Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

    THIS SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of the 12th
day of January, 2001, by and among the Investors that are signatory hereto
(each, an "Investor" and collectively the "Investors"), the Warrant Investors
that are signatory hereto (each, a "Warrant Investor" and, together, the
"Warrant Investors"), and INERGY PARTNERS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the "Company"), with its chief executive office located at 1101 Walnut
Street, Suite 1500, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

     PRELIMINARY STATEMENT. Contemporaneously herewith, the Company and its
Subsidiaries is acquiring (the "Acquisitions") the assets of the Hoosier Propane
group of entities and is contemplating acquiring possibly other regional retail
propane companies (collectively, with the Company and its Subsidiaries, the
"Founding Companies") and will consider, among other things, a public offering
through a master limited partnership structure by the Founding Companies or
their Affiliates which meets the requirements of a Qualified MLP Offering (as
described further herein).  The Investors are making an 11% preferred interest
investment in the Company as reflected in Schedule 3.5(a)(ii) hereof to fund the
                                          -------------------
Acquisitions by the Company, to provide for expenses of the Company in the
Qualified MLP Offering and to otherwise be used as described below in Section
2.4.

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS

For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth herein or elsewhere in the provisions hereof:

Accrued Preferred Distributions and Arrearages.  Accrued Preferred Distributions
----------------------------------------------
and Arrearages shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Company's LLC
Agreement.

Adjusted EBITDAB. Adjusted EBITDAB means, at any time, an amount, for any Person
----------------
or consolidated group of Persons (including, as applicable, the financial
results of any proposed Target (as defined in and within the meaning of the Loan
Agreement) with which the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries intend to
consolidate their financial results), equal to: EBITDAB, plus or minus, as the
case may be,

          (a) in the case of any proposed Target, adjustments, in each case
     reasonably acceptable to the Majority Investors, in the EBITDAB of the
     proposed Target to reflect any decrease or increase in expenses of the
     Target which are likely to occur after the acquisition, plus

          (b) in the case of any Person or consolidated group of Persons
     (including the Company and its Targets) adjustments, in each case
     reasonably acceptable to the Majority Investors, in the EBITDAB of the
     Person

               (i) to "normalize" revenues of the Person (up or down) based on
          weather degree day formulae customarily used in the retail propane
          industry, and
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               (ii) to "annualize" revenues of the Person (up or down) based on
          the most recent customer base of the Person; such annualization to be
          calculated for any Person in a manner consistent with the calculations
          presented to the Senior Lender under the Loan Agreement.

Adjusted EBITDAB Multiple. Adjusted EBITDAB Multiple means the number
-------------------------
representing the quotient, expressed to one decimal point, of the Total
Capitalization of a Person divided by the Adjusted EBITDAB for that Person. The
Adjusted EBITDAB Multiple for a Representative MLP or a Person that is proposed
to be a Representative MLP shall be derived solely from that Person's most
recent quarterly or annual financial statements filed with the Commission and
other public information concerning such Representative MLP.

Affiliate. Affiliate means any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
---------
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company (or
any other specified Person) and shall include (a) any Person who is an executive
officer, director or beneficial holder of at least 5% of the outstanding equity
securities of the Company (or such other specified Person), (b) any Person of
which the Company (or such other specified Person) or an Affiliate (as defined
in clause (a) above) of the Company (or such other specified Person) shall,
directly or indirectly, either beneficially own at least 5% of the outstanding
equity securities or constitute at least a 5% equity participant, and (c) in the
case of a specified Person who is an individual, any Family Members of such
Person; provided, however, that none of the Investors or Warrant Investors shall
be an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the purposes of
this Agreement. For purposes hereof, the General Partner shall be deemed to be
an Affiliate of each of the Founding Companies.

Agreement. Agreement means this Securities Purchase Agreement.
---------

Agreement Among Members, Investors and the Company. Agreement Among Members,
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Investors and the Company means the agreement in form and substance as set forth
as Exhibit A attached hereto.
   ---------

Amendment to Company's LLC Agreement. Amendment to Company's LLC Agreement means
------------------------------------
that certain Amendment No. 8 to the Company's LLC Agreement, in form and
substance as set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto, to be executed and
                          ---------
delivered at the Closing, whereby the Securities are created in the name of the
Investors, with such rights, preferences and designations as set forth therein.

Assets. Assets means all of the assets and properties of the Company, whether
------
real, personal, tangible or intangible and whether presently existing or
hereafter acquired.

Base Rate. Base Rate means the annual rate of interest announced from time to
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time by Commerce Bank of Kansas City, N.A., at its principal office in Kansas
City, Missouri, as its "base rate" or "prime rate."

Call Notice. See Section 9.2.
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Call Price. See Section 9.6.
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Cash Event.  Cash Event means any transaction or series of related transactions
----------
whereby all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken together, are sold or otherwise disposed of (other than a
sale contemporaneously with and in contemplation of a Qualified MLP Offering)
wherein not less than 85% of the aggregate proceeds actually received by the
Company and its Subsidiaries at the closing(s) constitutes cash.

Cash Event Multiplier.  For purposes hereof, the Cash Event Multiplier shall be
---------------------
determined as follows:

        If the Cash                   But no later              Then the Cash
---------------------------       ---------------------      -------------------
       Event occurs                       than                 Event Multiplier
---------------------------       ---------------------      -------------------
                                                                   will be
                                                             -------------------

From Closing Date                 August 31, 2001                     1.6

 From September 1, 2001            June 30, 2002                      1.7

From July 1, 2002                December 31, 2002                    1.8

After January 1, 2003                                                 2.0

Class A Preferred Interests. Class A Preferred Interests shall have the meaning
---------------------------
ascribed thereto in the Company's LLC Agreement.

Clawback Excess.  Clawback Excess means the difference between (a) the product
---------------
of (i) the Clawback Sale Price multiplied by (ii) the Clawback Percentage, and
(b) the aggregate Call Price paid to all Investors pursuant to Sections 9.2 and
9.6; provided, however, that such difference is greater than zero.
     --------

Clawback Party.  Clawback Party means (a) in the event of a Clawback Sale that
--------------
is a Cash Event, the Clawback Party will be the Company and any other Person
that receives a portion of the Clawback Sale Price in such Cash Event, (b) in
the event of an Equity Event, the Clawback Party will be any Person that
receives a portion of the Clawback Sales Price in such Equity Event, and (c) in
all other events, the Clawback Party will be the Company or any other Person
that receives a portion of the Clawback Sale Price in such event.

Clawback Percentage.  Clawback Percentage means a fraction, expressed as a
-------------------
percentage, the numerator of which is the sum of all Preferred Capital Accounts
(plus any Accrued Preferred Distributions and Arrearages) for all Investors,
adjusted pursuant to Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m) of the Company's LLC Agreement, as
the case may be, (whether or not actually adjusted in fact pursuant to such
Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m)) as if a Cash Event had occurred as of the Put/Call

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Closing Date, and the denominator of which is the sum of all Common Capital
Accounts (adjusted pursuant to Section 3.5(b) of the Company's LLC Agreement,
whether or not actually adjusted in fact pursuant to such Section 3.5(b), as if
a Cash Event had occurred as of the Put/Call Closing Date) and all Preferred
Capital Accounts (plus any Accrued Preferred Distributions and Arrearages) as of
the Put/Call Closing Date (adjusted pursuant to Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m) of the
Company's LLC Agreement, as the case may be, (whether or not actually adjusted
in fact pursuant to such Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m)) as if a Cash Event had
occurred as of the Put/Call Closing Date).

Clawback Portion.  Clawback Portion means an Investor's pro rata portion of the
----------------
Clawback Excess, determined by multiplying (a) the Clawback Excess by (b) the
applicable Investor Percentage for such Investor as of the Put/Call Closing Date
of the call made pursuant to Section 9.2.

Clawback Sale.  Clawback Sale will be deemed to have occurred (a) upon the
-------------
consummation of any Proposed Change of Control or Equity Event, or (b) upon the
execution and delivery by the Company of any contract, letter of intent,
memorandum of understanding, or similar written agreement, whether binding or
non-binding, for a Proposed Change of Control or Equity Event, provided that
                                                               --------
such transaction is ultimately consummated at a later date.

Clawback Sale Price.  Clawback Sale Price means the total consideration that is
-------------------
received by the Company and any other Person in connection with a Clawback Sale,

provided, however, that if the consideration may be increased by payments
--------
related to future events, including, without limitation, earnouts, escrowed
payments, installment payments, and hold backs (collectively, "Future
Payments"), the Future Payments will be calculated and added to the aggregate
consideration if, as, and when such Future Payments are made.  The Clawback Sale
Price shall be increased to include any amounts paid to any Person pursuant to
any covenants not to compete, consulting arrangements, and other similar
consideration paid to such Persons in connection with the Clawback Sale;

provided, that the Clawback Sale Price shall not include the fair value of
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amounts paid to any Person (whether as owner, employee or otherwise) or the
Company under agreements or similar arrangements entered into pursuant to good
faith arms-length negotiations in connection with actual services actually
rendered by such Person or Persons and that relate to the ongoing operations of
the Company or any successor to the Company; provided, further, that the
                                             --------  -------
Clawback Sale Price also shall include the aggregate amount of any extraordinary
Distributions declared by the Company with respect to its equity securities in
anticipation of or as a result of the Clawback Sale, except that Distributions
made pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Company's LLC Agreement shall not be
included in the Clawback Sale Price.  Any Distributions, other than
Distributions made pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Company's LLC Agreement,
declared or paid within 180 days of the date of any Clawback Sale shall be
conclusively deemed to be part of the Clawback Sale Price.

Close Relative. Close Relative shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
--------------
Section 107.50 of Part 107 of Title 13 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as
the same shall be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Closing. See Section 2.3.
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Closing Date. See Section 2.3.
------------

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

Commission. Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Common Capital Accounts. Common Capital Accounts shall have the meaning ascribed
-----------------------
thereto in the Company's LLC Agreement.

Common Interests. Common Interests shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
----------------
the Company's LLC Agreement.

Common Percentage Interests. Common Percentage Interests shall have the meaning
---------------------------
ascribed thereto in the Company's LLC Agreement.

Company.  Company means Inergy Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
-------
company and any predecessor or successor company.

Company's LLC Agreement. Company's LLC Agreement means that certain Amended and
-----------------------
Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated as of
September 30, 1998, as amended on December 10, 1998, August 4, 1999, September
28, 1999, December 31, 1999, January 1, 2000, May 31, 2000, January 12, 2001,
and January 12, 2001.

Consolidated or consolidated. Consolidated or consolidated means, with reference
----------------------------
to any term defined herein, that term as applied to the accounts of the Company
and all of its Subsidiaries, if any, consolidated in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, as from time to time in effect, consistently
applied.

Co-Sale Agreement.  Co-Sale Agreement means the co-sale agreement in form and
-----------------
substance as set forth as Exhibit C attached hereto.
                          ---------

Default. Default means an event or condition that with the passage of time or
-------
giving of notice, or both, would become (i) an Event of Default as defined in
the Loan Agreement or (ii) any material breach or material default under this
Agreement or any of the Related Agreements.

Distribution. Distribution means (a) the declaration or payment by the Company,
------------
any of its Subsidiaries, or any specified Person, of any distribution or
dividend, either in cash or in property, on or in respect of any shares of any
class of equity securities (as defined herein) of the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company that is not directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the Company, or
any other specified Person, other than distributions or dividends that, subject
to restrictions contained in this Agreement on issuances of equity securities of
the Company, are payable solely in equity securities of the payor; (b) the
purchase, redemption, or other retirement of any shares of any class of equity
securities of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company that is not wholly-
owned directly or indirectly by the Company, or other specified Person, directly
or indirectly or otherwise; or (c) any other distribution on or in respect of
any class of equity securities of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company
that is not wholly-owned directly or indirectly by the Company, or other
specified Person.

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EBITDAB. EBITDAB means an amount for any Person for the period of determination
-------
equal to

     (a) such Person's net earnings on a consolidated basis; plus

     (b) an amount equal to the net earnings of any Subsidiary not included in
such Person's net earnings multiplied by such Person's percentage ownership of
equity securities of such Subsidiary; plus

     (c) amounts deducted in the computation of either such amounts for: (i)
interest expense, (ii) federal, state and local income taxes, (iii)
depreciation, and (iv) amortization of intangibles; plus losses or minus gains,
as the case may be

     (d) gains or losses from the sale of assets not in the ordinary course of
business; plus losses or minus gains, as the case may be

     (e) other non-recurring or extraordinary gains or losses for such period;
plus

     (f) in the case of the Company, all bonus payments to Sherman or his
Affiliates accrued or paid during such period, or in the case of a
Representative MLP or an entity which is proposed to be a Representative MLP,
all bonus payments to the highest ranking officer (e.g., CEO/President) of the
Representative MLP.

Equity Event.  Equity Event means (1) a Qualified MLP Offering, or (2) any
------------
transaction or series of related transactions (including a merger, consolidation
or "stock-for-stock" sale) wherein not less than 90% of the Common Percentage
Interests held by all Voting Members of the Company are sold or otherwise
disposed of in exchange for voting Equity Securities representing the common or
residual interest in the purchaser thereof or an Affiliate of such purchaser.

Equity Event Multiplier.  For purposes hereof, the Equity Event Multiplier shall
-----------------------
be determined as follows:

        If the Cash                   But no later              Then the Cash
---------------------------       ---------------------      -------------------
       Event occurs                       than                 Event Multiplier
---------------------------       ---------------------      -------------------
                                                                   will be
                                                             -------------------

From Closing Date                   August 31, 2001                  1.4
 From September 1, 2001            December 31, 2001                 1.5
From January 1, 2002                 June 30, 2002                   1.6
From July 1, 2002                  December 31, 2002                 1.7
From January 1, 2003               December 31, 2004                 1.8
At any time from                                                     2.0

                                       6
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and after January 1, 2005

Equity Securities. Equity Securities means all equity of any Person which is not
-----------------
an individual, including stock, partnership interests, and limited liability
company membership interests, whether voting or non-voting, preferred, common or
otherwise, and all options, rights or warrants to purchase any security of the
Person, and all securities of any type whatsoever which are, or may become,
convertible into securities of the Person.

ERISA. ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, any
-----
successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder,
collectively and as from time to time amended and in effect.

Event of Default. Event of Default means (i) an Event of Default as defined in
----------------
the Loan Agreement or (ii) any material breach or material default under this
Agreement or any of the Related Agreements (after giving effect to any
provisions herein or therein expressly regarding the giving of notice, passage
of time or both); except that, solely for purposes of Sections 8.2(ii) and
9.1(e)(a) hereof, Event of Default means an Event of Default whereby the Senior
Lender has or has been deemed to have accelerated the obligations of the Company
under the Loan Agreement.

Event of Default Remedies Limitation Occurrence.  Event of Default Remedies
-----------------------------------------------
Limitation Occurrence means (i) an Event of Default (solely for purposes hereof
as defined in the Loan Agreement) has occurred, is continuing and remains
unwaived by the Senior Lender; or (ii) after giving effect to the put exercise
as provided in Sections 8.2, 9.1 and 9.7 hereof or the exercise of any rights
hereunder, an Event of Default (solely for purposes hereof as defined in the
Loan Agreement) will occur which has not been waived by the Senior Lender.

Exchange Act. Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
------------
amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at any time.

Family Members. Family Members means, as applied to any individual, a Close
--------------
Relative or Secondary Relative of such individual, and each trust (including
revocable trusts) created for the benefit of one or more of such Persons and
each custodian of property of one or more such Persons.

Financial Statements. See Section 3.07(a).
--------------------

Fiscal Year. Fiscal Year means the Company's accounting year ending on September
-----------
30 of each calendar year.

Funded Indebtedness. Funded Indebtedness means all Indebtedness of the Person
-------------------
that matures more than one year from the date of determination or matures within
one year of such date but is renewable or extendible, at the option of the
Person, to a date more than one year from such date, or that arises under a
revolving credit or other similar arrangement that obligates the lender or

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lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date of
determination, including, without limitation, all amounts of Funded Indebtedness
required to be paid or prepaid within one year from the date of determination,
but the term Funded Indebtedness shall exclude any Indebtedness incurred for
working capital purposes.

General Partner. General Partner means the general partner of the limited
---------------
partnership which offers limited partnership units to the public in the
Qualified MLP Offering and the general partner of the operating limited
partnership in the MLP structure.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or generally accepted accounting
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
principles or GAAP. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or generally
------------------
accepted accounting principles or GAAP means accounting principles that are (a)
consistent with the principles promulgated or adopted by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors and successors that, unless
specified herein to the contrary, are in effect from time to time, (b) applied
with respect to any Person on a basis consistent with prior periods, and (c)
such that a certified public accountant would, insofar as the use of accounting
principles is pertinent, be in a position to deliver an unqualified opinion as
to financial statements in which such principles have been properly applied.

Holdings. Inergy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
--------

Hoosier Acquisition. Hoosier Acquisition means the acquisition of assets
-------------------
pursuant to the Hoosier Agreement.

Hoosier Agreement.  Hoosier Agreement means that certain Asset Purchase
-----------------
Agreement dated September 8, 2000 among Investors 300, Inc., Domex, Inc., L&L
Leasing, Inc., Jerry Boman, Wayne Cook, Glen E. Cook, Phillip L. Elbert, and the
Company, as amended as of January 12, 2001.

Indebtedness. Indebtedness means all obligations, contingent or otherwise, that
------------
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles should be classified
on the obligor's balance sheet as liabilities, including without limitation all
contingent liabilities, lease obligations that in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles are required to be capitalized, and all
guarantees, endorsements, and contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness
of others.

Investor. Investor means (a) each of the Persons, other than the Company and the
--------
Warrant Investors, that are signatory hereto, and (b) upon exercise of the
Warrants pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreements, each
Warrant Investor that exercises its Warrants.

Investor Percentage.  Investor Percentage means a fraction, expressed as a
-------------------
percentage, the numerator of which is the Preferred Capital Account of the
Investor in question as adjusted pursuant to Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m) of the
Company's LLC Agreement, as the case may be, at the time of the Put/Call Closing
Date at which the Company repurchased such Investor's Securities pursuant to
Section 9.2, and the denominator of which is the aggregate Preferred Capital
Accounts of all of the Investors, each as adjusted pursuant to Section 4.7(l) or
4.7(m) of the

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Company's LLC Agreement, as the case may be, at the time of the Put/Call Closing
Date at which the Company repurchased the Investors' Securities pursuant to
Section 9.2.

Investors.  Investors mean all of the Investors collectively.
---------

Investors Rights Agreement.  Investors Rights Agreement means that certain
--------------------------
investors rights agreement in form and substance set forth as Exhibit D attached
                                                              ---------
hereto.

Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding.  Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding shall mean
---------------------------------
any time at which a case or other proceeding shall be commenced any of the
Company, Holdings, or any Subsidiary of the Company or Holdings in any court of
competent jurisdiction seeking (a) relief under the federal bankruptcy laws (as
now or hereafter in effect) or under any other laws, domestic or foreign,
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or adjustment of
debts, or (b) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or
the like for the Company, Holdings, or any Subsidiary of the Company or Holdings
or for all or any substantial part of their respective assets, domestic or
foreign, and such case or proceeding shall continue undismissed or unstayed for
a period of sixty (60) consecutive days, or an order granting the relief
requested in such case or proceeding (including, but not limited to, an order
for relief under such federal bankruptcy laws) shall be entered.

Joinder Agreement.  Joinder Agreement means the agreement in form and substance
-----------------
as set forth as Exhibit C to the Warrant Agreement, to be executed and delivered
by each Warrant Investor upon exercise of such Warrant Investor's Warrant.

KCEP.  KCEP means KCEP Ventures II, L.P., a Missouri limited partnership.
----

KCEP 1999 Agreement. KCEP 1999 Agreement means that certain Securities Purchase
-------------------
Agreement dated December 31, 1999, between the Company and KCEP, as amended on
even date herewith.

KCEP 1999 Interests.  KCEP 1999 Interests mean the Class A Preferred Interests
-------------------
as purchased by KCEP on December 31, 1999 as reflected on the Amendment No. 4 to
the Company's LLC Agreement dated December 31, 1999, as further amended on the
Closing Date.

Knowledge. An individual will be deemed to have "Knowledge" of a particular fact
---------
or other matter if such individual is actually aware of such fact or other
matter. The Company will be deemed to have "Knowledge" of a particular fact or
other matter only if any of Sherman, Phillip L. Elbert, or William Gautreaux is
actually aware of such fact or other matter.

Leases. Leases means all leases of real and personal property entered into or
------
assumed by the Company, whether capitalized, operating or otherwise.

Lien. Lien means (a) any encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien,
----
charge, restriction, hypothecation or other claim or security interest of any
kind upon any property or assets of any kind of a Person, or upon the income or
profits therefrom, whether voluntary or involuntary, or arising at law or
otherwise, (b) any acquisition of or agreement to have an option or other right
to acquire any property or assets upon conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, device, or

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<PAGE>

arrangement (including any capitalized lease), or (c) any sale, assignment,
pledge, or other transfer for security of any accounts, general intangibles, or
chattel paper, with or without recourse, or any agreement or option with respect
to any of the foregoing.

Loan Agreement. Loan Agreement means the Second Amended and Restated Credit
--------------
Agreement dated as of January 12, 2001, among the Company, Inergy Propane, LLC,
Rolesville Gas and Oil Company, Inc., Wilson Oil Company of Johnston County,
Inc., the Lenders named therein, the Senior Lender, Firstar Bank, N.A., and Bank
of Oklahoma, N.A., and the exhibits thereto and all instruments, documents and
agreements executed or delivered in connection therewith between the Company
(and certain of its Affiliates) and the Senior Lender, including, without
limitation, all promissory notes, guarantees, security agreements, pledge
agreements, assignments, deeds of trust, mortgages, letters of credit, and other
instruments and agreements executed pursuant thereto or in connection therewith,
including all amendments, supplements, extensions, renewals, restatements,
replacements, or refinancings thereof, or other modifications (in whole or in
part, without limitations as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants, or other
provisions) thereof from time to time.

Majority Investors.  Majority Investors means the holder or holders (excluding
------------------
the Company and its Subsidiaries) at the relevant time of more than sixty
percent (60%) of the Securities, as determined by reference to the Class A
Preferred Interests.  Unless and until supplanted by a subsequent written notice
executed by the Majority Investors, the Company shall with respect to any
consent, approval, waiver or other action by Majority Investors, have the right
to rely on any previously delivered notice or other instrument signed by or on
behalf of those Investors constituting Majority Investors (determined by
reference to this Agreement and the Company's books and records regarding
ownership of applicable Class A Preferred Interests), notwithstanding any
actions or omissions by, or disputes between, any holders of the Securities.
Each of the Investors which, at any given time or for any specified purpose
herein, is then acting as one of the Majority Investors, shall endeavor in good
faith to keep the other Investors reasonably apprised of the actions taken
hereunder by the Majority Investors and, if such actions are reduced to writing,
to provide prompt written notice thereof to the other Investors.

New Securities. New Securities means any Equity Securities of the Company,
--------------
including the Securities, whether now authorized or not; provided, however that
                                                         ------------------
the term "New Securities" does not include (i) securities offered, converted or
exchanged in a Qualified MLP Offering; (ii) securities offered or issued in a
Qualified Acquisition; (iii) non-voting membership interests, constituting not
more than ten percent (10%) of the total equity of the Company (or such greater
percentage or amount as the Majority Investors may approve in writing) issued to
employees or consultants of the Company or its Affiliates pursuant to an option
plan, employee purchase plan, restricted equity plan or other employee plan or
agreement whereby equity interests are to be issued to employees or consultants;
(iv) securities identified on Schedule 3.5(a)(ii) hereof; (v) the Warrants and
                              --------------------
the Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants; or (vi) securities issued
as a result of a split, distribution or reclassification of equity interests,
distributable on a pro rata basis to all holders of securities of the Company.

Non-Investor Interests.  Non-Investor Interests means any Equity Securities held
----------------------
by a Person other than the Investors or Warrant Investors, provided, however,
                                                           --------
that Non-Investor Interests

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shall not include any Common Interests beneficially owned (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by any Person if the Common Percentage Interest
for all Common Interests beneficially owned by such Person and any of its
Affiliates does not exceed, in the aggregate, 3.0% of the total Common
Interests.

Organizational Documents. Organizational Documents shall include the articles or
------------------------
certificate of incorporation or organization, operating agreement, limited
liability company agreement, joint venture or partnership agreement, bylaws, or
articles or other charter documents of any Person other than an individual, each
as from time to time amended or modified.

Permitted Debt. Permitted Debt means "Permitted Debt" as defined in and within
--------------
the meaning of the Loan Agreement.

Permitted Liens. Permitted Liens means "Permitted Liens" as defined in and
---------------
within the meaning of the Loan Agreement.

Person. Person means an individual, partnership (whether general, limited,
------
limited liability or otherwise), limited liability company, corporation,
association, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, and any
government, governmental department or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Preferred Capital Account.  Preferred Capital Account shall have the meaning
-------------------------
ascribed thereto in the Company's LLC Agreement.

Pro Forma Balance Sheet. See Section 3.7(a)(ii).
-----------------------

Projections. See Section 3.7(a)(iii).
-----------

Proposed Change of Control. Proposed Change of Control means (a) any proposal,
--------------------------
offer, resolution or understanding, whether or not reduced to writing, initiated
by or received by the Company or any of the Affiliates, members, officers,
directors, employees, or agents of the Company, (i) to purchase or lease all or
substantially all of the assets and properties of the Company, (ii) to purchase
more than 50% of the Equity Securities (calculated based on the total aggregate
Common Capital Accounts, adjusted pursuant to Section 3.5(b) of the Company's
LLC Agreement, and the Preferred Capital Accounts as of the date of such
proposal, offer, resolution or understanding) or voting membership interests of
the Company (other than pursuant to a Qualified MLP Offering), (iii) to merge or
consolidate the Company with another Person or Persons (whether or not the
Company is the surviving or resulting entity thereof, but excluding a Qualified
Acquisition, and excluding any merger or consolidation in which the same parties
control the surviving entity as control the Company immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation), or (iv) to liquidate, dissolve or terminate the
Company, (b) the resignation of Sherman as the President or Chief Executive
Officer of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (c) Inergy Holdings, LLC shall
cease to be an Affiliate of Sherman, or (d) except upon consummation of a
Qualified MLP Offering, Inergy Holdings, LLC shall cease to own and control a
majority of the voting membership interests of the Company.

                                       11
<PAGE>

Purchase Price. See Section 2.2.
--------------

Put/Call Closing Date. See Section 9.3.
---------------------

Put Formula Amount. See Section 9.5(b).
------------------

Put Notice. See Section 9.1.
----------

Put Price. See Section 9.5.
---------

Put Rights.  See Section 9.1.
----------

Qualified Acquisition. Qualified Acquisition means any "Permitted Acquisition"
---------------------
(as defined in and within the meaning of the Loan Agreement) which, upon
consummation of the Permitted Acquisition, does not cause the Adjusted EBITDAB
Multiple of the Company on a consolidated basis to be greater than 7.0.

Qualified MLP Offering. Qualified MLP Offering means an offering and exchange of
----------------------
Equity Securities of the Company and/or its Affiliates to be effected by a Form
S-1 Registration Statement (and the exhibits and schedules thereto) to be filed
with the Commission in connection with the Qualified MLP Offering, and which has
the other features for the benefit of the Investors as described herein:

     (i)  immediately prior to, or at the time of, the Qualified MLP Offering,
     the capital accounts of the KCEP 1999 Interests in the Company will have
     the "deemed gain allocation" as described in Section 4.7(l) of the
     Company's LLC Agreement; and

     (ii) immediately prior to, or at the time of, the Qualified MLP Offering,
     the capital accounts of the Class A Preferred Interests of the Investors in
     the Company (other than the KCEP 1999 Interests) will have the "deemed gain
     allocation" as described in Section 4.7(m) of the Company's LLC Agreement;
     and

     (iii) each of the Investors will exchange all of their Class A Preferred
     Interests in the Company (including the KCEP 1999 Interests) for senior
     subordinated limited partnership units of the publicly traded master
     limited partnership; and

     (iv)  the senior subordinated limited partnership units to held by the
     Investors after the exchange of all of their Class A Preferred Interests
     and upon consummation of the Qualified MLP Offering will be ranked (1)
     during the subordination period (to be defined in the Qualified MLP limited
     partnership agreement), (A) junior to the common limited partnership units
     to be issued to the public in the Qualified MLP Offering (B) pari passu to
     the senior subordinated limited partnership units to be issued to the
     General Partner or the Founding Companies or their Affiliates in the
     Qualified MLP Offering, and (C) senior to all junior limited partnership
     interests, if any, to be issued in the Qualified MLP Offering; and (2)
     after the subordination period, pari passu with the common limited
     partnership units issued to the public in the Qualified MLP Offering; and

                                       12
<PAGE>

     (v)  the subordination period (to be defined in the Qualified MLP limited
     partnership agreement) allows for release of 25% at the end of Year 3, 25%
     at the end of Year 4 and 50% at the end of Year 5 of the senior
     subordinated limited partnership units to held by the Investors after the
     exchange and upon consummation of the Qualified MLP Offering, except to the
     extent that certain market-driven performance thresholds (to be determined
     by the managing underwriter for the Qualified MLP Offering and to be set
     forth in the Qualified MLP limited partnership agreement) are not met, such
     releases may be delayed as provided in such partnership agreement; and

     (vi) the Company shall have valuation distributable cash flow coverage (as
     determined by the managing underwriter for the Qualified MLP Offering) on
     the common units to be issued to the general public in the Qualified MLP
     Offering of at least 2-to-1;

     (vii) at the closing of the Qualified MLP Offering, the junior subordinated
     limited partnership units issued to Holdings shall represent not less than
     10% of the total market capitalization of the master limited partnership;
     and

     (viii)  after the Qualified MLP Offering, the Investors shall continue to
     receive the benefits of Section 3 of the Agreement Among Members, Investors
     and the Company until such Section is terminated in accordance with the
     terms of such agreement.

Related Agreements. Related Agreements means the Loan Agreement, the Amendment
------------------
to Company's LLC Agreement, the Company's LLC Agreement, the Co-Sale Agreement,
the Agreement Among Members, Investors and the Company, the Warrant Agreement,
and the Investors Rights Agreement, and all appendices, schedules and exhibits
thereof.

Representative MLP. Representative MLP means each of the three (3) publicly
------------------
traded master limited partnerships which has, at the time of the determination,
the highest Adjusted EBITDAB Multiple in the retail propane industry. The
Majority Investors and the Company shall mutually agree upon which of the
publicly traded master limited partnerships are to be included as a
Representative MLP but, in the event they cannot so decide within 10 business
days, the Majority Investors shall request the appropriately qualified person or
persons at Paine Webber Incorporated (or any successor organization) or other
nationally recognized underwriter with substantial experience in lead managing
public offerings of master limited partnership units to state which publicly
traded master limited partnerships fit the criteria stated herein as a
Representative MLP and such decision, which shall be rendered in writing within
5 business days, shall be binding upon the Company and all of the Investors.

Restricted Securities. See Section 11.1.
---------------------

SBIA. SBIA means the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended.
----

Secondary Relative. Secondary Relative shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
------------------
in Section 107.50 of Part 107 of Title 13 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as
the same shall be amended or supplemented from time to time.

                                       13
<PAGE>

Securities. Securities shall mean (a) the Class A Preferred Interests issued to
----------
the Investors at the Closing, having the rights, preferences and designations,
and initial Preferred Capital Account for each Investor, as set forth in

Schedule 3.5(a)(ii) hereto, and (b) the Class A Preferred Interests issued to
-------------------
the Warrant Investors upon exercise of the Warrants, having the rights,
preferences and designations, and initial Preferred Capital Account, as set
forth in the Warrant Investor Amendment to Company's LLC Agreement.

Securities Act. Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
--------------
any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Securities Laws. See Section 6.8.
---------------

Senior Indebtedness. Senior Indebtedness means the Indebtedness of the Company
-------------------
in the maximum principal amount of $96,000,000 to the Senior Lender under the
Loan Agreement or to any Indebtedness approved by the Majority Investors in
substitute of the Indebtedness to the Senior Lender.

Senior Lender. Senior Lender means the syndicate of banks led by First Union
-------------
National Bank, as Agent, or any successor lender.

Sherman. Sherman means John J. Sherman, an individual and the current President
-------
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Subordination Agreement.  Subordination Agreement means that certain
-----------------------
Subordination Agreement dated as of January 12, 2001, among the Senior Lender
and each of the Investors.

Subsidiary. Subsidiary means any Person of which the Company or other specified
----------
Person now or hereafter shall at the time own directly or indirectly through a
Subsidiary at least a majority of the outstanding equity securities (or other
shares or forms of beneficial interest) entitled to vote generally and, with
respect to the Company shall be deemed to include the assets acquired in the
Hoosier Acquisition as if such acquisition had taken place immediately prior to
the Closing.

Total Capitalization. Total Capitalization of any Person means the Funded
--------------------
Indebtedness of that Person plus either: (1) in the case of a Person which has
publicly traded Equity Securities, the total equity market capitalization of
such Person, or (2) in the case of the Company, the aggregate capital accounts
of all preferred membership interests in the Company which are pari passu or
senior to the Securities, including the Class A Preferred Interests, or (3) in
the case of any other Person, the total value of all Equity Securities of that
Person.

Unfunded Vested Accrued Benefits. Unfunded Vested Accrued Benefits means with
--------------------------------
respect to any employee benefit plan of a Person at any time, the amount (if
any) by which the present value of all vested nonforfeitable benefits under such
employee benefit plan exceeds the fair market value of all employee benefit plan
assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent
valuation date for such employee benefit plan.

                                       14
<PAGE>

Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding.  Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding shall mean any
-------------------------------
time at which any of the Company, Holdings, or any Subsidiary of the Company or
Holdings shall (a) commence a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws
(as now or hereafter in effect), (b) file a petition seeking to take advantage
of any other laws, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, winding up or composition for adjustment of debts, (c) consent
to or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner any petition filed
against it in an involuntary case under such bankruptcy laws or other laws, (d)
apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner,
the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian,
trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a substantial part of its property,
domestic or foreign, (e) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they
become due, (vi) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (f)
take any corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the foregoing.

Voting Member.  Voting Member shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the
-------------
Company's LLC Agreement.

Voting Member Majority.  Voting Member Majority shall have the meaning ascribed
----------------------
thereto in the Company's LLC Agreement.

Warrant.  Warrant means the right to acquire additional Securities granted to
-------
the Warrant Investors pursuant to Section 18 of this Agreement.
                                  ----------

Warrant Agreement.  Warrant Agreement means each of the agreements in form and
-----------------
substance as set forth as Exhibits E-1 and E-2 attached hereto.
                          --------------------

Warrant Investor.  Warrant Investor means each of the Persons that have executed
----------------
the signature page hereto solely with respect to Section 18 of this Agreement
                                                 ----------
and the Warrant Agreements.

Warrant Investor Amendment to LLC Agreement.  Warrant Investor Amendment to LLC
-------------------------------------------
Agreement means the amendment to the Company's LLC Agreement, in form and
substance as set forth as Exhibit B to the Warrant Agreement, to be executed and
delivered by the Company and each Warrant Investor upon exercise of such Warrant
Investor's Warrant.

SECTION 2.  SALE AND PURCHASE OF SECURITIES

     2.1. Sale and Purchase of Securities. At the Closing and subject to all of
          -------------------------------
the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on the representations and
warranties set forth or referred to herein, the Company agrees to issue and sell
to the Investors, and each Investor agrees to purchase from the Company,
severally and not jointly, the amount of Securities set forth beside such
Investor's name on Schedule 3.5(a)(ii) hereto.

     2.2. Purchase Price. The parties hereto agree that the aggregate purchase
          --------------
price for the Securities to be purchased by the Investors is $15,000,000 (the
"Purchase Price"), to be paid by wire transfer at the Closing pursuant to
written instructions provided by the Company prior to the Closing Date.

                                       15
<PAGE>

     2.3. Closing. The closing of the purchases and sales of the Securities (the
          -------
"Closing") will take place at the offices of Stinson Mag & Fizzell, 1201 Walnut,
Suite 2800, Kansas City, Missouri 64106 at 10:00 a.m. local time on January 12,
2001, or such other place and date as the parties hereto may agree upon (the
"Closing Date"). The Securities will be issued to the Investors on the Closing
Date and registered in the Investors' names and in such amounts as specified on

Schedule 3.5(a)(ii) hereto.
-------------------

     2.4. Use of Proceeds. The Company agrees that it will use the proceeds from
          ---------------
the sale of the Securities hereunder solely to (i) fund Qualified Acquisitions,
(ii) provide for the expenses of a Qualified MLP Offering, and (iii) provide
working capital for use by the Company in the ordinary course of its business.

SECTION 3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Company hereby represents and warrants to each of the Investors that, as of
the Closing Date:

     3.1. Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its
          ------------------------------
Subsidiaries (1) is a limited liability company or corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its
organization, (2) is in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which it is
required to be qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company
or foreign corporation, and (3) has obtained all licenses and permits and has
filed all registrations necessary to the operation of its business. The Company
and each of its Subsidiaries has the power to own its properties and to carry on
its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

     3.2. Authorization. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company
          -------------
of this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which the Company is a party,
and the issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities, (a) are within the
Company's power and authority, (b) have been duly authorized by all necessary
proceedings under the Company's LLC Agreement or otherwise, (c) do not conflict
with or result in any breach of any provision of the Company's LLC Agreement,
and (d) do not conflict with or result in any breach of any provision or the
creation of any Lien, other than Permitted Liens for the benefit of the Senior
Lender, upon any of the property of the Company pursuant to the Company's
Organizational Documents or any law, regulation, order, judgment, writ,
injunction, license, permit, agreement, indenture, or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound, the non-compliance with which would
materially adversely affect the business, operations, financial or legal
condition, or prospects of the Company.

     3.3. Enforceability. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each
          --------------
of the Related Agreements to which the Company is a party and the issuance and
sale of the Securities will result in legally binding obligations of the Company
enforceable against it in accordance with the respective terms and provisions
hereof and thereof, except to the extent (a) such enforceability is limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, or
other similar laws relating to or affecting generally the enforcement of
creditors rights, (b) the availability of the remedy of specific performance or
injunctive or other equitable

                                       16
<PAGE>

relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought, and (c) the enforceability of the indemnities contained
in Section 12 of this Agreement may be limited under federal and state
securities laws.

     3.4. Approvals: No Violations. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.4 hereto,
          ------------------------
the execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement and
each of the Related Agreements to which the Company is a party, and the issuance
and sale of the Securities hereunder, do not require the approval or consent of,
or any filing with, any governmental authority or agency, or any other Person.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation, or in default
of or in breach of, its Articles or any law, regulation, order, judgment, writ,
injunction, license, permit, agreement, indenture, or instrument to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound, which
violation, default or breach would materially adversely affect the business,
operations, financial or legal condition, or prospects of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.

     3.5. Capitalization.
          --------------

          (a) Equity Securities. Schedule 3.5(a)(i) sets forth a list of all of
              -----------------  ------------------
     the holders of Equity Securities in Holdings, the Company, and each of the
     Company's Subsidiaries and the classes, series, amount, percentages and
     capital accounts of such holders. On the Closing Date, after giving effect
     to the transactions contemplated hereby and the acquisition of Hoosier
     Propane, Holdings, the Company, and each of the Company's Subsidiaries will
     have no outstanding Equity Securities except as set forth in Schedule
     3.5(a)(ii) hereto. All such outstanding Equity Securities set forth in
     Schedule 3.5 (a)(ii) in Holdings, the Company, and each of the Company's
     Subsidiaries have been and will be duly authorized, fully paid and non-
     assessable (except for any obligations of Common Members, as defined in the
     Company's LLC Agreement, to make additional capital contributions as
     provided in applicable organizational documents).

          (b) Options, etc. Other than as created pursuant to this Agreement, or
              ------------
     as disclosed on Schedule 3.5(b) hereto, neither Holdings, the Company, nor
     any of the Company's Subsidiaries has outstanding any agreements, rights
     (either preemptive or other), or options to subscribe for or requiring the
     issuance by Holdings, the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries of
     any equity securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
     for its Equity Securities.

          (c) No Registration Rights. Except pursuant to the Investors Rights
              ----------------------
     Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 3.5(c) hereto, the Company has not
     granted to any holder of any of its securities the right to demand or
     piggyback on any registration of any Equity Securities of the Company with
     the Commission, or any other registration, co-sale, or similar rights.

     3.6. Subsidiaries. Other than those entities listed on Schedule 3.6,
          ------------
neither Holdings nor the Company has any Subsidiaries.

     3.7. Reports and Financial Statements.
          --------------------------------

                                       17
<PAGE>

          (a) The Company has previously furnished the Investors with complete
     and correct copies of the following:

               (i) the unaudited balance sheets of the Company as of September
          30, 2000 and the audited balance sheets of the Company as of September
          30, 1997, September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1999 and unaudited
          income statements for the twelve months ended September 30, 2000 and
          audited income statements for the twelve months ended September 30,
          1997, September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1999 and other income
          statements and balance sheets for the interim periods ended prior to
          the Closing Date, each attached hereto as Schedule 3.7(a)(i)
          (collectively the "Financial Statements");

               (ii) the Company's pro forma balance sheet as of October 31,
          2000, giving effect to the transactions subsequent thereto and
          contemplated hereby, including the Hoosier Acquisition ("Pro Forma
          Balance Sheet") and attached hereto as Schedule 3.7(a)(ii); and

               (iii) the projections of the Company's future performance dated
          as of the Closing Date, which gives pro forma effect to the Hoosier
          Acquisition, and attached hereto as Schedule 3.7(a)(iii) (the
          "Projections").

          (b) Each of the Financial Statements delivered under Section 3.7(a)(i)
     and 3.7(a)(ii) hereof has been prepared from the books and records of the
     Company and reflect the Hoosier Acquisition, as the case may be, fairly
     present the financial or legal condition of the Company and the results of
     operations on the dates or for the periods indicated, and has been prepared
     in accordance with GAAP.

          (c) Each of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet and each of the Projections
     has been prepared by management of the Company on a reasonable basis
     consistent with the historical financial statements of the Company and the
     Hoosier Propane group of entities, and each constitutes a reasonable basis
     for the assessment of the future performance of the Company during the
     periods indicated therein; provided, however, that each of the Investors
     acknowledges that no guarantee is being made by the Company that actual
     performance will equal the performance contained in the Projections.

     3.8. Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.8, there
          -----------------------
has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, properties,
prospects, or financial or legal condition of the Company since the date of the
October 31, 2000 Balance Sheet. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.8, since the
date of the October 31, 2000 Balance Sheet, the Company will not have conducted
any business or incurred any liabilities other than those arising in the
ordinary course of the Company's business and in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Hoosier Agreement, or the
Related Agreements.

     3.9. Indebtedness and Liens. The Company does not and, after giving effect
          ----------------------
to the transactions to be consummated at the Closing will not, have any
Indebtedness or Liens upon any of its properties other than Permitted Debt and
Permitted Liens.

                                       18
<PAGE>

     3.10. Absence of Certain Developments. Except as provided in this Agreement
           -------------------------------
or as disclosed on Schedule 3.10(a), since the date of the Pro Forma Balance
                   ----------------
Sheet, the Company has not (i) issued any bonds, debentures, notes, equity
securities, or other securities; (ii) borrowed any amount or incurred or become
subject to any liabilities (absolute or contingent) other than in the ordinary
course of business; (iii) discharged or satisfied any Lien or paid any
obligation or liability (absolute or contingent) other than in the ordinary
course of business; (iv) purchased or redeemed any of its equity securities; (v)
mortgaged, pledged, or subjected to Lien, any of its assets, tangible or
intangible, except Liens of current taxes not yet due and payable and except for
Permitted Liens; (vi) sold, assigned, or transferred any of its tangible assets
except inventory in the ordinary course of business, or canceled any debts or
claims; (vii) sold, assigned, or transferred any patents, licenses, permits,
trademarks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, or other intangible assets;
(viii) suffered any extraordinary loss or waived any right, whether or not in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; or (ix)
entered into any transaction other than in the ordinary course of business.
Since October 1, 1999, the Company has not made any Distribution to any Person,
other than Distributions to holders of Common Interests and Class A Preferred
Interests pursuant to the terms of the Company's LLC Agreement.  Schedule
                                                                 --------
3.10(b) sets forth the amounts of all Distributions to holders of Common
-------
Interests and Class A Preferred Interests since October 1, 1999.  Schedule
                                                                  --------
3.10(c) sets forth the dates and other terms with respect to the redemption
-------
(whether at the option of the Company or the holders thereof) and/or maturity of
all Equity Securities outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.

     3.11. Solvency. Now and after giving effect to the transactions
           --------
contemplated by this Agreement, the Hoosier Agreement, and the Related
Agreements, the Company (i) is not and will not be insolvent, (ii) has and will
have assets having a fair salable value in excess of the amount required to pay
its liabilities on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured, and
(iii) is not and will not be left with unreasonably small capital with which to
engage in its anticipated business. On both a consolidated and unconsolidated
basis, the Company has not, and after giving effect to this Agreement, the
Hoosier Agreement, and the Related Agreements will not have, incurred
Indebtedness and other obligations of any kind whatsoever beyond its ability to
pay such Indebtedness and other obligations as they mature.

     3.12. Title to Assets. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good
           ---------------
and marketable title to all assets and other property purported to be owned by
it, subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.

     3.13. Litigation. There is no litigation, at law or in equity, nor any
           ----------
proceeding or investigation before or by any court, board, or other governmental
or administrative agency or any arbitrator pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened which, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably
likely to result in any final judgment or liability that could result in any
material adverse change in the business, assets, properties, prospects or
financial or legal condition of the Company or any Subsidiary or that seeks to
enjoin the consummation of, or that questions the validity of, any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Hoosier Agreement, the
Securities, or the Related Agreements, except for the matters set forth on
Schedule 3.13. No award, judgment, decree, or order of any court, board, or
-------------
other governmental or administrative agency or arbitrator has been issued or, to
the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company that has or may
have any material adverse effect on the business,

                                       19
<PAGE>

assets, properties, prospects or financial or legal condition of the Company. To
the Knowledge of the Company, there are not any facts or circumstances involved
with or resulting from an explosion of the propane products, tanks or canisters
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to
result in a claim or action for damages, property loss or personal injury.

     3.14. Taxes. The Company has filed all tax returns and reports that are
           -----
required to be filed with any foreign, federal, state, or local governmental
authority or agency and has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of,
all assessments received and all taxes that have or may become due under
applicable foreign, federal, state, or local governmental law or regulations
with respect to the periods in respect of which such returns and reports were
filed. The Company has no Knowledge of no additional actual or proposed
assessments against it since the date of such returns and reports, and there
will be no additional assessments for which adequate reserves appearing on the
Pro Forma Balance Sheet have not been established. The Company has made adequate
provision for all current taxes.

     3.15. Defaults. To the Company's Knowledge, (i) neither the Company nor any
           --------
of its Subsidiaries are in default under any provisions of its Articles and (ii)
there is no Default or Event of Default.

     3.16. ERISA. No employee benefit plan established, assumed, or maintained
           -----
by the Company or to which the Company has made contributions, which is subject
to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, had an
accumulated funding deficiency (as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA
or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, as of the last day of the
most recent fiscal year of such plan heretofore ended. No liability to the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than required insurance premiums,
all of that have been paid) has been incurred by the Company with respect to any
such plan and there has not been any reportable event within the meaning of
ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other event or
condition, which presents a material risk of termination of any such plan by the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Neither any such plan nor any trust
created thereunder, nor any trustee or administrator thereof, has engaged in a
prohibited transaction (as such term is defined in Section 4975 of the Code or
Section 406 of ERISA) that could subject any such plan, trust, trustee, or
administrator of the Company to any tax or penalty on prohibited transactions
imposed under said Section 4975 or ERISA. No material liability has been
incurred with respect to any multiemployer plan, within the meaning of Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, as a result of the complete or partial withdrawal by the
Company from such a multiemployer plan under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA; nor
has the Company been notified by any such multiemployer plan that such
multiemployer plan is in reorganization or insolvency under and within the
meaning of Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA or that such multiemployer plan intends
to terminate or has been terminated under Section 4041A of ERISA.

     3.17. Governmental Regulations. The Company is not and will not become a
           ------------------------
"holding company", or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company" or an
"affiliate" of a "holding company", as such terms are defined in the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935; nor is it a "registered investment
company", or an "affiliated person" or a "principal underwriter" of a

                                       20
<PAGE>

"registered investment company", as such terms are defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     3.18. Environmental Protection. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18
           ------------------------                         -------------
hereto, to the Company's Knowledge, it has obtained all permits, licenses, and
other authorizations which are required under federal, state, and local laws
relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including laws relating
to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants or hazardous or toxic
materials or wastes, except where the failure to obtain any such permits,
licenses, or other authorizations would not materially adversely affect the
business, operations, financial or legal conditions, or prospects of the
Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18 hereto, to the Company's
                                -------------
Knowledge, it is in full compliance with all terms and conditions of the
required permits, licenses and authorizations, and is also in full compliance
with all other limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions,
requirements, obligations, schedules and timetables contained in those laws or
contained in any regulation, code, plan, order, decree, judgment, notice or
demand letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder. Except as set
forth on Schedule 3.18 hereto, the Company is not aware of, and has not received
         -------------
notice of, any past, present or future events, conditions, circumstances,
activities, practices, incidents, actions, or plans which may interfere with or
prevent continued compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, or
which may give rise to any common law or legal liability, or otherwise form the
basis of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation, based
on or related to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport, or handling, or the emission, discharge, release,
or threatened release into the environment, or any pollutant, contaminant, or
hazardous or toxic material or waste.

     3.19. Contracts and Commitments. Schedule 3.19 lists all potential Targets
           -------------------------  -------------
(as defined in and within the meaning of the Loan Agreement) with which the
Company or its Affiliates have entered into an executed letter of intent
regarding a possible acquisition since the date of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet.
Schedule 3.19 includes all executed letters of intent regarding such
-------------
acquisitions.

     3.20. Compliance with Small Business Investment Act Requirements.
           ----------------------------------------------------------

          (a) The Company has not engaged in any activities and shall not
     hereafter engage in any activities or use directly or indirectly the
     proceeds received from the Investors for any purpose for which a Small
     Business Investment Company is prohibited from providing funds as provided
     in Section 107.720 of Title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 107 as
     promulgated under the SBIA.

          (b) To the Company's Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its
     officers, directors (excluding David J. Schulte and Richard C. Green, Jr.)
     members (excluding the Investors) or employees directly or indirectly own
     or control, or are related to any Person who owns or controls, any interest
     in, or is an officer, director, employee, member, or agent of, any of the
     Investors or any entity in any way related to or affiliated with any of the
     Investors or any other Small Business Investment Company.

                                       21
<PAGE>

          (c) The Company has not received, is not receiving, and has no
     intention to apply for any assistance from the Small Business
     Administration or any Small Business Investment Company other than the
     Investors or other than bank loans through the Small Business
     Administration.

          (d) The Company qualifies as a "small business concern" under, and is
     in full compliance with, the provisions of SBIA, and the aggregate
     consolidated tangible net worth of the Company and all other business
     entities affiliated with the Company does not exceed $18,000,000, and the
     Company's average consolidated net income in its last two Fiscal Years has
     not exceeded $6,000,000, each calculated in accordance with the SBIA and
     the regulations thereunder.

     3.21. Insurance. All of the insurance policies of the Company and its
           ---------
Subsidiaries are in full force and effect and the premiums therefor, to the
extent due and payable, have been paid in full. These insurance policies provide
adequate enforceable coverage for all liability and casualty risks of the
Company and its Subsidiaries in light of the experience of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and the practice and usages of the industry in which the Company
and its Subsidiaries are engaged.

     3.22. Tax Status. The Company is, and immediately after the Closing will
           ----------
continue to be, taxed as a partnership under the Code.

     3.23. Hoosier Agreement. Each of the Investors shall be the beneficiary of,
           -----------------
and entitled to rely upon, the representations, warranties and covenants of the
parties to the Hoosier Agreement (other than the Company), subject to all
exceptions and qualifications expressly contained therein or referred to in an
exhibit or schedule appended thereto, as if the Company (instead of such parties
other than the Company) on behalf of such other parties had made such
representations, warranties, and covenants directly to such Investors (instead
of to the Company as the buyer) on and as of the date hereof; it being
understood and agreed that such Investors have no liability, responsibility or
obligation with regard to any of the Company's representations, warranties or
covenants to such parties or any other person or entity under the Hoosier
Agreement or any other documents called for therein, and it being further
understood that the Company, and not the other parties to the Hoosier Agreement,
is making the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.23, and
the Investors shall have no recourse against any parties to the Hoosier
Agreement other than the Company.

SECTION 4.  REPRESENTATIONS OF INVESTORS

Each Investor hereby represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to the
Company, as to himself or itself, as follows:

     4.1. Investment Intent. Such Investor is acquiring the Securities for
          -----------------
investment, and not with a view to selling or otherwise distributing the
Securities, other than in a transaction that is exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.

                                       22
<PAGE>

     4.2. Approvals. The terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Securities
          ---------
and the Related Agreements and of the transactions contemplated by each have
been approved in accordance with such Investor's charter documents, and if the
Investor is an SBIC, the SBIA and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

     4.3. Accredited Investor. Such Investor is an "accredited investor" as
          -------------------
defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.

     4.4. No Commissions. No commission or other remuneration has been paid or
          --------------
will be payable by such Investor, directly or indirectly, in connection with his
or its purchase of Securities hereunder.

SECTION 5.  CONDITIONS TO PURCHASE

Each Investor's obligation to purchase the Securities pursuant to this Agreement
is subject to compliance by the Company with its agreements contained herein,
and to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of the following
conditions:

     5.1. Articles and Good Standing Certificates. Each Investor shall have
          ---------------------------------------
received (i) a copy, certified by a duly authorized officer of the Company to be
true and complete as of the Closing Date, of the Organizational Documents of the
Company and each Subsidiary and the Amendment to the Company's LLC Agreement,
including in each case all amendments thereto, and (ii) a certificate, dated not
more than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, of the Secretary of State
of the State of organization of the Company and each Subsidiary, certifying such
entity's good standing in such state.

     5.2. Proof of Corporate Action. Each Investor shall have received from the
          --------------------------
Company copies, certified by a duly authorized officer thereof to be true and
complete as of the Closing Date and satisfactory to such Investor and its
counsel, of the records of all action taken to authorize the execution,
delivery, and performance of this Agreement, the Hoosier Agreement, the
Securities, and the Related Agreements to which the Company is a party.

     5.3. Incumbency Certificate. Each Investor shall have received from the
          ----------------------
Company an incumbency certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by a duly
authorized officer of the Company, and giving the name and bearing a specimen
signature of each individual who shall be authorized to sign, in the name and on
behalf of the Company, this Agreement, and each of the Related Agreements to
which the Company is or is to become a party, and to give notices and to take
other action on behalf of the Company under each of such documents.

     5.4. Legal Opinions. Each Investor and Warrant Investor shall have received
          --------------
from Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C., counsel to the Company, a favorable opinion,
substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, and covering such other matters
                             ---------
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Securities,
and the Related Agreements as such Investor and Warrant Investor may reasonably
request.

     5.5. Representations and Warranties; Officers' Certificates. The
          -------------------------------------------------------
representations and warranties contained or incorporated by reference herein
shall be true and correct in all material

                                       23
<PAGE>

respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though
made on and as of such Closing Date; no event or condition shall have occurred
or would result from the issuance of any of the Securities that would be a
Default or Event of Default; the Company shall have performed and complied in
all material respects with all conditions and agreements required to be
performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing; the purchase of the
Securities shall not be prohibited by any law or governmental order or
regulation, and shall not subject any of the Investors to any penalty, special
tax, or other onerous condition; all necessary consents, approvals, licenses,
permits, orders, and authorizations of, or registrations, declarations, and
filings with, any governmental or administrative agency or of or with any other
Person with respect to issuance of the Securities shall have been duly obtained
or made and shall be in full force and effect; and each Investor shall have
received on the Closing Date a certificate to the effect of each of the
foregoing matters and the matters in Section 5.15, signed by, and based upon the
Knowledge of, the President and the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company.

     5.6. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.]

     5.7. Securities. Each Investor shall have received the Amendment to
          ----------
Company's LLC Agreement executed by the Company evidencing the Investors' rights
in the Securities and, upon such receipt and satisfaction of all of the other
conditions set forth in this Section 5, the Investors shall deliver to the
Company the Purchase Price for the Securities.

     5.8. General. All instruments and legal, governmental, administrative, and
          -------
corporate proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement that are to be consummated on the Closing Date, the Securities, and
the Related Agreements shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Investors in their sole discretion, and the Investors shall have received copies
of all documents, agreements, and instruments, including without limitation
records of corporate or other proceedings and opinions of counsel, that the
Investors may have requested in connection therewith.

     5.9. SBIC Documentation. The Company shall have executed and delivered to
          ------------------
each Investor all documents required by such Investor in connection with the
investment contemplated hereby under the rules and regulations applicable to
such Investor by virtue of its status as a small business investment company,
including SBA Forms 480, 652, and 1031.

     5.10. Fees and Expenses. The Investors shall have been reimbursed for all
           -----------------
of their expenses as provided in Section 12(a)(i) and (ii) hereof (unless the
Company exercises its election right under Section 12(a)(ii)).

     5.11. Related Agreements. Each of the Related Agreements shall have been
           ------------------
executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto in a form satisfactory to
each Investor or Warrant Investor, as the case may be, in its sole discretion,
and each of the Related Agreements shall be in full force and effect and no term
or condition thereof shall have been amended, modified or waived except with
each Investor's prior written consent. All covenants, agreements, and conditions
contained in the Related Agreements that are to be performed or complied with on
or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed or satisfied in all
material respects to the sole discretion of such Investor.

                                       24
<PAGE>

     5.12. Due Diligence. Each Investor and Warrant Investor shall have
           -------------
completed its due diligence investigation of the Company and its plans, books,
records, financial statements, assets, liabilities, contracts, commitments, and
all other information about the Company, and the results of such investigation
shall have been satisfactory to each such Investor and Warrant Investor in its
sole discretion.

     5.13. Material Adverse Change. Other than as reflected in the Pro Forma
           -----------------------
Balance Sheet, there shall have occurred no material adverse change in the
business, assets, properties, prospects or financial or legal condition of the
Company since the date of the October 31, 2000 Balance Sheet.

     5.14. Adequate Working Capital. Each Investor shall be satisfied that,
           ------------------------
after giving effect to the use of the proceeds from the purchase of the
Securities hereunder as described in Section 2.4 hereof, the Company shall have
sufficient working capital to continue to conduct its business in the ordinary
course without incurring additional Indebtedness or issuing additional equity
securities.

     5.15. Hoosier Acquisition. Written evidence satisfactory to the Investors
           -------------------
and their counsel in their sole discretion shall be provided to the Investors
evidencing that the Hoosier Acquisition has been closed.

     5.16. Other Actions. The Company and its members and manager shall have
           -------------
taken all other actions that the Investors and other Warrant Investors deem
necessary or proper with respect to issuance of the Securities.

SECTION 6.  COVENANTS

The Company covenants that, as long as the Investors or their assigns have an
interest in the Class A Preferred Interests, the Company will comply with the
following provisions:

     6.1. Loan Agreement Covenants. For purposes of this Agreement, no
          ------------------------
amendment, extension or waiver by the Senior Lender of the financial covenant in
the Loan Agreement as currently in effect that requires the Company to maintain,
as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as
defined in the Loan Agreement) to be no more than: (a) 5.00 to 1.00, for any
fiscal quarter ending on or before December 31, 2001; and (b) 4.50 to 1.00, for
any fiscal quarter ending thereafter (as each of such capitalized terms is
defined in the Loan Agreement) shall be effective hereunder without the prior
written consent of the Majority Investors, except that a temporary waiver by the
Senior Lender of such covenant for no more than one fiscal quarter in any twelve
(12) month period shall constitute a waiver by the Majority Investors of this
covenant for such time period.

     6.2. Life Insurance. The Company will maintain life insurance on the life
          --------------
of Sherman for as long as he is employed by, or is an equity holder of, the
Company, in an amount not less than the greater of (a) the amount required under
the Loan Agreement or (b) $2,000,000.

                                       25
<PAGE>

     6.3. Inspection of Properties and Books. The Company shall permit any of
          ----------------------------------
the Investors or any of the Investors' officers or representatives to visit and
inspect any of the properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries, to examine the
books of account of the Company and its Subsidiaries (and to make copies thereof
and extracts therefrom), and to discuss the affairs, finances, prospects and
accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with, and to be advised as to the
same by, its respective officers, lenders, advisors, vendors, employees,
suppliers and customers, all at such reasonable times and intervals as any of
the Investors may reasonably request.

     6.4. Further Assurances. The Company will cooperate with each Investor and
          ------------------
execute such further instruments and documents as such Investor shall reasonably
request to carry out to the Investor's satisfaction the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Agreements. Without limiting the
foregoing sentence, the Company shall make such amendments to the Company's LLC
Agreement as the Majority Investors may from time to time request to permit the
implementation of the Investors' rights under this Agreement and any of the
Related Agreements.

     6.5. Notices. The Company shall promptly give the Investors copies of all
          -------
notices given pursuant to any Related Agreement that it receives from or gives
to any other party to such Related Agreement.

     6.6. No Additional Registration Rights. Except pursuant to the Investors
          ---------------------------------
Rights Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of
the Majority Investors, grant to any holder or future holder of any of its
securities the right to demand registration of or to piggyback on any
registration of Equity Securities of the Company with the Commission, or any
other registration, co-sale, or similar rights.

     6.7. Additional Covenants.
          --------------------

          (a)  Pre-Emptive Rights.
               ------------------

               (i) The Company hereby grants to the Investors a right of first
          refusal to purchase any New Securities included in an offering (or
          series of offerings which would be integrated under the Securities
          Laws) to financing sources, subject to the terms and conditions of
          this Section 6.7.

               (ii) If the Company intends to issue New Securities that are
          subject to the right of first refusal provided for in Section
          6.7(a)(i), it shall give the Investors written notice of such
          intention, describing the type of New Securities to be issued, the
          price thereof and the terms upon which the Company proposes to effect
          such issuance.  Each Investor shall have 30 days from the date of
          receipt of any such notice to agree to purchase all or part of its pro
          rata share, as defined in the next sentence, of such New Securities
          (including the right to oversubscribe for New Securities not purchased
          by other Investors) for the price and upon the general terms and
          conditions specified in the Company's notice by giving written notice
          to the Company stating the amount of New Securities to be so
          purchased.

                                       26
<PAGE>

          For purposes of this Section 6.7(a)(ii), an Investor's pro rata share
          of such New Securities shall be the product of (A) the total number of
          such New Securities multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of
          which shall be such Investor's Preferred Capital Account (plus any
          Accrued Preferred Distributions and Arrearages) immediately prior to
          the issuance of such New Securities, adjusted pursuant to Section
          4.7(l) or 4.7(m) of the Company's LLC Agreement, as the case may be,
          whether or not actually adjusted in fact pursuant to such Section
          4.7(l) or 4.7(m), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of all
          Common Capital Accounts (adjusted pursuant to Section 3.5(b) of the
          Company's LLC Agreement, whether or not actually adjusted in fact
          pursuant to such Section 3.5(b) and all Preferred Capital Accounts
          (plus any Accrued Preferred Distributions and Arrearages) immediately
          prior to the issuance of such New Securities, adjusted pursuant to
          Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m) of the Company's LLC Agreement, as the case
          may be, whether or not actually adjusted in fact pursuant to such
          Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m).

               (iii)  In the event that one or more investors that are entitled
          to purchase New Securities do not do so and do not otherwise agree as
          to the purchase of the New Securities, those Investors that agreed to
          purchase New Securities shall have a period of 10 additional days to
          purchase the remaining New Securities, and each such Investor that
          wishes to purchase additional New Securities may do so, in the manner
          and at the price set forth in the Company's notice, with respect to
          any number of New Securities that such Investor wishes to purchase by
          giving written notice to the Company stating the amount of additional
          New Securities that such Investor wishes to purchase.  In the event
          that the Investors that agree to purchase additional New Securities
          indicate that they wish to purchase an amount of New Securities that
          is greater than the amount of New Securities remaining, the New
          Securities to be purchased pursuant to this Section 6.7(a)(iii) shall
          be determined by allocating successively to each Investor desiring to
          purchase such remaining New Securities in accordance with this Section
          6.7(a)(iii) a number of the remaining New Securities equal to the
          lesser of (A) the number of remaining New Securities that such
          Investor desires to purchase and (B) the number of remaining New
          Securities that bears the same ratio as the Preferred Capital Account
          of such Investor bears to the aggregate Preferred Capital Accounts of
          all Investors who wish to purchase the remaining New Securities.

               (iv) If any such Investor fails to exercise the foregoing right
          of first refusal with respect to any applicable New Securities within
          such 30-day period, the Company may within 20 days thereafter sell any
          or all of such New Securities not agreed to be purchased by any such
          Investor, at a price and upon general terms no more favorable to the
          purchasers thereof than specified in the notice given to the Investors
          pursuant to Section 6.7(a)(ii) above. In the event the Company has not
          sold such New Securities within such 20 day period, the Company shall
          not thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without first offering
          such New Securities to the Investors in the manner provided in Section
          6.7(a)(ii).

                                       27
<PAGE>

          (b) The Company agrees to perform and observe all obligations set
     forth in its Organizational Documents (all terms of which are hereby
     incorporated in this Section 6.7(b) by this reference), to the extent that
     the failure to perform and observe such obligations would adversely affect
     the Investors' Class A Preferred Interests in the Company.

          (c) Irrespective of whether any of the Investors exercises its pre-
     emptive rights under Section 6.7(a), the Company will not authorize any New
     Securities with rights, preferences or designations superior in any respect
     to the Class A Preferred Interests.

     6.8. Securities Laws Requirements. The Company shall file with the
          ----------------------------
Commission and every state securities agency in which such a filing is or may be
required (and deliver a copy of each such filing to the Investors), all reports
and other documents, instruments, and exhibits required to be filed by it under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, any
successor laws to any of the foregoing, and any state securities law
(collectively, "Securities Laws") or any other applicable law. If the Company
becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy
the requirement of paragraph (c) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

     6.9. Prohibited Agreements. The Company shall not enter into any agreement
          ---------------------
having the effect of limiting or restricting its obligation to perform any
obligation imposed on it by this Agreement, the Company's LLC Agreement, or the
Related Agreements, except as provided in the Loan Agreement as in effect on the
date hereof or any successor agreement approved in writing by the Majority
Investors.

     6.10. Qualified MLP Offering. Except as and to the extent that the Majority
           ----------------------
Investors may in their sole and absolute discretion otherwise consent in
writing, the Company agrees that neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall
effect a public offering of its or their Equity Securities (whether or not using
the master limited partnership structure) unless the Majority Investors are
satisfied in their reasonable discretion that the senior subordinated limited
partnership units that all Investors will receive in such offering have the
rights, designations and preferences of a Qualified MLP Offering (as such term
is used and defined herein). The Company shall provide prompt prior written
notice to the Investors of its intent to file a registration statement with the
Commission in connection with a Qualified MLP Offering, and shall
contemporaneously send to the Investors each letter, notice or filing from or
with the Commission in connection with a Qualified MLP Offering.

     6.11. Redemption of Other Interests. Except (a) pursuant to contractual
           -----------------------------
obligations existing as of the date of this Agreement and that have been
disclosed to the Investors in writing, or (b) as and to the extent that the
Majority Investors may otherwise consent in writing, which consent may be
withheld in the absolute discretion of the Majority Investors, the Company shall
not (i) redeem or repurchase or enter into any agreement that would require the
Company to redeem or repurchase any Equity Securities from any Person other than
the Investors prior to the earlier to occur of either the Put/Call Closing Date
or the closing of the Qualified MLP Offering,

                                       28
<PAGE>

or (ii) accelerate any contractual obligations existing as of the date of this
Agreement so as to require the Company to redeem any Equity Securities from any
Person other than the Investors prior to the earlier to occur of either the
Put/Call Closing Date or the closing of the Qualified MLP Offering, except upon
the occurrence of an event of default pursuant to contractual terms existing as
of the date of this Agreement, which contractual terms have been disclosed
herein or in a schedule hereto; provided, that the redemption or repurchase of
any Equity Securities pursuant to contractual terms existing as of the date of
this Agreement without the written consent of the Majority Investors shall give
rise to the Put Rights set forth in Section 9.7(b) hereof.

     6.12.  Use of Proceeds.  The Company shall use the proceeds from the
            ---------------
purchase of the Securities hereunder for the purposes described in Section 2.4
hereof.

     6.13  Sherman Successor.  Sherman is the current President and Chief
           -----------------
Executive Officer of the Company and its Affiliates.  In the event that Sherman
shall cease to be or to fulfill the duties of either the President or Chief
Executive Officer or both of the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether by
termination or cessation of his employment, with or without cause, or by
constructive discharge, resignation, death or disability, the Company (on behalf
of itself and its Affiliates) hereby agrees that (a) each of the KCEP Director
and the Investor Director (as such terms are defined in the Company's LLC
Agreement) to the Board of Directors of the Company shall be appointed to any
executive search committee of the Board of Directors established, formally or
informally, to find such successor, and (ii) any successor President or Chief
Executive Officer selected by the Company's Board of Directors shall be
reasonably acceptable to each of the KCEP Director and Investor Director.  The
Company shall promptly notify the Investors of any such termination or cessation
of Sherman's employment, or any proposal thereof, and shall keep the Investors
reasonably and promptly advised regarding the search for the successor.

SECTION 7.  INFORMATION AND REPORTS

The Company hereby agrees that so long as the Investors have an interest in the
Class A Preferred Interests:

     7.1. Annual Statements. As soon as available and in any event within 90
          -----------------
days after the close of each Fiscal Year, the Company will deliver to each
Investor its audited consolidated and unaudited consolidating balance sheets and
statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flow of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, which shall be (a) audited by an independent certified public
accounting firm selected by the Company and acceptable to the Majority Investors
showing the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the
close of such Fiscal Year and the results of the Company's operations during
such Fiscal Year (except that the consolidating balance sheets need not be
audited), and (b) be certified by such firm to have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Such
financial statements shall be accompanied by (i) the written statement of such
firm to the effect that such firm does not have any knowledge of the existence
of any Default or Event of Default by reason of the Company's failure to comply
with any financial covenant contained in the Loan

                                       29
<PAGE>

Agreement, and (ii) a copy of such accounting firm's "letter to management" (and
all prior drafts thereof) or similar communications to the Company.

     7.2. Monthly Statements. As soon as available and in any event within 30
          ------------------
days after the end of each fiscal month, commencing with the first month ending
after the date of this Agreement, the Company will deliver to each Investor
internal unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, income
statements, and statements of cash flows, of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries as of the end of each such month and year to date, personally
verified and attested by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to be true
and correct. Together with such financial statements, within 30 days of the end
of each fiscal quarter the Company will deliver to each Investor a
reconciliation of the items in financial statements for such quarter against the
budget for such period and comparable periods for the immediately previous year
delivered to Investors pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof, and a brief narrative of
the results of operations.

     7.3. Budget and Projections. The Company will deliver to each Investor, not
          ----------------------
less than 30 days prior to the beginning of each Fiscal Year of the Company, a
preliminary budget for such Fiscal Year and each fiscal quarter, including a
balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. Such preliminary
budget shall be accompanied by an annual projection including income statements,
balance sheets, and statements of cash flows covering such Fiscal Year and the
succeeding three Fiscal Years.

     7.4. Officers' Certificates. Together with delivery of financial statements
          ----------------------
of the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Sections 7.1 and 7.2 above, the
Company will deliver to each Investor a certificate of the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company, (a) that the annual statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
and the annual and quarterly statements present fairly the financial position of
the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates specified and the results of
its operations and changes in financial position with respect to the periods
specified (subject in the case of interim financial statements only to normal
year-end audit adjustments), (b) setting forth computations demonstrating
compliance with each of the financial covenants in the Loan Agreement, and (c)
to the effect that such officer has caused the provisions of this Agreement, the
Securities, and the Related Agreements to be reviewed and has no knowledge of
any Default or Event of Default hereunder or thereunder, or if such officer has
such knowledge, specifying such Default or Event of Default and the nature
thereof, and what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto.

     7.5. Notice of Litigation or Defaults. The Company will promptly give
          --------------------------------
written notice to each Investor of any threatened or pending litigation,
investigations, or any administrative proceeding to which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries may hereafter become a party or to which any of them are or may
become subject that may result in any material adverse change in the business,
assets, properties, prospects or financial or legal condition of the Company and
its Subsidiaries. Promptly upon any officer of the Company obtaining knowledge
of any Default or Event of Default or any material adverse change in the
Company's or any Subsidiary's business, properties, prospects, assets, or
condition, financial or otherwise, the Company will furnish a written notice to
each Investor specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what

                                       30
<PAGE>

action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto. Promptly after the receipt thereof, the Company will provide each
Investor with copies of any reports upon adequacies and inadequacies in
accounting controls submitted to the Company by its independent accountants.

     7.6. Other Information. From time to time upon the request of any Investor,
          -----------------
the Company will furnish to any authorized officer or representative of such
Investor such information regarding the business, assets, properties, prospects,
and financial and legal condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such
officer or representative may reasonably request. Each such officer or
representative shall have the right during normal business hours to examine the
books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to make copies, notes and
abstracts therefrom, and to make an independent examination of the books and
records of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 8.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     8.1. Event of Default. The Majority Investors and each Investor, as the
          ----------------
case may be in Section 8.2, will be entitled to exercise the remedies provided
by Section 8.2 hereof in accordance with the terms thereof if any one or more of
the Events of Default shall occur.

     8.2. Remedies. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default and (subject to
          --------
the penultimate sentence of this Section 8.2) failure by the Company to cure
such Event of Default within five (5) days following written notice by the
Majority Investors (if prior to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date) or
by any Investor (if on or after the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date) to
the Company of any Event of Default arising from the failure to make any
monetary payments or within thirty (30) days following written notice by the
Majority Investors (if prior to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date) or
by any Investor (if on or after the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date) to
the Company of any other Event of Default, in each and every such case the
Majority Investor or such Investor, as the case may be, may: (i) proceed to
protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity, action at law, and/or other
appropriate proceeding either for specific performance of any covenant,
provision, or condition contained or incorporated by reference in this Agreement
or in the Company's Organizational Documents, and, immediately in the case of an
Event of Default as a result of a Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding or an
Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding, and (ii) at any time after the giving of a
Put Notice to the Company pursuant to Section 9 hereof in all other cases, the
theretofore unexercised Put Rights set forth in Section 9 hereof shall, to the
extent not already exercisable, be deemed to have become immediately exercisable
and the Majority Investors or such Investor, as the case may be, may in such Put
Notice to the Company declare all or part of such theretofore unexercised Put
Rights to be forthwith exercised and due and payable (unless there shall have
occurred an Event of Default as a result of a Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding or
an Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding, in which case such Put Rights shall be
automatically exercised and due and payable, whereupon the Put Price for the
Securities subject thereto shall become so due and payable without presentation,
presentment, protest or further demand or notice of any kind, all of which are
expressly waived), and any such holder or holders may proceed to enforce payment
of such amount or part thereof in such manner as it or they may elect, subject,
in any event, to Section 9.9. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
not have such an opportunity to

                                       31
<PAGE>

cure an Event of Default that has resulted in the Senior Lender declaring due
and payable all of the Company's obligations under the Loan Agreement, or an
Event of Default as a result of a Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding or an
Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding, in which cases the Majority Investor or any
Investor, as the case may be, may immediately exercise its remedies under this
Section 8.2, subject, in any event, to Section 9.9. The Company shall provide
prompt written notice to each Investor of events, facts or circumstances giving
rise to the Investor's right to exercise its Put Rights hereunder.

     8.3. Waivers. In connection with the occurrence of any Default or Event of
          -------
Default or the exercise of any remedy available to the Investor in the event of
the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, the Company hereby waives, to
the extent not prohibited by applicable law, (a) all presentments, demands for
performance, notices of nonperformance (except to the extent specifically
required by the provisions hereof), (b) any requirement of diligence or
promptness on the part of any holder of Securities in the enforcement of its
rights under the provisions of this Agreement or the Company's Organizational
Documents, and (c) any and all notices of every kind and description that may be
required to be given by any statute or rule of law.

     8.4. Course of Dealing. No course of dealing between the Company and any
          -----------------
Investor shall operate as a waiver of any of the Investors' rights under this
Agreement or in connection with the Securities. No delay in exercising any right
under this Agreement or in connection with the Securities shall operate as a
waiver of such right or any other right. A waiver on any one occasion shall not
be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right or remedy on any other occasion.

     8.5. Remedies Not Exclusive. Each of the remedies hereunder that are
          ----------------------
available to the Investors are cumulative and not exclusive, and any Investor
may exercise any or all such remedies at such time and in such manner as such
Investor may determine in its sole discretion.

SECTION 9.  REPURCHASE OF securities

     9.1. Right to Put Securities. Subject to Section 9.9 hereof, the Investors
          -----------------------
shall have the right to cause the Company to repurchase all or a portion of
their Securities and the Company shall have the obligation to repurchase such
Securities on the following terms and conditions (the "Put Rights").

          (a)   Puts Before the Seventh Anniversary of the Closing Date.  Except
                -------------------------------------------------------
     as the Investors may be entitled to exercise their Put Rights prior to the
     fifth anniversary of the Closing Date pursuant to Section 8.2 or 9.7 (but
     subject to Section 9.9 hereof), effective on the fifth anniversary of the
     Closing Date and on the last day of each calendar quarter (March 31, June
     30, September 30, and December 31) thereafter until the seventh anniversary
     of the Closing Date, the Majority Investors may, in their sole discretion,
     exercise the Put Rights on behalf of all Investors by giving written notice
     setting forth the matters specified in Section 9.1(c) (the "Put Notice") to
     the Company and to all other Investors at least 120 calendar days prior to
     the effective date of such exercise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
     however, no exercise of Put Rights pursuant to this

                                       32
<PAGE>

     Section 9.1(a) shall be effective unless such exercise is for Securities
     having an aggregate Put Price of at least $1,000,000; provided, however,
                                                           --------
     that in the event of a Put Right arising under Sections 8.2 or 9.7 hereof,
     it shall not be necessary (i) for the amounts subject to the Put Price for
     Securities subject to such Put Rights to aggregate $1,000,000, or (ii) for
     the Majority Investors to provide 120 days written notice, but instead such
     Put Rights shall become effective immediately pursuant to Section 9.7(d).

          (b)  Puts after the Seventh Anniversary of the Closing Date.
               ------------------------------------------------------
     Effective on the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date and on the last
     day of each calendar quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30, and December
     31) thereafter, each Investor may, in its sole discretion, exercise its Put
     Rights by giving written notice setting forth the matters specified in
     Section 9.1(c) (which shall also be considered a "Put Notice") to the
     Company and to all other Investors at least 120 calendar days prior to the
     effective date of such exercise.  Notwithstanding the forgoing, however, no
     exercise of Put Rights pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) shall be effective
     unless such exercise is for Securities having an aggregate Put Price of at
     least the lesser of (i) $250,000, or (ii) the amount that constitutes 100%
     of such Investor's Securities; provided, however, that in the event of a
                                    --------
     Put Right arising under Sections 8.2 or 9.7 hereof, it shall not be
     necessary (i) for the amounts subject to the Put Price for Securities
     subject to such Put Rights to aggregate at least $250,000 or 100% of such
     Investor's Securities, or (ii) for such Investor to provide 120 days
     written notice, but instead such Put Rights shall become effective
     immediately pursuant to Section 9.7(d).

          (c)  Content and Delivery of Put Notices. The Majority Investors shall
               -----------------------------------
     notify each other Investor prior to exercising the Put Rights pursuant to
     Section 9.1(a), and each Investor desiring to participate in the exercise a
     Put Right under Section 9.1(a) shall provide proper prior notice to the
     Majority Investors and to each other Investor of its intent to sell and the
     amount of Securities to be included in the Put Notice.  Each Put Notice
     delivered pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall set forth (i) the identity the
     selling Investor(s), (ii) the amount of Securities that each Investor is
     selling, (iii) the Put Price for such Securities, as specified in Section
     9.5 hereof, (iv) the effective date for such exercise, (v) the Put/Call
     Closing Date, and (vi) such other information as is reasonably pertinent.
     All Put Notices properly sent with respect to any specified effective date
     shall be deemed to have been sent, received and effective on the same date,
     such that no Investor shall be favored or have prior rights to repurchase
     over or against any other Investor that has properly sent a Put Notice.

          (d)  Acceleration of Put Rights.   In the event of the exercise of a
               ---------------------------
     Put Right arising under Sections 8.2, 9.7 or 9.9 hereof, it shall not be
     necessary for the Majority Investors or an Investor, as the case may be, to
     deliver the Put Notice 120 days prior to the effective date of such
     exercise, but instead the Majority Investors (if the Put Right arises under
     Sections 8.2, 9.7 or 9.9 hereof prior to the seventh anniversary of the
     Closing Date) or any Investor (if the Put Right arises under Sections 8.2,
     9.7 or 9.9 hereof on or after the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date),
     in its sole discretion, may elect to have the exercise of the Put Rights
     and the corresponding obligation of the Company to repurchase the
     Securities to be effective immediately or on any subsequent date (i) if the

                                       33
<PAGE>

     Put Right arises under Section 8.2 or 9.9 (and it shall be deemed to be
     effective immediately for all Investor Securities without the sending of
     the Put Notice in the case of an Event of Default triggered by a Voluntary
     Bankruptcy Proceeding or an Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding), (ii) upon
     the consummation or effectiveness of the Proposed Change of Control if the
     Put Right arises under Section 9.7(a), or (iii) upon the consummation or
     effectiveness of the proposed redemption or repurchase of Non-Investor
     Interest if the Put Right arises under Section 9.7(b).

          (e)   Limitations on Put Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision
                -------------------------
     in Section 9.1(a) or 9.1(b), any Put Notice must be given before the filing
     of a Form S-1 Registration Statement by the Company with respect to the
     Qualified MLP Offering.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, (a) the
     provisions of Section 8.2 of this Agreement shall apply at all times upon
     the occurrence of any Event of Default, whether before or after the filing
     of a Form S-1 Registration Statement with respect to the Qualified MLP
     Offering, (b) the provisions of Section 9.7 shall apply at all times,
     whether before or after the filing of the Form S-1 Registration Statement
     with respect to the Qualified MLP Offering, and (c) in the event that the
     Form S-1 Registration Statement with respect to the Qualified MLP Offering
     is not declared effective by the Commission within one hundred eighty (180)
     days after the filing date, then each Investor shall have the right to sell
     to the Company (and the Company agrees to repurchase from each Investor)
     such Investor's Securities upon the terms and conditions set forth in
     Sections 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, and 9.5, and such right shall remain in effect
     until the earlier of (a) the effective date of such Form S-1 Registration
     Statement or (b) the Company files any subsequent Form S-1 Registration
     Statement with respect to a Qualified MLP Offering; provided, that if any
                                                         --------------
     subsequent Form S-1 is not declared effective by the Commission within one
     hundred eight (180) days after the filing date, then each Investor shall
     again have the right to sell to the Company (and the Company agrees to
     repurchase from each Investor) such Investor's Securities upon the terms
     and conditions set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, and 9.5.

     9.2. Right to Call Securities. At any time on or before the consummation of
          ------------------------
the Qualified MLP Offering, the Company may by written notice to the Investors
(the "Call Notice") elect to purchase all but not less than all of the
Investors' Securities from the Investors, and the Investors hereby agree to
resell such Securities to the Company at the Call Price specified in Section 9.6
hereof. The Call Notice shall set forth (i) the Call Price for the Securities to
be repurchased, as specified in Section 9.6 hereof, (ii) the effective date for
such repurchase, (iii) the Put/Call Closing Date, and (iv) such other
information as is reasonably pertinent.

     9.3. Closing. The closing required by a Put Notice or a Call Notice shall
          -------
take place at the Company's principal place of business at 10:00 a.m. local time
on the effective date of the Put Notice or Call Notice (as specified therein),
or at such other time, date, and place as such Investor and the Company may
agree (the "Put/Call Closing Date"), at which time the Company shall pay the Put
Price or the Call Price, as specified in the Put Notice or Call Notice, as the
case may be. Prior to any Put/Call Closing Date, the Company will, upon an
Investor's reasonable request to assist the Investor in making its decision
regarding whether or not to send a Put Notice, provide such Investor (and each
other Investor) with its inspection and other rights under

                                       34
<PAGE>

Section 6.3 and such additional information that may be material to the exercise
of such Investor's put rights under this Section 9.

     9.4. Payment. The Company shall pay the Put Price or Call Price, as the
          -------
case may be, out of funds legally available therefor at any closing under
Section 9.3 hereof in cash or immediately available funds. If any portion of the
Put Price is not paid as a result of any insufficiency of legally available
funds or otherwise, such portion shall remain an obligation of the Company,
evidenced by a demand promissory note, and shall become due and payable, in cash
or immediately available funds, as soon as there are funds legally available
therefor, with interest to accrue thereon at 3.75% per quarter. To facilitate
payment of the Put Price, the Company will take such action as may be possible
to revalue its assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. In such event the Company, if it lacks funds or has insufficient
funds, will use commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to pay the full
Put Price or Call Price promptly, subject to the terms of the Loan Agreement. If
more than one Securities holder is entitled to payment of the Put Price or Call
Price on any Put/Call Closing Date, and insufficient funds are available to
permit payment in full to all such holders, then such payment as can legally be
made on such date and on any later date when the balance of such payment shall
be made shall be made pro rata to all such holders based on the Put Price or
Call Price due each of them. If any portion of the Call Price is not immediately
available to be paid for any reason at the Put/Call Closing Date scheduled
therefor under Section 9.3, then at the Put/Call Closing Date, the Company shall
pay such cash portion as is immediately available (pro rata, based on the Call
Price due each of them) and the Call Notice for the unpaid Securities shall be
null and void as if such Call Notice had never been sent in the first place and
such unpaid Securities shall no longer be subject to any future Call Notice.

     9.5. Put Price for Securities. The put price (the "Put Price") for any
          ------------------------
Investor's Securities shall be:

          (a) an amount equal to the sum of (i) all or, if the Investor is
     exercising its Put Rights for only a portion of such Investor's Securities,
     then the specified portion of the greater of (A) the then current Preferred
     Capital Account attributable to the Securities being repurchased (prorated
     for any specified portion if the Investor is exercising its Put Rights for
     less than all of its securities), or (B) the initial Preferred Capital
     Account attributable to the Securities being repurchased plus any Accrued
     Preferred Distributions and Arrearages attributable to such Preferred
     Capital Account (prorated for any specified portion if the Investor is
     exercising its Put Rights for less than all of its securities), plus (ii)
     the Put Formula Amount, as defined in Section 9.5(b) (prorated for any
     specified portion if the Investor is exercising its Put Rights for less
     than all of its Securities).

          (b) "Put Formula Amount" shall mean the lesser of either

               (i)  the Cash Event Multiplier, minus one (1), multiplied by the
          amount referred to in Section 9.5(a)(i), or

               (ii)  the total of (A) the Company's Adjusted EBITDAB, multiplied
          by the average of the Adjusted EBITDAB Multiple of the three (3)
          Representative

                                       35
<PAGE>

          MLPs, (B) less Funded Indebtedness of the Company, (C) less the
                    ----                                         ----
          aggregate total of all capital accounts attributable to preferred
          membership interests in the Company (including the Investors'
          Securities), plus (D) the amount of cash and cash equivalents. The
                       ----
          information in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) is to be derived from the
          Company's most recent monthly financial statements, adjusted to take
          into account all Qualified Acquisitions which are either not reflected
          in or subsequent to such financial statements, all determined in
          accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

     9.6. Call Price. For purposes hereof, the call under Section 9.2 shall be
          ----------
treated as a Cash Event. The price (the "Call Price") paid by the Company for
each Investor's Securities shall be an amount equal to the Cash Event Multiplier
multiplied by the amount referred to in Section 9.5(a)(i). Notwithstanding the
-------------
foregoing, in the event that (a) a Clawback Sale occurs within 18 months after
the Put/Call Closing Date for any call under Section 9.2, and (b) as a result of
such Clawback Sale there is Clawback Excess, then the Company shall remit to
each Investor, and/or shall cause each Clawback Party other than the Company to
remit to each Investor, such Investor's Clawback Portion immediately upon
receipt thereof by the Clawback Parties, in the form received by the Clawback
Parties and duly endorsed for transfer if so requested by the Investors. Under
no circumstances shall the Investors be obligated to the Clawback Parties or any
other Person for any amounts by which the aggregate Call Price paid to all
Investors exceeds the Clawback Sale Price.

     9.7. Repurchase Rights upon Certain Transactions. Subject to Section 9.9
          -------------------------------------------
hereof:

          (a) The Company will give each Investor at least 60 days' prior
     written notice of a Proposed Change of Control.  At any time before the
     consummation or effectiveness of a Proposed Change of Control, the Majority
     Investors (if the consummation or effectiveness of the Proposed Change of
     Control occurs prior to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date) or
     each Investor (if the consummation or effectiveness of the Proposed Change
     of Control occurs on or after the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date)
     may elect to exercise the Put Rights (in whole or in part) under Section
     9.1 hereof and receive (and the Company agrees to pay) the Put Price;
     provided that if an Investor exercises the Investor's Put Rights under this
     -------------
     Section 9.7 in anticipation of a Proposed Change of Control,
     notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9, the closing of the
     resulting repurchase of Securities shall occur simultaneously with the
     closing of such transaction in the event such transaction is one described
     in subpart (a) of the definition of Proposed Change of Control or upon the
     occurrence of any event described in subpart (c) or (d) of the definition
     of Proposed Change of Control; and provided further that if the Proposed
                                        ---------------------
     Change of Control is one described in subpart (b) of the definition of
     Proposed Change of Control, the Investors shall not exercise their Put
     Rights until the earlier of the following: (1) the employment by the
     Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, of a President or Chief
     Executive Officer, as the case may be, who is a successor to Sherman
     following his resignation and who is not reasonably acceptable to the KCEP
     Director and the Investor Director (as provided in Section 6.13 hereof), or
     (2) if the Company does not employ a successor President or Chief Executive
     Officer, as the case may be, within 180 days after notice of Sherman's
     resignation was given to the Company.

                                       36
<PAGE>

          (b) The Company shall give each Investor at least 60 days' prior
     written notice of a proposed redemption or repurchase by the Company of any
     Non-Investor Interests (whether or not such obligation to redeem or
     repurchase existed as of the date of this Agreement).  At any time that the
     Company repurchases or redeems any Non-Investor Interests, the Majority
     Investors or each Investor, as the case may be, may elect to exercise such
     Investor's rights under Section 9.1(a) or 9.1(b) hereof and receive (and
     the Company agrees to pay) the Put Price with respect to a percentage of
     such Investor's Securities determined by multiplying such Investor's
     Preferred Capital Account (as adjusted as though a Cash Event had occurred
     pursuant to Section 4.7(l) or 4.7(m) of the Company's LLC Agreement, as the
     case may be, whether or not actually adjusted pursuant to such Section
     4.7(l) or 4.7(m)) by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total
     amount of Common Capital Account (as adjusted pursuant to Section 3.5(b) of
     the Company's LLC Agreement, whether or not actually adjusted pursuant to
     such Section 3.5(b)) and Preferred Capital Account of the Non-Investor
     Interests being redeemed or repurchased from a Person, and the denominator
     of which shall be the total of such Person's Common Capital Account (as
     adjusted pursuant to Section 3.5(b) of the Company's LLC Agreement, whether
     or not actually adjusted pursuant to such Section 3.5(b)) and Preferred
     Capital Account prior to such redemption or repurchase.  (By way of example
     only, if the Company redeems Non-Investor Interests from a Person and such
     Non-Investor Interests represent 25% of such Person's total Equity
     Securities of the Company, then each Investor may exercise its Put Rights
     for 25% of such Investor's Securities.)  If the Company redeems or
     repurchases Non-Investor Interests from more than one Person on the same
     date, each Investor shall be entitled to exercise its Put Rights pursuant
     to this Section 9.7(b) for a percentage of its Securities equal to the
     highest percentage of Non-Investor Interests redeemed or repurchased from
     any other Person on that date.  (By way of example only, if on the same day
     the Company redeems Non-Investor Interests from one Person representing 25%
     of such Person's Equity Securities of the Company and redeems Non-Investor
     Interests from another Person representing 20% of such Person's Equity
     Securities of the Company, then each Investor may exercise its Put Rights
     for 25% of such Investor's Securities.)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
     provisions of this Section 9.7(b) shall not apply to repurchases of
     Interests from any employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
     Company, other than Sherman, Phillip L. Elbert and William Gautreax
     pursuant to Sections 7.10 through 7.14 of the Company's LLC Agreement.

     9.8. Amendment of KCEP 1999 Agreement. Each of the Company and each
          --------------------------------
Investor agrees that (a) the KCEP 1999 Agreement is hereby amended by adding
Sections 6.10 through 6.13 of this Agreement, and (b) Sections 6.1, 6.7, 6.9,
8.1 through 8.5, and 9.1 through 9.7 of the KCEP 1999 Agreement are hereby
amended and restated in their entirety by deleting such sections and replacing
them with Sections 6.1, 6.7, 8.1 through 8.5, 9.1 through 9.7, and 9.9 of this
Agreement. Each of the Company and each Investor also agrees that to the extent
that Sections 6.1, 6.7, 6.9, 6.10 through 6.13, 8.1 through 8.5, 9.1 through 9.7
and 9.9 of this Agreement include any terms that are defined in Section 1 of
this Agreement, such defined terms are hereby incorporated into and made a part
of Sections 6.1, 6.7, 6.9, 6.10 through 6.13, 8.1 through 8.5, and 9 of the KCEP
1999 Agreement, as amended and restated hereby, except that,
                                                ------

                                       37
<PAGE>

for all purposes of the KCEP 1999 Agreement, as amended hereby, the term "Cash
Event Multiplier" and "Equity Event Multiplier" shall at all times and for all
periods equal 2.25.

     9.9. Limitations on Puts. The Majority Investors and each Investor agrees
          -------------------
that they shall not exercise their Put Rights under Section 8.2, 9.1 or 9.7 if
there occurs an Event of Default Remedies Limitation Occurrence; provided that,
                                                                 -------------
for the sole purpose of fixing the amount due to them in respect of their Put
Rights set forth in Section 8.2, 9.1 or 9.7, but not for the purposes of
collecting such amount, unless and until the obligations of the Company to the
Senior Lender under the Loan Agreement are paid in full in cash and all
commitments thereunder have been terminated, they may send a Put Notice to the
Company pursuant to Section 8.2, 9.1 or 9.7, as the case may be; and provided
                                                                     --------
further that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Majority Investors or the
------------
Investor, as the case may be, shall be allowed to exercise its Put Rights to the
extent that, in case of Section 9.7(a), other members of the Company or their
Affiliates are permitted by the Senior Lender to receive proceeds from the
Proposed Change of Control, and, in the case of Section 9.7(b), Non-Investor
Interests are permitted by the Senior Lender to be redeemed or repurchased. The
Company agrees that in the case of a Put Notice sent to it in accordance with
the first proviso of the immediately foregoing sentence, the amount due the
          -------
Investors shall in fact be fixed for all purposes as set forth in the Put
Notice, and upon payment in full of the obligations of the Company to the Senior
Lender under the Loan Agreement and the termination of the commitments
thereunder, all such amounts as so fixed shall be paid to the Investors, with
interest to accrue thereon at 3.75% per quarter. The Company and each of the
Investors hereby acknowledge and agree that the rights of the Investors under
this Section 9 are limited by the terms and conditions of the Subordination
Agreement.

SECTION 10.  SUBSEQUENT HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Whether or not any express assignment has been made in this Agreement, the
provisions of this Agreement that are for each Investor's benefit as the holder
of any Securities are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, all
subsequent holders of Securities, except any holder of Securities that have been
sold in a Qualified MLP Offering or pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, and except as otherwise expressly provided
herein. Likewise, any and all restrictions applicable to an Investor contained
in this Agreement shall apply to any subsequent holder of any Securities.

SECTION 11.  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER

     11.1. General Restriction. The Securities, and all securities issued in
           -------------------
exchange therefor or upon conversion or exercise thereof (the "Restricted
Securities"), shall be transferable only upon satisfaction of the conditions set
forth in this Section 11 and in the Company's LLC Agreement. Unless the
restrictions of this Section 11 shall have terminated in accordance with Section
11.4, Holders of the Restricted Securities shall not sell, transfer or dispose
of same, nor attempt to do so, without the consent of the Company (which consent
may be withheld in the Company's sole discretion; provided that, so long as the
                                                  -------------
other applicable provisions of Article 7 of the Company's LLC Agreement are
satisfied, the Company and its Voting Member Majority

                                       38
<PAGE>

shall be deemed to have consented to a distribution by any Investor of the
Restricted Securities to the equity owners of such Investor.

     11.2. Notice of Transfer. Before any holder of Restricted Securities
           ------------------
accepts an offer to sell any Restricted Securities to a third party (other than
another holder of Restricted Securities or an Affiliate or successor of any such
holder) such holder shall provide to the Company (i) an opinion of counsel
reasonably acceptable to the Company, that such transfer may be effected without
registration of such Restricted Securities under the Securities Laws, (ii) the
written agreement of the proposed transferee to be bound by all of the
provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the Company's consent, if required by
Section 11.1.

     11.3. Restrictive Legends. Except as otherwise permitted by this Section
           -------------------
11, the Securities (to the extent certificated) shall bear the following legend:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SHALL NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN
THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT OR ANY
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. FURTHERMORE, THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL NOT BE
SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED
IN SECTION 11 OF THAT CERTAIN SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JANUARY
12, 2001, A COMPLETE AND CORRECT COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT
THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY, AND WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE
HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.

     11.4. Termination of Restrictions. The restrictions imposed by this Section
           ---------------------------
11 upon the transferability of Restricted Securities shall terminate as to any
particular Restricted Securities when (a) such Restricted Securities shall have
been effectively sold in a Qualified MLP Offering or under the Securities Laws,
or (b) such Restricted Securities have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act. Whenever any of such restrictions shall terminate as to any
Restricted Securities, the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the
Company, at the Company's expense, new certificates evidencing Securities
without such legends.

SECTION 12.  EXPENSES; INDEMNITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

          (a) Expenses to be paid at Closing or Upon Exercise of the Warrants.
              ---------------------------------------------------------------

              (i) If the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
          consummated, the Company hereby agrees to pay on demand or, if no
          demand is made, then at Closing, all fees and expenses incurred by all
          of the Investors in connection with such transactions hereunder,
          including without limitation (1) the cost and expenses of negotiating,
          preparing, and duplicating this Agreement, the Related Agreements, and
          the Securities (including attorneys' fees and expenses); (2) the cost
          of delivering to the Investors' respective principal offices, insured
          to the Investors' satisfaction, the Securities sold to the respective
          Investors

                                       39
<PAGE>

          hereunder; (3) the Investors' reasonable travel, food, and lodging
          expenses incurred in connection with due diligence; and (4) all taxes
          (other than taxes determined with respect to income), including any
          recording fees and filings fees and documentary stamp and similar
          taxes at any time payable in respect of this Agreement, the Related
          Agreements, or the issuance of any of the Securities; provided,
                                                                --------
          however, that fees and expenses paid pursuant to this Section shall
          -------
          not exceed $175,000.

               (ii) At Closing, the Company will pay to each Investor an
          aggregate due diligence fee equal to $300,000 in cash representing 2%
          of the face amount of the Securities purchased by such Investor;
          provided, however, that, in lieu of paying such fee in cash, the
          Company may elect within five (5) days before the Closing to pay such
          fee by increasing the initial Class A Preferred Interests to be issued
          to each Investor at Closing to an aggregate of 102% of the amount set
          forth beside such Investor's name on Schedule 3.5(a)(ii), in which
                                               --------------------
          event the term "Securities," as used herein, shall include the
          additional Securities issued at Closing.

               (iii)  Upon exercise of the Warrants, the Company will pay to
          each Warrant Investor that exercises a Warrant, a due diligence fee
          equal to 2.0% of the face amount of the Securities purchased by such
          Warrant Investor upon such exercise.

          (b)  [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

          (c) Post Closing Expenses. After the Closing, the Company hereby
              ---------------------
     agrees to pay on demand all fees and expenses incurred by any Investor in
     connection with any amendments or waivers (whether or not the same become
     effective) of this Agreement or the Related Agreements and all fees and
     expenses incurred by any holder of any Security issued hereunder in
     connection with the enforcement of any rights hereunder, under the
     Company's Organizational Documents or with respect to any Security,
     including without limitation (i) the cost of delivering to each Investor's
     principal office, insured to such Investor's satisfaction, the Securities
     sold to such Investor hereunder and any Securities delivered to an Investor
     in exchange therefor or upon any exercise, conversion or substitution
     thereof; (ii) all taxes (other than taxes determined with respect to
     income), including any recording fees and filings fees and documentary
     stamp and similar taxes at any time payable in respect of this Agreement,
     or the issuance of any of the Securities; and (iii) the reasonable fees and
     disbursements of counsel for any holder of Restricted Securities in
     connection with all opinions rendered by such counsel pursuant to Section
     11 hereof and for any holder of any interest in the Class A Preferred
     Interests which is converted or exchanged in the Qualified MLP Offering or
     any similar public offering.

          (a) Indemnification.
              ---------------

               (i) The Company hereby agrees to indemnify, exonerate and hold
          each of the Investors and each of the Investor's members, partners,
          officers, directors,

                                       40
<PAGE>

          employees and agents free and harmless from and against any and all
          actions, causes of action, suits, losses, liabilities, damages and
          expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees
          and disbursements, incurred in any capacity by any of the indemnitees
          as a result of or relating to (i) any transaction financed or to be
          financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly with proceeds from
          the sale of any of the Securities, or (ii) the execution, delivery,
          performance, or enforcement of this Agreement (including, without
          limitation, any failure by the Company to comply with any of its
          covenants hereunder), or any instrument contemplated hereby or
          thereby, except for any such indemnified liabilities arising from any
          indemnitee's gross negligence or fraud.

               (ii) The Company hereby indemnifies each of the Investors against
          and agrees that it will hold such Investor harmless from any claim,
          demand, or liability for any broker's, finder's or placement fees or
          incentive fees alleged to have been incurred by it in connection with
          the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Related
          Agreements.

          (b) Non-payment. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided
              -----------
     herein, or in Section 4.2 of the Company's LLC Agreement, the Company shall
     pay on demand interest at a rate per annum equal to 500 basis points above
     the Base Rate on all overdue amounts payable under this Agreement until
     such amounts shall be paid in full.

          (c) Survival. The obligations of the Company under this Section 12
              --------
     shall survive the put, call, sale or transfer of the Securities.

SECTION 13.  NOTICES

Any notice of other communication in connection with this Agreement or the
Securities shall be deemed to be delivered if in writing (or in the form of a
telecopy) addressed as provided below and if either (a) actually delivered or
telecopied to said address or (b) in the case of a letter, three business days
shall have elapsed after the same shall have been deposited in the United States
mails, postage prepaid and registered or certified:

If to the Company, to the attention of the Company's President (and with a copy
to Paul McLaughlin, Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C., 1201 Walnut, Suite 2800,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106) or at such other address as such Person shall have
specified by notice actually received by the addresser; or

If to an Investor, then to the Investor's address set forth on the signature
page hereof, to the attention of its President or General Partner, or at such
other address as the Investor shall have specified by notice actually received
by the addresser; or

If to any other holder of record of any Security, to it at its address set forth
in the Company's LLC Agreement.

                                       41
<PAGE>

SECTION 14.  SURVIVAL AND TERMINATION

All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein or in any
other document referred to herein or delivered to the Investors pursuant hereto
shall be deemed to have been relied on by the Investors, notwithstanding any
investigation made by any of the Investors or on any of the Investor's behalf,
and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Related
Agreements, and the issuance of Securities to the Investors.  Notwithstanding
any provision hereof to the contrary, any claims under this Agreement or
otherwise that are based upon a breach of any representation or warranty under
Section 3 hereof or breach of any covenant under Section 6 hereof (a) must be
asserted by written notice thereof from the Majority Investors to the Company on
or before March 31, 2003, (b) may not be asserted until such claims reasonably
relate to damages exceeding $100,000 in the aggregate, and (c) may not result in
any liability of the Company for all such claims exceeding the aggregate of the
greater of (i) the Purchase Price (plus all reasonable attorney fees and out-of-
pocket costs and expenses of Investor incurred in collecting, settling or
compromising such claims) or (ii) the Put Price for all of the Securities,
calculated as if all of the Investors had exercised their rights under Section
9.1 as of the date on which any such breaches arose that result in the highest
Put Price (plus all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Investor
incurred in collecting, settling or compromising such claims).

SECTION 15.  AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

Any term of this Agreement, the Related Agreements, or the Securities may be
amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement, the Related Agreements
or the Securities may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance
and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the
Company and the Investors. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with
this Section 15 shall be binding upon the Company and each holder of any
Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement.

SECTION 16.  MISCELLANEOUS

          (a) Integration.  This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding
              -----------
     of the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby
     and supersedes any prior written or oral understandings with respect
     thereto.

          (b) Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any term or
              ------------
     provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
     other term or provision hereof.

          (c) Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
              --------
     reference only and shall not alter or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

          (d) Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures.  This Agreement and the
              ----------------------------------
     Related Agreements may be executed in any number of counterparts which
     together shall constitute one instrument. Signatures to this Agreement or
     any of the Related Agreements may be given by facsimile or other electronic
     transmission, and such signatures shall be fully binding on the party
     sending the same.

                                       42
<PAGE>

          (e) Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
              -------------
     in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of the State of Missouri
     without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule
     that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any
     other State.

          (f) Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall bind and inure to the
              --------------
     benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
     assigns.

          (g) Publicity.  Following its purchase of the Securities each of the
              ---------
     Investors, at its sole expense, may, with the prior written consent of the
     Company, place in such publications as they may select such "tombstone" or
     other informational announcements, advertisements, or articles as it may
     deem appropriate describing the transactions concluded hereunder.

          (h) Consents.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any
              --------
     consents or approvals required of the Company or the Investors hereunder or
     under any of the Related Agreements shall not be unreasonably withheld,
     delayed or conditioned.

          (i) Gender.  Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used
              ------
     herein, the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine and the neuter,
     and the neuter shall include the masculine and the feminine.

             [THE BALANCE OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       43
<PAGE>

SECTION 17.    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AND AS SEPARATELY BARGAINED-FOR
CONSIDERATION, EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
                                            ---
TO ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE RELATED AGREEMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR
SUCH PARTY'S CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING. EACH PARTY HERETO
HEREBY EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCLUSION OF THIS JURY TRIAL WAIVER THROUGH THE
INITIALS OF ITS DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES:

                Company:
                                                                /s/
                    INERGY PARTNERS, LLC                        _____

                Investors:
                                                                /s/
                    KCEP VENTURES II, L.P.                      _____
                                                                /s/
                    MORAMERICA CAPITAL CORPORATION              _____
                                                                /s/
                    NDSBIC, L.P.                                _____
                                                                /s/
                    KANSAS VENTURE CAPITAL, INC.                _____
                                                                /s/
                    MIDSTATES CAPITAL, L.P.                     _____
                                                                /s/
                    DIAMOND STATE VENTURES, L.P.                _____
                                                                /s/
                    ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEZZANINE FUND II, LP        _____
                                                                /s/
                    FIRSTAR CAPITAL CORPORATION                 _____
                                                                /s/
                    EAGLE FUND I, LP                            _____
                                                                /s/
                    RNG INVESTMENTS, L.P.                       _____

             [THE BALANCE OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>

SECTION 18.    GRANT OF WARRANTS

     18.1. Grant of Warrants. At the Closing, the Company shall execute and
           -----------------
deliver to each of the Warrant Investors a Warrant Agreement in the form
attached as Exhibit E-1 or E-2 hereto, as the case may be. The Warrants
            ------------------
represented by the Warrant Agreements shall entitle each Warrant Investor the
right to acquire additional Securities, pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in the Warrant Agreement.

     18.2. Effect of Exercise of Warrants and Joinder of Warrant Investors. Upon
           ---------------------------------------------------------------
the closing of the exercise of the Warrants, including the execution and
delivery of the Warrant Investor Amendment to LLC Agreement and the Joinder
Agreement by the Company and a Warrant Investor, such Warrant Investor shall be
deemed to be an "Investor" for purposes of each of this Agreement and each of
the Related Agreements (other than the Joinder Agreement) and the Subordination
Agreement and all appendices, schedules, and exhibits hereof and thereof, shall
be entitled to all of the rights and privileges hereof and thereof, and shall be
bound by all of the obligations hereof and thereof.

     18.3. Consent of Investors. Each of the Investors hereby consents and
           --------------------
agrees to (a) the grant of Warrants to the Warrant Investors pursuant to this
Section 18, and (b) the inclusion of each Warrant Investor as an "Investor" for
----------
purposes of this Agreement and each of the Related Agreements (other than the
Joinder Agreement) and the Subordination Agreement and all appendices,
schedules, and exhibits hereof and thereof upon the closing of the exercise by
such Warrant Investor of its Warrants, including the execution and delivery of
the Warrant Investor Amendment to LLC Agreement and the Joinder Agreement by the
Company and such Warrant Investor.

             [THE BALANCE OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
                            [SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Securities Purchase Agreement has been duly
executed as of the day and year specified at the beginning hereof.

                                        INERGY PARTNERS, LLC

                                        By: /s/ John J. Sherman
                                           ---------------------------------
                                              John J. Sherman, President and
                                              Managing Member
                                              1101 Walnut Street, Suite 1500
                                              Kansas City, MO  64106

                                        KCEP VENTURES II, L.P., a Missouri
                                           limited partnership
                                        By:  KCEP II, L.C., its general partner

                                        By: /s/ David J. Schulte
                                           ---------------------------------
                                              David J. Schulte, Managing
                                              Director of KCEP II, L.C
                                              233 W. 47th Street
                                              Kansas City, MO  64112

                                        MORAMERICA CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                        By:  InvestAmerica Investment
                                              Advisors, Inc., Agent

                                        By: /s/ Kevin F. Mullane
                                           ---------------------------------
                                              Kevin F. Mullane, Vice President
                                              911 Main Street, Suite 2424
                                              Kansas City, MO  64105

                               SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
<PAGE>

                              NDSBIC, L.P.
                              By:  InvestAmerica ND, L.L.C., General Partner
                              By:  InvestAmerica ND Management, Inc.

                              By: /s/ Kevin F. Mullane
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                    Kevin F. Mullane, Vice President
                                    911 Main Street, Suite 2424
                                    Kansas City, MO  64105

                              KANSAS VENTURE CAPITAL, INC.,
                                a Kansas corporation

                              By: /s/ John S. Dalton
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                    John S. Dalton, President
                                    6700 Antioch Plaza, Suite 460
                                    Overland Park, KS  66204

                              MIDSTATES CAPITAL, L.P., a Kansas limited
                              partnership
                              By:  MidStates Partners, L.L.C., its
                                    general partner

                              By: /s/ Bart S. Bergman
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                    Bart S. Bergman, Principal
                                    7300 West 110th Street, 7th Floor
                                    Overland Park, KS  66210

                              DIAMOND STATE VENTURES, L.P.,
                              By:    DSV Management LLC, its general partner

                              By: /s/ Joe T. Hays
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                    Joe T. Hays, President
                                    225 S. Pulaski
                                    Little Rock, AR  77201

                               SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
<PAGE>

                              ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEZZANINE FUND, II LP
                              By:  Rocky Mountain Capital Partners, LLP, as
                              general partner

                              By: /s/ Paul A. Lyons
                                 -----------------------------------------
                                    Paul A. Lyons, Jr., Partner
                                    1125 Seventeenth Street, Suite 2260
                                    Denver, CO  80202

                              FIRSTAR CAPITAL CORPORATION, an Ohio
                              corporation

                              By: /s/ Rick Cropper
                                 -----------------------------------------
                                    Rick Cropper
                                    425 Walnut Street
                                    Mail Location CN-WN-09AD
                                    Cincinnati, OH  45202

                              EAGLE FUND I, LP
                              By:  Eagle Fund, LLC, its general partner
                              By:  Mississippi Valley Capital Company, its
                                    sole member

                              By: /s/ Scott D. Fesler
                                 -----------------------------------------
                                    Scott D. Fesler, President
                                    2301 South Kingshighway
                                    St. Louis, MO  63110

                              RNG INVESTMENTS, L.P.

                                /s/ Richard C. Green, Jr.
                              -----------------------------------------
                                    Richard C. Green, Jr.,
                                    Managing General Partner
                                    20 W. 9th Street, Mail Stop 2-283
                                    Kansas City, MO  64105

                               SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
<PAGE>

  The undersigned hereby execute this signature page solely for the purposes of
and with respect to Section 18 of this Agreement and to become "Warrant
                    ----------
Investors" pursuant to this Agreement and beneficiaries of the representations,
warranties and covenants of the Company upon exercise of the Warrants and
execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement by the parties thereto:

                              KCEP VENTURES, III, L.P. a Delaware limited
                              partnership
                              By: KCEP III, L.C., its General Partner

                              By: /s/ David J. Schulte
                                 --------------------------------------
                                    David J. Schulte, Manager of
                                    KCEP III, L.C.
                                    233 West 47th Street
                                    Kansas City, MO  64112

                              CLAYTON-HAMILTON LLC

                              By: /s/ Warren H. Gfeller
                                 --------------------------------------
                              Warren H. Gfeller, Manager
                              24311 West 51st Street
                              Shawnee, KS  66226

                                WARRANT INVESTOR
                               SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                           INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     THIS INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of January 12,
2001, by and among Inergy Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
(the "Company") and the persons and entities listed on the signature pages
hereof (each, an "Investor" and, collectively, the "Investors").

     WHEREAS, KCEP VENTURES II, L.P. ("KCEP") made a 10% preferred interest
investment (the "KCEP 1999 Interests") in the Company pursuant to a Securities
Purchase Agreement dated December 31, 1999, between the Company and KCEP.

     WHEREAS, the Investors are making an 11% preferred interest investment in
the Company pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 12, 2001,
by and among the Company, the Investors, and the Warrant Investors that are
signatory thereto (the "Securities Purchase Agreement").

     WHEREAS, the KCEP 1999 Interests are, and the Class A Preferred Interests
(as defined in Securities Purchase Agreement) to be acquired by the Investors
under the Securities Purchase Agreement, as well as any securities into which or
for which the KCEP 1999 Interests and the Class A Preferred Interests may be
converted or exchanged in the future, will be "restricted securities" as defined
in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  As a result, there
will be significant restrictions on the ability of the holders of such
securities to resell those securities in the absence of registration under
applicable federal and state securities laws.

     WHEREAS, the Company may in the future conduct a public offering of common
units (the "Common Units") representing limited partner units in a master
limited partnership (the "Qualified IPO"), and upon successful completion of the
Qualified IPO, the KCEP 1999 Interests and the Class A Preferred Interests will
be converted into senior subordinated units of the master limited partnership
(the "Senior Subordinated Units").

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the master limited partnership agreement,
the Senior Subordinated Units from time to time will be released from
subordination such that they may be converted into common units of the master
limited partnership (the "Common Units").

     WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto
is a condition precedent to the Investors' obligation to purchase the Class A
Preferred Interests under the Securities Purchase Agreement.

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

     1. Definitions. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Securities Purchase
Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

       (a) "Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
<PAGE>

       (b) "Blackout Period" means any period

           (A) beginning on the date on which the Company notifies the Holders
(as defined below) that (i) the Board of Directors of the Company, in its good
faith judgment, has determined that there are material developments with respect
to the Company such that it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and
its unitholders to utilize a registration statement pursuant to this Agreement;
or (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company, in its good faith judgment, has
determined that financial statements with respect to the Company, which may be
required to utilize a registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, are
unavailable; and

           (B) ending on the date (1) with respect to clause (i) above, as soon
as practicable but not more than 30 days after the date on which the Company
notifies the Holders of the Board of Directors' determination; and (2) with
respect to clause (ii) above, as soon as financial statements sufficient to
permit the Company to file or permit the utilization of a registration statement
under the Act have become available.

       (c) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

       (d) "Final Subordination Release Date" shall mean the Subordination
Release Date on which all Senior Subordinated Units that remain outstanding and
that have not previously been released from subordination are released from
subordination pursuant to the master limited partnership agreement, such that
they may be converted into Common Units.

       (e) "Holder" or "Holders" shall mean any holder of outstanding
Registrable Securities (as defined below) or anyone who holds outstanding
Registrable Securities to whom the registration rights conferred by this
Agreement have been transferred in compliance with this Agreement.

       (f) "Initiating Holders" shall mean any Holder or Holders of at least
fifty percent (50%) of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities.

       (g) "Maximum Includable Securities" shall mean the maximum number of each
type or class of the Company's securities that the managing underwriter, in its
good faith judgment, deems practicable to offer and sell at that time in a firm
commitment underwritten offering without materially and adversely affecting the
marketability or price of the securities of the Company to be offered. When more
than one type or class of the Company's securities are to be included in a
registration, the managing underwriter of the offering shall designate the
maximum number of each such type or class of securities that is included in the
Maximum Includable Securities.

       (h) "Minimum Demand Amount" shall mean

           (i) following the first Subordination Release Date and prior to the
second Subordination Release Date, the Minimum Demand Amount shall be
$5,000,000;

                                       2
<PAGE>

           (ii) following the second Subordination Release Date (if such a
Subordination Release Date occurs) and prior to the third Subordination Release
Date, the Minimum Demand Amount shall be $10,000,000; and

           (iii) at all times following the third Subordination Release Date (if
such a Subordination Release Date occurs) the Minimum Demand Amount shall be
$15,000,000.

       (i) "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in
compliance with the Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of
such registration statement or document.

       (j) "Registrable Securities" shall mean

           (i) Common Units held by the Investors that were issued (A) upon
conversion of the Senior Subordinated Units or (B) as a result of a stock split
or dividend or recapitalization with respect to such Common Units or (C) as a
result of any merger, consolidation or reorganization with respect to such
Common Units; and

           (ii) any other successor securities received in respect of any of the
securities described in Section 1(j)(i).
                        ---------------

As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities will cease to be
Registrable Securities (y) when they have been distributed to the public
pursuant to an offering registered under the Act, or (z) when they have been
sold to the public through a broker, dealer, or market-maker in compliance with
Rule 144 under the Act.

       (k) "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

       (l) "Subordination Release Date" shall mean each date on which Senior
Subordinated Units are released from subordination pursuant to the master
limited partnership agreement, such that they may be converted into Common
Units.

       (m) "Violation" means any of the following statements, omissions, or
violations: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any registration statement, including any preliminary
prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or
supplements thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation by the Company of any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Act or any state securities law applicable to
the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in
connection with any such registration.

     2. Demand Registration Rights.

       (a) If, at any time after the expiration of any lock-up agreements
between the Holders and the managing underwriter of a Qualified IPO, the Company
shall receive a written request from the Initiating Holders requesting the
registration of at least fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities then
outstanding (or a lesser percentage if the anticipated aggregate offering price,
net of underwriting discounts and commissions, would exceed the then-current

                                       3
<PAGE>

Minimum Demand Amount), then the Company shall, within 10 days of the receipt
thereof, give written notice of such request to all Holders in accordance with
the notice provisions of Section 14(b) hereof. Subject to the limitations of
                         -------------
Section 2(b), the Company shall effect as soon as practicable, and in any event
------------
within 150 days of the receipt of such request, the registration under the Act
of all Registrable Securities that the Holders request to be registered within
20 days of the mailing of such notice by the Company.

       (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to
Holders requesting registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Section 2 a certificate signed by the President of the Company stating that a
---------
Blackout Period is in effect, the Company shall have the right to defer such
filing during the term of such Blackout Period; provided, that the Company may
                                                --------
not file a registration statement for securities to be issued and sold for its
own account or for the account of any other person during any Blackout Period
and further provided that the Company may not utilize this right more than twice
    ------- --------
in any 12-month period or in a manner that results in Blackout Periods pursuant
to any and all provisions of this Agreement aggregating more than 180 days
during any 12-month period.

       (c) If the Initiating Holders give written notice requesting registration
of their Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2, and if the Company
                                                 ---------
at that time is not eligible to register its securities on Form S-3, the Company
shall prepare and file a registration statement on such other form for the
general registration of securities as may be appropriate in accordance with the
terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.
                                       ---------

       (d) The Company may propose to include additional Common Units or other
securities ("Additional Units") to be sold by the Company and/or by other
holders of Common Units or other securities in any registration statement to be
filed pursuant to this Section 2. The Initiating Holders shall have the right to
                       ---------
reduce the number of Additional Units requested to be registered by other
securityholders pursuant to this Section 2(d) (including, if necessary, to zero)
                                 ------------
if, in the good faith opinion of the underwriter or underwriters of such
offering, the inclusion of such Additional Units would materially and adversely
affect the marketability or price of the Registrable Securities to be offered by
the Holders in such registration.

       (e) The Company shall be obligated to effect one registration pursuant to
this Section 2 for each Subordination Release Date that occurs, provided that
the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than one registration pursuant
to this Section 2 in any 12-month period.

       (f) The Initiating Holders shall have the right to select the managing
underwriter or underwriters, subject to the approval of the Company, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that will undertake the sale and
distribution of the Shares to be included in a registration statement filed
under the provisions of this Section 2. If the managing underwriter advises the
Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of
Registrable Securities to be underwritten, then the Company shall furnish all
Holders of Registrable Securities that would otherwise be underwritten with a
written statement of the managing underwriter as to the Maximum Includable
Securities. In such event, the number of Registrable Securities that may be
included in the underwriting shall be allocated among all Holders requesting
registration on a pro rata basis, with the number of Registrable Securities of

                                       4
<PAGE>

each Holder thereof included in the registration to be that number determined by
multiplying the total number of such type or class of security included in the
Maximum Includable Securities by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
total number of such type or class of security that such Holder owns, and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of such type or class of security
owned by all Holders that have requested inclusion of such type or class of
security in the registration. Any reduction of more than 50% of the Registrable
Securities sought to be registered will not be considered a registration under
this Section 2.

       3. Registration on Form S-3.

          (a) In addition to the registration rights provided pursuant to
Section 2 of this Agreement, if at any time that the Company is eligible to
register its securities on Form S-3 (or any successor to Form S-3) the Company
shall receive a written request from the Initiating Holders that the Company
file a registration statement under the Act on Form S-3 to register for resale
at least thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the Registrable
Securities then outstanding (or a lessor percentage if the anticipated aggregate
offering price, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, would exceed
$3,000,000), then the Company shall, within 10 days of receipt thereof, give
written notice of such request to all Holders in accordance with the notice
provisions of Section 14(b) hereof. The Company shall effect as soon as
practicable, and in any event within 120 days of the receipt of such request,
the registration on Form S-3 under the Act of all Registrable Securities that
the Holders request to be registered within 20 days of the mailing of such
notice by the Company.

          (b) The Company shall be obligated to effect only one such
registration pursuant to this Section 3 in each 12-month period; provided
further, the Company shall not be obligated to effect any registrations pursuant
to this Section 3 during any 12-month period following the effective date of a
registration under Section 2.

          (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to
Holders requesting a registration statement pursuant to this Section 3 a
certificate signed by the President of the Company stating that a Blackout
Period is in effect, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing
during the term of such Blackout Period; provided, that the Company may not file
a registration statement for securities to be issued and sold for its own
account or for the account of any other person during any Blackout Period and
further provided, that the Company may not utilize this right more than twice in
any 12-month period or in a manner that results in Blackout Periods pursuant to
any and all provisions of this Agreement aggregating more than 180 days during
any 12-month period.

          (d) If the Company shall furnish to Holders whose Registrable
Securities have been registered pursuant to this Section 3 a certificate signed
by the President of the Company stating that a Blackout Period is in effect, the
Holders shall not sell any Registrable Securities during such Blackout Period,
notwithstanding the fact that such Registrable Securities may otherwise be sold
pursuant to the effective registration statement or otherwise.

          (e) If any proposed registration pursuant to this Section 3 is to be
an underwritten offering, the provisions of Sections 2(d) and 2(f) shall apply.

                                       5
<PAGE>

4.  Piggy-Back Registration Rights.

     (a) If, following the effective date of the first registration statement
for a qualified IPO (but without any obligation to do so), the Company proposes
to file on its behalf and/or on behalf of any of its securityholders a
registration statement under the Act with respect to any of its securities, the
Company shall give each Holder written notice at least 20 days before the filing
with the SEC of such registration statement. If any Holder desires to have
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 4, such Holder shall
so advise the Company in writing within 15 days after the date of delivery of
such notice. The Company shall thereupon include in such filing the number of
Registrable Securities for which registration is so requested, subject to its
right to reduce the number of Registrable Securities as hereinafter provided,
and shall use its best efforts to effect registration under the Act of such
Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be
required to provide notice of filing of a registration statement and to include
therein any Registrable Securities if the proposed registration is

          (i) a registration on Form S-8, or other comparable form then in
effect, of stock options, compensatory stock purchases, compensation or
incentive plans, or of securities issued or issuable pursuant to any such plan,
or a dividend reinvestment plan; or

          (ii) a registration of securities proposed to be issued in exchange
for securities or assets of, or in connection with, a merger or consolidation
with another corporation.

     (b) In the event the offering in which any Holder's Registrable Securities
are to be included pursuant to this Section 4 is to be underwritten, the Company
shall furnish the Holders with a written statement of the managing underwriter
as to the Maximum Includable Securities as soon as practicable after the
expiration of the 15-day period provided for in Section 4(a). The managing
underwriter may exclude Registrable Securities entirely from such registration,
provided that the managing underwriter also excludes from such registration and
underwriting all securities held by any other person. If the total number of
securities proposed to be included in such registration statement is in excess
of the Maximum Includable Securities, the number of securities to be included
within the coverage of such registration statement shall be reduced to the
Maximum Includable Securities as follows:

          (i) no reduction shall be made in the number of securities to be
registered for the account of the Company or for the benefit of any of the
Company's securityholders that have the right to require the Company to initiate
the registration of such securities; and

          (ii) the number of Registrable Securities and other securities that
may be included in the registration, if any, shall be allocated among the
Holders of Registrable Securities and holders of other securities (the "Other
Holders") requesting inclusion on a pro rata basis, with the number of each type
or class of securities of each Holder and Other Holder thereof included in the
registration to be that number determined by multiplying (A) the total number of
such type or class of security included in the Maximum Includable Securities
less (B) the number of such type or class of security to be registered for the
account of the Company or other securityholders that have the right to require
the Company to initiate the registration, by a

                                       6
<PAGE>

fraction, the numerator of which will be the total number of such type or class
of security that such Holder or Other Holder owns, and the denominator of which
will be the total number of such type or class of security owned by all Holders
and Other Holders that have requested inclusion of such type or class of
security in the registration.

       (c) The Company or securityholders having the right to require the
Company to register their shares, as the case may be, shall, in its or their
sole discretion, select the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, that
are to undertake the sale and distribution of the Registrable Securities to be
included in a registration statement filed under the provisions of this Section
3.

       (d) The right to registration provided in this Section 4 is in addition
to and not in lieu of the registration rights provided in Sections 2 and 3.

     5. Obligations of the Company. Whenever required to effect the registration
of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement, the Company shall, as
expeditiously as reasonably possible:

       (a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on such form
as the Company deems appropriate with respect to such Registrable Securities and
use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective.
With respect to registration statements filed pursuant to Sections 2 or 4 of
this Agreement, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities registered thereunder the Company shall keep such registration
statement effective for up to 180 days, or such shorter period as is reasonably
required to dispose of all securities covered by such registration statement;
provided that the Company shall keep a registration statement filed pursuant to
Section 2 effective for an additional 90 days if reasonably required to dispose
of all securities covered by such registration statement. With respect to any
registration statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, which Registrable
Securities are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such
180-day period shall be extended, if necessary, to keep the registration
statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold, provided
that Rule 415, or any successor rule under the Act, permits an offering on a
continuous or delayed basis, and provided further that applicable rules under
the Act governing the obligation to file a post-effective amendment permit, in
lieu of filing a post-effective amendment which (i) includes any prospectus
required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act, or (ii) reflects facts or events
representing a material or fundamental change in the information set forth in
the registration statement, the incorporation by reference of information
required to be included in (i) and (ii) above to be contained in periodic
reports filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act in the
registration statement.

       (b) Permit the Holders to participate through counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Company in the preparation of such registration statement and,
if specifically requested by such counsel, in discussions between the Company
and the SEC or its staff with respect to such registration statement, and to
include in such registration statement material, furnished to the Company in
writing, that such counsel reasonably deems necessary to include in order to
avoid potential liability for the Holders;

                                       7
<PAGE>

       (c) Make available for inspection by any selling Holder of Registrable
Securities, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to such registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by the Company or managing underwriter, all financial and other records
and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the
Company's officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to supply
all information reasonably requested by any such selling Holder, underwriter,
attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

       (d) Notify the Holders promptly of any request by the SEC for the
amending or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or of
additional information;

       (e) Prepare and file with the SEC, and promptly notify the Holders of the
filing of, such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and
the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be
necessary to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement and as may
be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for that period of
time specified in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

       (f) Prepare and file with the SEC promptly upon the request of any such
Holders, any amendments or supplements to such registration statement or
prospectus which, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for such Holders, is
required under the Act or the rules and regulations thereunder in connection
with the distribution of the Registrable Securities by such Holders.

       (g) Not file any amendment or supplement to the registration statement or
prospectus to which any Holders shall reasonably object after having been
furnished a copy a reasonable time prior to the filing thereof.

       (h) Notify the Holders promptly after it has received notice of the time
when such registration statement has become effective or any supplement to any
prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed.

       (i) Advise each Holder promptly after it has received notice or obtained
knowledge thereof of the issuance of any stop order by the SEC suspending the
effectiveness of any such registration statement or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and promptly use its best efforts
to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such
stop order should be issued.

       (j) Furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus,
including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the
Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.

       (k) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered
by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided
that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to qualify to do business, to file a general consent

                                       8
<PAGE>

to service of process, or to become subject to tax liability in any such states
or jurisdictions, or to agree to any restrictions as to the conduct of its
business in the ordinary course thereof.

       (l) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and
perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary
form, with the managing underwriter of such offering, together with each Holder
participating in such underwritten offering, as provided in Section 6(c).

       (m) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto covered
by such registration statement is required to be delivered under the Act, of the
happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such
registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
circumstances then existing.

       (n) Prepare and promptly file with the SEC, and promptly notify such
Holders or their counsel of the filing of, any amendment or supplement to such
registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary to correct any
statements or omissions if, at the time when a prospectus relating to such
securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event has occurred as
the result of which any such prospectus must be amended in order that it does
not make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in
which they were made, not misleading.

       (o) In case any of such Holders or any underwriter for any such Holders
is required to deliver a prospectus at a time when the prospectus then in effect
may no longer be used under the Act, prepare promptly upon request such
amendment or amendments to such registration statement and such prospectus as
may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of the Act.

       (p) If any of the Registrable Securities are then listed on any
securities exchange, approved for quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or
other trading market, the Company will cause all such Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement to be listed or approved for quotation on
such exchange, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or other trading market.

       (q) Furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of
Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, on the date that such
Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale in connection
with a registration pursuant to this Agreement, if such securities are being
sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through
underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such
securities becomes effective, (i) an opinion of the counsel representing the
Company for the purposes of such registration, addressed to the underwriters and
in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten
public offering, and (ii) a letter from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company addressed to the underwriters, in form and substance
as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering.

                                       9
<PAGE>

     6. Obligations of Holders. It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Agreement that
each of the selling Holders shall:

       (a) Furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the
Registrable Securities held by them, the intended method of sale or other
disposition of such securities, the identity of and compensation to be paid to
any underwriters proposed to be employed in connection with such sale or other
disposition if the registration is pursuant to Section 2 or 3, and such other
information as may reasonably be required to effect the registration of their
Registrable Securities.

       (b) Notify the Company, at any time when a prospectus relating to
Registrable Securities covered by a registration statement is required to be
delivered under the Act, of the happening of any event with respect to such
selling Holder as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration
statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances
then existing.

       (c) In the event of any underwritten public offering, the right of any
Holder to include his, her, or its Registrable Securities in such registration
shall be conditioned upon such Holder participating in such underwriting, and
each participating Holder shall enter into and perform its obligations under the
underwriting agreement for such offering, and if requested to do so by the
underwriters managing such offering, each Holder shall enter into a customary
holdback agreement.

     7. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear and pay all expenses
incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant
to this Agreement (other than underwriting discounts and commissions with
respect to Registrable Securities included in such registration and any fees and
costs of the Holders' legal counsel or other advisors), including (without
limitation) all registration, filing, and qualification fees, Blue Sky fees and
expenses, printers' and accounting fees, costs of approval of quotation on The
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or listing on other securities exchange or trading
market, costs of furnishing such copies of each preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus, and amendments thereto as each Holder may reasonably request, and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration
proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2 or 3 if the registration request is
subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities to be registered (in which case the Holders participating
in such offering and favoring such withdrawal shall bear such expenses);
provided further, however, that if such registration request has been withdrawn
by virtue of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects
of the Company from that known to the Holders at the time of their request, then
the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and shall retain
their rights pursuant Section 2 or 3.

     8. Indemnification and Contribution. In the event any Registrable
Securities are included in a registration statement under this Agreement:

       (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
officers and directors of each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Act)
for such Holder, and each

                                       10
<PAGE>

person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of
the Act or the Exchange Act, for, from, and against any losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities (joint or several) to which such person or persons may become
subject under the Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any Violation, and the Company will reimburse
each such Holder, officer or director, underwriter, or controlling person for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such person or persons in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the extent that it arises
out of or is based upon a Violation that occurs in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection
with such registration by such Holder, underwriter, or controlling person.

       (b) Each selling Holder will indemnify and hold harmless the Company,
each of its officers and directors, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Act, any underwriter, and any other Holder
selling securities in such registration statement or any of its directors or
officers or any person who controls such other Holder, for, from, and against
any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which the
Company or any such officer, director, controlling person, or underwriter or
controlling person or other Holder may become subject, under the Act, the
Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are
based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent)
that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such
registration; and each such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company or any such officer, director, controlling
person, underwriter or controlling person, other Holder, officer, director, or
controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such
settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein
contained, a Holder's indemnity obligation, in such person's capacity as a
Holder, shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the
offering out of which the indemnity obligation arises.

       (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8
of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action),
such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against
any indemnifying party under this Section 8, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have
the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided,
however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnified party, except
that such fees and expenses shall be paid by the indemnifying party if
representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the
indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the

                                       11
<PAGE>

commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such
action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
indemnified party under this Section 8, but the omission so to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it
may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8.

       (d) To the extent the indemnification from the indemnifying party
provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party hereunder
in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to
therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party on the one hand and indemnified party on the other hand in connection with
the statements, omissions, or actions which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the such indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has
been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or
indemnified party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid
or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal and other fees and expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with any
investigation or proceedings. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d).
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no Holder of Registrable
Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total proceeds from the sale of Registrable Securities by such Holder
(net of all underwriting discounts and commissions) pursuant to the registration
statement that gives rise to such obligation to contribute exceeds the amount of
any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue statement or omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. To the extent indemnification is available under this Section
8, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full
extent provided in Section 8(a) or (b), as the case may be, without regard to
the relative fault of said indemnifying parties or indemnified party or any
other equitable consideration provided for in this Section 8(d).

       (e) The provisions of this Section 8 shall be applicable to each
registration pursuant to this Agreement, shall be in addition to any liability
that any party may have to any other party, and shall be a continuing right and
shall survive the registration and sale of any of the Registrable Securities
hereunder and the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

     9. Reports Under the 1934 Act. With a view to making available to the
Holders the benefits of Form S-3 and Rule 144 promulgated under the Act, the
Company agrees at all times after ninety (90) days after the effective date of
the first registration filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to
the general public to use its best efforts to:

                                       12
<PAGE>

       (a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;

       (b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the Act and the Exchange Act; and

       (c) furnish to any Holder, as long as the Holder owns any Registrable
Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company that
it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Act, and the
Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii)
such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of
any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such
securities without registration or pursuant to such form.

     10. Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date
hereof, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders
of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities, enter into any
agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company
that would allow such holder or prospective holder to require the Company to
include shares or securities in any registration initiated under this Agreement,
unless under the terms of such agreement such holder or prospective holder may
include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the
inclusion of such securities will not reduce the amount of Registrable
Securities that is included in such registration.

     11. Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may not be modified or amended
other than by an agreement in writing. Any amendment or waiver of any provision
under this Agreement may be effected only with the written consent of the
Company and the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities
then outstanding.

     12. Remedies.

       (a) The Company agrees that time is of the essence of each of the
covenants contained herein and that, in the event of a dispute hereunder, this
Agreement is to be interpreted and construed in a manner that will enable the
Holders to sell their Registrable Securities as quickly as possible after such
Holders have indicated to the Company that they desire to have their Registrable
Securities registered. Any delay on the part of the Company not expressly
permitted under this agreement or waived by the Holders, whether material or
not, shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement.

       (b) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the breach of any part
of this Agreement may cause irreparable harm and that monetary damages alone may
be inadequate. The parties therefore agree that any party shall be entitled to
injunctive relief or such other applicable remedy as a court of competent
jurisdiction may provide. Nothing contained herein will be construed to limit
any party's right to any remedies at law, including recovery of damages for
breach of any part of this Agreement.

     13. Joinder of Warrant Investors. Upon execution and delivery by a Warrant
Investor of a Joinder Agreement and Warrant Investor Amendment to LLC Agreement
upon

                                       13
<PAGE>

exercise of such Warrant Investor's Warrant, such Warrant Investor shall be
deemed to be an "Investor" under this Agreement, shall be entitled to all of the
rights and privileges, and shall be bound by all of the obligations, of an
Investor under this Agreement, as though such Warrant Investor had executed this
Agreement as of the date hereof.

     14. Miscellaneous.

       (a) Controlling Law. This Agreement and all questions relating to its
validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Missouri, notwithstanding
any Missouri or other conflict-of-law provisions to the contrary.

       (b) Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given, made, and received when delivered against
receipt, upon receipt of a facsimile transmission, or upon actual receipt of
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
addressed to the Company at its principal corporate offices, and addressed to
any Holder at the address of such Holder as it appears in the stock or other
securities ledger of the Company. Any party may alter the address to which
communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change to each
of the other parties hereto in conformity with the provisions of this paragraph
for the giving of notice.

       (c) Binding Nature of Agreement; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective partners, shareholders, heirs, personal representatives, successors,
and assigns, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities; provided, however,
that any subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities shall receive such
assigned rights subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
no assignment of rights hereunder shall increase the obligations of the Company
hereunder.

       (d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings,
inducements or conditions, express or implied, oral or written, except as herein
contained. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of
performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

       (e) Section Headings. The section headings in this Agreement are for
convenience only; they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its
interpretation.

       (f) Gender. Words used herein, regardless of the number and gender
specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number,
singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the
context requires.

       (g) Indulgences, Not Waivers. Neither the failure nor any delay on the
part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power, or privilege under this
Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege

                                       14
<PAGE>

preclude any other or further exercise of the same or any other right, remedy,
power, or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power, or
privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right,
remedy, power, or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver
shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted
to have granted such waiver.

       (h) Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as
against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall
together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become
binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together,
shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the
signatories. Any facsimile, photographic or xerographic copy of this Agreement,
with all signatures reproduced on one or more sets of signature pages, shall be
considered for all purposes as of it were an executed counterpart of this
Agreement.

       (i) Provisions Separable. The provisions of this Agreement are
independent and separable from each other, and no provision shall be affected or
rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason any
other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.

       (j) Termination. The rights granted pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this
Agreement shall terminate upon the third anniversary of the Final Subordination
Release Date, and the rights granted pursuant to Section 4 shall expire upon the
fifth anniversary of the Final Subordination Release Date.

         [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       15
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Investors Rights Agreement has been duly executed
as of the day and year specified at the beginning hereof.

                                INERGY PARTNERS, LLC

                                    /s/  JOHN J. SHERMAN
                                By:______________________________
                                   John J. Sherman, President and
                                   Managing Member

                                KCEP VENTURES II, L.P.
                                By:  KCEP II, L.C., its general partner

                                     /s/  DAVID J. SCHULTE
                                By:_____________________________
                                   David J. Schulte
                                   Managing Director of KCEP II, L.C.

                                MORAMERICA CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                By: InvestAmerica Investment Advisors, Inc.,
                                    Agent

                                    /s/  KEVIN F. MULLANE
                                By:_____________________________
                                   Kevin F. Mullane, Vice President

                                NDSBIC, L.P.
                                By:  InvestAmerica ND, L.L.C., General Partner
                                By:  InvestAmerica ND Management, Inc.

                                     /s/  KEVIN F. MULLANE
                                By:_____________________________
                                   Kevin F. Mullane, Vice President

                               SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                           INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
<PAGE>

                                KANSAS VENTURE CAPITAL, INC., a Kansas
                                corporation

                                    /s/  JOHN S. DALTON
                                By:_____________________________
                                   John S. Dalton, President

                                MIDSTATES CAPITAL, L.P., a Kansas limited
                                partnership
                                By: Midstates Partners, L.L.C., its general
                                    partner

                                    /s/  BART S. BERGMAN
                                By:_____________________________
                                   Bart S. Bergman, Principal

                                DIAMOND STATE VENTURES, L.P.
                                By: DSV Management LLC, its general partner

                                     /s/  JOE T. HAYS
                                By:_____________________________
                                   Joe T. Hays, President

                                ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEZZANINE FUND, II LP
                                By:  Rocky Mountain Capital Partners, LLP, as
                                general partner

                                    /s/  PAUL A. LYONS, JR.
                                By:_____________________________
                                   Paul A. Lyons, Jr., Partner

                                FIRSTAR CAPITAL CORPORATION, an
                                Ohio corporation

                                     /s/  RICK  CROPPER
                                By:_____________________________
                                   Rick Cropper

                               SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                           INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
<PAGE>

                              EAGLE FUND I, LP
                              By:  Eagle Fund, LLC, its general partner
                              By:  Mississippi Valley Capital Company, its sole
                              member

                                   /s/  SCOTT D. FESLER
                              By: ______________________________
                                  Scott D. Fesler, President

                              RNG INVESTMENTS, L.P., a Delaware Limited
                              Partnership

                                   /s/  RICHARD C. GREEN, JR.
                              By: _________________________________
                                  Richard C. Green, Jr., Managing General
                                  Partner

                               SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                           INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT

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