Document:

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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.4(a)

              FINANCING SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL AGREEMENT

         FINANCING SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL AGREEMENT ("Agreement")
dated as of the 1st day of April, 1998, between SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE,
INCORPORATED (the "Cooperative"), a Virginia corporation, and MICHIGAN LIVESTOCK
CREDIT CORPORATION ("MLCC"), a Virginia corporation.

         The Cooperative desires to have MLCC extend from time to time
agricultural production loans, building loans, equipment loans, renovation
loans, revolving credit loans, and other loans to and financing for customers of
the Cooperative and other persons pursuant to separate agreements to be entered
into between each such customer and MLCC and to lease dairy cattle and other
livestock from time to time to customers of the Cooperative and other persons,
and to contract with third parties to feed cattle and other livestock. MLCC
desires to have the Cooperative provide it with equity capital, and each of the
parties desires to have its business operations complement the business
operations of the other party. Therefore, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                   ---------

                       DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
                       --------------------------------

         SECTION 1.01.  DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the following
                        -------------
terms have the following meanings (terms defined in the singular to have the
same meaning when used in the plural and vice versa):

         "Agreement" means this Financing Services and Contributed Capital
          ---------
Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented, or modified from time to time.

         "Agricultural Production Loan" means to loan for a term of not more
          ----------------------------
than one year, the proceeds of which are used to raise crops or livestock.

         "Building Loan" means a loan secured by a mortgage lien on hog barns
          -------------
and other amenities or other buildings with the principal amortized over a
period of 7 to 10 years.

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
          ------------
on which commercial banks in Richmond, Virginia, are authorized or required to
close under applicable law.

         "Collateral" means any property which is subject to a security interest
          ----------
or other lien securing the obligations of the obligor to MLCC.

         "Customer of the Cooperative" means a member of the Cooperative or
          ---------------------------
other person who purchases goods or services from the Cooperative.

         "Default" means any of the events specified in Article XIV, whether or
          -------
not any requirement for the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, has
been satisfied.
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         "Equipment Loan" means a loan secured by a security interest in farming
          --------------
equipment with its principal amortized over a period of 3 to 5 years.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
          -----
amended from time to time, and the regulations and published interpretations
thereof.

         "ERISA Reportable Event" means any of the events specified in Section
          ----------------------
14.01 (j) or (k), provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the
lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

         "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 14.01,
          ----------------
provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or
both, has been satisfied.

         "Headquarters" means the office of MLCC at 6606 West Broad Street, Post
          ------------
Office Box 25567, Richmond, Virginia 23260.

         "Leases" means contracts for the lease of dairy cattle or other
          ------
livestock for a fixed period of time by MLCC to a Customer of the Cooperative or
other Person.

         "Lien" means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest,
          ----
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or
other), charge or encumbrance of any kind or nature whatsoever (including,
without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any
financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing, and the filing of any financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code of Virginia or comparable law of any jurisdiction to evidence
any of the foregoing).

         "Livestock Feeding Agreement" means an agreement pursuant to which MLCC
          ---------------------------
contracts with third Persons to take possession of and feed livestock in order
that such livestock may be sold at a profit.

         "Loan" means an Agricultural Production Loan, a Building Loan, an
          ----
Equipment Loan, a Renovation Loan, a Revolving Credit Loan, or any substantially
similar extension of credit now or hereafter made by MLCC to a Customer of the
Cooperative or other Person.

         "Local Cooperative" means any corporation which is managed by the
          -----------------
Cooperative under a management agreement or contract.

         "Manufacturer" means the original equipment manufacturer of goods
          ------------
offered for sale by the Cooperative.

         "Multi-employer Plan" means a Plan described in Section 4001(a)(3) of
          -------------------
ERISA which covers employees of the Cooperative or to which the Cooperative is
or may be required to make contributions under ERISA.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
          ----
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

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         "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, business
          ------
trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture,
governmental authority, or other entity of whatever nature.

         "Plan" means any employee welfare plan established or maintained by
          ----
the-Cooperative or to which the Cooperative has made contributions in the past
or may in the future be required to make contributions under ERISA.

         "Prohibited Transaction" means any transaction set forth in Section
          ----------------------
406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.

         "Renovation Loan" means a loan with the principal amortized over a
          ---------------
period of 5 to 7 years, the proceeds of which are used to renovate farm
equipment or farm buildings and other structures.

         "Revolving Credit Loan" means a loan which permits the borrower to
          ---------------------
obtain advances from time to time, make payments from time to time, and borrow
again from time to time.

         "Subsidiary" means any corporation the majority of the voting shares
          ----------
of which at the time are owned directly or indirectly by the Cooperative and/or
by one or more Subsidiaries of the Cooperative.

         "Termination Date" means that date on which certain obligations of the
          ----------------
parties hereunder may be terminated as provided in Section 15.03.

                                  ARTICLE II
                                  ----------
                         AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION LOANS
                         -----------------------------

         SECTION 2.01. GENERAL. MLCC may from time to time extend Agricultural
                       -------
Production Loans to customers of the Cooperative and other Persons. Such
financing shall be extended pursuant to separate agreements to be entered into
between each such Person and MLCC.

         SECTION 2.02. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Nothing contained herein shall
                       --------------------
obligate MLCC to extend any Agricultural Production Loan to any person. All
decisions with respect to Agricultural Production Loans shall be made by MLCC in
its sole discretion, subject to such agreements as MLCC may enter into from time
to time with its Agricultural Production Loan borrowers.

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                                   ARTICLE III
                                   -----------

                                 BUILDING LOANS
                                 --------------

         SECTION 3.01. GENERAL. MLCC may from time to time extend Building Loans
                       -------
to Customers of the Cooperative and other Persons. Such loans shall be extended
pursuant to separate agreements to be entered into between each such Person and
MLCC.

         SECTION 3.02. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Nothing contained herein shall
                       --------------------
obligate MLCC to extend any Building Loan to any person. All decisions with
respect to Building Loans shall be made by MLCC in its sole discretion, subject
to such agreements as MLCC may enter into from time to time with its Building
Loan borrowers.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                   ----------

                                 EQUIPMENT LOANS
                                 ---------------

         SECTION 4.01. GENERAL. MLCC may from time to time extend Equipment
                       -------
Loans to Customers of the Cooperative and other Persons. Such financing shall be
extended pursuant to separate agreements to be entered into between each such
Person and MLCC.

         SECTION 4.02. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Nothing contained herein shall
                       --------------------
obligate MLCC to extend any Equipment Loan to any Person. All decisions with
respect to Equipment Loans shall be made by MLCC in its sole discretion, subject
to such agreements as MLCC may enter into from time to time with its Equipment
Loan borrowers.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                    ---------

                             REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS
                             ----------------------

         SECTION 5.01. GENERAL. MLCC may from time to time extend Revolving
                       -------
Credit Loans to Customers of the Cooperative and other Persons. Such financing
shall be extended pursuant to separate agreements to be entered into between
each such Person and MLCC.

         SECTION 5.02. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Nothing contained herein shall
                       --------------------
obligate MLCC to extend any Revolving Credit Loan to any Person. all decisions
with respect to Revolving Credit Loans shall be made by MLCC in its sole
discretion, subject to such agreements as MLCC may enter into from time to time
with its Revolving Credit Loan borrowers.

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                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   ----------

                                RENOVATION LOANS
                                ----------------

         SECTION 6.01. GENERAL. MLCC may from time to time extend Renovation
                       -------
Loans to Customers of the Cooperative and other Persons. Such financing shall be
extended pursuant to separate agreements to be entered into between each such
Person and MLCC.

         SECTION 6.02. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Nothing contained herein shall
                       --------------------
obligate MLCC to extend any Renovation Loan to any Person. All decisions with
respect to Renovation Loans shall be made by MLCC in its sole discretion,
subject to such agreements as MLCC may enter into from time to time with its
Renovation Loan borrowers.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                   -----------

                   LEASING OF DAIRY CATTLE AND OTHER LIVESTOCK
                   -------------------------------------------

         SECTION 7.01. GENERAL. MLCC may from time to time lease dairy cattle or
                       -------
other livestock to Customers of the Cooperative and other Persons. Such leases
shall be made pursuant to separate lease agreements to be entered into between
each such Person and MLCC.

         SECTION 7.02. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Nothing contained herein shall
                       --------------------
obligate MLCC to lease dairy cattle or other livestock to any Person. All
decisions with respect to such leases shall be made by MLCC in its sole
discretion, subject to such agreements as MLCC may from time to time enter into
with the lessees of such dairy cattle or other livestock.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  ------------

                           LIVESTOCK FEEDING PROGRAM
                           -------------------------

         SECTION 8.01. GENERAL. MLCC may from time to time enter into Livestock
                       -------
Feeding Agreements with Customers of the Cooperative and other Persons. Such
transactions shall be governed by separate agreements to be entered into between
each such Person and MLCC.

         SECTION 8.02. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Nothing contained herein shall
                       --------------------
obligate MLCC to enter into any livestock feeding program with any Person. All
decisions with respect to such livestock feeding programs shall be made by MLCC
in its sole discretion, subject to such agreements as MLCC may enter into from
time to time with respect to such livestock feeding programs.

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                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   ----------

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                         ------------------------------

         To induce MLCC to make Loans and extend other credit accommodations to
its Customers and to lease dairy cattle and other livestock to its Customers and
to enter into livestock feeding programs with its Customers, the Cooperative
represents and warrants to MLCC as follows:

         SECTION 9.01. SUBSIDIARIES. The Cooperative has the following
                       ------------
Subsidiaries and none others:

            Name of Subsidiary                  Percentage Owned by Cooperative
            ------------------                  -------------------------------

         Mountain State Greenhouses, Inc.                        100%
         SSC Insurance Agency, Inc.                              100%
         Southern States Holdings, Inc.                          100%
         Southern States Underwriters, Inc.                      100%
         Virginia Seed Service, Inc.                             100%
         Wetsel, Inc.                                            100%

         SECTION 9.02. GOOD STANDING. Each of the Cooperative and its
                       -------------
Subsidiaries is a corporation organized and existing in good standing under the
laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation and each has the corporate
power to own its property and to carry on its business as now being conducted
and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned by it therein or in
which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary.

         SECTION 9.03. CORPORATE AUTHORITY. The Cooperative has full power and
                       -------------------
authority to enter into this Agreement, and to incur the obligations provided
for herein, all of which have been duly authorized by all proper and necessary
corporate action. No consent or approval of stockholders or of any public
authority is required as a condition to the validity of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.04. BINDING AGREEMENTS. This Agreement constitutes the valid
                       ------------------
and legally binding obligation of the Cooperative enforceable against the
Cooperative in accordance with its terms.

         SECTION 9.05. LITIGATION. There are no proceedings pending or, so far
                       ----------
as the officers of the Cooperative know, threatened before any court or
administrative agency that, in the opinion of the officers of the Cooperative,
will materially adversely affect the financial condition or operations of the
Cooperative or any of its Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 9.06. NO CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. There is no charter, bylaw or
                       -------------------------
preference stock provision of the Cooperative or any of its Subsidiaries and no
provision of any existing mortgage, indenture, contract or agreement binding on
the Cooperative or any of its

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Subsidiaries or affecting their respective properties that would conflict with
or in any way prevent the execution, delivery or carrying out of the terms of
this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.07. BALANCE SHEET. The consolidated balance sheet of the
                       -------------
Cooperative and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1997, and the related statements
of income and retained earnings and changes in cash flow for the period then
ended certified by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., and the unaudited consolidated
balance sheet of the Cooperative and its Subsidiaries as of January 31, 1998,
and the related statement of income for the period then ended, heretofore
delivered to MLCC, are complete and correct and fairly present the financial
condition of the Cooperative and its Subsidiaries and the results of their
operations as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein and have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis throughout the period involved. There are no liabilities,
direct or indirect, fixed or contingent of the Cooperative or any of its
Subsidiaries as of the dates of such balance sheets that are not reflected
therein or in the notes thereto. There has been no material adverse change in
the financial condition or operations of the Cooperative since the dates of
those balance sheets, and there has been no other material adverse change in the
Cooperative.

         SECTION 9.08. LICENSES. The Cooperative has all licenses necessary or
                       --------
desirable for it to conduct its businesses as presently being conducted and such
businesses are in compliance with all applicable laws in all material respects.

         SECTION 9.09. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PENSION PLANS. No fact, including but
                       ------------------------------
not limited to, any Reportable Event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, exists
in connection with any employee benefit pension plan of the Cooperative covered
by said Act, which might constitute grounds for the termination of any such plan
by the PBGC or for the appointment of any trustee to administer any such plan by
the appropriate United States District Court.

                                    ARTICLE X
                                    ---------

                                   CONDITIONS
                                   ----------

         The Cooperative will not request that MLCC make a Loan or otherwise
extend credit to any Person, lease dairy cattle or other livestock to any
Person, or enter into any livestock feeding program with any Person unless:

         SECTION 10.01. LEGAL MATTERS. It shall have satisfied any legal
                        -------------
concerns reported to the Cooperative by MLCC or its counsel with respect to
making of any Loans, the leasing of any livestock or the entering into of any
livestock feeding program.

         SECTION 10.02. EVIDENCE OF CORPORATE ACTION. MLCC shall have received
                        ----------------------------
certified copies of papers evidencing all corporate action taken by the
Cooperative to authorize this Agreement and such other papers as MLCC may
reasonably require.

         SECTION 10.03. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each of the
                        ------------------------------
representations and warranties set forth in Article IX hereof shall be true and
correct as of the date of such offer, except to the extent they relate solely to
an earlier date.

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         SECTION 10.04. ABSENCE OF DEFAULTS. No Event of Default as defined in
                        -------------------
Section 14.01 shall have occurred and be continuing and no event shall have
occurred or condition exist which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or
both would constitute such an Event of Default.

                                   ARTICLE XI
                                   ----------

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
                              ---------------------

         The Cooperative covenants and agrees with MLCC that so long as the
Cooperative may request that MLCC make a Loan or otherwise extend credit to any
Person, lease dairy cattle or other livestock to any Person, or enter into any
livestock feeding program and until payment in full of all Loans, the payment of
all obligations under Leases and livestock feeding programs and performance of
all other obligations of the Cooperative hereunder, the Cooperative will:

         SECTION 11.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Furnish to MLCC (i) as soon as
                        --------------------
available, but in no event more than forty-five (45) days after the end of each
quarterly period in each of its fiscal years, a consolidated balance sheet of
the Cooperative and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such quarter and a
profit and loss statement to the close of such quarter, certified by the chief
financial officer of the Cooperative and accompanied by a certificate of that
officer stating whether any event has occurred that constitutes an Event of
Default hereunder or that would constitute such an Event of Default with the
giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, and, if so, stating the facts
with respect thereto; (ii) as soon as available, but in no event more than
ninety (90) days after the close of each of the Cooperative's fiscal years, a
copy of the annual audit report of the Cooperative in reasonable detail,
substantially similar to the financial statements referred to in Section 9.07
above, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year and certified by
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. or other independent certified public accountants of
recognized national standing, which report shall include a consolidated balance
sheet of the Cooperative and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year,
a statement of income and retained earnings for such fiscal year and changes in
cash flow for such fiscal year, accompanied by a certificate of said accountants
stating whether any event existed as of the end of such fiscal year that
constituted an Event of Default hereunder or that would constitute such an Event
of Default with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, and, if so,
stating the facts with respect thereto; (iii) promptly upon their becoming
available, copies of all financial statements, reports, notices, and proxy
statements sent by the Cooperative to patrons or stockholders and of all
regular, periodic and special reports or any registration statement filed by the
Cooperative or any of its Subsidiaries with any securities exchange or with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental authority succeeding to
any or all of the functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iv)
such additional information, reports, or statements, including interim financial
statements, as MLCC may from time to time reasonably request.

         SECTION 11.02. TAXES. Pay and discharge all taxes, assessments, and
                        -----
governmental charges upon it, its income, and its properties prior to the date
on which penalties are attached thereto, unless and to the extent only that such
taxes, assessments, and governmental charges shall be contested by it in good
faith and by appropriate proceedings, and the Cooperative

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shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect to any such
tax, assessment or charge so contested.

         SECTION 11.03. BUSINESS PLAN. Furnish to MLCC as soon as available, but
                        -------------
in any event within 120 days after the Cooperative's new fiscal year, a copy of
the Cooperative's new fiscal year business plan which will contain, but not be
limited to, projected balance sheets, profit and loss statements, changes in
cash flow each prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied, estimated usage of indebtedness, and
assumptions utilized in preparing the business plan.

         SECTION 11.04. PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. Pay and discharge at or before
                        ----------------------
their maturity all its indebtedness and other obligations and liabilities,
except when the same may be contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings, and the Cooperative shall have set aside on its books adequate
reserves with respect to any such obligation or liability.

         SECTION 11.05. INSURANCE. Maintain adequate insurance with responsible
                        ---------
companies satisfactory to MLCC in such amounts and against such risks as is
customarily carried by owners of similar businesses and property.

         SECTION 11.06. CORPORATE EXISTENCE, LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC. Maintain
                        -------------------------------------------
its corporate existence in good standing and maintain all permits and licenses
necessary or desirable for the conduct of its business.

         SECTION 11.07. PROPERTIES. Maintain, preserve, and protect all
                        ----------
franchises and trade names and preserve all the remainder of its property used
or useful in the conduct of its business and keep the same in good repair,
working order, and condition, and from time to time make or cause to be made all
necessary and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments, and
improvements thereto so that the business carried on in connection therewith may
be properly and advantageously conducted at all times, and permit MLCC and its
agents to enter upon and inspect such properties.

         SECTION 11.08. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PENSION PLANS. Promptly during each
                        ----------------------------
year, pay contributions that in the judgment of the chief executive and chief
financial officers of the Cooperative after reasonable inquiry are believed
adequate to meet at least the minimum funding standards set forth in Sections
302 through 305 of ERISA, with respect to each employee benefit plan of the
Cooperative, if any, covered by that Act; file each annual report required to be
filed pursuant to Section 103 of ERISA in connection with each such plan for
each year; and notify MLCC within ten (10) days of the occurrence of a
Reportable Event (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) that might constitute
grounds for termination of any such plan by PBGC or for the appointment by the
appropriate United States District Court of a trustee to administer any such
plan, provided that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Cooperative from
terminating any such plan if it has theretofore complied with the provisions of
this Section.

         SECTION 11.09. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Not knowingly be in violation of
                        -------------------
any laws, ordinances, governmental rules and regulations (collectively "Laws")
to which it is subject and will not knowingly fail to obtain any licenses,
permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations necessary to the
ownership of its property or to the conduct of its

                                       9
<PAGE>

business, which violation or failure to obtain might materially adversely affect
the business, profit, operations, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Cooperative, provided, however, that the Cooperative shall be deemed to have
complied with this provision so long as it is contesting in good faith and by
the appropriate proceedings the violation of any such law and has set aside on
its books adequate reserves in respect thereof, if so required, in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Cooperative agrees to comply, and to cause all persons occupying, leasing or
renting any properties of the Cooperative to comply with all laws relating to
environmental protection.

                                   ARTICLE XII
                                   -----------

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS
                               ------------------

         The Cooperative covenants and agrees with MLCC that so long as the
Cooperative may request that MLCC make a Loan or otherwise extend credit to any
Person, lease dairy cattle or other livestock to any Person, or enter into any
livestock feeding program and until payment in full of all Loans, the payment of
all obligations under Leases and livestock feeding programs and performance of
all other obligations of the Cooperative hereunder, without the written consent
of MLCC, the Cooperative will not:

         SECTION 12.01. MORTGAGES AND PLEDGES. Create, incur, assume, or suffer
                        ---------------------
to exist any mortgage, pledge, lien, or other encumbrance of any kind upon, or
any security interest in, any of its property or assets, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, except (i) liens for taxes not yet delinquent or being
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; (ii) liens in connection
with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, or other social security
obligations; (iii) deposits or pledges to secure bids, tenders, contracts (other
than contracts for the payment of money), leases, statutory obligations, surety
or appeal bonds, and other obligations of like nature arising in the ordinary
course of business; (iv) mechanic's, workman's, materialman's, landlord's,
carrier's, or other like liens arising in the ordinary course of business with
respect to obligations that are not due or that are being contested in good
faith; (v) those mortgages, pledges, liens, and encumbrances reflected in the
financial statements referred to in Section 9.07 above; (vi) mortgages, pledges,
liens, and encumbrances in favor of MLCC; (vii) zoning restrictions, easements,
licenses, restrictions on the use of real property or minor irregularities in
the title thereto, which do not, in the opinion of the Cooperative, materially
impair the use of such property in the operation of the business of the
Cooperative or the value of such property for the purposes of such business; and
(viii) any mortgage, encumbrance or other lien upon, or security interest in,
any property hereafter acquired by the Cooperative created contemporaneously
with such acquisition to secure or provide for the payment or financing of any
part of the purchase price thereof, or the assumption of any mortgage,
encumbrance or lien upon, or security interest in, any such property hereafter
acquired existing at the time of such acquisition, or the acquisition of any
such property subject to any mortgage, encumbrance or other lien or security
interest without the assumption thereof, provided that each such mortgage,
encumbrance, lien or security interest shall attach only to the property so
acquired and fixed improvements thereon. Nothing contained in this Section 12.01
shall prohibit the Cooperative from entering into any lease required to be
capitalized by generally accepted accounting principles in accordance with the
Financial Accounting Standards Board

                                       10
<PAGE>

Statement No. 13 (Accounting for Leases) in effect on the date of this
Agreement, provided such lease is not otherwise prohibited by the terms of this
Agreement.

         SECTION 12.02. MERGER, ACQUISITION OR SALE OF ASSETS. (1) Enter into
                        -------------------------------------
any merger or consolidation with, or acquire all or substantially all of the
assets of, any person, firm, joint venture, or corporation, unless the
Cooperative is the surviving corporation and upon the consummation of its merger
the net worth of the surviving corporation is not less than the net worth of the
Cooperative prior to the merger and there shall exist no Event of Default as
defined in Section 14.01, provided, however, that in the case of any merger of a
Local Cooperative, as defined in Article I - Section 1.01, the Cooperative's
Chief Financial Officer shall certify to MLCC that the Cooperative has Net Worth
in an amount not less than 95% of the Net Worth of the Cooperative immediately
prior to such merger and no event shall have occurred or condition exist which
with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute such an
Event of Default, or (2) sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its assets except in the ordinary course of its business.

                                  ARTICLE XIII
                                  ------------

                            CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PLAN
                            ------------------------

         SECTION 13.01. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Article the following terms
                        -----------
shall have the following definitions:

         "Contributed Capital Rate" means the ratio of debt to tangible net
          ------------------------
worth which institutional lenders extending credit to MLCC require it to
maintain from time to time, whether such ratio is stated as an affirmative or
negative covenant, and in the event MLCC is required to maintain different
ratios on different dates, "Contributed Capital Rate" means the ratio which is
                            ------------------------
in effect on the applicable TAPOS Determination Date.

         "Determination Period" or "Determination Periods" means the calendar
          --------------------      ---------------------
month, the six calendar month period and the twelve calendar month period
immediately preceding the TAPOS Determination Date.

         "Minimum Class X Investment" means the number of shares of MLCC Class X
          --------------------------
Preferred Stock determined by MLCC as follows:

         MI           = (HT/(PV x R)) - RE

         where

         MI           = Minimum Class X Investment (stated at the par value).

         HT           = The highest TAPOS during any of the three Determination
                        Periods.

         PV           = The par value of one share of the MLCC Class X Preferred
                        Stock.

         R            = The Contributed Capital Rate, expressed as a decimal.

                                      11
<PAGE>

         RE           =  The balance of MLCC's retained earnings as of the TAPOS
                         Determination Date divided by the par value of Class X
                         Preferred Stock.

         If the Minimum Class X Investment computed using this formula is a
fraction, it will be rounded upward to the next whole number of shares.

         "TAPOS" means calculated total program outstanding as determined by
MLCC for each of the three Determination Periods according to the following
formula:

         TAPOS        =  AL + L + LFP + NBC - TD - SAP

         where

         AL           =  Average amount of Loans outstanding during such
                         Determination Period.

         L            =  Average Leases outstanding during such Determination
                         Period.

         LFP          =  Average cost to MLCC of livestock owned by MLCC which
                         is subject to a Livestock Feeding Agreement.

         NBC          =  Average investment (stated at par value) which MLCC was
                         required to maintain in CoBANK ACB during such
                         Determination Period.

         TD           =  Average term debt which is excluded in the
                         determination of the Contributed Capital Rate during
                         such Determination Period.

         SAP          =  Average outstanding Preferred Stock of MLCC of all
                         classes during such Determination Period (stated at the
                         par value).

         In the computation for a Determination Period of one month, the amounts
of AL, LFP, L, NBC, TD and SAP as of the last Business Day of such calendar
month shall be used as the average for such month. In computations for other
Determination Periods, the average for each such amount shall be computed using
the outstanding amounts as of the last Business Day of each month in such
Determination Period.

         "TAPOS Determination Date" means the date during each calendar month on
          ------------------------
which the month-end calculation is made to determine the amount due.

         SECTION 13.02.  PURCHASE OF STOCK. Upon the request of MLCC on or after
                         -----------------
the date of this Agreement, the Cooperative will purchase MLCC Class X Preferred
Stock with such par value as will cause it to have a Minimum Class X Investment
in MLCC Class X Preferred Stock and on each TAPOS Determination Date thereafter
it will acquire such additional MLCC Class X Preferred Stock if any as may be
necessary for it to maintain a Minimum Class X Investment.

         SECTION 13.03.  REDEMPTION OF CLASS X PREFERRED STOCK. MLCC covenants
                         -------------------------------------
and agrees that if on any TAPOS Determination Date the amount of MLCC Class X
Preferred Stock held by the Cooperative exceeds the Minimum Class X Investment
computed as

                                      12
<PAGE>

money of the Cooperative or any Subsidiary of the Cooperative when due or the
performance of any other obligation incurred in connection with any indebtedness
for borrowed of such date, it will, subject to the provisions of Section 13.04,
upon written demand by the Cooperative redeem for cash at its par value those
shares held by the Cooperative which are in excess of the Minimum Class X
Investment determined as of such date.

         SECTION 13.04. CUMULATIVE OBLIGATIONS. The obligation of the
                        ----------------------
Cooperative hereunder to purchase MLCC Class X Preferred Stock shall be in
addition to any other undertaking the Cooperative may have entered into or may
hereafter enter into to purchase such stock as a result of Loans or Leases or
livestock feeding programs provided by MLCC to any Customer of the Cooperative
or any lease financing by MLCC for the Cooperative, and the obligations of the
Cooperative to purchase MLCC Class X Preferred Stock under, or as a condition
to, each such financing arrangement shall be cumulative.

                                   ARTICLE XIV
                                   -----------

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT
                                -----------------

         SECTION 14.01. Each of the following shall constitute an "Event of
Default" hereunder:

               (a)  Default shall be made in the payment of any amount payable
hereunder, when and as the same becomes due and payable, whether at the stated
maturity thereof or by acceleration or otherwise; or

               (b)  Default shall be made in the due observance or performance
of any other term, covenant, or agreement contained in this Agreement; or

               (c)  Any representation or warranty made by the Cooperative
herein or any statement or representation made in any certificate, report, or
opinion delivered pursuant hereto shall prove to have been incorrect in any
material respect when made; or

               (d)  The Cooperative or any Subsidiary of the Cooperative shall
become insolvent or unable to meet its obligations as they mature, make an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, consent to the appointment of a trustee
or a receiver, or admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they
mature; or

               (e)  A trustee or receiver shall be appointed for the Cooperative
or any Subsidiary of the Cooperative or for a substantial part of its properties
without the consent of the Cooperative or such Subsidiary and not be discharged
within thirty (30) days; or

               (f)  Bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or
liquidation proceedings shall be instituted by or against the Cooperative or any
Subsidiary of the Cooperative, and, if instituted against it, be consented to by
the Cooperative or such Subsidiary or remain undismissed for a period of thirty
(30) days; or

               (g)  Any default shall be made with respect to any obligation for
the payment of borrowed money of the Cooperative or any Subsidiary of the
Cooperative when due or the performance of any other obligation incurred in
connection with any indebtedness for borrowed

                                       13
<PAGE>

money of the Cooperative or any Subsidiary of the Cooperative, if the effect of
such default is to accelerate the maturity of such indebtedness; or

               (h)  Any final judgment for the payment of money in excess of ONE
MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00) which in the opinion of MLCC is not adequately
insured or indemnified against shall be rendered against the Cooperative or any
Subsidiary of the Cooperative and the same shall remain undischarged for a
period of thirty (30) days during which time execution shall not be effectively
stayed; or

               (i)  Any substantial part of the properties of the Cooperative or
any Subsidiary of the Cooperative shall be sequestered or attached and shall not
have been returned to the possession of the Cooperative or such Subsidiary or
released from such attachment within thirty (30) days; or

               (j)  The occurrence of a Reportable Event as defined in Section
4043 of ERISA which might constitute grounds for termination of any employee
benefit plan of the Cooperative or any Subsidiary of the Cooperative covered by
ERISA by PBGC or grounds for the appointment by the appropriate United States
District Court of a trustee to administer any such plan; or

               (k)  Complete or partial withdrawal under Section 4201 or 4204 of
ERISA from a Multi-employer Plan by any other party which is or may be required
under the provisions of ERISA to make a contribution to such Plan, except as a
result of the merger of such party with the Cooperative.

          Upon the occurrence and continuation of any Event of Default, MLCC
may, by notice to the Cooperative terminate any obligation it may have to review
any application tendered to it for any Loan or other extension of credit, any
Lease or any livestock feeding program

                                   ARTICLE XV
                                   ----------

                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

         SECTION 15.01.  INDEMNIFICATION.
                         ---------------

               (a)  The Cooperative shall indemnify MLCC, its officers,
directors, agents and employees and hold them and each of them harmless from and
against all loss, cost, damage, and expense, including reasonable attorney fees,
at any time incurred:

                    (1)  because of any liability of the Cooperative,
Manufacturer, or any other Person (other than MLCC) related to any merchandise
which is the subject of any sale or to any service performed or goods furnished
by the Cooperative, Manufacturer, or any other Person or entity in connection
with any sale which, in either case, was financed directly or indirectly by
MLCC, including, but not limited to, services performed under any warranty or
other agreement obligating the Cooperative, Manufacturer, or other Person or
entity to perform such services or furnish goods; or

                                       14
<PAGE>

                    (2)   because of any liability of the Cooperative for any
action at any time taken or omitted to be taken by the Cooperative.

               (b)  The Cooperative covenants and agrees to indemnify MLCC, its
officers, directors, employees, and agents and hold them and each of them
harmless from and against all loss, cost, damage, and expense, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, at any time incurred by them or any of them because
of any violation of state or Federal law or regulation by the Cooperative or
other illegal or actionable conduct resulting from acts or omissions by the
Cooperative or its agents in connection with the sale of merchandise, providing
of services or extension of credit.

         SECTION 15.02.  COOPERATION.
                         -----------

               (a)  General. Each of the parties hereto covenants and agrees
                    -------
with the other party that it will cooperate generally with the other in
identifying and soliciting good customers, will make appropriate business
referrals to the other and will generally conduct its business in a manner which
may enhance the business of the other.

               (b)  Sharing of Information. Each party covenants and agrees that
                    ----------------------
upon request of the other party it will share with such other party financial
and other information it has on its customers and other Persons, provided that
nothing contained herein shall obligate either party to share any information if
so doing would violate any applicable law, any agreement to which it is a party,
or any actual or implied understanding it may have with any Person about the
confidentiality of such information.

               (c)  Forwarding of Payments. If either party receives any payment
                    ----------------------
which is, or includes any amount which is, properly payable to the other party,
it will promptly remit to the other party such amount as is payable to the other
party

               (d)  Review by MLCC. MLCC covenants and agrees that it will
                    --------------
promptly review and respond to any reasonable request for credit, the lease of
livestock or any of its other business service being generally offered by it
which it receives from any Person known by it to be a Customer of the
Cooperative.

          SECTION 15.03. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by either
                         -----------
party hereto by giving the other party ninety days (90) prior written notice of
such termination prior to any anniversary date of this Agreement. No such
termination shall affect any rights of the parties accruing up to the date of
final payment of all Loans to customers of the Cooperative which MLCC has
previously funded, or Leases or livestock feeding programs which MLCC has
previously entered into, or relieve the Cooperative from ownership requirements
for MLCC Class X Preferred Stock as required in Section 13.02.

         SECTION 15.04. SUCCESSORS.  The covenants, representations, and
                        ----------
agreements herein set forth shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their
successors and assigns.

         SECTION 15.05. AMENDMENTS, ETC. No amendment, modification,
                        ---------------
termination, or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall in any event be
effective unless the same shall

                                       15
<PAGE>

be in writing and signed by MLCC, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given.

         SECTION 15.06. NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications
                        ------------
provided for under this Agreement shall be in writing and mailed, faxed,
telegraphed or delivered, if to the Cooperative at its address at:

                  SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED
                  6606 WEST BROAD STREET (ZIP 23230)
                  POST OFFICE BOX 26234
                  RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23260
                  ATTENTION: MR. J. A. HAWKINS

and if to MLCC, at its address at

                  MICHIGAN LIVESTOCK CREDIT CORPORATION
                  6606 WEST BROAD STREET (ZIP 23230)
                  POST OFFICE BOX 25567
                  RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23260
                  ATTENTION: MR. JOHN C. FROMAN

or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party
in a written notice to the other party complying as to delivery with the terms
of this Section 15.06. All such notices and communications shall, when mailed,
be effective when deposited addressed as aforesaid.

         SECTION 15.07. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. Any provision of this
                        --------------------------
Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement
or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.

         SECTION 15.08. HEADINGS. Article and Section headings in this Agreement
                        --------
are included in such Agreement for the convenience of reference only and shall
not constitute a part of the Agreement for any other purpose.

         SECTION 15.09. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement has been entered into, and
                        -------------
shall be governed in all respects by, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

         SECTION 15.10. SURVIVAL. All warranties, representations and covenants
                        --------
made by the Cooperative herein, or in any agreement referred to herein or on any
certificate, document or other instrument delivered by it or on its behalf under
this Agreement, shall be considered to have been relied upon by MLCC and shall
survive the making of Loans by MLCC and the entering into by MLCC of any leases
or livestock feeding programs regardless of any investigation made by MLCC or on
its behalf. All statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall
constitute warranties and representations by the Cooperative hereunder. Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants made by the Cooperative
hereunder or under any other agreement or instrument shall be deemed continuing
until payment in full of all

                                       16
<PAGE>

Loans, the payment of all obligations under Leases and livestock feeding
programs and performance and satisfaction in full of all other obligations and
liabilities of the Cooperative hereunder.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

                                          SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE,
                                             INCORPORATED

ATTEST:                                   By:_______________________________

______________________                    Title:____________________________

                                          MICHIGAN LIVESTOCK CREDIT
                                          CORPORATION

ATTEST:                                   By:______________________________

_____________________                     Title:___________________________

                                       17<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.4(c)

                  SECOND AMENDMENT TO FINANCING SERVICES AND
                         CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL AGREEMENT

     This SECOND AMENDMENT TO FINANCING SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL
AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") is made as of this 25th day of March, 1999, between
SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED (the "Cooperative"), a Virginia
corporation, and MICHIGAN LIVESTOCK CREDIT CORPORATION ("MLCC"), a Virginia
corporation.

     The parties hereto are parties to a Financing Services and Contributed
Capital Agreement dated as of the 1st day of April, 1998 as amended by an
Amendment to Financing Services and Contributed Capital Agreement dated as of
November 6, 1998 (as so amended, the "Agreement") and desire to amend the
provisions of Section 13.01 of the Agreement.

     Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

AMENDMENT
---------

     Section 13.01 of the Agreement is amended to read as follows:

     SECTION 13.01.  DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Article the following
                     -----------
terms shall have the following definitions:

     "Contributed Capital Rate" means the ratio of debt to tangible net
      ------------------------
worth which institutional lenders extending credit to MLCC require it to
maintain from time to time, whether such ratio is stated as an affirmative or
negative covenant, and in the event MLCC is required to maintain different
ratios on different dates, "Contributed Capital Rate" means the ratio which is
                            ------------------------
in effect on the applicable TAPOS Determination Date.

     "Determination Period" or "Determination Periods" means the calendar
      --------------------      ---------------------
month, the six calendar month period and the twelve calendar month period
immediately preceding the TAPOS Determination Date.

     "Minimum Class X Investment" means the number of shares of MLCC Class
      --------------------------
X Preferred Stock determined by MLCC as follows:

   MI        =  (HT/(PV x R)) - RE

   where

   MI        =  Minimum Class X Investment (stated at the par value).

   HT        =  The highest TAPOS during any of the three Determination Periods.

   PV        =  The par value of one share of the MLCC Class X Preferred Stock.

   R         =  The Contributed Capital Rate, expressed as a decimal.
<PAGE>

     RE        =  The balance of MLCC's retained earnings as of the TAPOS
                  Determination Date divided by the par value of Class X
                  Preferred Stock.

     If the Minimum Class X Investment computed using this formula is a
fraction, it will be rounded upward to the next whole number of shares.

     "TAPOS" means calculated total program outstanding as determined by MLCC
      -----
for each of the three Determination Periods according to the following formula:

     TAPOS   =  AL + L + LFP + CA + NBC - TD - SAP

     where

     AL      =  Average amount of Loans outstanding during such Determination
                Period.

     L       =  Average Leases outstanding during such Determination Period.

     LFP     =  Average cost to MLCC of livestock owned by MLCC which is subject
                to a Livestock Feeding Agreement.

     CA      =  Assets acquired in satisfaction of contractual obligations owing
                to MLCC, including without limitation, assets acquired by
                foreclosure or by transfer in lieu of foreclosure, valued as
                carried on the books of MLCC.

     NBC     =  Average investment (stated at par value) which MLCC was required
                to maintain in CoBANK ACB during such Determination Period.

     TD      =  Average term debt which is excluded in the determination of the
                Contributed Capital Rate during such Determination Period.

     SAP     =  Average outstanding Preferred Stock of MLCC of all classes
                during such Determination Period (stated at the par value).

     In the computation for a Determination Period of one month, the amounts of
AL, LFP, L, CA, NBC, TD and SAP as of the last Business Day of such calendar
month shall be used as the average for such month. In computations for other
Determination Periods, the average for each such amount shall be computed using
the outstanding amounts as of the last Business Day of each month in such
Determination Period.

     "TAPOS Determination Date" means the date during each calendar month on
      ------------------------
which the month-end calculation is made to determine the amount due.

                                       2
<PAGE>

PRIOR AGREEMENT
---------------

     Except as otherwise expressly amended by this Amendment, the Agreement is
and shall continue to be in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.
The Cooperative and MLCC further covenant and agree that each reference in any
agreement or other document to the Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the
Agreement as amended by this Amendment and as it may be amended from time to
time hereafter.

     This Amendment shall be governed by and construed and be interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED and MICHIGAN
LIVESTOCK CREDIT CORPORATION have caused this Amendment to be executed by their
duly authorized officers all as of the date first above written.

                                   SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE,
                                   INCORPORATED

                                   By: John Hawkins
                                       ---------------------------------
                                   Its: Sr. Vice President and CFO
                                        --------------------------------

                                   MICHIGAN LIVESTOCK CREDIT CORPORATION

                                   By:  Leslie T. Newton
                                        --------------------------------
                                   Its:  V.P. and Treasurer
                                        --------------------------------

                                       3

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