Document:

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                        SIXTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED
                           AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

     THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT ("Sixth
Amendment") is made and entered into as of the 1st day of October, 2002, by and
between Equus II Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, with offices and place of
business at 2929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019 (hereinafter called
"Borrower") and Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, with
offices at 700 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002 (hereinafter called "Lender").
For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, Borrower and Lender hereby amend as of the date of this Agreement
that certain Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between Borrower and
Lender dated as of the 1st day of June, 1999, as previously amended ("Loan
Agreement"), in the following respects:

     Section 1. Amendments to Loan Agreement.

             A.     Section 1.2 is amended by deleting the definition of
"Maturity Date", and replace it with the following:

             "Maturity Date" means January 1, 2003.

             B.     Section 1.6 is hereby amended by added the following:

                    (g)  Borrower hereby agrees to pay to Lender a renewal
                    fee in connection with the Facility C Note in the amount
                    of $10,000 upon execution of the Note and the Sixth
                    Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Loan
                    Agreement. Borrower further agrees to pay to Lender a
                    $50,000 fee in the event the Facility A Note and the
                    Facility C Note are not paid in full by November 30,
                    2002. Such fee shall be due and payable on December 1,
                    2002.

     Section 2. Closing.

     The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Sixth Amendment is
subject to the

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satisfaction of the following conditions.

     2.1  Counsel to Lender. All legal matters incident to the transactions
herein contemplated shall be satisfactory to Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, counsel
to the Lender.

     2.2  Required Documents.

          (a)  The Lender shall have received certified copies of resolutions of
     the Board of Directors of the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory
     to Lender with respect to authorization of this Sixth Amendment, the
     Facility A Note of the Borrower dated the date hereof in favor of the
     Lender in the original principal amount of $22,500,000, the Facility C Note
     of the Borrower dated the date hereof in favor of Lender in the original
     principal amount of $100,000,000 (the "Notes"), and the Ratification of
     Security Agreement-Pledge dated as of the date hereof (the "Ratification of
     Security Agreement").

          (b)  The Lender shall have received a certificate of the Secretary of
     the Borrower of the names of officers of the Borrower to sign this Sixth
     Amendment, the Notes, the Ratification of Security Agreement and the other
     instruments or certificates related hereto together with the true
     signatures of such officers.

          (c)  The Lender shall have received fully executed copies of the Sixth
     Amendment, the Notes, and the Ratification of Security Agreement.

          (d)  The Lender shall have received originals of all certificates,
     notes or other instruments subject to the Security Agreement - Pledge dated
     as of March 18, 1996 between Borrower and Lender, as ratified by the
     Ratification of Security Agreement.

     Section 3. Ratification. Except as amended hereby, the Loan Agreement shall
remain unchanged and the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, and
covenants of said Loan Agreement and the Security Instruments, including but not
limited to the Security Agreement-

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Pledge, are true as of the date hereof, are ratified and confirmed in all
respects and shall be continuing and binding upon the parties.

     Section 4. Defined Terms. All terms used in this Sixth Amendment which are
defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Loan
Agreement, except as otherwise indicated in this Sixth Amendment.

     Section 5. Multiple Counterparts. This Sixth Amendment may be executed by
the parties hereto in several separate counterparts, each of which shall be an
original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.

     Section 6. Applicable Law. This Sixth Amendment shall be deemed to be a
contract under and subject to, and shall be construed for all purposes in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.

     Section 7. Final Agreement. THE WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BORROWER AND THE
LENDER AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE BORROWER AND THE LENDER. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE LENDER AND THE BORROWER.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Sixth Amendment to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the 1st day of October, 2002.

                                                  EQUUS II INCORPORATED

                                                  By: /s/ Nolan Lehmann
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name: NOLAN LEHMANN
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: President
                                                        ------------------------

                                                  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                                  By: /s/ George M. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name: George M. Smith
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: SVP
                                                        ------------------------

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                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

                                [FACILITY A NOTE]

$22,500,000                                                      October 1, 2002

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, after date, without grace, in the manner, on the dates
and in the amounts so herein stipulated, the undersigned, EQUUS II INCORPORATED,
a Delaware corporation, acting by and through its duly authorized officer
("Borrower"), PROMISES TO PAY TO THE ORDER OF BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ("Lender"),
in Houston, Harris County, Texas, the sum of TWENTY-TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($22,500,000) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of advances made by Lender to Borrower pursuant to this Note,
in lawful money of the United States of America, which shall be legal tender in
payment of all debts and dues, public and private, at the time of payment, and
to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount from date until maturity at a
rate equal to the Stated Rate (as defined in the Loan Agreement described
herein), not to exceed the maximum non-usurious interest rate permitted by
applicable law from time to time in effect as such law may be interpreted,
amended, revised, supplemented or enacted ("Maximum Rate"), provided that if at
any time the Stated Rate exceeds the Maximum Rate then interest hereon shall
accrue at the Maximum Rate. In the event the Stated Rate subsequently decreases
to a level which would be less than the Maximum Rate or if the Maximum Rate
applicable to this Note should subsequently be changed, then interest hereon
shall accrue at a rate equal to the applicable Maximum Rate until the aggregate
amount of interest so accrued equals the aggregate amount of interest which
would have accrued at the Stated Rate without regard to any usury limit, at
which time interest hereon shall again accrue at the Stated Rate. This Note is
payable as follows:

          The entire balance of principal and accrued interest shall be due and
     payable on the 1st day of January, 2003.

     It is agreed that time is of the essence of this agreement. In the event of
default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest when due or
in the event of any other default hereunder, Lender may accelerate and declare
this Note immediately due and payable without notice. Any failure to exercise
this option shall not constitute a waiver by Lender of the right to exercise the
same at any other time.

     In the event of default in the making of any payment herein provided,
either of principal or interest, or in the event this Note is declared due,
interest shall accrue at Prime Rate plus 2% not to exceed the Maximum Rate.

     Borrower hereby agrees to pay all expenses incurred, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, all of which shall become a part of the principal hereof, if
this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or if collected
by suit or through any probate, bankruptcy or any other legal proceedings.

     Interest charges will be calculated on amounts advanced hereunder on the
actual number of days these amounts are outstanding on the basis of a 360-day
year, except for calculations of the Maximum Rate which will be on the basis of
a 365-day or 366-day year, as is applicable. It is the intention of the parties
hereto to comply with all applicable usury laws; accordingly, it is

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agreed that notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Note, or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, no
such provision shall require the payment or permit the collection of interest in
excess of the Maximum Rate. If any excess of interest in such respect is
provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided for, in this Note or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, then
in such event (1) the provisions of this paragraph shall govern and control, (2)
neither Borrower, endorsers or guarantors, nor their heirs, legal
representatives, successors or assigns nor any other party liable for the
payment hereof, shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to the
extent that it is in excess of the Maximum Rate, (3) any such excess which may
have been collected shall be either applied as a credit against the then unpaid
principal amount hereof or refunded to Borrower, and (4) the provisions of this
Note and any documents securing payment of this Note shall be automatically
reformed so that the effective rate of interest shall be reduced to the Maximum
Rate. For the purpose of determining the Maximum Rate, all interest payments
with respect to this Note shall be amortized, prorated and spread throughout the
full term of the Note so that the effective rate of interest on account of this
Note is uniform throughout the term hereof.

     Borrower agrees that the Maximum Rate to be charged or collected pursuant
to this Note shall be the applicable indicated rate ceiling as defined in the
Texas Finance Code, as supplemented by Article 1D.003 of the Texas Credit Title,
provided that Lender may rely on other applicable laws, including without
limitation laws of the United States, for calculation of the Maximum Rate if the
application thereof results in a greater Maximum Rate. Except as provided above,
the provisions of this Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

     Each maker, surety, guarantor and endorser (i) waives demand, grace,
notice, presentment for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity
hereof, notice of acceleration of the maturity hereof and protest, (ii) agrees
that this Note and the liens securing its payment may be renewed, and the time
of payment extended from time to time, without notice and without releasing any
of the foregoing, and (iii) agrees that without notice or consent from any
maker, surety, guarantor, or endorser, Lender may release any collateral which
may from time to time be pledged to secure repayment of this Note, or may
release any party who might be liable for this Note. Borrower grants to Lender a
lien on any of Borrower's funds which may from time to time be deposited with
Lender.

     Borrower may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at any time prior to
maturity without penalty, and interest shall cease on any amount prepaid. Any
partial prepayment shall be applied toward the payment of the principal
installments last maturing on the Note, that is, in the inverse order of
maturity, without reducing the amount or time of payment of the remaining
installments.

     The principal of this Note represents funds which Lender will advance to
Borrower from time to time upon request of Borrower. Any part of the principal
may be repaid by Borrower and thereafter reborrowed, provided the outstanding
principal amount of this Note shall never exceed the face amount of this Note.
Each advance shall constitute a part of the principal hereof and shall bear
interest from the date of the advance. The provisions of Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat.
Ann. art. 5069-15.01, et seq., as may be amended, shall not apply to this Note
or to any of the security documents executed in connection with this Note.

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     This Note is the Facility A Note referred to in, is subject to, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated June 1, 1999 between Borrower and Lender, as that Second Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time (the "Loan Agreement"). The Loan Agreement contains, among other things,
provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of
certain stated events. This Note is given in replacement and extension of those
certain Revolving Note A and Revolving Note B of Borrower in favor of Lender
previously delivered pursuant to the Loan Agreement. The liens securing the
payment of such prior Notes are not released but are hereby ratified and carried
forward to secure this Note.

     This Note is entitled to the benefits of and security afforded by the
Security Agreement-Pledge dated March 18, 1996 between Borrower and Lender, as
that Security Agreement-Pledge may be ratified, amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time. This Note is subject to the provisions contained
in the foregoing security instrument which, among other things, provides for
acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of certain events.

     This Note is given in renewal and extension, but not novation or discharge,
of that certain promissory note dated July 1, 2002, executed by Borrower and
payable to Lender in the amount of $22,500,000.00. The liens securing the
payment of the prior promissory note are not released but are hereby ratified
and hereby carried forward to secure this Note.

     Borrower represents and warrants that this loan is for business,
commercial, investment or similar purpose and not primarily for personal,
family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are used in Chapter One of
the Texas Credit Code.

                                                  EQUUS II INCORPORATED,
                                                  a Delaware corporation

                                                  By: /s/ Nolan Lehmann
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name: NOLAN LEHMANN
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: President
                                                        ------------------------

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                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

                                [FACILITY C NOTE]

$100,000,000                                                     October 1, 2002

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, after date, without grace, in the manner, on the dates
and in the amounts so herein stipulated, the undersigned, EQUUS II INCORPORATED,
a Delaware corporation, acting by and through its duly authorized officer
("Borrower"), PROMISES TO PAY TO THE ORDER OF BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ("Lender"),
in Houston, Harris County, Texas, the sum of ONE HUNDRED MILLION AND NO/100
DOLLARS ($100,000,000) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
advances made by Lender to Borrower pursuant to this Note, in lawful money of
the United States of America, which shall be legal tender in payment of all
debts and dues, public and private, at the time of payment, and to pay interest
on the unpaid principal amount from date until maturity at a rate equal to Cash
Collateral Account Rate plus one-half of one percent (0.5%) per annum, floating
daily (as defined in, and subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 1.5(c)
of, the Loan Agreement) ("Contract Rate"), not to exceed the maximum
non-usurious interest rate permitted by applicable law from time to time in
effect as such law may be interpreted, amended, revised, supplemented or enacted
("Maximum Rate"), provided that if at any time the Contract Rate exceeds the
Maximum Rate then interest hereon shall accrue at the Maximum Rate. In the event
the Contract Rate subsequently decreases to a level which would be less than the
Maximum Rate or if the Maximum Rate applicable to this Note should subsequently
be changed, then interest hereon shall accrue at a rate equal to the applicable
Maximum Rate until the aggregate amount of interest so accrued equals the
aggregate amount of interest which would have accrued at the Contract Rate
without regard to any usury limit, at which time interest hereon shall again
accrue at the Contract Rate. This Note is payable as follows:

          Interest shall be payable on the 15th day of each month and
     simultaneously with repayment of principal. Principal shall be payable on
     the fifth (5th) Business Day following each advance in an amount equal to
     such advance.

          The entire balance of principal and accrued interest shall be due and
     payable on January 1, 2003.

     It is agreed that time is of the essence of this agreement. In the event of
default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest when due or
in the event of any other default hereunder, Lender may accelerate and declare
this Note immediately due and payable without notice. Any failure to exercise
this option shall not constitute a waiver by Lender of the right to exercise the
same at any other time.

     In the event of default in the making of any payment herein provided,
either of principal or interest, or in the event this Note is declared due,
interest shall accrue at Prime Rate plus two percent (2%) not to exceed the
Maximum Rate.

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     Borrower hereby agrees to pay all expenses incurred, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, all of which shall become a part of the principal hereof, if
this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or if collected
by suit or through any probate, bankruptcy or any other legal proceedings.

     Interest charges will be calculated on amounts advanced hereunder on the
actual number of days these amounts are outstanding on the basis of a 360-day
year, except for calculations of the Maximum Rate which will be on the basis of
a 365-day or 366-day year, as is applicable. It is the intention of the parties
hereto to comply with all applicable usury laws; accordingly, it is agreed that
notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Note, or in any of the
documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, no such
provision shall require the payment or permit the collection of interest in
excess of the Maximum Rate. If any excess of interest in such respect is
provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided for, in this Note or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, then
in such event (1) the provisions of this paragraph shall govern and control, (2)
neither Borrower, endorsers or guarantors, nor their heirs, legal
representatives, successors or assigns nor any other party liable for the
payment hereof, shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to the
extent that it is in excess of the Maximum Rate, (3) any such excess which may
have been collected shall be either applied as a credit against the then unpaid
principal amount hereof or refunded to Borrower, and (4) the provisions of this
Note and any documents securing payment of this Note shall be automatically
reformed so that the effective rate of interest shall be reduced to the Maximum
Rate. For the purpose of determining the Maximum Rate, all interest payments
with respect to this Note shall be amortized, prorated and spread throughout the
full term of the Note so that the effective rate of interest on account of this
Note is uniform throughout the term hereof.

     Borrower agrees that the Maximum Rate to be charged or collected pursuant
to this Note shall be the applicable indicated rate ceiling as defined in the
Texas Finance Code, as supplemented by Article 1D.003 of the Texas Credit Code,
provided that Lender may rely on other applicable laws, including without
limitation laws of the United States, for calculation of the Maximum Rate if the
application thereof results in a greater Maximum Rate. Except as provided above,
the provisions of this Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

     As used in this Note, the term "Cash Collateral Account Rate" shall mean
the interest rate actually earned by Borrower on investments in that certain
Cash Collateral Account (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement) during
the period principal amounts are owed pursuant to this Note.

     Each maker, surety, guarantor and endorser (i) waives demand, grace,
notice, presentment for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity
hereof, notice of acceleration of the maturity hereof and protest, (ii) agrees
that this Note and the liens securing its payment may be renewed, and the time
of payment extended from time to time, without notice and without releasing any
of the foregoing, and (iii) agrees that without notice or consent from any
maker, surety, guarantor, or endorser, Lender may release any collateral which
may from time to time be pledged to secure repayment of this Note, or may
release any party who might be

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liable for this Note. Borrower grants to Lender a lien on any of Borrower's
funds which may from time to time be deposited with Lender.

     Borrower may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at any time prior to
maturity without penalty, and interest shall cease on any amount prepaid. Any
partial prepayment shall be applied toward the payment of the principal
installments last maturing on the Note, that is, in the inverse order of
maturity, without reducing the amount or time of payment of the remaining
installments.

     The principal of this Note represents funds which Lender will advance to
Borrower from time to time upon request of Borrower. Any part of the principal
may be repaid by Borrower and thereafter reborrowed, provided the outstanding
principal amount of this Note shall never exceed the face amount of this Note.
Each advance shall constitute a part of the principal hereof and shall bear
interest from the date of the advance. The provisions of Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat.
Ann. art. 5069-15.01, et seq., as may be amended, shall not apply to this Note
or to any of the security documents executed in connection with this Note.

     This Note is the Facility C Note referred to in, is subject to, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated June 1, 1999 between Borrower and Lender, as that Second Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time (the "Loan Agreement"). The Loan Agreement contains, among other things,
provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of
certain stated events. This Note is given in replacement and extension of those
certain Facility C Notes of the Borrower in favor of Lender previously delivered
pursuant to the Loan Agreement. The liens securing the payment of such prior
Notes are not released but are hereby ratified and carried forward as security
for this Note.

     This Note is entitled to the benefits of and security afforded by the
Security Agreement-Pledge (Facility C) dated March 29, 1996, between Borrower
and Lender, as that Security Agreement-Pledge (Facility C) may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time. This Note is subject to the
provisions contained in the foregoing security instrument which, among other
things, provides for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of
certain events.

     This Note is given in renewal and extension, but not novation or discharge,
of that certain promissory note dated July 1, 2002, executed by Borrower and
payable to Lender in the amount of $100,000,000.00. The liens securing the
payment of the prior promissory note are not released but are hereby ratified
and hereby carried forward to secure this Note.

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     Borrower represents and warrants that this loan is for business,
commercial, investment or similar purpose and not primarily for personal,
family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are used in Chapter One of
the Texas Credit Code.

                                                  EQUUS II INCORPORATED,
                                                  a Delaware corporation

                                                  By: /s/ Nolan Lehmann
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name: NOLAN LEHMANN
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: President
                                                        ------------------------

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                    RATIFICATION OF SECURITY AGREEMENT-PLEDGE

     This Ratification of Security Agreement-Pledge ("Ratification") is made and
entered into as of the 1st day of October, 2002, by and between EQUUS II
INCORPORATED ("Pledgor") with offices and place of business at 2929 Allen
Parkway, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77019 and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., with
offices at 700 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002 (hereinafter called "Lender").
For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, Pledgor and Lender hereby ratify as of the date of this Ratification
that certain Security Agreement-Pledge ("Security Agreement") between Pledgor
and Lender dated the 18th day of March, 1996, as that Security Agreement has
been amended or modified from time to time, and agree that the Collateral, as
such term is defined in such Security Agreement, shall secure Pledger's
obligations pursuant to (i) that certain Facility A Note dated October 1, 2002
in the maximum principal amount of $22,500,000; and (ii) that certain Facility C
Note dated October 1, 2002, in the maximum principal amount of $100,000,000.

     Except as expressly modified hereby, the Security Agreement shall remain
unchanged and the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, and covenants
of said Security Agreement are true as of the date hereof, are ratified and
confirmed in all respects and shall be continuing and binding upon the parties.

     This Ratification may be executed by the parties hereto in several separate
counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     This Ratification shall be deemed to be a contract under and subject to,
and shall be construed for all purposes in accordance with the laws of the State
of Texas.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Ratification to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the 1st day of October, 2002.

                                                  EQUUS II INCORPORATED

                                                  By: /s/ Nolan Lehmann
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name: NOLAN LEHMANN
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: President
                                                        ------------------------

                                                  Address:

                                                  2929 Allen Parkway, Suite 2500
                                                  Houston, Texas 77019

                                                  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                                  By: /s/ George M. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name: George M. Smith
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: SVP
                                                        ------------------------

                                                  Address:

                                                  700 Louisiana
                                                  Houston, Texas 77002

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                              EQUUS II INCORPORATED

                            Certificate of Secretary

I, Tracy H. Cohen, do hereby certify that I am the duly elected and presently
incumbent Secretary of Equus II Incorporated, a Delaware Corporation (the
"Company"), and I do further certify that the attached Exhibit A hereto is a
true and correct copy of the recitals and resolutions duly adopted by the Board
of Directors of the Company by Unanimous Consent, and to the date hereof such
resolutions have not been modified or amended in any respect, and remain in full
force and effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate on September 30, 2002.

                                                   /s/ Tracy H. Cohen
CORPORATE SEAL                                    ------------------------------
                                                  Tracy H. Cohen, Secretary
                                                  of Equus II Incorporated

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

     RESOLVED, that this corporation borrow from, and receive a loan or loans
(hereinafter called the "Loans") from time to time from Bank of America, N.A.,
and such additional banks and financial institutions who make or participate in
the Loans (hereinafter called the "Banks"), in an aggregate principal amount of
up to $122,500,000 including any amounts borrowed to meet the diversification
requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer,
President, any Vice President, or the Treasurer of this corporation is hereby
authorized for and on behalf of this corporation to negotiate such terms and
conditions for the Loans substantially the same as currently in force and as any
of said officers may deem best, and to execute and deliver for and on behalf of
this corporation promissory notes, loan agreements, security agreements, pledge
agreements, and such other instruments or written obligations of this
corporation as may be desired or required by the Banks in connection with the
Loans and containing such terms and conditions as may be acceptable or agreeable
to any of said officers, such acceptance and agreement to be conclusively
evidenced by any of said officers' execution and delivery thereof;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that this corporation grant to the Banks a lien upon
and/or a security interest upon such assets of this corporation as may be agreed
upon between any of said officers and the Banks as security for repayment of the
Loans and any and all extensions for any period, rearrangements or renewals
thereof and as security for any and all indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities of this corporation under any promissory notes, loan agreements,
security agreements, pledge agreements, and any other instruments or written
obligations of this corporation in connection with the Loans, or any other
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of this corporation owing to the
Banks, either directly or by assignment;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that any of said officers, are hereby authorized in the
name of and on behalf of this corporation to take such further action and to do
all things that may appear in the discretion of any of them to be necessary in
connection with amendments, renewals, extensions for any period, rearrangements,
retirements or compromises of the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of
this corporation to the Banks arising out of the Loans, or any other
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of this corporation owing to the
Banks, either directly or by assignment; and from time-to-time to negotiate such
amendments to the terms and conditions of the Loans as any of said officers may
deem best, and to execute and deliver for and on behalf of this corporation such
amendments to the promissory notes, loan agreements, security agreements, pledge
agreements, and such other instruments or written obligations of this
corporation as may be desired or required by the Banks in connection with the
Loans and containing such terms and conditions as may be acceptable or agreeable
to any of

<PAGE>

said officers, such acceptance and agreement to be conclusively evidenced by any
of said officers' execution and delivery thereof;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that any of said officers are authorized and empowered to
do or cause to be done all such acts or things and to sign and deliver, or cause
to be signed and delivered, all such documents, instruments and certificates
(including, without limitation, any and all requests, notices, and certificates
required or permitted to be given or made to the Banks under the terms of any of
the instruments executed on behalf of this corporation in connection with the
Loans), in the name and on behalf of this corporation as any of said officers,
in their discretion, may deem necessary, advisable or appropriate to effectuate
or carry out the purposes and intent of the foregoing Resolutions and to perform
the obligations of this corporation under all instruments executed on behalf of
this corporation in connection with the Loans;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the execution by any of said officers, of any
document authorized by the foregoing Resolutions or any document executed in the
accomplishment of any action or actions so authorized, is (or shall become upon
delivery) the enforceable and binding act and obligation of this corporation,
without the necessity of the signature or attestation of any other officer of
this corporation or the affixing of the corporate seal;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that all acts, transactions, or agreements undertaken
prior to the adoption of these Resolutions by any of the officers or
representatives of this corporation in its name and for its account with the
Banks in connection with the foregoing matters are hereby ratified, confirmed
and adopted by this corporation;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of this
corporation or any other appropriate officer of this corporation is hereby
authorized and directed to certify these Resolutions to the Banks; and

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Banks be promptly notified in writing by the
Secretary or any other officer of this corporation of any change in these
Resolutions, and until it has actually received such notice in writing, the Bank
are authorized to act in pursuance of these Resolutions.<PAGE>

                      SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED
                          AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

     THIS SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT
("Seventh Amendment") is made and entered into as of the 1st day of January,
2003, by and between Equus II Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, with offices
and place of business at 2929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019 (hereinafter
called "Borrower") and Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association,
with offices at 700 Louisiana, Houston Texas 77002 (hereinafter called
"Lender"). For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained, Borrower and Lender hereby amend as of the date of this
Agreement that certain Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between
Borrower and Lender dated as of the 1st day of June, 1999, as previously amended
("Loan Agreement"), in the following respects:

        Section 1. Amendments to Loan Agreement.

               A. Section 1.1 is deleted and the following is substituted in its
          place:

                    1.1 Indebtedness. Upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
               set forth, the Lender agrees to lend to and/or issue letters of
               credit for the account of Borrower in an aggregate of up to
               $16,494,989.00 outstanding at any time as evidenced by Revolving
               Facility A to be extended to the Borrower by the Lender as more
               specifically described in Section 1.3.

               B. Section 1.2 is amended to delete the definitions of "Facility
          A Note" and "Maturity Date" and replace them with the following:

               "Facility A Note" means the Facility A promissory note of the
               Borrower in the maximum principal amount of $16,494,989.00, in
               the form attached as Exhibit "1.3.2" to the Seventh Amendment.

               "Maturity Date" means February 14, 2003.

                                       1

<PAGE>

          C. Section 1.3 and 1.3(a) is deleted and the following is substituted
     in its place:

               1.3 Revolving Facility A. The Lender, during the period from the
          date of this Agreement until the Maturity Date, subject to the terms
          and conditions of this Agreement, and subject to the condition that at
          the time of each borrowing and the issuance of each Credit hereunder
          no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing and
          that the representations and warranties given by the Borrower in
          Section 2 as of the date of this Agreement shall remain true and
          correct in all material respects (except for representations and
          warranties (i) which are made as of a particular date or (ii) as to
          which the facts which gave rise to the representation or warranty have
          changed as a result of circumstances or transactions which are
          contemplated or permitted pursuant to this Agreement):

               (a) agrees to make Loans to Borrower pursuant to a revolving line
          of credit up to but not in excess of an aggregate principal amount
          outstanding at any time of $16,494,989.00, provided the aggregate
          amount of Loans outstanding pursuant to this Section 1.3, when
          combined with the amount of outstanding Credits, shall not exceed the
          lesser of (i) $16,494,989.00 and (ii) the Borrowing Base. Borrower
          shall make written request for each Loan pursuant to Revolving
          Facility A pursuant to a loan request in substantially the form of
          Exhibit "1.3.1" attached hereto. If Borrower's written request
          therefor is received by 1:00 p.m., Lender shall make each such Loan
          available to Borrower on the same Business Day Lender receives such
          request. If Borrower's loan request with respect to any such Loan is
          received after 1:00 p.m., Lender may defer the making of such Loan to
          the next Business Day. Each Loan shall be in an amount of not less
          than $100,000.

          D. Section 1.5 is hereby deleted.

     Section 2. Closing.

     The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Seventh Amendment is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions.

     2.1 Counsel to Lender. All legal matters incident to the transactions
herein contemplated shall be satisfactory to Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, counsel
to the Lender.

     2.2 Required Documents.

          (a) The Lender shall have received certified copies of resolutions of
     the Board of Directors of the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory
     to Lender with respect to

                                       2

<PAGE>

authorization of this Seventh Amendment, the Facility A Note of the Borrower
dated the date hereof in favor of the Lender in the original principal amount of
$16,494,989.00 (the "Note"), and the Ratification of Security Agreement-Pledge
dated as of the date hereof (the "Ratification of Security Agreement").

          (b) The Lender shall have received a certificate of the Secretary of
     the Borrower of the names of officers of the Borrower to sign this Seventh
     Amendment, the Note, the Ratification of Security Agreement and the other
     instruments or certificates related hereto together with the true
     signatures of such officers.

          (c) The Lender shall have received fully executed copies of the
     Seventh Amendment, the Notes, and the Ratification of Security Agreement.

          (d) The Lender shall have received originals of all certificates,
     notes or other instruments subject to the Security Agreement - Pledge dated
     as of March 18, 1996 between Borrower and Lender, as ratified by the
     Ratification of Security Agreement.

     Section 3. Ratification. Except as amended hereby, the Loan Agreement shall
remain unchanged and the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, and
covenants of said Loan Agreement and the Security Instruments, including but not
limited to the Security Agreement-Pledge, are true as of the date hereof, are
ratified and confirmed in all respects and shall be continuing and binding upon
the parties.

     Section 4. Defined Terms. All terms used in this Seventh Amendment which
are defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Loan
Agreement, except as otherwise indicated in this Seventh Amendment.

     Section 5. Multiple Counterparts. This Seventh Amendment may be executed by
the parties hereto in several separate counterparts, each of which shall be an
original and all of which

                                       3

<PAGE>

taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     Section 6. Applicable Law. This Seventh Amendment shall be deemed to be a
contract under and subject to, and shall be construed for all purposes in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.

     Section 7. Final Agreement. THE WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS SEVENTH AMENDMENT REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BORROWER AND
THE LENDER AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE BORROWER AND THE LENDER. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE LENDER AND THE BORROWER.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Seventh Amendment to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the 1st day of January, 2003.

                                                EQUUS II INCORPORATED

                                                By: /s/ Nolan Lehmann
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                Name: Nolan Lehmann
                                                Title: President

                                                BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                                By: /s/ David H. Strickert
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                Name: David H. Strickert
                                                Title: Senior Vice President

                                       4

<PAGE>

                                PROMISSORY NOTE

                               [Facility A Note]

$16,494,989                                                     January 1, 2003

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, after date, without grace, in the manner, on the dates
and in the amounts so herein stipulated, the undersigned, EQUUS II INCORPORATED,
a Delaware corporation, acting by and through its duly authorized officer
("Borrower"), PROMISES TO PAY TO THE ORDER OF BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ("Lender"),
in Houston, Harris County, Texas, the sum of SIXTEEN MILLION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY
FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($16,494,989) or, if
less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of advances made by Lender to
Borrower pursuant to this Note, in lawful money of the United States of America,
which shall be legal tender in payment of all debts and dues, public and
private, at the time of payment, and to pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount from date until maturity at a rate equal to the Stated Rate (as defined
in the Loan Agreement described herein), not to exceed the maximum non-usurious
interest rate permitted by applicable law from time to time in effect as such
law may be interpreted, amended, revised, supplemented or enacted ("Maximum
Rate"), provided that if at any time the Stated Rate exceeds the Maximum Rate
then interest hereon shall accrue at the Maximum Rate. In the event the Stated
Rate subsequently decreases to a level which would be less than the Maximum Rate
or if the Maximum Rate applicable to this Note should subsequently be changed,
then interest hereon shall accrue at a rate equal to the applicable Maximum Rate
until the aggregate amount of interest so accrued equals the aggregate amount of
interest which would have accrued at the Stated Rate without regard to any usury
limit, at which time interest hereon shall again accrue at the Stated Rate. This
Note is payable as follows:

          The entire balance of principal and accrued interest shall be due and
     payable on the 14th day of February, 2003.

     It is agreed that time is of the essence of this agreement. In the event of
default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest when due or
in the event of any other default hereunder, Lender may accelerate and declare
this Note immediately due and payable without notice. Any failure to exercise
this option shall not constitute a waiver by Lender of the right to exercise the
same at any other time.

     In the event of default in the making of any payment herein provided,
either of principal or interest, or in the event this Note is declared due,
interest shall accrue at Prime Rate plus 2% not to exceed the Maximum Rate.

     Borrower hereby agrees to pay all expenses incurred, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, all of which shall become a part of the principal hereof, if
this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or if collected
by suit or through any probate, bankruptcy or any other legal proceedings.

     Interest charges will be calculated on amounts advanced hereunder on the
actual number of days these amounts are outstanding on the basis of a 360-day
year, except for calculations of the Maximum Rate which will be on the basis of
a 365-day or 366-day year, as is applicable. It

                                       1

<PAGE>

is the intention of the parties hereto to comply with all applicable usury laws;
accordingly, it is agreed that notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in
this Note, or in any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise
relating hereto, no such provision shall require the payment or permit the
collection of interest in excess of the Maximum Rate. If any excess of interest
in such respect is provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided for,
in this Note or in any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise
relating hereto, then in such event (1) the provisions of this paragraph shall
govern and control, (2) neither Borrower, endorsers or guarantors, nor their
heirs, legal representatives, successors or assigns nor any other party liable
for the payment hereof, shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to
the extent that it is in excess of the Maximum Rate, (3) any such excess which
may have been collected shall be either applied as a credit against the then
unpaid principal amount hereof or refunded to Borrower, and (4) the provisions
of this Note and any documents securing payment of this Note shall be
automatically reformed so that the effective rate of interest shall be reduced
to the Maximum Rate. For the purpose of determining the Maximum Rate, all
interest payments with respect to this Note shall be amortized, prorated and
spread throughout the full term of the Note so that the effective rate of
interest on account of this Note is uniform throughout the term hereof.

     Borrower agrees that the Maximum Rate to be charged or collected pursuant
to this Note shall be the applicable indicated rate ceiling as defined in the
Texas Finance Code, as supplemented by Article 1D.003 of the Texas Credit Title,
provided that Lender may rely on other applicable laws, including without
limitation laws of the United States, for calculation of the Maximum Rate if the
application thereof results in a greater Maximum Rate. Except as provided above,
the provisions of this Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

     Each maker, surety, guarantor and endorser (i) waives demand, grace,
notice, presentment for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity
hereof, notice of acceleration of the maturity hereof and protest, (ii) agrees
that this Note and the liens securing its payment may be renewed, and the time
of payment extended from time to time, without notice and without releasing any
of the foregoing, and (iii) agrees that without notice or consent from any
maker, surety, guarantor, or endorser, Lender may release any collateral which
may from time to time be pledged to secure repayment of this Note, or may
release any party who might be liable for this Note. Borrower grants to Lender a
lien on any of Borrower's funds which may from time to time be deposited with
Lender.

     Borrower may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at any time prior to
maturity without penalty, and interest shall cease on any amount prepaid. Any
partial prepayment shall be applied toward the payment of the principal
installments last maturing on the Note, that is, in the inverse order of
maturity, without reducing the amount or time of payment of the remaining
installments.

     The principal of this Note represents funds which Lender will advance to
Borrower from time to time upon request of Borrower. Any part of the principal
may be repaid by Borrower and thereafter reborrowed, provided the outstanding
principal amount of this Note shall never exceed the face amount of this Note.
Each advance shall constitute a part of the principal hereof and shall bear
interest from the date of the advance. The provisions of Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat.
Ann. art. 5069-15.01, et seq., as may be amended, shall not apply to this Note
or to any of the security documents executed in connection with this Note.

                                       2

<PAGE>

     This Note is the Facility A Note referred to in, is subject to, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated June 1, 1999 between Borrower and Lender, as that Second Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time (the "Loan Agreement"). The Loan Agreement contains, among other things,
provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of
certain stated events. This Note is given in replacement and extension of those
certain Revolving Note A and Revolving Note B of Borrower in favor of Lender
previously delivered pursuant to the Loan Agreement. The liens securing the
payment of such prior Notes are not released but are hereby ratified and carried
forward to secure this Note.

     This Note is entitled to the benefits and security afforded by the Security
Agreement-Pledge dated March 18, 1996 between Borrower and Lender, as that
Security Agreement-Pledge may be ratified, amended, modified or supplemented
from time to time. This Note is subject to the provisions contained in the
foregoing security instrument which, among other things, provides for
acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of certain events.

     This Note is given in renewal and extension, but not novation or discharge,
of that certain promissory note dated October 1, 2002, executed by Borrower and
payable to Lender in the amount of $22,500,000.00 The liens securing the payment
of the prior promissory note are not released but are hereby ratified and hereby
carried forward to secure this Note.

     Borrower represents and warrants that this loan is for business,
commercial, investment or similar purpose and not primarily for personal,
family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are used in Chapter One of
the Texas Credit Code.

                                        EQUUS II INCORPORATED,
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        By:   /s/ Nolan Lehmann
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Name:  Nolan Lehmann
                                           Title: President

                                        3

<PAGE>

                    RATIFICATION OF SECURITY AGREEMENT-PLEDGE

     This Ratification of Security Agreement-Pledge ("Ratification") is made and
entered into as of the 1st day of January, 2003, by and between EQUUS II
INCORPORATED ("Pledgor") with offices and place of business at 2929 Allen
Parkway, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77019 and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., with
offices at 700 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002 (hereinafter called "Lender").
For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, Pledgor and Lender hereby ratify as of the date of this Ratification
that certain Security Agreement-Pledge ("Security Agreement") between Pledgor
and Lender dated the 18th day of March, 1996, as that Security Agreement has
been amended or modified from time to time, and agree that the Collateral, as
such term is defined in such Security Agreement, shall secure Pledgor's
obligations pursuant to (i) that certain Facility A Note dated January 1, 2003
in the maximum principal amount of $16,494,989; and (ii) that certain Facility C
Note dated October 1, 2002, in the maximum principal amount of $100,000,000.

     Except as expressly modified hereby, the Security Agreement shall remain
unchanged and the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, and covenants
of said Security Agreement are true as of the date hereof, are ratified and
confirmed in all respects and shall be continuing and binding upon the parties.

     This Ratification may be executed by the parties hereto in several separate
counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     This Ratification shall be deemed to be a contract under and subject to,
and shall be construed for all purposes in accordance with the laws of the State
of Texas.

                                       1

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Ratification to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the 1st day of January, 2003.

                                        EQUUS II INCORPORATED

                                        By: /s/ Nolan Lehmann
                                           ---------------------------
                                           Name:  Nolan Lehmann
                                           Title: President

                                        Address:

                                        2929 Allen Parkway, Suite 2500
                                        Houston, Texas 77019

                                        BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                        By: /s/ David H. Strickert
                                           ----------------------------
                                           Name:  David H. Strickert
                                           Title: Senior Vice President

                                        Address:

                                        700 Louisiana
                                        Houston, Texas 77002

                                       2

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