
effect to any Borrowing hereunder (including the initial Borrowings), (i) is not
"insolvent" (as such term is defined in ss.101(31)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code),
(ii) is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and
commitments as they mature, and (iii) does not have unreasonably small capital
for the business in which it is engaged or for any business or transaction in
which it is about to engage.

         SECTION 7.17 [Intentionally Omitted.]

         SECTION 7.18 Compliance with Laws. None of Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
                      --------------------
the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries is in default under any agreement by
which it is bound or in violation of any statute, law or governmental rule or
regulation or court or arbitrator's

                                       69
<PAGE>

judgment, decree or order, in any such case, which either individually or in the
aggregate, could have a Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 7.19 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. None of Star
                      -----------------------------------------
Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an "investment
company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. None of Star Gas Partners,
Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the
Interstate Commerce Act, any state public utilities code, or any other federal
or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness.

         SECTION 7.20 Restrictive Agreements. None of Holdings, the Borrower or
                      ----------------------
any Material Subsidiary is party to any agreement except the Loan Documents, the
Note Agreements and the documents evidencing other Private Placement Debt and
the Existing Subordinated Debt which limits such Person's ability to pay
dividends to Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or to any of the Material
Subsidiaries that own outstanding equity interests in such Person.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                    COVENANTS

         SECTION 8.1 Affirmative Covenants. The Borrower agrees with the Agent
                     ---------------------
and each Lender that, until all Commitments have terminated and all Obligations
have been paid and performed in full, the Borrower will perform the obligations
set forth in this Section 8.1.
                  -----------

               SECTION 8.1.1 Financial Information, Reports, Notices, etc. The
                             --------------------------------------------
Borrower will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to each Lender and the
Agent copies of the following financial statements, reports, notices and
information:

               (a)    (i)    as soon as practicable, but in any event within
         forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three quarterly
         fiscal periods in each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, consolidated (and
         in the case of Holdings, consolidating) balance sheets of Holdings, the
         Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries as at the end of such period and
         the related consolidated (and, as to statements of income and cash
         flows, if applicable and to the extent that such are being prepared,
         consolidating) statements of income, surplus or partners' capital, cash
         flows and stockholders' equity of Holdings, the Borrower and the
         Material Subsidiaries (1) for such period and (2) (in the case of the
         second and third quarterly periods) for the period from the beginning
         of the current Fiscal Year to the end of such quarterly period, setting
         forth in each case in comparative form the consolidated and, where
         applicable and as appropriate, consolidating figures for the
         corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable
         detail and certified by an authorized financial officer of the Borrower
         as presenting fairly, in all material respects, the information
         contained therein (subject to changes resulting from normal year-end
         adjustments), in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent
         with prior fiscal periods;

                                       70
<PAGE>

                      (ii)   as soon as practicable, but in any event within
                forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three
                quarterly fiscal periods in each Fiscal Year of Star Gas
                Partners, consolidated (and to the extent that such are being
                prepared, consolidating) balance sheets of Star Gas Partners and
                its Subsidiaries as at the end of such period and the related
                consolidated (and, as to statements of income and cash flows, if
                applicable and to the extent that such are being prepared,
                consolidating) statements of income, surplus or partners'
                capital and cash flows of Star Gas Partners and its Subsidiaries
                (1) for such period and (2) (in the case of the second and third
                quarterly periods) for the period from the beginning of the
                current Fiscal Year of Star Gas Partners to the end of such
                quarterly period, setting forth in each case in comparative form
                the consolidated and, where applicable and as appropriate,
                consolidating figures for the corresponding periods of the
                previous Fiscal Year of Star Gas Partners, all in reasonable
                detail and certified by an authorized financial officer of Star
                Gas Partners as presenting fairly, in all material respects, the
                information contained therein (subject to changes resulting from
                normal year-end adjustments), in accordance with GAAP applied on
                a basis consistent with prior fiscal periods;

                (b)(i) as soon as practicable but in any event within ninety
         (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower,
         consolidated (and in the case of Holdings, consolidating) balance
         sheets of Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries as at
         the end of such year and the related consolidated (and, as to
         statements of income and cash flows, if applicable and to the extent
         that such are being prepared, consolidating) statements of income, cash
         flows and stockholders' equity of Holdings, the Borrower and the
         Material Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case
         in comparative form the consolidated and, where applicable and to the
         extent that such are being prepared, consolidating figures for the
         previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, and accompanied by a
         report thereon of KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of
         recognized national standing selected by the Borrower, which report
         shall (1) contain no limitation on the scope of the audit and no
         material qualification or exception and (2) state that such
         consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material
         respects the financial position of Holdings, the Borrower and the
         Material Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of
         their operations and cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity
         with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years and that the
         audit by such accountants in connection with such consolidated
         financial statements has been made in accordance with GAAP;

                      (ii)   as soon as practicable but in any event within
                ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Star Gas
                Partners, consolidated (and to the extent that such are being
                prepared, consolidating) balance sheets of Star Gas Partners and
                its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related
                consolidated (and, as to statements of income and cash flows, if
                applicable and to the extent that such are being prepared,
                consolidating) statements of income, partners' capital and cash
                flows of Star Gas Partners and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal
                Year of Star Gas Partners, setting forth in each case in
                comparative form the consolidated and, where applicable and to
                the extent that such are being prepared, consolidating figures
                for the previous Fiscal Year of Star Gas Partners, all in
                reasonable detail,

                                       71
<PAGE>

                and accompanied by a report thereon of KPMG LLP or other
                independent public accountants of recognized national standing
                selected by Star Gas Partners, which report shall (1) contain no
                limitation on the scope of the audit and no material
                qualification or exception and (2) state that such consolidated
                financial statements present fairly in all material respects the
                financial position of Star Gas Partners and its Subsidiaries as
                at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and
                cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP
                applied on a basis consistent with prior years and that the
                audit by such accountants in connection with such consolidated
                financial statements has been made in accordance with GAAP;

                (c)   as soon as available and in any event within forty-five
         (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) Fiscal Quarters
         of the Borrower and within ninety (90) days after the end of each
         Fiscal Year of the Borrower, a Compliance Certificate with respect to
         the period covered by the financial statements referred to in Section
                                                                       -------
         8.1.1(a) and 8.1.1(b) above together with supporting calculations and
         -------      --------
         such other supporting detail as the Agent and the Required Lenders may
         require;

                (d)   promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all reports,
         management letters and other detailed information (if any) prepared
         with respect to Gas Star Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any
         Material Subsidiary by any independent public accountant in connection
         with each annual or interim audit of such Person;

                (e)   as soon as possible and in any event within three (3)
         Business Days after knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the
         occurrence of each Default or Event of Default, a statement of the
         chief financial officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such
         Default or Event of Default and the action which the Borrower has taken
         and propose to take with respect thereto;

                (f)   as soon as possible and in any event within three (3)
         Business Days after knowledge by a Responsible Officer of (x) the
         occurrence of any material adverse development with respect to any
         litigation, action, proceeding, or labor controversy described in
         Section 7.9 or (y) the commencement of any labor controversy,
         -----------
         litigation, action, proceeding of the type described in Section 7.9,
                                                                 -----------
         notice thereof and copies of all documentation relating thereto;

                (g)   within five (5) Business Days after the sending or filing
         thereof, all reports, registration statements and prospectuses which
         Star Gas Partners, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with
         the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities
         exchange;

                (h)   notice of the occurrence of any of the following events
         affecting the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (but in no event more
         than ten (10) days after knowledge by a Responsible Officer of such
         event), and deliver to the Agent and each Lender a copy of any notice
         with respect to such event that is filed with the Government Authority
         and any notice delivered by a Government Authority to the Borrower or
         any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such event:

                                       72
<PAGE>

                      (i)    an ERISA Event;

                      (ii)   a material increase in the Unfunded Pension
                Liability of any Pension Plan;

                      (iii)  the adoption of, or the commencement of
                contributions to, any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code by
                the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate;

                      (iv)   the adoption of any amendment to a Plan subject to
                Section 412 of the Code, if such amendment could result in a
                material increase in contributions or Unfunded Pension
                Liability; or

                      (v)    any Pension Plan's having incurred an "accumulated
                funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the Code), or
                receiving notice from the PBGC, Internal Revenue Service or any
                governmental agency that it is the subject of an audit, review
                or any other governmental action.

In addition, the Borrower shall instruct the actuaries for all Pension Plans to
deliver to the Agent a copy of each Pension Plan's Actuarial Valuation and each
Pension Plan's Schedule B to Form 5500 at the earliest time that such is
delivered to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

                (i)   within sixty (60) Business Days after each Fiscal Quarter
         end, a certificate setting forth the net proceeds from Asset
         Dispositions, the application of such proceeds as permitted under
         Section 8.2.8, and the mandatory prepayments made as required by
         -------------
         Section 3.1.3;
         -------------

                (j)   on the fifteenth (15th) day of each month (or if such day
         shall not be a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day) and
         promptly after any day on which the Agent requests, a Borrowing Base
         Certificate showing the Facility A Borrowing Base as of the last day of
         the most recently ended calendar month or such other date as reasonably
         requested by the Agent, as the case may be, in each case certified as
         complete and correct by the chief financial officer of the Borrower
         together with supporting documents reasonably acceptable to the Agent;

                (k)   promptly and in any event within ten (10) days of
         knowledge by a Responsible Officer thereof, any litigation, proceeding,
         investigation or dispute which may exist at any time between Star Gas
         Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary and any
         governmental regulatory body which might interfere with the normal
         business operations of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any
         Material Subsidiary, such other information respecting the condition or
         operations, financial or otherwise, of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary as any Lender through the Agent may from
         time to time reasonably request; and

                (l)   promptly and in any event within ten (10) days of
         knowledge by a Responsible Officer thereof and to the extent not
         otherwise covered in clauses (a)-(k) above, any event or circumstance
                              ---------------
         that could have a Material Adverse Effect, including without limitation
         an event or circumstance which leads the Borrower to believe it will
         not meet the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.2.4 on a pro
                                                       -------------
         forma basis.

                                       73
<PAGE>

               SECTION 8.1.2 Maintenance of Properties. Each of Star Gas
                             -------------------------
Partners, Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of their
Subsidiaries to, maintain, preserve, protect and keep its properties in good
repair, working order and condition, and make necessary and proper repairs,
renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in connection
therewith may be properly conducted at all times unless Star Gas Partners, the
Borrower or Holdings determines in good faith that the continued maintenance of
any of its or its Subsidiaries' properties is no longer economically desirable.

               SECTION 8.1.3 Insurance. In addition to insurance requirements
                             ---------
set forth in the Security Documents, Holdings and the Borrower shall maintain,
and shall cause each of the Material Subsidiaries to maintain, with financially
sound and reputable independent insurers, insurance with respect to its
properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured
against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in
such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such
other Persons; including workers' compensation insurance, public liability and
property and casualty insurance which amount shall not be reduced by Holdings,
the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary in the absence of thirty (30) days'
prior notice to the Trustee and the Agent. All such insurance shall name the
Trustee as loss payee/mortgagee and as additional insured, for the benefit of
the Lenders, as their interests may appear. All casualty insurance maintained by
Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries shall name the Trustee as
loss payee and all liability insurance shall name the Trustee as additional
insured for the benefit of the Borrower, as their interests may appear. Upon
request of the Agent, the Trustee or any Lender, the Borrower shall furnish the
Agent, with sufficient copies for each Lender, at reasonable intervals (but not
more than once per calendar year) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower (and, if requested by the Agent, any insurance broker of the Borrower)
setting forth the nature and extent of all insurance maintained by Holdings, the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries in accordance with this Section or any
Security Documents (and which, in the case of a certificate of a broker, were
placed through such broker).

               SECTION 8.1.4 Payment of Obligations. Star Gas Partners, Holdings
                             ----------------------
and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each of their Subsidiaries to, pay and
discharge as the same shall become due and payable (except to the extent the
failure to so pay and discharge could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect), all their respective obligations and liabilities,
including:

                (a)   all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges
         or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are
         being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate
         reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by Star Gas
         Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary;

                (b)   all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a
         Lien upon its property; and

                (c)   all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject
         to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or
         agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.

                                       74
<PAGE>

               SECTION 8.1.5 Compliance with Laws. Each of Star Gas Partners,
                             --------------------
Holdings and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to comply, in
all material respects with all Requirements of Law of any Government Authority
having jurisdiction over it or its business (including the Federal Fair Labor
Standards Act), except such as may be contested in good faith or as to which a
bona fide dispute may exist.

               SECTION 8.1.6 Books and Records. Star Gas Partners, Holdings and
                             -----------------
the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Material Subsidiaries to, keep
books and records which accurately reflect all of its business affairs and
transactions.

               SECTION 8.1.7 Inspection. The Borrower shall permit the
                             ----------
representatives of each Lender and the Agent, at the expense of the Borrower at
any time when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is in existence and
otherwise representatives of any Lender or the Agent with prior written notice
at the expense of such Lender or the Agent, to visit and inspect during normal
business hours any of the properties of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, to examine all their respective books of
account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts
therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with
their respective officers, employees and independent public accountants all at
such reasonable times and intervals and as often as may be reasonably requested.
Holdings and the Borrower hereby authorize Holdings', the Borrower's and the
Material Subsidiaries' independent accountants, and shall upon such request
deliver a letter to Holding's, the Borrower's and the Material Subsidiaries'
independent public accountants authorizing them, to reply to and comply with the
provisions of this Section 8.1.7.
                   -------------

               SECTION 8.1.8 Environmental Covenant. Star Gas Partners, Holdings
                             ----------------------
and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Material Subsidiaries to:

                (a)   use and operate all of its facilities and properties in
         compliance with all Environmental Laws, keep all necessary permits,
         approvals, certificates, licenses and other authorizations relating to
         environmental matters in effect and remain in compliance therewith, and
         handle all Hazardous Materials in compliance with all applicable
         Environmental Laws except where non-compliance could not singly or in
         the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                (b)   immediately notify the Agent and provide copies upon
         receipt of all written claims, complaints, notices or inquiries
         relating to the condition of its facilities and properties or
         compliance with Environmental Laws other than those claims, complaints,
         notices or inquiries which singly or in the aggregate could not have a
         Material Adverse Effect, and shall promptly cure and have dismissed
         with prejudice to the satisfaction of the Agent any such actions and
         proceedings relating to compliance with Environmental Laws except to
         the extent being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP
         shall have been set aside on its books; and

                (c)   provide such information and certifications which the
         Agent may reasonably request from time to time to evidence compliance
         with this Section 8.1.8.
                   --------------

                                       75
<PAGE>

               SECTION 8.1.9 Compliance with ERISA. Star Gas Partners, Holdings
                             ---------------------
and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a)
maintain each Plan in compliance in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law; (b) cause each
Plan which is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code to maintain such
qualification; and (c) make all required contributions to any Plan subject to
Section 412 of the Code.

               SECTION 8.1.10 Ranking/Security. Holdings and the Borrower will
                              ----------------
cause the Obligations to be secured and rank pari passu with all other Senior
Debt. All of the Collateral will be pledged to secure both the Obligations and
all other Senior Debt. In the event that the Borrower or Holdings obtains or
creates any Material Subsidiary (after the date hereof), the Borrower or
Holdings (as applicable) shall (a) cause each such Material Subsidiary to issue
a guarantee of the Obligations and each such guarantee will be in favor of the
Trustee and secured by a pledge of all of the accounts receivable, inventory,
cash, Customer Lists and stock of such Material Subsidiary, and (b) cause the
Security Agreements to be amended to add such Material Subsidiary as an Obligor
thereunder and shall deliver, or cause such Material Subsidiary to deliver, such
other agreements, documents, instruments and opinions in connection therewith as
the Agent or the Trustee may request.

               SECTION 8.1.11 Clean Down Period. The Borrower, for a period of
                              -----------------
forty-five (45) consecutive days during the period of April 1 to September 30 of
each calendar year, will (a) make a repayment of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of all Facility A Loans, all Swing Loans and all Facility C
Working Capital Loans, if any, in an amount sufficient so as to cause such
aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof to equal $0 during such period
and (b) reduce all Facility A L/C Obligations if any, in an amount sufficient so
as to cause such aggregate Facility A L/C Obligations not to exceed $0 during
such period.

               SECTION 8.1.12 Preservation of Corporate Existence. Star Gas
                              -----------------------------------
Partners, Holdings and the Borrower shall, and Holdings and the Borrower shall
cause each of their Subsidiaries to:

                (a)   preserve and maintain in full force and effect its
         corporate or partnership existence (as applicable) and good standing
         under the laws of its state or jurisdiction of organization or
         incorporation, except to the extent permitted by Section 8.2.7;
                                                          -------------

                (b)   preserve and maintain in full force and effect all
         governmental rights, privileges, qualifications, permits, licenses and
         franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business
         except in connection with transactions permitted by Section 8.2.7 and
                                                             -------------
         sale of assets permitted by Section 8.2.8 or where the lapse could not
                                     -------------
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                (c)   use reasonable efforts, in the ordinary course of
         business, to preserve its business organization and goodwill; and

                (d)   preserve or renew all of its registered patents,
         trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of
         which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       76
<PAGE>

               SECTION 8.1.13 Use of Proceeds.
                              ---------------

                (a)   Holdings and the Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer
         or permit any Subsidiary to, use any portion of the Loan proceeds or
         any Letter of Credit, directly or indirectly for the purpose of buying
         or carrying margin stock or any purpose which violates, or would be
         inconsistent with F.R.S. Board Regulation U or X. Terms for which
         meanings are provided in F.R.S. Board Regulation U or X or any
         regulations substituted therefor, as from time to time in effect, are
         used in this Section with such meanings;

                (b)   The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit shall
         be used for the purposes set forth in Section 7.14(b). Proceeds of the
                                               --------------
         Facility C Loans to refinance matured senior secured Indebtedness shall
         be limited to $20,000,000 and, to the extent that the aggregate
         outstanding principal balance of Facility C Loans, used for such
         purpose exceeds $5,000,000 (or would exceed $5,000,000 upon giving
         effect to the proposed borrowing), then Facility C Loans may be
         incurred for such purpose only if, upon giving effect to such
         borrowings (x) the Leverage Ratio would be less than or equal to 3.75
         to 1 and (y) the Consolidated Cash Flow to Interest Expense Ratio would
         be greater than or equal to 2.75 to 1. The Effective Amount of Facility
         C Working Capital Loans shall not exceed the Facility C Working Capital
         Loan Cap.

               SECTION 8.1.14 Update of Customer Lists. Each of Holdings and the
                              ------------------------
Borrower shall, and shall cause its Material Subsidiaries to, provide to the
Trustee for the benefit of the Agent, the Issuer and the Lenders on such dates
as the Agent reasonably may request one or more computer tapes (or such other
medium as may be acceptable to the Agent) containing each Customer List owned by
Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries and within fifteen
(15) days of such request the Borrower and the Agent agree that each Lender
shall be permitted to review such tapes (or other medium) during the reasonable
business hours of the Agent; provided that the Agent and the Lenders shall not
and the Trustee shall be caused not to disclose such information unless an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided, however, that prior to an
Event of Default, the Trustee, the Agent and the Lenders may disclose such
information only to (a) their respective attorneys, auditors, employees,
consultants or other agents, and (b) to any Government Authority to the extent
required by such Government Authority.

               SECTION 8.1.15 Further Assurances.
                              ------------------

                (a)   The Borrower shall ensure that all written information,
         exhibits and reports furnished to the Agent, the Issuer, the Trustee or
         the Lenders do not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
         material fact and do not and will not omit to state any material fact
         or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not
         misleading in light of the circumstances in which made, and will
         promptly disclose to the Agent, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Lenders
         and correct any defect or error that may be discovered therein or in
         any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgement or recordation
         thereof.

                (b)   Promptly upon request by the Agent, the Trustee or the
         Required Lenders, the Borrower shall (and shall cause any of its
         Subsidiaries to) do, execute, acknowledge,

                                       77
<PAGE>

         deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register,
         any and all such further acts, deeds, conveyances, security agreements,
         mortgages, assignments, estoppel certificates, financing statements and
         continuations thereof, termination statements, notices of assignment,
         transfers, certificates, assurances and other instruments the Agent,
         the Trustee or such Lenders, as the case may be, may reasonably require
         from time to time in order (i) to carry out more effectively the
         purposes of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) to subject
         to the Liens created by any of the Security Documents any of the
         properties, rights or interests covered by any of the Security
         Documents, (iii) to perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness
         and priority of any of the Security Documents and the Liens intended to
         be created thereby, and (iv) to better assure, convey, grant, assign,
         transfer, preserve, protect and confirm to the Agent, the Trustee and
         Lenders the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted
         to the Agent, the Trustee and the Lenders under any Loan Document or
         under any other document executed in connection therewith.

         SECTION 8.2 Negative Covenants. The Borrower agrees with the Agent and
                     ------------------
each Lender that, until all Commitments have terminated and all Obligations have
been paid and performed in full, the Borrower will perform the obligations set
forth in this Section 8.2.
              -----------

               SECTION 8.2.1 Business Activities. Star Gas Partners, Holdings
                             -------------------
and the Borrower will not, nor will they permit any of the Material Subsidiaries
to, engage in any line of business, if, as a result, the general nature of the
business in which Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower and the Material
Subsidiaries taken as a whole are engaged in would be substantially different
from the nature of the business in which Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries are engaged in as of the Effective Date.

               SECTION 8.2.2 Indebtedness.
                             ------------

                (a)   Holdings and the Borrower will not, nor will they permit
         any of the Material Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to
         exist or otherwise become or be liable in respect of any Indebtedness,
         other than, without duplication, the following:

                      (i)    the Private Placement Debt identified on Item
                8.2.2(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule;

                      (ii)   Indebtedness evidenced by the Obligations;

                      (iii)  the Existing Subordinated Debt;

                      (iv)   additional secured Indebtedness of Holdings, the
                Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries in excess of Indebtedness
                permitted by clauses (i) and (ii) above, if (A) Holdings, the
                             --------------------
                Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries are in compliance with
                the covenant on pro forma Consolidated Cash Flow to Interest
                Expense Ratio set forth in Section 8.2.4(b) (including the
                                           ---------------
                Indebtedness to be incurred and the repayment of any
                Indebtedness being refinanced), (B) Holdings, the Borrower and
                the Material Subsidiaries are in compliance with the pro forma
                Leverage Ratio covenant set forth in Section 8.2.4(a), (C) in
                                                     ----------------
                the case of Indebtedness (other than Borrower notes) incurred in
                connection with Capitalized

                                       78
<PAGE>

               Lease Liabilities, the obligations incurred do not exceed the
               fair market value of such property or assets (as determined in
               good faith by the Board of Directors of the Borrower), (D) to the
               extent such Indebtedness is pari passu with the other Senior
               Debt, the creditors in respect of such additional Indebtedness
               shall have become parties to the Intercreditor Agreement and the
               Intercreditor Agreement shall have been amended, if necessary, to
               reflect such additional Indebtedness and otherwise shall be in
               form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the Lenders, (E)
               to the extent such Indebtedness is subordinate to the Senior
               Debt, such Indebtedness constitutes Permitted Subordinated Debt
               and (F) no Default or Event of Default would exist after
               incurring such Indebtedness;

                      (v)    additional unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings, the
                Borrower or the Material Subsidiaries provided that (A)
                Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries are in
                compliance with the covenant on pro forma Consolidated Cash Flow
                to Interest Expense Ratio (including the Indebtedness to be
                incurred and the repayment of any debt being refinanced and
                repaid) set forth in Section 8.2.4(b), (B) Holdings, the
                                     ----------------
                Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries are in compliance with
                the Leverage Ratio covenant set forth in Section 8.2.4(a), (C)
                                                         ----------------
                in the case of Indebtedness incurred in connection with
                Capitalized Lease Liabilities, the obligations incurred do not
                exceed the fair market value of such property or assets (as
                determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
                Borrower), (D) such Indebtedness constitutes Permitted
                Subordinated Debt and (E) no Default or Event of Default would
                exist after incurring such Indebtedness;

                      (vi)   to the extent not covered by paragraph (v) above,
                Indebtedness in respect of the Permitted Hedging Agreements; and

                      (vii)  the Acquisition Debt identified on Item
                8.2.2(a)(vii) of the Disclosure Schedule and other Acquisition
                Debt if (A) the principal amount of any such Acquisition Debt
                shall not exceed the fair market value of the assets acquired
                with such Indebtedness, (B) Holdings, the Borrower and the
                Material Subsidiaries are in compliance with the covenant on pro
                forma Consolidated Cash Flow to Interest Expense Ratio set forth
                in Section 8.2.4(b) (including the Indebtedness to be incurred
                   ----------------
                and the repayment of any Indebtedness being refinanced), (C)
                Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries are in
                compliance with the pro forma Leverage Ratio covenant set forth
                in Section 8.2.4(a), and (D) no Default or Event of Default
                   ---------------
                would exist after incurring such Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of the Material Subsidiaries only,
the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of the Material Subsidiaries (exclusive
of Indebtedness in respect of Senior Debt) shall not exceed 2% of the
Consolidated Total Tangible Assets of Holdings at any time.

If no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
provisions of this Section will not prevent Holdings, the Borrower and the
Material Subsidiaries from incurring senior secured Indebtedness to refinance,
refund or renew the Senior Debt, provided that (1) the

                                       79
<PAGE>

principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount of
such Senior Debt being renewed, refunded or refinanced together with any accrued
interest and premium with respect thereto and any costs and expenses related to
such renewal, refunding or refinancing, (2) such Indebtedness (x) shall not
mature prior to the stated maturity of such Senior Debt so exchanged or
refinanced, (y) shall have an average life equal to or greater than the
remaining average life of such Senior Debt so exchanged or refinanced, and (3)
such Indebtedness shall continue to be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

Furthermore, if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the provisions of this Section will not prevent Holdings, the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries from incurring Indebtedness to refinance,
refund or renew any outstanding subordinated Indebtedness, provided that (1) the
principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount of
the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded or refinanced together with any accrued
interest and premium with respect thereto and any costs and expenses related to
such renewal, refunding or refinancing, (2) such Indebtedness (x) shall not
mature prior to the stated maturity of the subordinated Indebtedness so
exchanged or refinanced and (y) shall have an average life equal to or greater
than the remaining average life of the subordinated Indebtedness so exchanged or
refinanced, and (3) such Indebtedness constitutes Permitted Subordinated Debt.

                (b)   Star Gas Partners will not create, incur, assume or suffer
         to exist or otherwise become liable in respect of any Indebtedness
         except (i) Indebtedness in respect of Senior Debt and Indebtedness
         evidenced by its Guaranty dated March 25, 1999 in favor of the holders
         of the $2,140,000 10.25% Subordinated Notes due January 15, 2001 (as
         extended in accordance with its terms) as such Guaranty is in effect as
         of the Effective Date and (ii) unsecured Contingent Liabilities in an
         aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000 at any time outstanding
         incurred solely by way of financial guarantees of obligations of its
         direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and its Subsidiary, Total
         Gas & Electric, Inc. (including Contingent Liabilities in respect of
         the obligations of Total Gas & Electric, Inc. under the Credit
         Agreement dated as of March 30, 2001 among Total Gas & Electric, Inc.,
         the banks referred to therein and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
         administrative agent for such banks); provided, however, if no Default
         or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
         provisions of this clause (b) will not prevent Star Gas Partners from
                            ----------
         creating or incurring any Indebtedness, provided that (w) such
         Indebtedness constitutes Permitted Subordinated Debt; (x) no Default or
         Event of Default would exist after incurring such Indebtedness, and (y)
         after incurring such Indebtedness, the ratio of SGP Consolidated Pro
         Forma Operating Cash Flow to SGP Consolidated Pro Forma Interest
         Expense is greater than 2.00 to 1.0 for the period of the four (4) most
         recent Fiscal Quarters ending on or prior to the date of the incurrence
         of such Indebtedness.

               SECTION 8.2.3 Liens. Star Gas Partners, Holdings and the Borrower
                             -----
shall not, nor shall they permit any of the Material Subsidiaries to, create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, revenues or
assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except with respect to
Holdings, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries, any of the Liens referred
to below and with respect to Star Gas Partners the Liens referred to in clauses
                                                                        -------
(b), (d) and (g) below:
---  ---     ---
                                       80
<PAGE>

                (a)   Liens in the Collateral created in favor of the Trustee
         for the benefit of the Agent, the Issuer, the Lenders, the Private
         Placement Debt holders and the holders of other Parity Debt;

                (b)   Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges
         or levies not at the time delinquent or thereafter payable without
         penalty or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP
         shall have been set aside on its books;

                (c)   Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen
         and landlords incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not
         overdue and being diligently contested in good-faith by appropriate
         proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP
         shall have been set aside on its books;

                (d)   Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in
         connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance or other
         forms of governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance
         of tenders, statutory obligations, leases and contracts (other than for
         borrowed money) entered into in the ordinary course of business or to
         secure obligations on surety or appeal bonds;

                (e)   the purchase money security interests on any property
         acquired or held by Holdings, the Borrower or Material Subsidiaries in
         the ordinary course of business, securing Indebtedness incurred or
         assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of
         acquiring such property; provided that (i) any such Lien attaches to
         such property concurrently with or within twenty (20) days after the
         acquisition thereof, (ii) such Lien attaches solely to the property so
         acquired in such transaction, (iii) the principal amount of the debt
         secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of such property and
         (iv) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by any and all
         such purchase money security interests shall not at any time exceed
         $2,000,000;

                (f)   leases or subleases granted to others, zoning
         restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, rights-of-way,
         restrictions on the use of property or irregularities of title and
         other similar changes, encumbrances and Liens which do not materially
         impair the use thereof by Holdings, the Borrower or any of their
         Material Subsidiaries; and

                (g)   Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA and other than
         on the Collateral) consisting of pledges or deposits required in the
         ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation,
         unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

provided, however, that Liens on real estate shall be limited to real estate
acquired after the Effective Date securing the purchase price thereof and not in
excess of $500,000 per Fiscal Year.

                SECTION 8.2.4 Financial Covenants. The Borrower shall not
permit:                       -------------------

                (a)   the Leverage Ratio based upon the most recent four Fiscal
         Quarters to exceed 4.00 to 1 at any time hereafter.

                                       81
<PAGE>

                (b)   the Consolidated Cash Flow to Interest Expense Ratio to be
         equal to or less than 2.50 to 1 at any time hereafter.

                (c)   the ratio of Current Assets to Current Liabilities to be
         less than the following respective amounts during the following
         respective periods in which Facility A Loans, Facility A Letters of
         Credit or Facility C Working Capital Loans are outstanding:

                                                              Current Assets to
                      Period                                 Current Liabilities
                      ------                                 -------------------

                      At December 31 through June 30              1.00 to 1
                      of each year

                      At July 1 through December 30               0.85 to 1
                      of each year

               SECTION 8.2.5 Investments. Subject to Section 8.2.6, none of
                             -----------             -------------
Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries shall make or suffer
to exist, any Investment in any Person, including without limitation, any
shareholder of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary except (and in each case
in accordance with Sections 2.03, 4.01 and 4.02 of the Security Agreements):

                (a)   Investments in:

                      (i)    obligations issued or guaranteed by the United
                States of America;

                      (ii)   certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and
                other "money market instruments" issued by any bank or trust
                company organized under the laws of the United States of America
                or any State thereof and having capital and surplus in an
                aggregate amount of not less than $100,000,000;

                      (iii)  open market commercial paper bearing the highest
                credit rating issued by Standard & Poor's Corporation or by
                another nationally recognized credit rating agency;

                      (iv)   repurchase agreements entered into with any bank or
                trust company organized under the laws of the United States of
                America or any State thereof and having capital and surplus in
                an aggregate amount of not less than $100,000,000 relating to
                United States of America government obligations; and

                      (v)    shares of "money market funds," each having net
                assets of not less than $100,000,000;

in each case maturing or being due or payable in full not more than one-hundred
eighty (180) days after Holdings', the Borrower's or any Material Subsidiary's
acquisition thereof;

                (b)   Investments by Holdings or the Borrower in any Material
         Subsidiary (whether established before or after the Effective Date) and
         by any Material Subsidiary in

                                       82
<PAGE>

         the Borrower, Holdings or another Material Subsidiary; provided that,
         with respect to any Investment that involves an acquisition of any
         business (including the Contemplated Acquisition): (i) the acquiree
         shall be primarily engaged in a business that would be permitted by
         Section 8.2.1; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such
         -------------
         acquisition, no Default or Event of Default will occur or be continuing
         and each of the representations and warranties of the Borrower in this
         Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of consummation of the
         acquisition, both before and after giving effect thereto; and (iii)
         solely with respect to the Contemplated Acquisition, the Borrower shall
         have received from Star Gas Partners net proceeds of at least
         $60,000,000 from the issuance by Star Gas Partners of its common units;
         provided further that, if any such acquisition is not structured as an
         Investment under this Agreement, the provisions of this Section
                                                                 -------
         8.2.5(b) shall nonetheless be required to be complied with in
         --------
         connection with such acquisition; and

                (c)   Investments by Holdings or the Borrower in any existing or
         future, direct or indirect, Subsidiary which exists for the sole
         purpose of obtaining and holding a license which Holdings or the
         Borrower deems necessary or advisable for its business, provided that
         (i) the total Investment in such Subsidiary does not exceed $100,000 in
         the aggregate for any one such Subsidiary or $200,000 in the aggregate
         for all such Subsidiaries and (ii) if the failure to have such license
         could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the
         Subsidiary holding such license shall be a Material Subsidiary.

               SECTION 8.2.6   Restricted Payments, etc.
                               ------------------------

               (a)    Holdings will not directly or indirectly declare, order,
         pay, make or set apart any sum for any Restricted Payment, and Holdings
         will not, and will not permit the Borrower or any of the Material
         Subsidiaries to, make or authorize any Restricted Investment, except
         that (i) Holdings may declare or order, and make, pay or set apart,
         once during each calendar quarter a Restricted Payment, and (ii)
         Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary may make Restricted
         Investments during each calendar quarter, provided that (x) the
         aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments and Restricted Investments
         in any calendar quarter do not exceed (as applicable) the Available
         Cash for the immediately preceding calendar quarter, (y) immediately
         after giving effect to any such proposed action no Default or Event of
         Default shall exist and be continuing, and (z) Restricted Investments
         may only be made in accordance with Sections 2.03 and 4.01 of the
         Security Agreements.

                (b)   Star Gas Partners will not permit payment of any
         partnership distribution, purchase any outstanding partnership units,
         or retire, prior to its maturity, any subordinated debt (the "SGP
                                                                       ---
         Restricted Payment") and Star Gas Partners will not, and will not
         ------------------
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or authorize any Restricted
         Investment unless after giving effect to such action:

                      (i)    the ratio of SGP Consolidated Pro Forma Operating
                Cash Flow to SGP Consolidated Pro Forma Interest Expense for
                Star Gas Partners is greater

                                       83
<PAGE>

                than 1.75 to 1.0 for the period of the four (4) most recent
                Fiscal Quarters ending on or prior to the date of such SGP
                Restricted Payment; and

                      (ii)   no Default or Event of Default would exist.

               (c)    Any Restricted Payment and any SGP Restricted Payment must
         be payable within sixty (60) days of its declaration and if the
         Restricted Payment or the SGP Restricted Payment (as applicable) would
         have been permitted as of the date of such declaration such Restricted
         Payment or SGP Restricted Payment (as applicable) shall be permitted if
         made during such sixty (60) day period; provided, however, that no
         Default or Event of Default exists on the day of such distribution or
         would exist after making such distribution.

               SECTION 8.2.7 Consolidation, Merger, etc. Star Gas Partners,
                             ---------------------------
Holdings and the Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any Material
Subsidiary to, merge, consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions)
all or substantially all of its assets (whether nor owned or hereafter acquired)
to or in favor of any Person, except:

               (a)    any Material Subsidiary may merge with the Borrower,
         provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving
         corporation, or with any one or more Subsidiaries, provided that if any
         transaction shall be between a Subsidiary and a Wholly-Owned
         Subsidiary, the Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or
         surviving corporation; and

               (b)    any Material Subsidiary may sell all or substantially all
         of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), to the
         Borrower or another Wholly-Owned Material Subsidiary.

               SECTION 8.2.8 Asset Dispositions, etc. Except in connection with
                             -----------------------
a transaction permitted under Section 8.2.7, none of Holdings, the Borrower or
                              -------------
any of the Material Subsidiaries may sell or dispose of any portion of its
property (excepting abandonment, sale of inventory or other dispositions in the
ordinary course of business), or sell equity interests in any Material
Subsidiary to any third party (all of the foregoing, are herein called "Asset
                                                                        -----
Dispositions"), unless:
------------

               (a)    immediately before and after giving effect to such
         transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or be
         continuing;

                (b)   one of the following two conditions shall be satisfied:

                      (i)    the aggregate net after tax proceeds from such
                Asset Disposition do not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total
                Assets of Holdings during such Fiscal Year; or

                      (ii)   in the event that such net after tax proceeds from
                such Asset Disposition exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total
                Assets of Holdings ("Excess Sale Proceeds"), the Borrower shall
`                                    --------------------
                within ninety (90) days of the date of the

                                       84
<PAGE>

                disposal of the assets giving rise to such proceeds, cause an
                amount equal to such Excess Sale Proceeds to be applied (x) to
                the acquisition of assets in replacement of the assets so
                disposed of or of assets which may be productively used in the
                United States in the conduct of Holdings', the Borrower's or any
                Material Subsidiary's business (and such newly acquired assets
                shall become part of the General Collateral and shall be
                subjected to the Lien of the Security Documents), or (y) to the
                extent not applied pursuant to the immediately preceding clause
                                                                         ------
                (x), for deposit with the Trustee no later than ninety (90) days
                ---
                of after such disposition to be reinvested in assets described
                in clause (x) and to the extent such Excess Sale Proceeds are
                   ----------
                not reinvested as described above within one-hundred eighty
                (180) days of such disposition to the prepayment of the
                Obligations pursuant to Section 3.1; and
                                        -----------

                (c)   100% of the consideration received is in cash or
         marketable securities or notes secured by a standby letter of credit.

                SECTION 8.2.9 Modification of Certain Agreements. The Borrower
                              ----------------------------------
shall not consent to any amendment, supplement or other modification of any of
the terms or provisions contained in, or applicable to, any document or
instrument evidencing or applicable to the Private Placement Debt (including the
Note Agreements), other Parity Debt, the Existing Subordinated Debt, other
Permitted Subordinated Debt or the Exchanged Notes, which increases any amount
payable thereunder or shortens the terms thereof or increases any installment or
required prepayment.

                SECTION 8.2.10 Transactions with Affiliates. Star Gas Partners,
                               ----------------------------
Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary
to, directly or indirectly, engage in any transaction with any Affiliate,
including, without limitation, the purchase, sale or exchange of assets or the
rendering of any service, to Star Gas Partners', Holdings', the Borrower's or
such Material Subsidiary's business except upon fair and reasonable terms that
are no less favorable to Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or such
Material Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those which might be obtained in
an arm's-length transaction at the time such transaction is agreed upon from
Persons which are not such an Affiliate.

                SECTION 8.2.11 Negative Pledges, Restrictive Agreements, etc.
                               ----------------------------------------------
Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Material
Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement (excluding this Agreement, any other
Loan Document and any agreement governing any Indebtedness permitted herein)
prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties, revenues
or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or the ability of the
Borrower or any other Obligor to amend or otherwise modify this Agreement or any
other Loan Document.

                SECTION 8.2.12 Limitation on Issuance of Stock. Except as
                               -------------------------------
otherwise permitted herein and except with respect to issuances of additional
stock to the direct parent of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary,
Holdings and the Borrower shall not and shall not permit any of the Material
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, issue, contingently or otherwise, any
shares of Holdings', the Borrower's or such Material Subsidiary's capital stock,

                                       85
<PAGE>

warrants, rights or options to purchase or acquire shares of Holdings, the
Borrower's or such Subsidiary's capital stock.

                SECTION 8.2.13 Operating Leases.
                               ----------------

                (a)   The aggregate obligations of Holdings, the Borrower and
         the Material Subsidiaries for the payment of rent for any property
         under lease or agreement to lease (excluding obligations of Holdings,
         the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries under or with respect to
         Synthetic Leases) for any Fiscal Year shall not exceed $15,000,000.

                (b)   Star Gas Partners shall not have any obligations for the
         payment of rent of any property under the lease or agreement to lease.

                SECTION 8.2.14 Prepayments. None of Holdings, the Borrower or
                               -----------
any Material Subsidiary shall make any voluntary or optional prepayment of any
Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred or permitted to exist under the terms
of this Agreement other than as provided in Section 20 of the Intercreditor
Agreement and (i) the Indebtedness hereunder, (ii) Indebtedness repaid pursuant
to the two last paragraphs of Section 8.2.2(a), (iii) Acquisition Debt
                              ----------------
identified on Item 8.2.2(a)(vii) of the Disclosure Schedule and any other
Acquisition Debt secured by Facility C Letters of Credit or (iv) up to
$4,000,000 of notes and debentures outstanding on the Effective Date under
indentures filed under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

                SECTION 8.2.15 Organic Documents. Star Gas Partners, Holdings
                               -----------------
and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary, to alter
any Organic Document of such entity in any manner which could have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                SECTION 8.2.16 Capital Expenditures. Holdings and the Borrower
                               --------------------
will not, nor will they permit any of the Material Subsidiaries to, make at any
time Capital Expenditures in respect of any line of business other than the Fuel
Oil Distribution Business which in the aggregate, over the term of this
Agreement, exceed 10% of the consolidated tangible assets of Holdings, the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries as determined in accordance with GAAP at
such time.

                SECTION 8.2.17 Contingent Liabilities. Star Gas Partners,
                               ----------------------
Holdings and the Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any Material
Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Contingent
Liabilities except:

                (a)   endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary
         course of business; and

                (b)   Contingent Liabilities of Holdings, the Borrower and the
         Material Subsidiaries existing as of the Effective Date and listed in
         Item 8.2.17 of the Disclosure Schedule (including, without limitation,
         Contingent Liabilities in respect of the Obligations, the Parity Debt
         and subordinated Indebtedness referred to on the Disclosure Schedule),
         other Contingent Liabilities of such Persons permitted by Section
                                                                   -------
         8.2.2(a) and Contingent Liabilities of Star Gas Partners permitted by
         --------
         Section 8.2.2(b).
         ----------------

                                       86
<PAGE>

               SECTION 8.2.18 ERISA Star Gas Partners, Holdings and the
                              -----
Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates
to: (a) engage in a prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary
responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has resulted, or otherwise
act or fail to make a contribution if such action or failure to act could result
in liability of the Borrower and/or ERISA Affiliate with respect to any Pension
Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $7,000,000; (b) engage in a transaction
that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; or (c) permit to
exist any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the
Code) with respect to any Pension Plan. Each year, Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
and the Borrower shall contribute, or shall cause to be contributed, $500,000
among the underfunded Pension Plans. This amount shall be in addition to
contributions necessary to satisfy Section 412 of the Code for such year.

               SECTION 8.2.19 Accounting Changes. Star Gas Partners, Holdings
                              ------------------
and the Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any Material
Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting
practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the Fiscal Year of Holdings,
the Borrower or of any Material Subsidiary.

               SECTION 8.2.20 Bank Accounts. None of Holdings, the Borrower or
                              -------------
any of the Material Subsidiaries shall have any bank accounts other than (a) the
Chase Account, (b) the other existing bank accounts listed on Schedule VI and
                                                              -----------
(c) other accounts expressly permitted by Section 4.18(b) of each of the
Security Agreements (provided that the Borrower shall have furnished to the
Agent a copy of the Blocked Account Agreement required thereby at the time any
such account is opened or, if permitted by the Security Agreements, within
ninety (90) days thereafter as long as during any such period not more than
$1,000,000 shall be deposited in all accounts for which no Blocked Account
Agreement has yet been delivered).

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         SECTION 9.1 Listing of Events of Default. Each of the following events
                     ----------------------------
or occurrences described in this Section 9.1 shall constitute an "Event of
                                                                  --------
Default".
-------

         SECTION 9.1.1 Non-Payment of Obligations. The Borrower shall default in
                       --------------------------
the payment or prepayment when due of any principal or interest of any Loan, or
the payment of any fee or other Obligation (including Reimbursement
Obligations).

         SECTION 9.1.2 Breach of Warranty. Any material representation or
                       ------------------
warranty of the Borrower or any other Obligor made or deemed to be made
hereunder or in any other Loan Document executed by it or any other writing or
certificate furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Obligor to
the Agent or any Lender for the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement
or any such other Loan Document (including any certificates delivered pursuant
to Article VI) is or shall be incorrect when made in any material respect.
   ----------

                                       87
<PAGE>

                SECTION 9.1.3 Non-Performance of Other Covenants and
Obligations.                  --------------------------------------
-----------

                (a)   Any Obligor shall default in the due performance and
         observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of
         Sections 8.1.5, 8.1.10, 8.1.11 or 8.1.14 or in any section of Section
         8.2; or

                (b)   any Obligor shall default in the due performance and
         observance of any other Obligation or agreement contained herein or in
         any other Loan Document, and such default shall continue unremedied for
         a period of fifteen (15) days after actual knowledge thereof by a
         Responsible Officer.

                SECTION 9.1.4 Default on Other Indebtedness. Star Gas Partners,
                             -----------------------------
Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall default (after notice and the
expiration of any applicable grace period) in the payment of any amount of
principal, premium or interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Notes), or
any event shall occur or condition shall exist in respect of any Indebtedness of
Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries (other
than the Notes) and the effect of such event or condition is to cause (or to
permit the holders of such Indebtedness to cause) such Indebtedness to become
due before its stated maturity, in each case, if the outstanding principal
balance of such Indebtedness is in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate.

                SECTION 9.1.5 Judgments. Any judgment or order for the payment
                              ---------
of money in excess of $1,000,000, net of insurance coverage, shall be rendered
against Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries
and:

                (a)   such judgment or order is non appealable, has not been
         stayed pending appeal, or all rights to appeal such judgment have
         expired or been exhausted; and

                (b)   such judgment or order shall remain undischarged for a
         period of sixty (60) consecutive days after the date due.

                SECTION 9.1.6 ERISA. (a) An ERISA Event shall occur with respect
                              -----
to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could result in
liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan,
Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $7,000,000;
or (b) the aggregate amount of Unfunded Pension Liability among all Pension
Plans at any time exceeds $7,000,000; or (c) with respect to any Pension Plan,
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when due, after the
expiration of any applicable grace period, any contribution required or needed
in order to avoid (i) an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section
412 of the Code), or (ii) adverse PBGC action; or (d) $500,000 is not
contributed each year among the underfunded Pension Plans. For purposes of
clause (d), the $500,000 amount shall be in addition to contributions necessary
to satisfy Section 412 of the Code for such year.

                SECTION 9.1.7 Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall
                              -----------------
occur except as is permitted by Section 8.2.7.
                                -------------

                                       88
<PAGE>

               SECTION 9.1.8 Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc. Any of the following
                             ---------------------------
events shall occur:

                (a)   filing by or on the behalf of the Managing General
         Partner, Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower, or any of their
         Subsidiaries of a voluntary petition or an answer seeking
         reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of its debts or for any other
         relief under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement,
         insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar
         act or law, state or federal, now or hereafter existing ("Bankruptcy
                                                                   ----------
         Law"), or any action by the Managing General Partner, Star Gas
         ---
         Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries for, or
         consent or acquiescence to, the appointment of a receiver, trustee or
         other custodian of the Managing General Partner, Star Gas Partners,
         Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or of all or a
         substantial part of its property; or the making by the Managing General
         Partner, Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their
         Subsidiaries of any assignment for the benefit of creditors; or the
         admission by the Managing General Partner, Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
         the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in writing of its inability
         to pay its debts as they become due; or

                (b)   filing of any involuntary petition against the Managing
         General Partner, Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of
         their Subsidiaries in bankruptcy or seeking reorganization,
         arrangement, readjustment or its debts or for any other relief under
         any Bankruptcy Law and an order for relief by a court having
         jurisdiction in the premises shall have been issued or entered therein;
         or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable
         Federal or state law; or a decree or order of a court having
         jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver,
         liquidator, sequestrator, trustee or other officer having similar
         powers over the Managing General Partner, Star Gas Partners, Holdings,
         the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or over all or a part of its
         property shall have been entered; or the involuntary appointment of an
         interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of the Managing General
         Partner, Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their
         Subsidiaries or of all or a substantial part of its property; or the
         issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process
         against any substantial part of the property of the Managing General
         Partner, Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their
         Subsidiaries and continuance of any such event for sixty (60)
         consecutive days unless dismissed, bonded to the satisfaction of the
         court having jurisdiction in the premises or discharged; or

                (c)   taking any action authorizing, or in furtherance of, any
         of the foregoing by Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the Borrower or any
         Material Subsidiary.

               SECTION 9.1.9 Impairment of Security, etc. Any of the Security
                             ---------------------------
Documents or documents guaranteeing the Notes shall cease in any material
respect to be in full force and effect or shall be declared to be null and void
in whole or in a material part by the final judgment (which is non-appealable or
has not been stayed pending appeal or as to which all rights to appeal have
expired or have been exhausted) of a court or other governmental or regulatory
authority having jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be
contested by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary
or Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall renounce any of the
same or deny that it has any or further liability

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<PAGE>

thereunder or any security interest purported to be created by any Security
Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by Holdings, the Borrower or
any Material Subsidiary not to be, a valid, perfected, first priority (except as
expressly otherwise provided in this Agreement or such Security Document)
security interest in the collateral covered thereby.

               SECTION 9.1.10 Split-Up. Any order, judgment or decree is entered
                              --------
in any proceeding against the Borrower decreeing a split-up of Holdings or the
Borrower which requires the divestiture of assets representing a substantial
part, or the divestiture of the stock of any Material Subsidiary whose assets
represent a substantial part, of the consolidated assets of Holdings, the
Borrower and Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with GAAP) or which requires
the divestiture of assets, or stock of any of their Material Subsidiaries, which
shall have contributed a substantial part of the consolidated Net Income of
Holdings, the Borrower and their Material Subsidiaries for any of the three
Fiscal Years then most recently ended, and such order, judgment or decree shall
not be dismissed or execution thereon stayed pending appeal or review within
sixty (60) days after entry thereof, or in the event of such a stay, such order,
judgment or decree or decree shall not be dismissed within sixty (60) days after
such stay expires.

               SECTION 9.1.11 Guarantor Defaults. Any of Star Gas Partners,
                              ------------------
Holdings or any Material Subsidiary fails in any material respect to perform or
observe any term, covenant or agreement in its Guarantee Agreement; or any
Guarantee Agreement is for any reason partially (including with respect to
future advances) or wholly revoked or invalidated, or otherwise ceases to be in
full force and effect, or any of Star Gas Partners, Holdings or any Material
Subsidiary or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or
enforceability thereof or denies that it has any further liability or obligation
thereunder.

         SECTION 9.2 Action if Bankruptcy. If any Event of Default described in
                     --------------------
Section 9.1.8 shall occur, the Commitments and any obligation of the Issuer to
-------------
issue Letters of Credit (if not theretofore terminated) shall automatically
terminate and the outstanding principal amount of all outstanding Loans, the
maximum aggregate amount that is or at any time thereafter may become available
for drawing under any outstanding Letters of Credit and all other Obligations
shall automatically be and become immediately due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

         SECTION 9.3 Action if Other Event of Default.
                     --------------------------------

                (a)   If any Event of Default (other than any Event of Default
         described in Section 9.1.8) shall occur for any reason, whether
                      -------------
         voluntary or involuntary, and be continuing, the Agent, upon the
         direction of the Required Lenders, shall by notice to the Borrower:

                      (i)    declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans
                and any obligation of the Issuer to issue Letters of Credit to
                be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall
                be terminated;

                      (ii)   declare an amount equal to the maximum aggregate
                amount that is or at any time thereafter may become available
                for drawing under any outstanding Letters of Credit (whether or
                not any beneficiary shall have presented, or shall be

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<PAGE>

                entitled at such time to present, the drafts or other documents
                required to draw under such Letters of Credit) to be immediately
                due and payable as cash collateral for the obligations
                thereunder;

                      (iii)  declare the unpaid principal amount of all
                outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and
                all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other
                Loan Document to be immediately due and payable (including,
                without limitation, amounts due under Section 5.4), without
                                                      -----------
                presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of
                which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

                      (iv)   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all
                rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the
                Loan Documents or applicable law.

                (b)   The affirmative vote of Lenders holding at least 66-2/3%
         of the outstanding principal amount of the Obligations may rescind or
         annul the acceleration at any time; provided, that, all Events of
         Default have been cured or waived at such time.

                (c)   The rights provided for in this Agreement and the other
         Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other
         rights, powers, privileges or remedies provided by law or in equity, or
         under any other instrument, document or agreement now existing or
         hereafter arising.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                    THE AGENT

         SECTION 10.1 Appointment and Authorization of Agent.

                (a)   Each Lender hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 10.9)
                                                                 ------------
         appoints, designates and authorizes the Agent to take such action on
         its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan
         Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
         expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other
         Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
         thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained
         elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Agent shall not
         have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth
         herein, nor shall the Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary
         relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants,
         functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall
         be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise
         exist against the Agent. Without limiting the generality of the
         foregoing sentence, the use of the term "agent" herein and in the other
         Loan Documents with reference to the Agent is not intended to connote
         any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under
         agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used
         merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or
         reflect only an administrative relationship between independent
         contracting parties.

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<PAGE>

                (b)   The Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect
         to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated
         therewith until such time (and except for so long) as the Agent may
         agree at the request of the Required Lenders to act for the Issuer with
         respect thereto; provided, however, that the Issuer shall have all of
         the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agent in this Article X
                                                                       ---------
         with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Issuer in
         connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued
         by it and the application and agreements for letters of credit
         pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as if the term "Agent" as
         used in this Article X included the Issuer with respect to such acts or
                      ---------
         omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the
         Issuer.

         SECTION 10.2 Delegation of Duties. The Agent may execute any of its
                      --------------------
duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents,
employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and
other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.
The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent
or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or
willful misconduct.

         SECTION 10.3 Liability of Agent. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be
                      ------------------
liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions
contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct
in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible
in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement,
representation or warranty made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate of the Borrower or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any
other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agent under or in connection
with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or for any failure of the Borrower or any other party to any Loan
Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related
Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain
or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements
contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to
inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower or any of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates thereof.

         SECTION 10.4 Reliance by Agent.
                      -----------------

                (a)   The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully
         protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature,
         resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit,
         letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement or
         other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct
         and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons,
         and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to
         the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by
         the Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to
         take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive
         such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems
         appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to
         its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and

                                       92
<PAGE>

         expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing
         to take any such action. The Agent shall in all cases be fully
         protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement
         or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of
         the Required Lenders or all the Lenders, if required hereunder, and
         such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto
         shall be binding upon all the Lenders and participants. Where this
         Agreement expressly permits or prohibits an action unless the Required
         Lenders or all the Lenders (as applicable) otherwise determine, the
         Agent shall, and in all other instances, the Agent may, but shall not
         be required to, initiate any solicitation for the consent or a vote of
         the Lenders.

                (b)   For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions
         specified in Section 6.1, each Lender that has signed this Agreement
                      -----------
         shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be
         satisfied with, each document or other matter either sent by the Agent
         to such Lender for consent, approval, acceptance or satisfaction, or
         required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or
         satisfactory to a Lender.

         SECTION 10.5 Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have
                      -----------------
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, except
with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required
to be paid to the Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Agent shall
have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this
Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such
notice is a "notice of default." The Agent will notify the Lenders, the Swing
Line Lender, the Issuer and the Borrower of its receipt of any such notice. The
Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as
may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article IX; provided,
                                                           ----------
however, that unless and until the Agent has received any such direction, the
Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from
taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall
deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

         SECTION 10.6 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agent. Each
                      ---------------------------------------------------
Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or
warranty to it, and that no act by the Agent hereinafter taken, including any
consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of Star Gas
Partners, Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries thereof, shall be deemed
to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any
Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed
material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to the Agent
that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person
and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations,
property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and
its Affiliates and Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory
laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision
to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently
and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such

                                       93
<PAGE>

investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Borrower. Except for notices, reports and other
documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent herein,
the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with
any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations,
property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower
which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.

         SECTION 10.7 Indemnification of Agent. Whether or not the transactions
                      ------------------------
contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand
each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the
Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), pro
rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all
Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided, however, that no Lender shall
be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such
Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Person's gross negligence or willful
misconduct; provided, however, that no action taken in accordance with the
directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross
negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section. Without
limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Agent upon demand
for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including attorney
costs) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution,
delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether
through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in
respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan
Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent
that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the
Borrower. The undertaking in this Section shall survive termination of the
Commitments, the payment of all Obligations hereunder and the resignation or
replacement of the Agent.

         SECTION 10.8 Agent in its Individual Capacity. BofA and its Affiliates
                      --------------------------------
may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits
from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking,
trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates as though BofA (or such other lender) were not
the Agent or the Issuer hereunder and without notice to or consent of the
Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, BofA or its
Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower or its Affiliates
(including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in
favor of the Borrower or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Agent shall be
under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its
Loans, BofA shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any
other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the
Agent or the Issuer, and the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" include BofA in its
individual capacity.

         SECTION 10.9 Successor Agent. The Agent may resign as Agent upon thirty
                      ---------------
(30) days' notice to the Lenders. If the Agent resigns under this Agreement, the
Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the
Lenders which appointment shall require the consent of the Borrower at all times
other than during the existence of an Event of Default (which consent of the
Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent
is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Agent, the
Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a
successor agent from among

                                       94
<PAGE>

the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent
hereunder, such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and
duties of the retiring Agent and the term "Agent" shall mean such successor
agent and the retiring Agent's appointment, powers and duties as Agent shall be
terminated. After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent, the
provisions of this Article X and Sections 11.4 and 11.5 shall inure to its
                   ---------     -------------     ----
benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent
under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Agent by
the date which is thirty (30) days following a retiring Agent's notice of
resignation, the retiring Agent's resignation shall nevertheless thereupon
become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Agent
hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
agent as provided for above. Any successor agent shall have a market
capitalization equal to or greater than $500,000,000.

         SECTION 10.10 Other Agents; Lead Managers. None of the Persons
                       ---------------------------
identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a
"syndication agent," "documentation agent," "lead arranger" or "lead manager"
shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under
this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without
limiting the foregoing, none of the Persons so identified shall have or be
deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender
acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Persons so
identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking
action hereunder.

         SECTION 10.11 Foreign Lenders. Each Lender that is a "foreign
                       ---------------
corporation, partnership or trust" within the meaning of the Code (a "Foreign
                                                                      -------
Lender") shall deliver to the Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject to
------
withholding under the Code (or after accepting an assignment of an interest
herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or any
successor thereto (relating to such Person and entitling it to an exemption
from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Person
by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor
thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Person by the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence satisfactory to the Borrower
and the Agent that such Person is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction
of, U.S. withholding tax. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Person
shall (a) promptly submit to the Agent such additional duly completed and signed
copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from
time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be
available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or
such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent of any available
exemption from or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in respect of
all payments to be made to such Person by the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement, (b) promptly notify the Agent of any change in circumstances which
would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (c) take
such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable
judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the
re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable
Laws that the Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts
payable to such Person. If such Person fails to deliver the above forms or other
documentation, then the Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such
Person an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax imposed by
Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code, without reduction. If any Governmental
Authority asserts that the Agent did not properly withhold any

                                       95
<PAGE>

tax or other amount from payments made in respect of such Person, such Person
shall indemnify the Agent therefor, including all penalties and interest, any
taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Agent under this
Section, and costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) of the Agent. The
obligation of the Lenders under this Section shall survive the payment of all
Obligations and the resignation or replacement of the Agent.

        SECTION 10.12  Collateral Matters.
                       ------------------

        Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Intercreditor Agreement:

                (a)  The Agent is authorized on behalf of all the Lenders and
         the Issuer, without the necessity of any notice to or further consent
         from the Lenders, from time to time to take any action with respect to
         any Collateral or the Security Documents which may be necessary to
         perfect and maintain perfected the security interest in and Liens upon
         the Collateral granted pursuant to the Security Documents;

                (b)   The Lenders and the Issuer irrevocably authorize the
         Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to authorize the release of
         any Lien granted for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders upon any
         Collateral (i) upon termination of the Commitments and payment in full
         of all Loans and all other Obligations known to the Agent and payable
         under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (ii) constituting
         property sold or to be sold or disposed of as part of or in connection
         with any disposition permitted hereunder; (iii) constituting property
         leased to Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary under a
         lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted
         under this Agreement or is about to expire and which has not been, and
         is not intended by Holdings, the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary
         to be, renewed or extended; (iv) consisting of an instrument evidencing
         Indebtedness or other debt instrument, if the indebtedness evidenced
         thereby has been paid in full; or (v) if approved, authorized or
         ratified in writing by the Required Lenders or all the Lenders, as the
         case may be, as provided in Section 11.1. Upon request by the Agent at
                                     -------------
         any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Agent's authority to
         authorize the release of particular types or items of Collateral
         pursuant to this Section 10.11(b); and
                          ----------------

                (c)   Each Lender and the Issuer agree with and in favor of each
         other (which agreement shall not be for the benefit of the Borrower or
         any Subsidiary) that the Borrower's and the other Obligors' obligations
         to such Lender and the Issuer under this Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents are not and shall not be secured by any Lien on real property
         collateral now or hereafter granted to such Lender and the Issuer.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         SECTION 11.1 Waivers, Amendments, etc. Except as expressly provided in
                      ------------------------
the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement and of each other
Loan Document may from time to time be amended, modified or waived, if such
amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and consented to by the Borrower
and the Required Lenders (or, in the case

                                       96
<PAGE>

of any amendment, modification or waiver required solely as a result of a
Commitment Change pursuant to Section 2.1.5, the Participating Lenders and the
                              -------------
Agent); provided, however, that no such amendment, modification or waiver which
would:

                (a)   modify any requirement hereunder that any particular
         action be taken by all the Lenders or by the Required Lenders shall be
         effective unless consented to by each Lender;

                (b)   modify this Section 11.1, change the definition of
                                  ------------
         "Required Lenders," increase any Commitment or the Percentage of any
         Lender other than pursuant to Section 2.1.5 or Section 11.11.1, reduce
                                       -------------    ---------------
         any fees described in Article III, release any substantial portion of
                               -----------
         collateral security, except as otherwise specifically provided in any
         Loan Document, extend the Commitment Termination Date or Stated
         Maturity Dates or change the interest provisions contained in Section
                                                                       -------
         3.2 shall be made without the consent of each Lender and each holder of
         ---
         a Note;

                (c)   extend the due date for, or reduce the amount of, any
         scheduled repayment or prepayment of principal of or interest on any
         Loan (or reduce the principal amount of or rate of interest on any
         Loan) shall be made without the consent of the holder of that Note
         evidencing such Loan;

                (d)   affect adversely the interests, rights or obligations of
         the Agent shall be made without consent of the Agent; or

                (e)   affect adversely the interests, rights or obligations of
         the Issuer shall be made without the consent of the Issuer.

No failure or delay on the part of the Agent, any Lender, the Issuer or the
holder of any Note in exercising any power or right under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such power or right preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. No notice to or
demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle it to any notice or demand in
similar or other circumstances. No waiver or approval by the Agent, the Issuer,
any Lender or the holder of any Note under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall, except as may be otherwise stated in such waiver or approval, be
applicable to subsequent transactions. No waiver or approval hereunder shall
require any similar or dissimilar waiver or approval thereafter to be granted
hereunder.

         SECTION 11.2 Notices. All notices and other communications provided to
                      --------
any party hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in
writing or facsimile and addressed, delivered or transmitted to such party at
its address or by facsimile number set forth below its signature hereto or, with
respect to Persons that become Lenders after the date hereof, set forth in the
Assignment and Acceptance Agreement or at such other address or facsimile number
as may be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties. Any notice,
if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid or if properly addressed
and sent by pre-paid courier service, shall be deemed given when received; any
notice, if transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given when transmitted.

                                       97
<PAGE>

         SECTION 11.3 Payment of Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay
                      ------------------------------
on demand all expenses of the Agent and the Arranger (including the fees and
out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to the Agent and the Arranger and of local
counsel, if any, who may be retained by counsel to the Agent and the allocated
cost of internal counsel) in connection with:

                (a)   the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery,
         syndication and administration of this Agreement and of each other Loan
         Document, including schedules and exhibits, and any amendments,
         waivers, consents, supplements or other modifications to this Agreement
         or any other Loan Document as may from time to time hereafter be
         required, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
         consummated;

                (b)    the filing, recording, refiling or re-recording of the
         Security Agreements and/or any Uniform Commercial Code financing
         statements relating thereto and all amendments, supplements and
         modifications to any thereof and any and all other documents or
         instruments of further assurance required to be filed or recorded or
         refiled or re-recorded by the terms hereof or of the Security
         Agreements; and

                (c)    the preparation and review of the form of any document or
         instrument relevant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent customary fees in connection with any
amendment or waiver in respect of the Loan Documents in accordance with the then
current market as determined by the Agent.

The Borrower further agrees to pay, and to save the Agent, the Arranger and the
Lenders harmless from all liability for, any stamp or other taxes which may be
payable in connection with the execution or delivery of this Agreement, the
borrowings hereunder, or the issuance of the Notes or any other Loan Documents.
The Borrower also agrees to reimburse the Agent, the Arranger, the Issuer and
each Lender upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees, legal expenses and the allocated cost of internal
counsel) incurred by the Agent, the Issuer, the Arranger or such Lender in
connection with (x) the negotiation of any restructuring or "work-out" whether
or not consummated, of any Obligations and (y) the enforcement of any
Obligations.

         SECTION 11.4 Indemnification. In consideration of the execution and
                      ---------------
delivery of this Agreement by each Lender and the extension of the Commitments,
the Borrower hereby indemnifies, exonerates and holds the Agent, the Issuer, the
Arranger and each Lender and each of their respective officers, directors,
employees and agents (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") free and harmless
                                        ---------------------
from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, losses, costs
(including settlement costs), liabilities and damages, and expenses incurred in
connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnified Party is a
party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), including
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements and the allocated cost of internal
counsel (collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by the
                            -----------------------
Indemnified Parties or any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or
relating to:

                (a)   any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in
         part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of any Loan or the use
         of any Letter of Credit;

                                       98
<PAGE>

                (b)    the entering into and performance of this Agreement and
         any other Loan Document by any of the Indemnified Parties;

                (c)    any investigation, litigation or proceeding related to
         any acquisition or proposed acquisition by the Borrower or any
         Subsidiaries of all or any portion of the stock or assets of any
         Person, whether or not the Agent or such Lender is party thereto;

                (d)    any Environmental Claim or other matter relating to the
         protection of the environment or the Release by the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary of any Hazardous Material; or

                (e)    the presence on or under, or the escape, seepage,
         leakage, spillage, discharge, emission, discharging or releases from,
         any real property owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
         of any Hazardous Material (including any losses, liabilities, damages,
         injuries, costs, expenses or claims asserted or arising under any
         Environmental Law), regardless of whether caused by, or within the
         control of, the Borrower or such Subsidiary,

except for any such Indemnified Liabilities arising for the account of a
particular Indemnified Party by reason of the relevant Indemnified Party's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. If and to the extent that the foregoing
undertaking may be unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower hereby agrees to
make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the
Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.

         SECTION 11.5 Survival. The obligations of the Borrower under Section
                      --------                                        -------
5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 11.3 and 11.4, and the obligations of the Lenders under
---  ---  ---  ---  ----     ----
Section 10.1, shall in each case survive until the applicable statute of
------------
limitations has run on the bringing of any action thereon any termination of
this Agreement, the payment in full of all Obligations and the termination of
all Commitments. The representations and warranties made by each Obligor in this
Agreement and in each other Loan Document shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and each such other Loan Document.

         SECTION 11.6 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other
                      ------------
Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as
to such provision and such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such
prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of
this Agreement or such Loan Document or affecting the validity or enforceability
of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         SECTION 11.7 Headings. The various headings of this Agreement and of
                      --------
each other Loan Document are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or
any provisions hereof or thereof.

         SECTION 11.8 Execution in Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc. This
                      ---------------------------------------------
Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, all of
which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement. This Agreement
shall become effective when counterparts hereof executed on behalf of the
Borrower, the Agent, the Issuer and each Lender (or notice thereof satisfactory
to the Agent) shall have

                                       99
<PAGE>

been received by the Agent and notice thereof shall have been given by the Agent
to the Borrower and each Lender and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 6.1.
-----------

         SECTION 11.9 Governing Law; Entire Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES
                      -------------------------------
AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL EACH BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER
AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. On the Effective
Date, this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Agreements and the other Loan
Documents shall constitute the entire understanding among the parties hereto
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior agreements,
written or oral, with respect thereto.

         SECTION 11.10 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
                       ----------------------
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns; provided, however, that:

                (a)   the Borrower may not assign or transfer its rights or
         obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Agent,
         the Issuer and all Lenders (and any attempted or purported assignment
         or transfer in contravention of the foregoing shall be null and void);
         and

                (b)   the rights of sale, assignment and transfer of the Lenders
         are subject to Section 11.11.
                        -------------

         SECTION 11.11 Sale and Transfer of Loans and Notes; Participations in
                       -------------------------------------------------------
its Loans and Notes. Each Lender may assign or sell participations in, its Loans
-------------------
and Commitments to one or more other Persons in accordance with this Section
11.11.

                SECTION 11.11.1 Assignments. Any Lender:
                                -----------

                (a)   with the written consents of the Borrower and the Agent,
         the Issuer (which consents shall not be unreasonably delayed or
         withheld and which consent, in the case of the Borrower, shall be
         deemed to have been given in the absence of a written notice delivered
         by the Borrower to the Agent, on or before the fifth (5th) Business Day
         after receipt by the Borrower of such Lender's request for consent,
         stating, in reasonable detail, the reasons why the Borrower proposes to
         withhold such consent) may at any time assign and delegate to one or
         more commercial banks or other financial institutions; provided that
         such consent of the Borrower shall not be required at any time a
         Default has occurred and is continuing;

                (b)   with notice to the Borrower, the Issuer and the Agent, but
         without the consent of the Borrower, the Issuer or the Agent, may
         assign and delegate to any of its Affiliates or to any other Lender;
         and

                (c)   notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lender may at any time
         pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its
         rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender,
         including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal
         Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or
         assignment of a security interest;

                                      100
<PAGE>

         provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall
         release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute
         any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto;

(each Person described in either of the foregoing clauses as being the Person to
whom such assignment and delegation is to be made, being hereinafter referred to
as an "Assignee Lender"), all or any fraction of such Lender's total Loans and
Commitments (including participations in the Letters of Credit) which assignment
shall be a pro rata portion of the assigning Lender's Facility A Loans, Facility
A Commitment, Facility B Commitment, Facility C Loans and Facility C Commitment
in a minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000; provided, however, that any such
Assignee Lender will comply, if applicable, with the provisions contained in
Section 10.10 and the last sentence of Section 5.6 and provided, further,
however, that the Borrower, each other Obligor and the Agent shall be entitled
to continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with the
interests so assigned and delegated to an Assignee Lender until:

                (d)   written notice of such assignment and delegation, together
         with payment instructions, addresses (of credit and administrative
         contacts) and related information with respect to such Assignee Lender,
         shall have been given to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender and
         such Assignee Lender;

                (e)   such Assignee Lender shall have executed and delivered to
         the Borrower and the Agent an Assignment and Acceptance Agreement,
         accepted by the Agent; and

                (f)   the processing fees described below shall have been paid.

From and after the date that the Agent accepts such Assignment and Acceptance
Agreement, (x) the Assignee Lender thereunder shall be deemed automatically to
have become a party hereto and to the extent that rights and obligations
hereunder have been assigned and delegated to such Assignee Lender in connection
with such Assignment and Acceptance Agreement, shall have the rights and
obligations of a Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (y)
the assignor Lender, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have
been assigned and delegated by it in connection with such Assignment and
Acceptance Agreement, shall be released from its obligations hereunder and under
the other Loan Documents. Such Assignee Lender must also pay a processing fee to
the Agent upon delivery of any Assignment and Acceptance Agreement in the amount
of $3,500. Any attempted assignment and delegation not made in accordance with
this Section 11.11.1 shall be null and void.
     ---------------

                SECTION 11.11.2 Participations. Any Lender may at any time sell
                                --------------
to one or more commercial banks or other Persons (each of such commercial banks
and other Persons being herein called a "Participant") participating interests
                                         -----------
(or a subparticipating interest, in the case of a Lender's participating
interest in a Letter of Credit) in any of the Loans, Commitments, or other
interests of such Lender hereunder; provided, however, that:

                (a)   no participation contemplated in this Section 11.11 shall
                                                            -------------
         relieve such Lender from its Commitments or its other obligations
         hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

                                      101
<PAGE>

                (b)   such Lender shall remain solely responsible for the
         performance of its Commitments and such other obligations;

                (c)   the Borrower, each other Obligor and the Agent shall
         continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection
         with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and each
         of the other Loan Documents;

                (d)   no Participant, unless such Participant is an Affiliate of
         such Lender, or is itself a Lender, shall be entitled to require such
         Lender to take or refrain from taking any action hereunder or under any
         other Loan Document, except that such Lender may agree with any
         Participant that such Lender will not, without such Participant's
         consent, take any actions of the type described in clause (b) or (c) of
                                                            ---------     ---
         Section 11.1; and
         ------------

                (e)   the Borrower shall not be required to pay any amount under
         Sections 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 or 5.6 that is greater than the amount which it
         ------------  ---  ---    ---
         would have been required to pay had no participating interest been
         sold.

The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that each subject to the preceding sentence
Participant, for purposes of Sections 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.9, 11.3 and
                             ------------  ---  ---  ---  ---  ---  ----
11.4, shall be considered a Lender.
----

         SECTION 11.12 Other Transactions. Nothing contained herein shall
                       ------------------
preclude the Agent, the Issuer, the Arranger or any other Lender from engaging
in any transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any
other Loan document, with the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates in
which the Borrower or such Affiliate is not restricted hereby from engaging with
any other Person. The Lenders and the Issuer hereby acknowledge that BofA is
involved in other financings with Affiliates of Star Gas Partners, Holdings, the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries (the "Other Facilities") and that BofA's
                                             ----------------
decisions with respect to its exercise of rights and remedies with respect to
the Other Facilities will be made independently and as if not involved in the
credit facilities provided hereunder.

         SECTION 11.13 Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction. ANY
                       -------------------------------------------
LITIGATION BASED ON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF
DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT, THE
LENDERS OR THE BORROWER SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE
COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, AT THE AGENT'S
OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF AND JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER
PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. EACH OF HOLDINGS AND THE BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND
IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE

                                      102
<PAGE>

AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN
CONNECTION WITH SUCH LITIGATION. EACH OF HOLDINGS AND THE BORROWER FURTHER
IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE
PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF
HOLDINGS AND THE BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE OR HEREAFTER
MAY HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT
REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM.

         SECTION 11.14 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE AGENT, THE LENDERS AND
                       --------------------
THE BORROWER HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS
IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR
ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER
VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT, THE LENDERS OR THE BORROWER. THE
BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IT HAS RECEIVED FULL AND SUFFICIENT
CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROVISION (AND EACH OTHER PROVISION OF EACH OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY) AND THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL
INDUCEMENT FOR THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH
SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT.

                                      103
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day
and year first above written.

                                       PETROLEUM HEAT AND POWER COMPANY, INC.

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: George Leibowitz
                                       Title: Treasurer

                                       Address: 2187 Atlantic Street
                                                Stamford, CT 06902

                                       Facsimile No.: (203) 328-7421

                                       Attention: President

Acknowledged and Agreed:

PETRO HOLDINGS, INC.

By:
    -------------------------------------
    Name: George Leibowitz
    Title: Treasurer

STAR GAS PARTNERS, L.P.

By: Star Gas LLC, its General Partner

    By:
        -------------------------------------
        Name: George Leibowitz
        Title: Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>

                                       BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: David Price
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       Address: Bank of America, N.A.
                                                555 South Flower Street, 11th
                                                Floor
                                                Mail Code CA9-706-11-03
                                                Los Angeles, CA 90071

                                       Facsimile No.: (415) 503-5011

                                       Payment Office:
                                             Bank of America, N.A.
                                             Credit Services Agency
                                             901 Main Street
                                             Mail Code TX1-492-14-12
                                             Dallas, TX 75202
                                             Attention: Renita Cummings
                                             Facsimile No.: (214) 290-8371

                                       Address for borrowings, conversions,
                                       continuances and issuances and amendments
                                       for letters of credit Notices:
                                             Bank of America, N.A.
                                             Credit Services Agency
                                             901 Main Street
                                             Mail Code TX1-492-14-12
                                             Dallas, TX  75202
                                             Attention: Renita Cummings
                                             Facsimile No.: (214) 290-8371

                                       Other Notices:
                                             Bank of America, N.A.
                                             555 South Flower Street, 11th Floor
                                             Mail Code CA9-706-11-03
                                             Los Angeles, CA 90071
                                             Attention: David Price
                                             Facsimile No.: (415) 503-5011
<PAGE>

                                       BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Issuer and a
                                       Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: Paul Squires
                                       Title: Managing Director

                                       Address: Bank of America, N.A.
                                                333 Clay Street, Suite 4550
                                                Houston, TX 77002

                                       Facsimile No.: (713) 651-4950

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             Bank of America, N.A.
                                             901 Main Street
                                             Mail Code TX1-492-14-12
                                             Dallas, TX 75202
                                             Attention: Renita Cummings
                                             Facsimile No.: (214) 290-8371

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             Bank of America, N.A.
                                             901 Main Street
                                             Mail Code TX1-492-14-12
                                             Dallas, TX 75202
                                             Attention: Renita Cummings
                                             Facsimile No.: (214) 290-8371

                                       With a copy to:
                                             Bank of America, N.A.
                                             333 Clay Street, Suite 4550
                                             Houston, TX 77002
                                             Attention: Pamela K. Rodgers
                                             Facsimile No.: (713) 651-4808
<PAGE>

                                       THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as a Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: William A. DeMilt, Jr.
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       Address: The Chase Manhattan Bank
                                                395 North Service Road
                                                Melville, NY  11747

                                       Facsimile No.: (631) 755-5185

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             The Chase Manhattan Bank
                                             395 North Service Road
                                             Melville, NY 11747
                                             Attention: Ann Woessner
                                             Facsimile No.: (631) 755-5187

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             The Chase Manhattan Bank
                                             395 North Service Road
                                             Melville, NY 11747
                                             Attention: Ann Woessner
                                             Facsimile No.: (631) 755-5187
<PAGE>

                                       CIBC INC., as a Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: Sanjeeva Senanayake
                                       Title: Executive Director

                                       Address: CIBC, Inc.
                                                425 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor
                                                New York, NY 10017

                                       Facsimile No.: (212) 885-4911

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             CIBC Inc.
                                             2727 Paces Ferry Road, Suite 1200
                                             Atlanta, GA 30339
                                             Attention: Beverly Bowman
                                             Facsimile No.: (770) 319-4950

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             CIBC Inc.
                                             425 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor
                                             New York, NY 10017
                                             Attention: Sanjeeva Senanyake
                                             Facsimile No.: (212) 885-4911
<PAGE>

                                       CITIZENS BANK OF MASSACHUSETTS, as a
                                       Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                       Address: Citizens Bank of Massachusetts
                                                28 State Street
                                                Boston, MA 02109

                                       Facsimile No.: (617) 263-0439

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             Citizens Bank of Massachusetts
                                             28 State Street
                                             Boston, MA 02109
                                             Attention: Jennifer Maria
                                             Facsimile No.: (617) 263-0439

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             Citizens Bank of Massachusetts
                                             28 State Street
                                             Boston, MA 02109
                                             Attention: Mariel Keane Hough
                                             Facsimile No.: (617) 263-0439
<PAGE>

                                       FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as
                                       Documentation Agent and a Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: Mike Kolosowsky
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       Address: First Union National Bank
                                                1 First Union Center
                                                301 South College Street
                                                NC 0735
                                                Charlotte, NC  28288

                                       Facsimile No.: (704) 383-7611

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             First Union National Bank
                                             201 South College Street
                                             NC 1183
                                             Charlotte, NC 28288
                                             Attention: Chanue Michael
                                             Facsimile No.: (704) 383-7999

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             First Union National Bank
                                             201 South College Street
                                             NC 1183
                                             Charlotte, NC 28288
                                             Attention: Chanue Michael
                                             Facsimile No.: (704) 383-7999
<PAGE>

                                       FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication Agent
                                       and a Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: Timothy J. Norton
                                       Title: Director

                                       Address: Fleet National Bank
                                                100 Federal Street
                                                Mail Stop: MADE10008A
                                                Boston, MA 02110

                                       Facsimile No.: (617) 434-3652

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             Fleet National Bank
                                             100 Federal Street
                                             Mail Stop: MADE10008A
                                             Boston, MA 02110
                                             Attention: Francia Castillo
                                             Facsimile No.: (617) 434-0201

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             Fleet National Bank
                                             100 Federal Street
                                             Mail Stop: MADE10008A
                                             Boston, MA 02110
                                             Attention: Timothy J. Norton
                                             Facsimile No.: (617) 434-3652
<PAGE>

                                       ISRAEL DISCOUNT BANK OF NEW YORK, as a
                                       Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: Scott Fishbein
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                       Address: Israel Discount Bank of New York
                                                511 Fifth Avenue
                                                New York, NY 10017

                                       Facsimile No.: (212) 551-8720

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             Israel Discount Bank of New York
                                             511 Fifth Avenue
                                             New York, NY 10017
                                             Attention: Laury Quiles
                                             Facsimile No.: (212) 551-8872

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             Israel Discount Bank of New York
                                             511 Fifth Avenue
                                             New York, NY 10017
                                             Attention: Scott Fishbein
                                             Facsimile No.: (212) 551-8720
<PAGE>

                                       ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                       Address: Royal Bank of Canada
                                                One Liberty Plaza, 3rd Floor
                                                New York, NY 10006-1404

                                       Facsimile No.: (212) 428-2372

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             Royal Bank of Canada
                                             One Liberty Plaza, 3rd Floor
                                             New York, NY  10006-1404
                                             Attention: Claro Albay, Liability
                                                        Officer
                                             Facsimile No.: (212) 428-2372

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             Royal Bank of Canada
                                             One Liberty Plaza, 3rd Floor
                                             New York, NY 10006-1404
                                             Attention: Claro Albay, Liability
                                                        Officer
                                             Facsimile No.: (212) 428-2372

                                       With a copy to:
                                             Royal Bank of Canada
                                             2800 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 5700
                                             Houston, TX 77056
                                             Attention: Jason York
                                             Facsimile No.: (713) 403-5624
<PAGE>

                                       UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as a
                                       Lender

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name: Dustin Gaspari
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       Address: Union Bank of California, N.A.
                                                500 North Akard Street, Suite
                                                4200
                                                Dallas, TX 75201

                                       Facsimile No.: (214) 922-4209

                                       Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
                                       LIBOR Loans:
                                             Union Bank of California, N.A.
                                             Energy Capital Services
                                             445 S. Figueroa Street, 15th Floor
                                             Los Angeles, CA 90071
                                             Attention: Patricia A. Gonzales
                                             Facsimile No.: (213) 236-4096

                                       Address for Notices:
                                             Union Bank of California, N.A.
                                             Energy Capital Services
                                             445 S. Figueroa Street, 15th Floor
                                             Los Angeles, CA 90071
                                             Attention: Patricia A. Gonzales
                                             Facsimile No.: (213) 236-4096
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                         SCHEDULE I

ITEM 7.1 - ORGANIZATION
-----------------------

                                                      State of         Authorized   Outstanding
Name                              Type of Entity   Incorporation         Shares        Shares         Owned By           Business
--------------------------------  --------------  ----------------  -------------  --------------  ------------------  -------------

<S>                                 <C>           <C>               <C>             <C>            <C>                 <C>
Star Gas Partners, L.P.             Partnership       Delaware           See footnote (1) below                        Holding
                                                                                                                       Company

Star Gas Propane, L.P.              Partnership       Delaware           See footnote (2) below                        Propane
                                                                                                                       distribution

Petroleum Heat & Power Co., Inc.    Corporation      Minnesota      (3)65,000,000   26,452,270     Petro Holdings,     Retail Oil
                                                                                                   Inc.                Distributor

                                                                        6,500,000       11,228     Public

(4)Star Gas Corporation             Corporation       Delaware          3,038,000      505,154.33  Petroleum Heat &    Holding
                                                                                                   Power Co., Inc.     Company

Petro/Crystal Corp.                 Corporation       New York                200          100     Petroleum Heat &    Holding
                                                                                                   Power Co., Inc.     Company

Petro Inc.                          Corporation       Delaware               1000          950     Petro/Crystal       Retail Oil
                                                                                                   Corp.               Distributor

Marex Corporation                   Corporation       Maryland                200          100     Petro, Inc.         Retail Oil
                                                                                                                       Distributor

A.P. Woodson Co., Inc.              Corporation   Washington, D.C.            200          100     Petro Inc.          Retail Oil
                                                                                                                       Distributor

Ortep of Connecticut, Inc.          Corporation     Connecticut              5000          100     Petroleum Heat &    Retail Oil
                                                                                                   Power Co., Inc.     Distributor

Ortep of Pennsylvania, Inc.         Corporation     Pennsylvania              200          200     Petroleum Heat &    Retail Oil
                                                                                                   Power Co., Inc.     Distributor

Ortep of New Jersey, Inc.           Corporation      New Jersey               200          200     Petroleum Heat &    Retail Oil
                                                                                                   Power Co., Inc.     Distributor

Maxwhale Corp.                      Corporation      Minnesota                200          100     Petroleum Heat &    Retail Oil
                                                                                                   Power Co., Inc.     Distributor

Petro Holdings, Inc.                Corporation      Minnesota              1,000          100     Star Gas/Petro      Retail Oil
                                                                                                   Inc.                Distributor

Star/Petro Inc.                     Corporation      Minnesota              1,000          100     Star Gas Propane,   Holding
                                                                                                   L.P.                Company

Stellar Propane Service Corp.       Corporation       New York                200          100     Star/Petro, Inc.    Retail/
                                                                                                                       Appliance
                                                                                                                       Sales

Ohio Gas & Appliance Co., Inc.      Corporation         Ohio               44,000       40,000     Star/Petro, Inc.    Retail/
                                                                                                                       Appliance
                                                                                                                       Sales

Jark Inc.                           Corporation         Ohio                  700          200     Star/Petro, Inc.    Inactive

Winico, Inc.                        Corporation         Ohio                  750          400     Star/Petro, Inc.    Inactive

Total Gas & Electric, Inc.          Corporation       Florida                 100          100     Star Gas Partners,  Distribution
                                                                                                   L.P.                of Gas and
                                                                                                                       Electricity
</TABLE>

--------------------
(1)      Star Gas LLC is the general partner; the limited partnership interests
         are publicly traded.
(2)      Star Gas LLC is the general partner; Star Gas Partners L.P. is the
         limited partner.
(3)      Class A & Class C combined.
(4)      Currently inactive.

                                       I-1
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      State of         Authorized   Outstanding
Name                              Type of Entity   Incorporation         Shares        Shares         Owned By           Business
--------------------------------  --------------  ----------------  -------------  --------------  ------------------  -------------

<S>                                 <C>           <C>               <C>             <C>            <C>                 <C>
Total Gas & Electric (Pa) Inc.      Corporation       Florida                 100           10     Total Gas &         Retail Gas &
                                                                                                   Electric, Inc.      Electric

TG&E Service Company, Inc.          Corporation       Florida                 100           10     Total Gas &         Service
                                                                                                   Electric, Inc.      Company
</TABLE>

ITEM 7.2 - SUBSIDIARIES
-----------------------

See Disclosure Schedule 7.1

ITEM 7.3 - QUALIFICATIONS
-------------------------

Petroleum Heat and Power Company, Inc.
--------------------------------------

qualified in:       Connecticut                New Hampshire       Pennsylvania
                    District of Columbia       New Jersey          Rhode Island
                    Maryland                   New York            Virginia
                    Massachusetts

Petro, Inc.
-----------

qualified in:       Connecticut                New York

Total Gas & Electric Inc.
-------------------------

qualified in:       District of Columbia       New Jersey          Pennsylvania
                    Maryland                   New York

Total Gas & Electric (Pa) Inc.
------------------------------

qualified in:       Pennsylvania

                                      I-2
<PAGE>

Star Gas LLC
------------

qualified in:       Connecticut                Maine               Ohio
                    Florida                    Massachusetts       Pennsylvania
                    Georgia                    Michigan            Rhode Island
                    Illinois                   Minnesota           Texas
                    Indiana                    New Hampshire       West Virginia
                    Iowa                       New Jersey          Wisconsin
                    Kentucky                   New York

Star Gas Partners, L.P.
-----------------------

qualified in:       Connecticut                Massachusetts       Ohio
                    Illinois                   Michigan            Pennsylvania
                    Indiana                    New Hampshire       Rhode Island
                    Kentucky                   New Jersey          Texas
                    Maine                      New York            West Virginia

Star Gas Propane, L.P.
----------------------

qualified in:       Connecticut                Maine               Ohio
                    Florida                    Massachusetts       Pennsylvania
                    Georgia                    Michigan            Rhode Island
                    Illinois                   Minnesota           Texas
                    Indiana                    New Hampshire       West Virginia
                    Iowa                       New Jersey          Wisconsin
                    Kentucky                   New York

Stellar Propane Service Corp.
-----------------------------

qualified in:       Maine                      New Hampshire       Pennsylvania
                    Massachusetts              New Jersey          Rhode Island

Petro Holdings, Inc.
--------------------

qualified in:       Connecticut                Massachusetts       Rhode Island

                                      I-3
<PAGE>

ITEM 8.2.2(a)(i) -SECURED INDEBTEDNESS
--------------------------------------

Indebtedness                                              Amount
------------                                              ------
09.000% Senior Secured Notes Due October 1, 2002        $57,170,000
14.100% Senior Secured Notes Due January 15, 2001         1,000,000
07.920% Senior Secured Notes                             90,000,000
08.960% Senior Secured Notes                             40,000,000

ITEM 8.2.2(a)(iii) -SUBORDINATED INDEBTEDNESS
---------------------------------------------

Indebtedness                                                            Amount
------------                                                            ------
14.100% Subordinated Notes Due January 15, 2002                       $1,000,000
10.125% Senior Subordinated Debentures Due 2003                        1,261,000
12.250% Senior Subordinated Debentures Due 2005                        1,088,000
09.375% Senior Subordinated Debentures Due 2006                          666,000

ITEM 8.2.2(a)(vii) -ACQUISITION DEBT
------------------------------------

Noteholder: Kershaw, Ida - L/C Backup 3025117                            224,161
   14 semi-annual installments starting on January 1, 2001
Noteholder: Kershaw, Warren - L/C Backup 3025118                         224,161
   14 semi-annual installments starting on January 1, 2001
Noteholder: Franklin, Amy - L/C Backup 30313384                           95,780
   20 quarterly installments starting on June 1, 2001
Noteholder: Schoen, John - L/C Backup 3026957                            117,000
   2 annual installments of $58,500 on July 5, 2001 and July 5, 2002
Noteholder: Schoen, Lillian - L/C Backup 3026958                         117,000
    2 annual installments of $58,500 on July 5, 2001 and July 5, 2002
Star Gas Notes with various due dates over next five years               350,991

                                      I-4
<PAGE>

ITEM 8.2.17 - CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS
------------------------------------

None, except Contingent Liabilities in respect of (a) the Obligations, (b) the
Private Placement Debt referred to in Item 8.2.2(a)(i) above, (c) the 14.10%
Subordinated Notes dues January 15, 2002 referred to in Item 8.2.2(a)(iii) above
and (d) Total Gas & Electric Inc.'s credit facilities referred to in in Section
8.2.2(b) of this Agreement.

                                      I-5
<PAGE>

                                                                     SCHEDULE II

                      FACILITY PERCENTAGES AND COMMITMENTS
                      ------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Commitments:
------------
                              -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                Facility A       Facility B       Facility C       Aggregate
                                Commitment       Commitment       Commitment      Commitments
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
Bank of America, N.A.         $ 19,295,336.79  $ 1,450,777.20   $ 7,253,886.01  $ 28,000,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fleet National Bank           $ 19,295,336.79  $ 1,450,777.20   $ 7,253,886.01  $ 28,000,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Union National Bank     $ 19,295,336.79  $ 1,450,777.20   $ 7,253,886.01  $ 28,000,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Union Bank of California,     $ 17,227,979.27  $ 1,295,336.79   $ 6,476,683.94  $ 25,000,000.00
N.A.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIBC Inc.                     $ 15,160,621.76  $ 1,139,896.37   $ 5,699,481.87  $ 22,000,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citizens Bank of              $ 15,160,621.76  $ 1,139,896.37   $ 5,699,481.87  $ 22,000,000.00
Massachusetts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chase Manhattan Bank      $ 13,782,383.42  $ 1,036,269.43   $ 5,181,347.15  $ 20,000,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Bank of Canada          $ 10,336,787.56  $   777,202.08   $ 3,886,010.36  $ 15,000,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Israel Discount Bank of New   $  3,445,595.86  $   259,067.36   $ 1,295,336.78  $  5,000,000.00
York
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals                    $133,000,000.00  $10,000,000.00   $50,000,000.00  $193,000,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentages:
------------
                                        -----------------------------------------------------

                                          Facility A          Facility B         Facility C
                                          Percentage          Percentage         Percentage
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Bank of America, N.A.                   14.507772021%       14.507772021%       14.507772021%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fleet National Bank                     14.507772021%       14.507772021%       14.507772021%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Union National Bank               14.507772021%       14.507772021%       14.507772021%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Union Bank of California, N.A.          12.953367876%       12.953367876%       12.953367876%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIBC Inc.                               11.398963730%       11.398963730%       11.398963730%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citizens Bank of Massachusetts          11.398963730%       11.398963730%       11.398963730%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chase Manhattan Bank                10.362694301%       10.362694301%       10.362694301%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Bank of Canada                     7.772020725%        7.772020725%        7.772020725%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Israel Discount Bank of New York         2.590673575%        2.590673575%        2.590673575%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals                                   100%                100%                100%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                      II-1
<PAGE>

                                                                    SCHEDULE III

                             [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

                                     III-1
<PAGE>

                                                                     SCHEDULE IV

                LIST OF OUTSTANDING FACILITY B LETTERS OF CREDIT
                ------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Facility B Letter of Credit                   Letter of Credit Balance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              LC# 247710                                  $7,022,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              LC# 247706                                  $2,458,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           LC# T0003021925                                $  393,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      IV-1
<PAGE>

                                                                      SCHEDULE V

                LIST OF OUTSTANDING FACILITY C LETTERS OF CREDIT
                ------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Facility C Letter of Credit                   Letter of Credit Balance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           LC# T0003025117                                $ 276,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           LC# T0003025118                                $ 276,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           LC# T0003026957                                $ 125,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           LC# T0003026958                                $ 125,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           LC# T0003031384                                $ 100,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      V-1
<PAGE>

                                                                     SCHEDULE VI

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  BANK ACCOUNTS
                                  -------------

Branch       Financial Institution       Account Number   Address                      City/State                  Purpose
------       ---------------------       --------------   -------                      ----------                  -------

<S>          <C>                         <C>              <C>                          <C>                         <C>
Ryan         Bank of New York            680-0182601      48 Wall Street               New York, NY  10005-2901    Deposit Account
Norwalk      Fleet Bank                  936-159-9769     1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
Norwalk      New Milford Bank and Trust  2052008          100 Park Lane Road           Milford, CT  06776-2400     Deposit Account
Stamford     Fleet Bank                  000-210-6044     1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
LICON        Chase Manhattan Bank        209-043385       7600 Jericho Trpk Suite 306  Woodbury, NY  11797         Deposit Account
Woodson      Crestar                     000516080        P.O. Box 85024               Richmond, VA  23285-5024    Deposit Account
Witman       Dauphin Deposit Bank        00060-3497-6     P.O. Box 1812                Baltimore, MD  21203        Deposit Account
Marex        First National Bank of      00063-9898-2     P.O. Box 1396                Baltimore, MD  21203        Deposit Account
             Maryland
Witman       First Union National Bank   2000041764325    P.O. Box 40031               Roanoke, VA  24022-0031     Deposit Account
Sinkier      First Union National Bank   200200265151     P.O. Box 246                 Upper Darby, PA  19082      Deposit Account
MacArthur    First Union National Bank   2002008870790    P.O. Box 248                 Upper Darby, PA 19082       Deposit Account
Rockaway     First Union National Bank   2083944006512    P.O. Box 248                 Upper Darby, PA 19082       Deposit Account
Dual Temp    Mellon Bank                 008449466        Mellon Bank Center           Pittsburg, PA  15259-0001   Deposit Account
Witman       National Penn Bank          45000-228-4      P.O. Box 647                 Boyertown, PA  19512-0547   Deposit Account
Princeton    PNC Bank                    80-0053-3583     P.O. Box 1090                East Brunswick, NJ   06816  Deposit Account
Federal      PNC Bank                    81-0180-2586     P.O. Box 1090                East Brunswick, NJ  06816   Deposit Account
Dual Temp    Sovereign Bank              00014200878      P.O. Box 1246                Reading, PA  19612-2646     Deposit Account
Acme         Summit Bank                 978708091        315 Madison Avenue           Lakewood, NJ  08701         Deposit Account
Oil Direct   Summit Bank                 4240015779       315 Madison Avenue           Lakewood, NJ  08701         Deposit Account
Home Office  Chase Manhattan Bank        3869             7600 Jericho Trpk Suite 306  Woodbury, NY  11797         Lock Box
LICON        Chase Manhattan Bank        6015             7600 Jericho Trpk Suite 306  Woodbury, NJ  11797         Lock Box
Home Office  Chase Manhattan Bank        022-098571       7600 Jericho Trpk Suite 306  Woodbury, NJ  11797         Operating Account
Atlas        Fleet Bank                  938357-8910      1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
Glen-mor     Fleet Bank                  938357-8929      1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
DeBlois      Fleet Bank                  939-5243912      1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
Holden       Fleet Bank                  936357-8902      1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
Kasden       Fleet Bank                  936-159-9750     1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
Canton       Fleet Bank                  936-373-5454     1 Landmark Square FLT Floor  Stamford, CT  06904         Deposit Account
</TABLE>

                                      VI-1
<PAGE>

                                                                    SCHEDULE VII

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              LIEN SEARCH LOCATIONS
                              ---------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
A. Petro Inc.                     1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
                                     Connecticut                     Connecticut
                                                                  2. City of South Norwalk
                                                                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           3. Kings County, New York
                                     New York                     4. Dutchess Cty, New York
                                                                  5. Nassau Cty, New York
                                                                  6. Queens Cty, New York
                                                                  7. Suffolk Cty, New York
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  3. Secretary of State           8. Prothonotary of
                                     Pennsylvania                    Chester Cty, Pennsylvania
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
B. Maxwhale Corp.                 1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
                                     Connecticut                     Connecticut
                                                                  2. City of Canton
                                                                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           3. Mercer Cty, New Jersey
                                     New Jersey                   4. Morris Cty, New Jersey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
C. Ortep of Connecticut,          1. Secretary of State           1. City of Milford
   Inc.                              Connecticut                     Connecticut
                                                                  2. City of North Haven
                                                                     Connecticut
                                                                  3. City of Stamford
                                                                     Connecticut
                                                                  4. City of Norwalk
                                                                     Connecticut
                                                                  5. City of Waterbury
                                                                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                     VII-1
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
D. Marex Corporation              1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
                                     Connecticut                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2. Baltimore Cty,
                                     Maryland                        Maryland
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
E. A.P. Woodson Company           1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
                                     Connecticut                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2. Prince George's Cty,
                                     Maryland                        Maryland
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  3. Secretary of State           3. Rec. of Deeds,
                                     Virginia                        Alexandria City, Virginia
                                                                  4. Rec. of Deeds,
                                                                     Arlington City, Virginia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                     VII-2
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches    County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
F. Petroleum Heat and             1. Secretary of State           1.  City of Stamford
   Power Company, Inc.               Connecticut                      Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2.  Essex Cty,
                                     Massachusetts                    Massachusetts
                                                                  3.  Norfolk Cty,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  4.  Suffolk Cty,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  5.  Town of Attleboro,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  6.  Town of Chelsea,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  7.  Town of Holden,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  8.  Town of Hyde Park,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  9.  Town of Lawrence,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  10. Town of Westwood,
                                                                      Massachusetts
                                                                  11. Worcester Cty,
                                                                      Massachusetts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  3. Secretary of State           12. Mercer Cty., New
                                     New Jersey                       Jersey
                                                                  13. Middlesex Cty., New
                                                                      Jersey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  4. Secretary of State           14. .Kings Cty., New York
                                     New York
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  5. Secretary of State           15. Providence Cty, Rhode
                                     Rhode Island                     Island
                                                                  16. Tiverton Cty, Rhode
                                                                      Island
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  6. Secretary of State           17. Dauphin Cty.,
                                     Pennsylvania                     Pennsylvania
                                                                  18. Montgomery Cty.
                                                                      Pennsylvania
                                                                  19. Philadelphia Cty.,
                                                                      Pennsylvania
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  7. Secretary of State           20. Fairfax Cty., Virginia
                                     Virginia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                     VII-3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
G. Ortep of New Jersey,           1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
   Inc.                              Connecticut                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2. Camden Cty, New Jersey
                                     New Jersey                   3. Ocean Cty, New Jersey
                                                                  4. Union Cty, New Jersey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
H. Ortep of Pennsylvania,         1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
   Inc.                              Connecticut                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2. Prothonotary of Berks
                                     Pennsylvania                    Cty, Pennsylvania
                                                                  3. Prothonotary of Bucks
                                                                     Cty, Pennsylvania
                                                                  4. Prothonotary of
                                                                     Chester County,
                                                                     Pennsylvania
                                                                  5. Prothonotary of
                                                                     Dauphin Cty, Pennsylvania
                                                                  6. Prothonotary of
                                                                     Lebanon Cty, Pennsylvania
                                                                  7. Prothonotary of
                                                                     Lehigh Cty, Pennsylavania
                                                                  8. Prothanotary of
                                                                     Monroe Cty, Pennsylvania
                                                                  9. Prothonotary of
                                                                     Montgomery Cty,
                                                                     Pennsylvania
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
I. Public Fuel Services
   Co., Inc. - Dissolved or
   merged.
   No Longer in Existence.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. CBW Realty Corp. of            1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
   Connecticut                       Connecticut                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
K. Petro/Crystal Corp.            1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
   [Holding Company does not         Connecticut                     Connecticut
   hold anything.  S/S New
   York County filing should
   be in county where holding
   co. is located.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
L. Ocennet Fuel Oil Corp.
   Merged into Petroleum Heat
   & Power.  No longer in
   existence.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                     VII-4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
M. Star Gas Partners, L.P.        1. 1. Secretary of State        1. City of Stamford
                                     Connecticut                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2. Kent County, Delaware
                                     Delaware                     3. New Castle, Delaware
                                                                  4. Sussex County,
                                                                     Delaware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  3. Secretary of State           5. New York County, New
                                     New York                        York
                                                                  6. Dutchess County, New
                                                                     York
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
N. Star Gas Corporation           1. Secretary of State           1. City of Stamford
                                     Connecticut                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2. Kent County, Delaware
                                     Delaware                     3. New Castle, Delaware
                                                                  4. Sussex County,
                                                                     Delaware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  3. Secretary of State           5. New York County, New
                                     New York                        York
                                                                  6. Dutchess County, New
                                                                     York
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Name of Debtor             State Location of Searches     County Location of Searches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                             <C>
O. Petro Holdings, Inc.           1. Secretary of State           1. Hennepin County,
                                     Minnesota                       Minnesota
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2. Secretary of State           2. Stamford, Connecticut
                                     Connecticut
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  3. Secretary of State           3. Westwood County,
                                     Massachusetts                   Massachusetts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  4. Secretary of State           4. Providence, Rhode
                                     Rhode Island                    Island
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                     VII-5

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