Document:

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

         This Shareholders Agreement (this "Agreement"), effective as of March
13, 2000, is entered into by and among Empire Financial Holding Company, a
Florida corporation (the "Company"), Kevin M. Gagne and Richard L. Goble
(collectively, the "Current Shareholders") and each future holder of record of
Shares (hereinafter defined) who executes this Agreement or a separate
agreement to be bound by the terms hereof, regardless of when executed (the
Current Shareholders and such future holders of record are hereinafter sometimes
referred to collectively as the "Shareholders" and each individually as a
"Shareholder").

                                    RECITALS

         A. As of the date of this Agreement, the Current Shareholders are the
record and beneficial owners of all of the outstanding Shares (as hereinafter
defined).

         B. The Company and the Current Shareholders are willing to execute this
Agreement and to be bound by the provisions hereof.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants
and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.        PROHIBITION ON TRANSFERS

         1.1 No Transfers Unless Expressly Permitted. No Shareholder shall sell,
assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose
of (each, a "Transfer") all or any of such Shareholder's Shares, except in
compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, "Shares" shall mean and include all shares of the Common Stock or
Preferred Stock of the Company, and rights, options or warrants to purchase such
Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and securities of any type whatsoever that are,
or may become, convertible or exchangeable into such Common Stock or Preferred
Stock, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Shareholder.

         1.2 Certain Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding Section 1.1, nothing
herein shall restrict: (i) a Transfer by a Shareholder of Shares to (A) to any
spouse, child, child of a spouse, parent or grandchild of such Shareholder, (B)
a trust of which there are no principal beneficiaries other than such
Shareholder and one or more of such relatives of such Shareholder, (C) a
partnership of which there are no partners other than such Shareholder, one or
more of such relatives of such Shareholder or one or more trusts or corporations
which would qualify as a Permitted Transferee (as defined below) under clause
(i)(B) or (i)(D) hereof, or (D) a corporation of which there are no stockholders
other than such Shareholder, one or more of such relatives of such Shareholder
or one or more trusts or other corporations which would qualify as a Permitted
Transferee under clause (i)(B) or this (i)(D) hereof, or (E) a charitable
institution; (ii) any Transfer to a legal representative or guardian of a
Shareholder in the event such Shareholder becomes mentally incompetent; (iii)
any Transfer by will or the laws of descent; or (iv) any Transfer made in a
market transaction in which the Shareholder does not solicit nor arrange for the
solicitation of an order to buy the Shares; provided, however, that the
aggregate amount of Transfers by the Shareholder in market

<PAGE>

 transactions shall not exceed 10,000 Shares during any calendar quarter
(each, a "Permitted Transferee").

SECTION 2.        RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL

         2.1      Right of First Refusal.

         (a) Except for Transfers permitted by Section 1.2, if at any time a
Shareholder (the "Selling Shareholder") desires to Transfer all or any part of
such Selling Shareholder's Shares pursuant to a bona fide offer from a third
party (the "Proposed Transferee"), the Selling Shareholder must comply with the
provisions of this Section prior to accepting the third party offer. Within ten
days of receipt of a third party offer, the Selling Shareholder shall submit a
written offer (the "Offer") to sell such Shares (the "Offered Shares") to the
other Shareholders (excluding the Selling Shareholder) (the "Other
Shareholders") on terms and conditions, including price, not less favorable than
those on which the Selling Shareholder proposes to sell such Offered Shares to
the Proposed Transferee. The Offer shall disclose the identity of the Proposed
Transferee, the number of Offered Shares proposed to be sold, the total number
of Shares owned by the Selling Shareholder, the terms and conditions, including
price, of the proposed sale, and any other material facts relating to the
proposed sale. The Offer shall further state (i) that the Other Shareholders may
acquire, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, any of the Offered
Shares for the price and upon the other terms and conditions set forth therein
and (ii) that if all such Offered Shares are not purchased by any Other
Shareholders, the remaining Other Shareholders may purchase any Offered Shares
not purchased by any Other Shareholder.

         (b) Each Other Shareholder shall have the irrevocable and exclusive
option, but not the obligation (the "Option"), to purchase all, but not less
than all, of the Offered Shares in pro portion to the number of Shares owned by
such Other Shareholder compared to the total number of Shares owned by all of
the Other Shareholders for the purchase price and on the terms set forth in the
Offer. The Option shall be exercisable by the Other Shareholders by giving
notice of such exercise (the "Exercise Notice") to the Selling Shareholder and
the Other Shareholders within 20 days following the Other Shareholder's receipt
of the Offer. The Exercise Notice shall, when taken in conjunction with the
Offer, be deemed to constitute a valid, legally binding and enforceable
agreement for the sale and purchase of the Offered Shares. Failure by any Other
Shareholder to exercise the Option or to give an Exercise Notice shall be deemed
an election by such Other Shareholder not to exercise the Option.

         (c) If any of the Offered Shares are not purchased by the Other
Shareholder pursuant to this Section 2.1, then, the Selling Shareholder may sell
the Offered Shares at any time during the ensuing 60 days in strict conformity
with the terms set forth in the Offer. Any such sale shall be to the Proposed
Transferee, at not less than the price and upon other terms and conditions, if
any, not more favorable to the Proposed Transferee than those specified in the
Offer. If at the end of such 60-day period the Selling Shareholder has not sold
the Offered Shares, all restrictions on the sale or transfer of the Offered
Shares set forth in this Agreement shall again be in effect.

         2.2 Closing. If any Shares are purchased by an Other Shareholder
pursuant to the Option, then such purchases shall, unless the parties thereto
otherwise agree, be completed at a closing to

                                       2
<PAGE>

be held at the principal office of the Company on the tenth business day
following the exercise of the Option.

SECTION 3.        MISCELLANEOUS

         3.1 Term. This Agreement shall terminate only upon the earlier to occur
of the occurrence of any one of the following events:

                  (A) either of the Current Shareholders becomes the beneficial
owner of less than ten percent of the aggregate voting rights of all of the then
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company; or

                  (B) the death of either Current Shareholder or incapacity of
either Current Shareholder to act hereunder; or

                  (C) the termination of this Agreement by written agreement of
the Shareholders, which written agreement must be signed by each of the
Shareholders.

         3.2 Representations of Shareholders. Each Shareholder represents and
warrants to the Company and each other Shareholder that as of the date of such
Shareholder's execution of this Agreement, such Shareholder is the record and
beneficial owner of the Shares indicated on Exhibit A attached hereto, free and
clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances, and equities of every kind and
character whatsoever. Each Shareholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each other Shareholder from and against any and all liabilities,
losses, costs or expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from the breach or
inaccuracy of the foregoing representation and warranty.

         3.3 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. This Agreement shall not be
changed, modified or amended in any respect except by the mutual written
agreement of the parties hereto. Any provision of this Agreement may be waived
in writing by the party which is entitled to the benefits thereof. No waiver of
any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to or shall constitute a waiver
of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall any such
waiver constitute a continuing waiver

         3.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made
under, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Florida, without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles thereof. Any
proceedings of whatever nature brought to enforce the provisions of this
Agreement shall be brought and heard in Seminole County, Florida, and the
parties hereto consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in such forum.

         3.5 Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and assigns; but neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits or
obligations hereunder shall be assigned, by operation of law or otherwise, by
any party hereto. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective
permitted successors and assigns, any rights, benefits or obligations hereunder.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         3.6 Headings. The captions, headings and titles herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not effect the construction, meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement or any term or provision hereof.

         3.7 Notices and Demands. Any notices, requests, consents, demands and
other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder must be in
writing and, except as otherwise specified in writing, will be deemed to have
been duly given when personally delivered, telexed or facsimile transmitted, or
three days after deposit in the United States mail, by certified mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed to the parties at its address set
forth on Exhibit A or such other address as such party may specify by notice to
the other parties hereto.

         3.8 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction
only, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability
without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity
or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         3.9 Endorsement of Stock Certificates. Conformed copies of this
Agreement shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company and kept with the
records of the Company at its principal office. Certificates representing the
Shares issued prior to the date of this Agreement to the Shareholders shall be
recalled by the Company on or before one day after the effective date of this
Agreement, and an officer of the Company shall endorse each certificate
representing such Shares heretofore and hereafter issued by the Company to the
Shareholders by causing to be placed on the face thereof the following: "See
restrictions on back of certificate" and by causing to be placed on the back
thereof the following legend:

         THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE WITHIN CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED, ACCEPTED
         AND HELD SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF A SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF
         MARCH 13, 2000. A COPY OF SUCH SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN FILED AT
         THE OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION. THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES
         REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, MORTGAGED,
         PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN
         SUCH SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, TO ALL OF WHICH AND TO WHICH SHAREHOLDERS
         AGREEMENT THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY THE ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES.

         The Company may also cause to be imposed upon such certificates such
other legends as counsel to the Company shall determine to be required under the
provisions of any federal or state securities law.

         3.10 Specific Performance. Each of the parties acknowledge that it will
be impossible to measure in money the damage to the parties or to any of them,
if any party fails to comply with any of the restrictions or obligations imposed
by this Agreement, that every such restriction and obligation is material, and
that in the event of any such failure, the other parties will not have an
adequate remedy at law or in damages. Therefore, each party consents to the
issuance of an injunction or the enforcement of other equitable remedies against
her/him/it at the suit of an

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<PAGE>

aggrieved party without bond or other security, to compel performance of all of
the terms hereof, and waives any defenses thereto, including, without
limitation, the defenses of (i) failure of consideration, (ii) breach of any
other provision of this Agreement and (iii) availability of relief in damages.

         3.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the exhibits referred
to herein, constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

         3.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be
taken to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same document.

                          (Continued on Signature Page)

                                       5

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Shareholders
Agreement on the date first written above.

                                    EMPIRE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANY

                                    By: /s/ RICHARD L. GOBLE
                                    ------------------------
                                    Richard L. Goble, Co-Chairman of the Board

                                    By:  /s/ KEVIN M. GAGNE
                                    -----------------------
                                    Kevin M. Gagne, Co-Chairman of the Board

                                    KEVIN M. GAGNE
                                    --------------
                                    /s/ KEVIN M. GAGNE

                                    RICHARD L. GOBLE
                                    ----------------
                                    /s/RICHARD L. GOBLE

                                       6

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                              List of Shareholders
                              --------------------

                     Name and Address               Number of Shares Held
--------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------
Kevin M. Gagne                                            4,000,000

Richard L. Goble                                          4,000,000FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  FIRST   AMENDMENT,   dated  as  of  December  17,  1999  (this
"Amendment"), among HYDROCHEM HOLDING, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Holding"),
HYDROCHEM  INDUSTRIAL  SERVICES,  INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"),
the financial  institutions  party to the Credit Agreement  described below (the
"Lenders"),  and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent. All capitalized
terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined  herein shall have the  respective
meanings provided such terms in the Credit Agreement referred to below.

                                   WITNESSETH:
                                   ----------

                  WHEREAS,   Holding,   the   Borrower,   the  Lenders  and  the
Administrative Agent are parties to a Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19,
1999 (the "Credit Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend the Credit Agreement
as herein provided;

                  NOW THEREFORE, it is agreed:

I.                  First Amendment to Credit Agreement.
                    ------------------------------------

                  1. The Lenders  hereby agree (i) that Section  9.04(xi) of the
Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the amount  "$500,000"  appearing
in the last line thereof and inserting the amount  "$1,000,000" in lieu thereof,
and  (ii)  that as of the  Amendment  Effective  Date  (as  defined  below)  the
foregoing  amendment to Section  9.04(xi) shall be deemed to have been effective
as of the Initial  Borrowing  Date and any Default or Event of Default  that has
arisen solely as a result of such  indebtedness  under Section 9.04(xi) being in
excess of $500,000 and less than or equal to $1,000,000 is hereby waived.

II.           Miscellaneous.
              --------------

                  1.  In  order  to  induce  the  Lenders  to  enter  into  this
Amendment,  each of Holding and the Borrower hereby represents and warrants that
(i) all representations, warranties and agreements contained in Section 7 of the
Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material  respects on and as of the
Amendment Effective Date (unless such representations and warranties relate to a
specific earlier date, in which case such  representations  and warranties shall
be true and correct in all material  respects as of such earlier  date) and (ii)
there exists no Default or Event of Default on the Amendment  Effective Date, in
each case after giving effect to this Amendment.

<PAGE>

                  2.  This  Amendment  is  limited  as  specified  and shall not
constitute a  modification,  acceptance or waiver of any other  provision of the
Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.

                  3.  This   Amendment   may  be   executed  in  any  number  of
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts,  each
of  which  counterparts  when  executed  and  delivered  (including  by  way  of
facsimile) shall be an original,  but all of which shall together constitute one
and the same instrument. A complete set of counterparts shall be lodged with the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

                  4.  THIS  AMENDMENT  AND THE  RIGHTS  AND  OBLIGATIONS  OF THE
PARTIES  HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  5. This  Amendment  shall  become  effective  on the date (the
"Amendment  Effective Date") when each of Holding, the Borrower and the Required
Lenders  shall have signed a counterpart  hereof  (whether the same or different
counterparts) and shall have delivered (including,  without limitation, by usage
of facsimile  transmission) the same to the  Administrative  Agent at the Notice
Office.  This Amendment and the agreements  contained herein shall be binding on
the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

                  6. From and after the Amendment Effective Date, all references
in the  Credit  Agreement  and in  the  other  Credit  Documents  to the  Credit
Agreement  shall be deemed to be references to the Credit  Agreement as modified
hereby.

                                      * * *
                                        2

<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the parties  hereto has caused a
counterpart  of this  Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date
first above written.

                                       HYDROCHEM HOLDING, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Selby F. Little, III
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Name: Selby F. Little, III
                                       Title:Executive Vice President
                                             Chief Financial Officer

                                       HYDROCHEM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Selby F. Little, III
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Name: Selby F. Little, III
                                       Title:Executive Vice President
                                             Chief Financial Officer

                                       BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                                        Individually and as Administrative Agent

                                       By: /s/ John J. ONeill
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Name: John J. ONeill
                                       Title:Managing Director

                                       WELLS FARGO BANK (TEXAS), NATIONAL
                                          ASSOCIATION

                                       By: /s/ Linda Masera
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Name: Linda Masera
                                       Title:Vice President

                                       NATEXIS BANQUE - BFCE

                                       By: /s/ Daniel Payer
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Name: Daniel Payer
                                       Title:Assistant Vice President

                                       By: /s/ Louis P. Laville, III
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Name: Louis P. Laville, III
                                       Title:Vice President and Group Manager

                                       NATIONAL CITY BANK OF KENTUCKY

                                       By: /s/ Tom Gurbach
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Name: Tom Gurbach
                                       Title:Vice President

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