Document:

SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT PLAN
                                       OF
                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                             Effective April 1, 1999

         Section 1. Purpose.  This Supplemental Benefit Plan of Helix Technology
Corporation  (the  "Supplemental  Benefit  Plan")  provides  for the  payment of
additional  compensation to certain  employees of Helix  Technology  Corporation
(the  "Company") to  compensate  them for benefits not payable to them under the
Helix Technology Corporation Employees' Pension Plan (the "Pension Plan") due to
limits on Pension Plan  benefits  imposed by the  Internal  Revenue Code of 1986
(the "Code").

         Section 2.  Eligibility.  A person is eligible for benefits  under this
Supplemental  Benefit  Plan if the person is an employee of the Company who is a
participant  in the Pension Plan and who has been  designated  by the  Company's
Board  of  Directors  as a  participant  in this  Supplemental  Benefit  Plan (a
"Participant").

         Section 3. Supplemental  Benefit.  The benefit payable to a Participant
under this Supplemental Benefit Plan (the "Supplemental  Benefit") is the excess
of (a) the  benefit  that would be payable to the  Participant  from the Pension
Plan if the benefit under the Pension Plan were calculated without regard to the
limitation  on the amount of the benefit  imposed by section  415(b) of the Code
and the limitation on the amount of compensation  that may be taken into account
in calculating  the benefit  imposed by section  401(a)(17) of the Code over (b)
the benefit  actually  payable from the Pension Plan. The  Supplemental  Benefit
will be determined on a single life annuity basis.  Actuarial  equivalence under
this Plan, including  conversions to other permitted forms of benefits,  will be
based on the actuarial  assumptions  in the Pension Plan at the time the benefit
begins to be paid from the Pension Plan.

         Section 4. Time and Manner of Payment.  Subject to the other provisions
of this Plan, the Company will pay the  Supplemental  Benefit to the Participant
at the same  time or times  and in the same  form or forms as the  Participant's
benefit is paid from the Pension  Plan.  All forms of benefit  payable under the
Supplemental Benefit Plan will be actuarilly equivalent.

         Section 5.  Death.  If the  Participant  dies  before his or her entire
benefit has been paid from this Supplemental Benefit Plan, any unpaid portion of
the  Supplemental  Benefit will be paid to the same extent,  at the same time or
times, in the same form or forms,  and to the same  beneficiary or beneficiaries
as a death benefit is paid to the  Participant's  beneficiary  or  beneficiaries
under the Pension Plan.

         Section 6. Company's Right to Change Time or Manner of Payment.  In the
best interest of the financial  integrity and administration of the Supplemental
Benefit Plan,  the Company may, at any time at or after  occurrence of the event
that causes a Participant's
<PAGE>

Supplemental  Benefit to begin to be paid,  shorten  the  period  over which the
Supplemental  Benefit will be paid or change the form in which the  Supplemental
Benefit  will be paid,  provided  that the  changed  period or form  produces  a
benefit that is actuarially  equivalent to the  Supplemental  Benefit payable at
the time and in the form that the  Participant's  benefit  is  payable  from the
Pension Plan.

         Section 7. Unfunded  Obligation;  Trust. The obligations of the Company
to make payments  under this Plan will be unfunded,  except that the Company may
in its discretion arrange for a trust to hold assets that may be used to satisfy
the Company's  obligations under the Plan, but only if the establishment of such
a trust will not cause  Participants  to have any rights  under this Plan or the
trust  greater  than the rights of general  unsecured  creditors of the company.
Participants may not assign their rights under this Plan.

         Section  8.  Separable  Plan.  To the  extent  that this Plan  provides
benefits in excess of the limit of section 415 of the Code, those benefits shall
be a separable part of the Plan; and that separable part will be a separate plan
that is an excess  benefit  plan  within the  meaning  of  section  3(36) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

         Section 9.  Administration.  This  Plan  will  be  administered  by the
Human  Resources  and  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of  Directors  (the
"Administrator"). The Administrator is the named fiduciary of the Plan.

         Section  10.  Effective  Date;  Amendment;  Termination.  This  Plan is
effective  for  benefits  paid on or  after  April  1,  1999.  the  Plan  may be
terminated or amended in any respect by the Administrator, provided that no such
termination  or amendment may reduce the benefit  payable to a Participant  with
respect to the benefit earned before the date of such  termination or amendment.
The Company's obligations under this Plan shall be binding upon any successor to
substantially all the assets and business of the Company.

         Section 11.  Governing Law.  To the extent not governed by federal law,
this Plan will be construed,  enforced,  and administered in accordance with the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

         By signing this document,  a duly authorized officer of the Company has
acknowledged adoption of this Plan by the Company.

                                                   HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                                   By    /s/Michael El-Hillow
                                                         ---------------------
                                                         Michael El-Hillow
                                                         Senior Vice PresidentEXHIBIT 10.4

                AMENDMENT TO RICHARDS BAY SLAG SALES AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDING  AGREEMENT  dated May 1, 1999 is made by and between  RICHARDS BAY
IRON AND  TITANIUM  (PROPRIETARY)  LIMITED,  a South  African  corporation  with
offices at Richards  Bay,  Natal,  South Africa  (hereafter  called  "RBIT") and
KRONOS INC., a Delaware  corporation with offices at P.O. Box 700, Wyckoffs Mill
Road, Hightstown, New Jersey, 08520, USA (hereafter called "Buyer").

WHEREAS,  RBIT and Buyer  entered into an agreement for the purchase and sale of
titanium  bearing  slag  produced at RBIT's plant at Richards  Bay,  Natal South
Africa  (hereafter  "RBIT  Product")  dated  as of the 1st day of May,  1995 and
amended as of November 3, 1997 (hereafter called the "Agreement");

WHEREAS,  the parties wish to amend the Agreement to provide for the extension
of the Term of the Agreement;

NOW THEREFORE,  for and in consideration of the covenants and conditions  herein
contained,  the parties hereto agree to amend the Agreement effective January 1,
1999 as follows:

1.    Article III shall be replaced with the following:

      This Agreement shall be in effect for a term of nine (9) years  commencing
      on January 1, 1995 up to and  including  December  31, 2003 (the  "Term"),
      subject to prior termination as hereinafter provided.

2.    The first sentence of Paragraph D of Article IV of the Agreement  shall be
      replaced by the following:

      [***]

3.    The last sentence of Paragraph D of Article IV of the  Agreement  shall be
      replaced with the following:

      [***]

4.    [***]

5.    Article V.A.3. shall be replaced with the following:

      "3.   For 1997 to 2003 inclusively,  the Basic Price of RB Slag shall be
            the  previous   year's  Basic  Price  plus  Escalation  as  herein
            defined."

[***] - Confidential treatment requested.
<PAGE>

6.    The parties  hereby  ratify and confirm  the terms and  conditions  of the
      Agreement not specifically amended pursuant to this Amending Agreement.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have caused this  Amending  Agreement  to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives.

RICHARDS BAY IRON AND TITANIUM                 KRONOS INC.
(PROPRIETARY) LIMITED

By:  /s/ K. C. Rumble                          By:  /s/ D. C. Weaver
Name:  K. C. Rumble                            Name:  D. C. Weaver
Title:  Managing Director                      Title:  V.P. Business Development

[***] - Confidential treatment requested.<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 4 (a)

                                                                  March 14, 2000

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20549

Subject:   General Electric Capital Services, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K
           for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 - File No. 0-14804

Dear Sirs:

Neither General Electric Capital Services,  Inc. (the  "Corporation") nor any of
its  subsidiaries  has  outstanding any instrument with respect to its long-term
debt that is not  registered  or filed with the  Commission  and under which the
total  amount of  securities  authorized  exceeds 10% of the total assets of the
registrant and its  subsidiaries  on a consolidated  basis.  In accordance  with
paragraph (b) (4) (iii) of Item 601 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR  ss.229.601),  the
Corporation hereby agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange  Commission,
upon request,  a copy of each instrument  which defines the rights of holders of
such long-term debt.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.

                                         By: /s/ J.A. Parke
                                             J.A. Parke,
                                             Executive Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial OfficerSIXTH  BONDS  RENEWAL  AND  EXTENSION  AGREEMENT

     This  SIXTH BONDS RENEWAL AND EXTENSION AGREEMENT (this "Sixth Renewal") is
executed this 1st day of March, 2000 (the "Execution Date"), but effective as of
December  28,  1999,  by  and  between  WRI  HOLDINGS,  INC.  ("Maker"), a Texas
corporation,  and  WEINGARTEN  REALTY  INVESTORS  ("Payee"), a Texas real estate
investment  trust.

                         W  I  T  N  E  S  S  E  T  H:
                         ----------------------------

     WHEREAS,  the Payee is the sole legal owner and holder of those certain 16%
Mortgage  Bonds Due 1994, dated December 28, 1984 (the "Original Bonds"), in the
face  principal  sum  of  THREE  MILLION  ONE  HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND and NO/100
DOLLARS  ($3,150,000.00)  executed  by  Maker payable to the order of Weingarten
Realty,  Inc.  ("WRI"),  a Texas corporation, payable as therein provided, which
Bonds  are  secured  by

    (i)     that certain Trust Indenture, dated December 28, 1984 (the "Original
            Trust  Indenture")  executed  by  Maker  and  Texas  Commerce  Bank
            National  Association,  a  national  banking association  (now known
            as Chase Bank of Texas, N.A.)  ("Trustee");

    (ii)    that certain River Pointe Negative Pledge Agreement, dated  December
            28, 1984  (the  "Original Negative Pledge")  executed by Maker, WRI,
            and Plaza Construction,  Inc.  ("Plaza");  and

    (iii)   such  other  documents,  instruments,  and  agreements  executed  in
            connection with, as security for, or as evidence of the  obligations
            evidenced by the Original  Bonds  (collectively,  the Original Trust
            Indenture, the Original Negative  Pledge, and such  other documents,
            instruments,  and  agreements  being  herein  called  the  "Original
            Security  Instruments");  and

     WHEREAS,  WRI  assigned  and  conveyed  all  of its property, both real and
personal,  including,  without  limitation,  the  Original  Bonds,  to Payee, as
evidenced by that certain Master Deed and General Conveyance dated April 5, 1988
from  WRI  to  Payee;  and

     WHEREAS,  effective  as  of  December 28, 1994, Maker and Payee renewed and
extended  the  maturity date of the Original Bonds to December 28, 1995 pursuant
to  the terms of that certain Bonds Renewal and Extension Agreement, dated as of
December  28,  1994  ("First  Renewal");  and

     WHEREAS,  effective  as  of  December 28, 1995, Maker and Payee renewed and
extended  the  maturity date of the Original Bonds to December 28, 1996 pursuant
to  the terms of that certain Bonds Second Renewal and Extension Agreement dated
as  of  December  28,  1995  ("Second  Renewal");  and

<PAGE>
     WHEREAS,  effective  as  of  December 28, 1996, Maker and Payee renewed and
extended  the  maturity date of the Original Bonds to December 28, 1997 pursuant
to  the terms of that certain Third Bonds Renewal and Extension Agreement, dated
as  of  December  28,  1996  ("Third  Renewal");  and

     WHEREAS,  effective  as  of  December 28, 1997, Maker and Payee renewed and
extended  the  maturity date of the Original Bonds to December 28, 1998 pursuant
to the terms of that certain Fourth Bonds Renewal and Extension Agreement, dated
as  of  December  28,  1997  ("Fourth  Renewal");  and

     WHEREAS,  effective  as  of  December 28, 1998, Maker and Payee renewed and
extended  the  maturity date of the Original Bonds to December 28, 1999 pursuant
to  the terms of that certain Fifth Bonds Renewal and Extension Agreement, dated
as of December 28, 1998 ("Fifth Renewal") (the Original Bonds, Original Negative
Pledge,  and  Original  Security  Instruments,  each  as  modified, renewed, and
extended  by  the  First Renewal, Second Renewal, Third Renewal, Fourth Renewal,
and  Fifth  Renewal, being herein called the "Bonds," the "Negative Pledge," and
the  "Security  Instruments,"  respectively);  and

     WHEREAS, Maker and Payee amended and supplemented the terms of the Original
Trust  Indenture  to reflect the renewal and extension of the Bonds, as provided
in  the  First Renewal, Second Renewal, Third Renewal, Fourth Renewal, and Fifth
Renewal,  such amendments being evidenced by (i) that certain Supplemental Trust
Indenture  dated  as  of December 28, 1994 among Maker, Trustee, and Payee, (ii)
that  certain Second Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of December 28, 1995,
among  Maker,  Trustee,  and  Payee, (iii) that certain Third Supplemental Trust
Indenture  dated  as of December 28, 1996, among Maker, Trustee, and Payee, (iv)
that  certain Fourth Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of December 28, 1997,
among  Maker,  Trustee, and Payee, and (v) that certain Fifth Supplemental Trust
Indenture  dated  as  of December 28, 1998, among Maker, Trustee, and Payee; and

     WHEREAS,  of  even  date  herewith,  Maker, Trustee, and Payee have further
amended  and  supplemented  the  terms  of  the Trust Indenture pursuant to that
certain  Sixth  Supplemental  Trust  Indenture (the Original Trust Indenture, as
amended  and  supplemented  by  the  Supplemental  Trust  Indenture,  the Second
Supplemental Trust Indenture, the Third Supplemental Trust Indenture, the Fourth
Supplemental  Trust  Indenture,  the Fifth Supplemental Trust Indenture, and the
Sixth  Supplemental  Trust  Indenture,  being called the "Trust Indenture"); and

     WHEREAS,  the  Bonds  mature  on December 28, 1999, and Maker and Payee now
propose  to  renew and extend the maturity date of the Bonds and to continue the
liens  and  priority  of the Security Instruments as security for the payment of
the  Bonds,  as  set  forth  more  particularly  herein.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Maker and Payee hereby agree as
follows:

<PAGE>
     1.     The Maker reaffirms its promise to pay to the order of the Payee, at
2600  Citadel  Plaza  Drive, Suite 300, Houston, Harris County, Texas 77008, the
principal  balance due and owing on the Bonds, with interest accrued thereon, as
provided  in  the  Bonds,  except  that the maturity date of the Bonds is hereby
renewed  and  extended  to December 28, 2000, at which time the unpaid principal
balance of the Bonds, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due
and  payable.

     All  liens,  pledges,  and  security  interests securing the payment of the
Bonds,  including, but not limited to, the liens, pledges and security interests
granted  in  the  Trust  Indenture  and the Negative Pledge, are hereby renewed,
extended  and carried forward to secure payment of the Bonds, as hereby amended,
and  the  Security  Instruments  are hereby amended to reflect that the maturity
date  of  the  Bonds  is  December  28,  2000.

     2.     Maker  hereby represents and warrants to Payee that (a) Maker is the
sole  legal and beneficial owner of the Trust Estate (as that term is defined in
the  Trust  Indenture);  (b)  Maker has the full power and authority to make the
agreements  contained  in  this Sixth Renewal without joinder and consent of any
other  party;  and  (c)  the  execution,  delivery and performance of this Sixth
Renewal  will  not  contravene or constitute an event which itself or which with
the passing of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a default under
any  trust  deed, deed of trust, loan agreement, indenture or other agreement to
which Maker is a party or by which Maker or any of its property is bound.  Maker
hereby  agrees  to  indemnify  and  hold harmless Payee against any loss, claim,
damage,  liability  or  expense (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees)
incurred  as  a  result  of any representation or warranty made by Maker in this
Section  2  proving  to  be  untrue  in  any  material  respect.

     3.     To the extent that the Bonds are inconsistent with the terms of this
Sixth  Renewal,  the  Bonds are hereby modified and amended to conform with this
Sixth  Renewal.  Except as modified, renewed and extended by this Sixth Renewal,
the Bonds remain unchanged and continue unabated and in full force and effect as
the  valid  and  binding  obligation  of  the  Maker.

     4.     In  conjunction  with the extension and renewal of the Bonds and the
Security  Instruments,  Maker  hereby extends and renews the liens, pledges, and
security  interests as created and granted in the Security Instruments until the
indebtedness  secured  thereby, as so extended and renewed, has been fully paid,
and agrees that such extension and renewal shall, in no manner, affect or impair
the  Bonds or the liens, pledges, and security interests securing same, and that
said  liens,  pledges, and security interests shall not in any manner be waived.
The purpose of this Sixth Renewal is simply to extend the time of payment of the
obligation  evidenced  by the Bonds and any indebtedness secured by the Security
Instruments,  as modified by this Sixth Renewal, and to carry forward all liens,
pledges,  and  security  interests  securing the same, which are acknowledged by
Maker  to  be  valid  and  subsisting.

<PAGE>
     5.     Maker  covenants and warrants that the Payee is not in default under
the  Bonds  or  the  Security  Instruments,  or this Sixth Renewal (collectively
referred  to  as  the  "Loan  Instruments"),  that  there  are  no  defenses,
counterclaims  or  offsets  to  such  Loan  Instruments;  and  that  all  of the
provisions  of  the  Loan  Instruments, as amended hereby, are in full force and
effect.

     6.     Maker  agrees  to  pay  all  costs  incurred  in connection with the
execution  and consummation of this Sixth Renewal, including but not limited to,
all  recording  costs  and  the reasonable fees and expenses of Payee's counsel.

     7.     If any covenant, condition, or provision herein contained is held to
be  invalid  by  final  judgment  of  any  court  of competent jurisdiction, the
invalidity of such covenant, condition, or provision shall not in any way affect
any  other  covenant,  condition,  or  provision  herein  contained.

     8.     Payee  is  the  sole  owner and holder of the Bonds. Maker and Payee
acknowledge  and agree that the outstanding principal balance of the Bonds as of
December  28,  1999  is  $3,150,000.00.

     9.     Payee  is  an  unincorporated  trust  organized under the Texas Real
Estate  Investment  Trust  Act. Neither the shareholders of Payee, nor its Trust
Managers, officers, employees, or other agents shall be personally, corporately,
or  individually  liable, in any manner whatsoever, for any debt, act, omission,
or  obligation  of  Payee,  and all persons having claims of any kind whatsoever
against  Payee shall look solely to the property of Payee for the enforcement of
their  rights  (whether  monetary  or  non-monetary)  against  Payee.

     EXECUTED  this  day  and  year  first  above written, but effective for all
purposes  as  of  December  28,  1999.

                                  WRI HOLDINGS, INC., a Texas corporation

                                  By:___________________________________________
                                       Martin Debrovner, Vice President

                                                                         "Maker"

                                  WEINGARTEN REALTY INVESTORS, a Texas
                                  real estate investment trust

                                  By:__________________________________________
                                  Bill Robertson, Jr., Executive Vice President

                                                                        "Payee"

<PAGE>

STATE  OF  TEXAS

COUNTY  OF  HARRIS

     This  instrument  was  acknowledged  before  me  on  this  ______  day  of
______________, 2000, by Martin Debrovner, Vice President of WRI HOLDINGS, INC.,
a  Texas  corporation,  on  behalf  of  said  corporation.

                                              _________________________________
                                              Notary  Public,  State  of  Texas

STATE  OF  TEXAS

COUNTY  OF  HARRIS

     This  instrument  was  acknowledged  before  me  on  this  ______  day  of
______________,  2000,  by  Bill  Robertson,  Jr.,  Executive  Vice President of
WEINGARTEN  REALTY INVESTORS, a Texas real estate investment trust, on behalf of
said  real  estate  investment  trust.

                                              _________________________________
                                              Notary  Public,  State  of  Texas

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