Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, National Association
666 Walnut N8200-034
Corporate Trust Services, PFG
Des Moines, IA  50309

         Re:      Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

BEHRINGER HARVARD REIT I, INC., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), will
issue in a public offering (the "Offering") shares of its common stock (the
"Stock") pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-11 filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Behringer Securities LP, a Texas
limited partnership (the "Dealer Manager"), will act as dealer manager for the
offering of the Stock. The Company is entering into this agreement to set forth
the terms on which Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, National Association (the "Escrow
Agent"), will hold and disburse the proceeds from subscriptions for the purchase
of the Stock in the Offering until such time as: (i) in the case of
subscriptions received from all nonaffiliates of the Company, the Company has
received subscriptions for Stock resulting in total minimum capital raised of
$2,500,000 (the "Required Capital"); and (ii) in the case of subscriptions
received from residents of Pennsylvania ("Pennsylvania Subscribers") and
residents of Nebraska ("Nebraska Subscribers"), the Company has received
subscriptions for Stock from nonaffiliates of the Company resulting in total
minimum capital raised of $44,000,000 (the "Pennsylvania/Nebraska Required
Capital").

The Company hereby appoints Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, National Association as
Escrow Agent for purposes of holding the proceeds from the subscriptions for the
Stock, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth:

1.       Persons subscribing to purchase the Stock (the "Subscribers") will be
instructed by the Dealer Manager or any soliciting dealers to remit the purchase
price in the form of checks, drafts, wires, Automated Clearing House (ACH) or
money orders (hereinafter "instruments of payment") payable to the order of
"Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, N.A., Escrow Agent for Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc."
Any checks, drafts or money orders received made payable to a party other than
the Escrow Agent shall be returned to the soliciting dealer who submitted the
check, draft or money order. Within one (1) business day after receipt of
instruments of payment from the Offering, the Dealer Manager will (a) send to
the Escrow Agent: each Subscriber's name, address, executed IRS Form W-9, number
of shares purchased, and purchase price remitted, and (b) deposit the
instruments of payment from such Subscribers (the "Subscription Materials"),
into an interest-bearing deposit account entitled "ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF SUBSCRIBERS FOR COMMON STOCK OF BEHRINGER HARVARD REIT I, INC." (the
"Escrow Account"), which deposit shall occur within one (1) business day after
the Dealer Manger's receipt of all the Subscription Materials, until such Escrow
Account has closed pursuant to paragraph 3(a) hereof. Instruments of payment
received from Pennsylvania Subscribers and Nebraska Subscribers (as identified
as such by the Company) shall be accounted for separately in a subaccount
entitled "ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR THE BENEFIT OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEBRASKA
SUBSCRIBERS" (the "Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account"), until such
Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account has closed pursuant to paragraph 3(a)
hereof. The Director of Banking and Finance of the State of Nebraska shall have
the right to inspect and make copies of the records of the Escrow Agent

<PAGE>

relating to the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account at any reasonable time
wherever the records are located. Both the Escrow Account and the
Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account will be established and maintained in such
a way as to permit the interest income calculations described in paragraph 7.

2.       The Escrow Agent agrees to promptly process for collection the
instruments of payment upon deposit into the applicable Escrow Account or
Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account. Deposits shall be held in the Escrow
Account or the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account until such funds are
disbursed in accordance with paragraph 3 hereof. Prior to disbursement of the
funds deposited in the Escrow Account or the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow
Account, such funds shall not be subject to claims by creditors of the Company
or the Dealer Manager or any their affiliates. If any of the instruments of
payment are returned to the Escrow Agent for nonpayment, the Escrow Agent shall
promptly notify the Dealer Manager and the Company in writing via mail, email or
facsimile of such nonpayment, and is authorized to debit the Escrow Account or
the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account, as applicable, in the amount of such
returned payment as well as any interest earned on the amount of such payment.

3.       (a)      Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs 3(b)-3(f) below:

                  (i)      once the aggregate of all collected funds in the
                  Escrow Account and Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account is an
                  amount equal to or greater than the Required Capital, the
                  Escrow Agent shall promptly notify the Company and, upon
                  receiving written instruction from the Company, (A) disburse
                  to the Company, by check, ACH or wire transfer, the funds in
                  the Escrow Account representing the gross purchase price for
                  the Stock, and (B) disburse to the Subscribers or the Company,
                  as applicable, any interest thereon pursuant to the provisions
                  of subparagraph 3(f). For purposes of this Agreement, the term
                  "collected funds" shall mean all funds received by the Escrow
                  Agent that have cleared normal banking channels and are in the
                  form of cash or a cash equivalent. After such time the Escrow
                  Account shall remain open and the Company shall continue to
                  cause subscriptions for the Stock that are not to be deposited
                  in the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account to be deposited
                  therein until the Company informs the Escrow Agent in writing
                  to close the Escrow Account, and thereafter any subscription
                  documents and instruments of payment received by the Escrow
                  Agent from Subscribers other than Pennsylvania Subscribers and
                  Nebraska Subscribers shall be forwarded directly to the
                  Company.

                  (ii)     regardless of any closing of the Escrow Account, the
                  Company and the Dealer Manager shall continue to forward
                  instruments of payment and Subscription Materials received
                  from Pennsylvania Subscribers for deposit into the
                  Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account to the Escrow Agent until
                  such time as the Company notifies the Escrow Agent in writing
                  that total subscription proceeds (including the amount then in
                  the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account) equal or exceed the
                  Pennsylvania/Nebraska Required Capital. Upon receipt of a
                  written notice from the Company that total subscription
                  proceeds (including the amount then in the
                  Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account) equaling or exceeding
                  the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Required Capital have been received
                  in collected funds, the Escrow Agent shall promptly notify the
                  Company and provide to the Director of Banking and Finance of
                  the State of Nebraska an affidavit which states that all of
                  the conditions of this Agreement relating to the
                  Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account have been met (the
                  "Escrow Agent Affidavit"). Upon receipt of such notice, the
                  Company shall provide the Director of Banking and Finance of
                  the State of Nebraska an affidavit which states that there
                  have been no material omissions or changes in the financial
                  condition of the Company or other changes of circumstance,
                  that would render the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Required Capital

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

                  inadequate to finance the Company's proposed plan of
                  operations or business, or render the representations in the
                  Company's registration statement, as amended through such
                  time, fraudulent, false or misleading (the "Company
                  Affidavit"). Five days after the Escrow Agent Affidavit and
                  the Company Affidavit have been provided to the Director of
                  Banking and Finance of the State of Nebraska, the Escrow Agent
                  shall (A) disburse to the Company, by check, ACH or wire
                  transfer, the funds then in the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow
                  Account representing the gross purchase price for the Stock,
                  and (B) disburse to the Pennsylvania Subscribers, the Nebraska
                  Subscribers or the Company, as applicable, any interest
                  thereon pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph 3(f).
                  Following such disbursements, the Escrow Agent shall close the
                  Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account, and thereafter any
                  Subscription Materials and instruments of payment received by
                  the Escrow Agent from Pennsylvania Subscribers and Nebraska
                  Subscribers shall be deposited directly to the Escrow Account
                  (or to the Company, if it has closed the Escrow Account, as
                  instructed in writing by the Company).

         (b)      At the close of business on February 19, 2004 (the
         "Expiration Date") the Escrow Agent shall promptly notify the Company
         if it is not in receipt of evidence of Subscription Materials accepted
         on or before the Expiration Date, and instruments of payment dated not
         later than that the Expiration Date, for the purchase of Stock
         providing for total purchase proceeds that equal or exceed the Required
         Capital (from all sources but exclusive of any funds received from
         subscriptions for Stock from entities which the Company has notified
         the Escrow Agent are affiliated with the Company). In the event the
         Escrow Agent is not in possession of an executed IRS Form W-9 from any
         Subscriber, the Company shall provide the Escrow Agent an executed IRS
         Form W-9 from such Subscriber within ten (10) calendar days after such
         notice. On the tenth (10th) day following the receipt of such notice,
         the Escrow Agent shall promptly return directly to each Subscriber the
         collected funds deposited in the Escrow Account and the
         Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account on behalf of such Subscriber
         (unless earlier disbursed in accordance with paragraph 3(c)), or shall
         return the instruments of payment delivered, but not yet processed for
         collection prior to such time, together with interest in the amounts
         calculated pursuant to paragraph 7 for each Subscriber at the address
         provided by the Dealer Manager or the Company. In the event an executed
         IRS Form W-9 is not received for each Subscriber within ten (10)
         calendar days, the Escrow Agent shall thereupon remit an amount to the
         Subscribers in accordance with the provisions hereof, withholding
         thirty percent (30%) of any interest income on subscription proceeds
         (determined in accordance with paragraph 7) attributable to those
         Subscribers for whom the Escrow Agent does not possess an executed IRS
         Form W-9. However, the Escrow Agent shall not be required to remit any
         payments until funds represented by such payments have been collected.

         (c)      Notwithstanding subparagraphs 3(a) and 3(b) above, if the
         Escrow Agent is not in receipt of evidence of subscriptions accepted on
         or before the close of business on such date that is 120 days after
         commencement of the Offering (the Company will notify the Escrow Agent
         of the commencement date of the Offering) (the "Initial Escrow
         Period"), and instruments of payment dated not later than that date,
         for the purchase of Stock providing for total purchase proceeds from
         all nonaffiliated sources that equal or exceed the
         Pennsylvania/Nebraska Required Capital, the Escrow Agent shall promptly
         notify the Company. Thereafter, the Company shall send to each
         Pennsylvania Subscriber and Nebraska Subscriber by certified mail
         within ten (10) calendar days after the end of the Initial Escrow
         period a notification in the form of Exhibit A. If, pursuant to such
         notification, a Pennsylvania Subscriber or a Nebraska Subscriber
         requests the return of his or her subscription funds within ten (10)
         calendar days after receipt of the notification (the "Request Period")
         and the Escrow Agent is not in possession of an executed IRS form W-9,
         the Company shall provide the Escrow Agent with an executed IRS Form
         W-9 from each such

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

         Pennsylvania Subscriber or Nebraska Subscriber, as the case may be,
         within ten (10) calendar days after receiving notice from such
         Pennsylvania Subscriber or Nebraska Subscriber. The Escrow Agent shall
         promptly refund directly to each Pennsylvania Subscriber or Nebraska
         Subscriber, as the case may be, the collected funds deposited in the
         Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account on behalf of such Pennsylvania
         Subscriber or Nebraska Subscriber, or shall return the instruments of
         payment delivered, but not yet processed for collection prior to such
         time, to the address provided by the Dealer Manager or the Company,
         together with interest income in the amounts calculated pursuant to
         paragraph 7. If an executed IRS Form W-9 is not received for such
         Pennsylvania Subscriber or Nebraska Subscriber within ten (10) calendar
         days, the Escrow Agent shall thereupon remit an amount to such
         Pennsylvania Subscriber or Nebraska Subscriber, as the case may be, in
         accordance with the provisions hereof, withholding thirty percent (30%)
         of any interest income earned on subscription proceeds (determined in
         accordance with paragraph 7) attributable to such Pennsylvania
         Subscriber or Nebraska Subscriber for whom the Escrow Agent does not
         possess an executed IRS Form W-9. However, the Escrow Agent shall not
         be required to remit such payments until funds represented by such
         payments have been collected by the Escrow Agent.

         (d)      The subscription funds of Pennsylvania Subscribers and
         Nebraska Subscribers who do not request the return of their
         subscription funds within the Request Period shall remain in the
         Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account for successive 120-day escrow
         periods (a "Successive Escrow Period"), each commencing automatically
         upon the termination of the prior Successive Escrow Period, and the
         Company and Escrow Agent shall follow the notification and payment
         procedure set forth in subparagraph 3(c) above with respect to the
         Initial Escrow Period for each Successive Escrow Period until the
         occurrence of the earliest of (i) the Expiration Date, (ii) the receipt
         and acceptance by the Company of subscriptions for the purchase of
         Stock with total purchase proceeds that equal or exceed the
         Pennsylvania/Nebraska Required Capital and the disbursement of the
         Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account on the terms specified herein, or
         (iii) all funds held in the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account having
         been returned to the Pennsylvania Subscribers and Nebraska Subscribers
         in accordance with the provisions hereof.

         (e)      If the Company rejects any subscription for which the Escrow
         Agent has collected funds, the Escrow Agent shall, upon the written
         request of the Company, promptly issue a refund to the rejected
         Subscriber. If the Company rejects any subscription for which the
         Escrow Agent has not yet collected funds but has submitted the
         Subscriber's check for collection, the Escrow Agent shall promptly
         return the funds in the amount of the Subscriber's check to the
         rejected Subscriber after such funds have been collected. If the Escrow
         Agent has not yet submitted a rejected Subscriber's check for
         collection, the Escrow Agent shall promptly remit the Subscriber's
         check directly to the Subscriber.

         (f)      At any time after funds are disbursed upon the Company's
         acceptance of subscriptions pursuant to subparagraph 3(a) above on the
         tenth (10th) day following the date of such acceptance, the Escrow
         Agent shall promptly provide directly to each Subscriber the amount of
         the interest payable to the Subscribers; provided that the Escrow Agent
         is in possession of such Subscriber's executed IRS Form W-9. In the
         event the Escrow Agent is not in possession of an executed IRS Form W-9
         from any Subscriber, the Company shall provide the Escrow Agent with an
         executed IRS Form W-9 from such Subscriber within ten (10) calendar
         days after acceptance of such subscription. In the event an executed
         IRS Form W-9 is not received for each Subscriber within such period,
         the Escrow Agent shall remit an amount to the Subscribers in accordance
         with the provisions hereof, withholding thirty percent (30%) of any
         interest income on subscription proceeds (determined in accordance with
         paragraph 7) attributable to those Subscribers for whom the Escrow
         Agent does not possess an executed IRS Form W-9. However, the Escrow
         Agent

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

         shall not be required to remit any payments until funds represented by
         such payments have been collected by the Escrow Agent. The forgoing
         notwithstanding, interest, if any, earned on accepted subscription
         proceeds will be payable to a Subscriber only if the Subscriber's funds
         have been held in escrow by the Escrow Agent for at least 35 days;
         interest, if any, earned on accepted subscription proceeds of
         Subscribers' funds held less than 35 days will be payable to the
         Company.

         In the event that instruments of payment are returned for nonpayment,
the Escrow Agent is authorized to debit the Escrow Account or the
Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account, as applicable, in accordance with
paragraph 2 hereof.

4.       The Escrow Agent shall report to the Company weekly on the account
balances in the Escrow Account and the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account and
the activity in each account since the last report.

5.       Prior to the disbursement of funds deposited in the Escrow Account or
the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 3 hereof, the Escrow Agent shall invest all of the funds deposited as
well as earnings and interest derived therefrom in the Escrow Account and the
Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account, as applicable, in the "Short-Term
Investments" specified below, unless the costs to the Company for the making of
such investment are reasonably expected to exceed the anticipated interest
earnings from such investment in which case the funds and interest thereon shall
remain in the respective escrow account until the balance in the respective
escrow account reaches the minimum amount necessary for the anticipated interest
earnings from such investment to exceed the costs to the Company for the making
of such investment, as determined by the Company based upon applicable interest
rates.

         "Short-Term Investments" include obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States government or bank money-market accounts or
certificates of deposit of national or state banks that have deposits insured by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (including certificates of deposit of
any bank acting as a depository or custodian for any such funds) which mature on
or before the Expiration Date, unless such instrument cannot be readily sold or
otherwise disposed of for cash by the Expiration Date without any dissipation of
the offering proceeds invested. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Exhibit B hereto sets forth specific Short-Term Investments that
shall be deemed permissible investments hereunder.

The following securities are not permissible investments:

         (a)      money market mutual funds;

         (b)      corporate equity or debt securities;

         (c)      repurchase agreements;

         (d)      bankers' acceptances;

         (e)      commercial paper; and

         (f)      municipal securities.

It is hereby expressly agreed and stipulated by the parties hereto that the
Escrow Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion hereunder and
shall have no investment or management responsibility and, accordingly, shall
have no duty to, or liability for its failure to, provide investment
recommendations or investment advice to the parties hereto. It is the intention
of the parties hereto that the Escrow Agent shall never be required to use,
advance or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or the exercise of any of its rights and powers
hereunder.

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

6.       The Escrow Agent is entitled to rely upon written instructions received
from the Company, unless the Escrow Agent has actual knowledge that such
instructions are not valid or genuine; provided that, if in the Escrow Agent's
opinion, any instructions from the Company are unclear, the Escrow Agent may
request clarification from the Company prior to taking any action, and if such
instructions continue to be unclear, the Escrow Agent may rely upon written
instructions from the Company's legal counsel in distributing or continuing to
hold any funds. However, the Escrow Agent shall not be required to disburse any
funds attributable to instruments of payment that have not been processed for
collection, until such funds are collected and then shall disburse such funds in
compliance with the disbursement instructions from the Company.

7.       If the Offering terminates prior to receipt of the Required Capital or
one or more Pennsylvania Subscribers or Nebraska Subscribers elects to have his
or her subscription returned in accordance with paragraph 3, interest income
earned on subscription proceeds deposited in the Escrow Account (the "Escrow
Income"), the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account (the "Pennsylvania/Nebraska
Escrow Income") shall be remitted to Subscribers, or to the Company if the
applicable Subscriber's funds have been held in escrow by the Escrow Agent for
less than 35 days, in accordance with paragraph 3 and without any deductions for
escrow expenses. For each such Subscriber who has invested funds that have been
held in escrow by the Escrow Agent for at least 35 days, such Subscriber's pro
rata portion of Escrow Income or Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Income, as
applicable, shall be determined as follows: the total amount of Escrow Income
(or Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Income, as appropriate) minus interest earned
on accepted subscription proceeds held by the Escrow Agent for less than 35 days
shall be multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is determined by
multiplying the number of shares of Stock purchased by said Subscriber times the
number of days said Subscriber's proceeds are held in the Escrow Account or the
Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account, as applicable, prior to the date of
disbursement, and (ii) the denominator of which is the total of the numerators
for all Subscribers in such account who have invested funds that have been held
in escrow by the Escrow Agent for at least 35 days. The Company shall reimburse
the Escrow Agent for all escrow expenses. The Escrow Agent shall remit all such
Escrow Income and Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Income in accordance with
paragraph 3. If the Company chooses to leave the Escrow Account open after
receiving the Required Capital then it shall make regular acceptances of
subscriptions therein, but no less frequently than monthly, and the Escrow
Income from the last such acceptance shall be calculated and remitted to the
Subscribers or the Company, as applicable, pursuant to the provisions of
paragraph 3(f).

8.       The Escrow Agent shall receive compensation from the Company as set
forth in Exhibit C attached hereto.

9.       In performing any of its duties hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall not
incur any liability to anyone for any damages, losses, or expenses, except for
willful misconduct, breach of trust, or gross negligence. Accordingly, the
Escrow Agent shall not incur any such liability with respect to any action taken
or omitted (a) in good faith upon advice of the Escrow Agent's counsel given
with respect to any questions relating to the Escrow Agent duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement, or (b) in reliance upon any instrument,
including any written instrument or instruction provided for in this Agreement,
not only as to its due execution and validity and effectiveness of its
provisions but also as to the truth and accuracy of information contained
therein, which the Escrow Agent shall in good faith believe to be genuine, to
have been signed or presented by a proper person or persons and to conform to
the provisions of this Agreement.

10.      The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent
harmless against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements, that may be imposed on
or incurred by the Escrow Agent in connection with acceptance of appointment as
the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the performance of the duties hereunder,
including any

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

litigation arising from this Agreement or involving the subject matter hereof,
except where such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses result from
willful misconduct, breach of trust, or gross negligence.

11.      In the event of a dispute between the parties hereto sufficient in the
Escrow Agent's discretion to justify doing so, the Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to tender into the registry or custody of any court of competent
jurisdiction all money or property in its hands under this Agreement, together
with such legal pleadings as deemed appropriate, and thereupon be discharged
from all further duties and liabilities under this Agreement. In the event of
any uncertainty as to the duties hereunder, the Escrow Agent may refuse to act
under the provisions of this Agreement pending order of a court of competent
jurisdiction and shall have no liability to the Company or to any other person
as a result of such action. Any such legal action may be brought in such court
as the Escrow Agent shall determine to have jurisdiction thereof. The filing of
any such legal proceedings shall not deprive the Escrow Agent of its
compensation earned prior to such filing.

12.      All communications and notices required or permitted by this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered
personally or by messenger or by overnight delivery service or when received via
telecopy or other electronic transmission, in all cases addressed to the person
for whom it is intended at such person's address set forth below or to such
other address as a party shall have designated by notice in writing to the other
party in the manner provided by this paragraph:

         (a)      if to the Company:

                  Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc.
                  1323 North Stemmons Freeway, Suite 210
                  Dallas, Texas 75207
                  Fax: (214) 655-1610
                  Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer

         (b)      if to the Dealer Manager:

                  Behringer Securities LP
                  1323 North Stemmons Freeway, Suite 202
                  Dallas, Texas 75207
                  Fax: (214) 655-6801
                  Attention: Chief Operating Officer of Harvard Property Trust,
                  LLC, General Partner

         (c)      if to the Escrow Agent:

                  Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, National Association
                  666 Walnut
                  N8200-034
                  Corporate Trust Services, PFG
                  Des Moines, IA 50309
                  Fax: (515) 245-3337
                  Attention: M.J. Dolan

Each party hereto may, from time to time, change the address to which notices to
it are to be delivered or mailed hereunder by notice in accordance herewith to
the other parties.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

13.      This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas as
to both interpretation and performance without regard to the conflict of laws
rules thereof.

14.      The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the legal
representatives, successors, and assigns of the parties hereto.

15.      The Company and the Dealer Manager hereby acknowledge that Wells Fargo
Bank Iowa, National Association is serving as Escrow Agent only for the limited
purposes herein set forth, and hereby agree that they will not represent or
imply that, by serving as Escrow Agent hereunder or otherwise, have investigated
the desirability or advisability of investment in the Company or have approved,
endorsed, or passed upon the merits of the Stock or the Company, nor shall they
use the name of the Escrow Agent in any manner whatsoever in connection with the
offer or sale of the Stock other than by acknowledgment that is has agreed to
serve as Escrow Agent for the limited purposes herein set forth.

16.      This Agreement and any amendment hereto may be executed by the parties
hereto in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original.

17.      Except as otherwise required for subscription funds received from
Pennsylvania Subscribers and Nebraska Subscribers as provided herein, in the
event that the Dealer Manager receives instruments of payment after the Required
Capital has been received and the proceeds of the Escrow Account have been
distributed to the Company, the Escrow Agent is hereby authorized to deposit
such instruments of payment within one (1) business day to any deposit account
as directed by the Company. The application of said funds into a deposit account
or to forward such funds directly to the Company, in either case directed by the
Company shall be a full acquittance to the Escrow Agent, who shall not be
responsible for the application of said funds thereafter.

18.      The Escrow Agent shall be bound only by the terms of this Escrow
Agreement and shall not be bound by or incur any liability with respect to any
other agreements or understanding between any other parties, whether or not the
Escrow Agent has knowledge of any such agreements or understandings.

19.      Indemnification provisions set forth herein shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.

20.      In the event that any part of this Agreement is declared by any court
or other judicial or administrative body to be null, void, or unenforceable,
said provision shall survive to the extent it is not so declared, and all of the
other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

21.      Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, final termination of this
Escrow Agreement shall occur on the date that all funds held in the Escrow
Account and the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow Account are distributed either (a)
to the Company or to Subscribers and the Company has informed the Escrow Agent
in writing to close the Escrow Account and the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow
Account pursuant to paragraph 3 hereof or (b) to a successor escrow agent upon
written instructions from the Company.

22.      The Escrow Agent has no responsibility for accepting, rejecting, or
approving subscriptions. The Escrow Agent shall complete an OFAC search, in
compliance with its policy and procedures, of each subscription check prior to
depositing the check in the Escrow Account or the Pennsylvania/Nebraska Escrow
Account and shall inform the Company if a subscription check fails the OFAC
search. The Dealer Manager shall provide a copy of each subscription check in
order that the Escrow Agent may perform such OFAC search.

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

23.      This Agreement shall not be modified, revoked, released, or terminated
unless reduced to writing and signed by all parties hereto, subject to the
following paragraph.

If, at any time, any attempt is made to modify this Agreement in a manner that
would increase the duties and responsibilities of the Escrow Agent or to modify
this Agreement in any manner which the Escrow Agent shall deem undesirable, or
at any other time, the Escrow Agent may resign by providing written notice to
the Company and until (a) the acceptance by a successor escrow agent as shall be
appointed by the Company; or (b) thirty (30) days after such written notice has
been given, whichever occurs sooner, the Escrow Agent's only remaining
obligation shall be to perform its duties hereunder in accordance with the terms
of the Agreement.

24.      The Escrow Agent may resign at any time from its obligations under this
Escrow Agreement by providing written notice to the Company. Such resignation
shall be effective on the date specified in such notice, which shall be not less
than thirty (30) days after such written notice has been given. The Escrow Agent
shall have no responsibility for the appointment of a successor escrow agent.

25.      The Escrow Agent may be removed for cause by the Company by written
notice to the Escrow Agent effective on the date specified in such written
notice. The removal of the Escrow Agent shall not deprive the Escrow Agent of
its compensation earned prior to such removal.

                            [Signature page follows]

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

Agreed to as of the 12th day of February, 2003.

                                            BEHRINGER HARVARD REIT I, INC.

                                            By:_________________________________
                                               Robert M. Behringer, President

                                            BEHRINGER SECURITIES LP

                                            By: Harvard Property Trust, LLC
                                                Its General Partner

                                            By:_________________________________
                                               Gerald J. Reihsen, III
                                               Chief Operating Officer

The terms and conditions contained above are hereby accepted and agreed to by:

WELLS FARGO BANK IOWA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ESCROW AGENT

By:_____________________________________
Name:___________________________________
Title:__________________________________

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

      [Form of Notice to Pennsylvania Subscribers and Nebraska Subscribers]

You have tendered a subscription to purchase shares of common stock of Behringer
Harvard REIT I, Inc. (the "Company"). Your subscription is currently being held
in escrow. The guidelines of the Pennsylvania Securities Commission do not
permit the Company to accept subscriptions from Pennsylvania residents until an
aggregate of $44,000,000 of gross offering proceeds have been received by the
Company. The Pennsylvania guidelines provide that until this minimum amount of
offering proceeds is received by the Company, every 120 days during the offering
period Pennsylvania Subscribers may request that their subscription be returned.
The Nebraska Securities Commission has imposed similar requirements on the
Company with respect to subscriptions from Nebraska residents.

If you wish to continue your subscription in escrow until the
Pennsylvania/Nebraska minimum subscription amount is received, nothing further
is required.

If you wish to terminate your subscription for the Company's common stock and
have your subscription returned please so indicate below, sign, date, and return
to the Escrow Agent, Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, National Association, at 666 Walnut
N8200-034, Corporate Trust Services, PFG, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.

I hereby terminate my prior subscription to purchase shares of common stock of
Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc. and request the return of my subscription funds.
I certify to Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc. that I am a resident of either
Pennsylvania or Nebraska.

                                      Signature:________________________________

                                      Name:     ________________________________
                                                     (please print)

                                      Date:     ________________________________

Please send the subscription refund to:

__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                         PERMISSIBLE ESCROW INVESTMENTS

(i)      obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States or by any person
         controlled or supervised by or acting as an instrumentality of the
         United States pursuant to authority granted by Congress, or an
         investment fund consisting of such obligations;

(ii)     obligations issued or guaranteed by any state or political subdivision
         thereof rated either: AA or higher or MIG 1 or higher, by Moody's
         Investors Service, Inc.; or AA or higher or an equivalent, by Standard
         & Poor's Corporation, both of New York, New York, or their successors;

(iii)    commercial or finance paper which is rated either: Prime-1 or higher,
         or an equivalent by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; or A-1 or higher
         or any equivalent by Standard & Poor's Corporation, both of New York,
         New York, or their successors; or

(iv)     certificates of deposit or time deposits of banks or trust companies,
         organized under the laws of the United States or any state.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                            ESCROW AGENT COMPENSATION

Assumptions

                         - Receipt by Wells Fargo of the
             electronic transmission of subscriber data in a format
                       compatible with Wells Fargo systems

              - WF does not handle subscription documents or checks

 - WF receives funds via deposit by issuer or its agent in the escrow account
                  or ACH/wires representing subscription funds

                  - Transfer agent sends WF copy of OFAC check

                              - Investment of Funds

                               - Monthly reporting

ACCEPTANCE FEE:                                                        $1,000.00

For initial services including examination of the Escrow Agent Agreement and all
supporting documents as well as database development. This is a one-time fee
payable upon the execution of the Escrow Agent Agreement.

ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION FEE:                                             $3,000.00
<

This annual administration fee covers standard services required under the
documents. Also includes periodic disbursements to company. An additional charge
of $500 per subaccount will be billed for accounts opened in connection with
certain state regulations (estimate of 2-3). Transaction charges noted below
apply for certain responsibilities including payments to subscribers. This fee
is payable upon the execution of the Escrow Agreement and annually thereafter
for any 12-month period or portion thereof. This fee shall be reviewed at the
end of the first year and may be renegotiated in accordance with new volume
estimates.

TRANSACTION FEES:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                          <C>
Wire transfer of funds to investors                                                          $15.00 per item
Check transfer of funds to investors                                                         $15.00 per item
Receipt and posting of incoming wires                                                        No charge
Receipt and posting of incoming check                                                        No charge
Asset transactions (purchases/sales/calls/deposit/withdrawals, etc.)                         $25.00 per transaction
1099 INT Tax reporting                                                                       $25.00 per form
ACH transfer of funds                                                                        No charge
Electronic predetermined reports                                                             No charge
Interest calculations                                                                        No charge
</TABLE>

EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES:

Additional reasonable compensation will be charged for extraordinary services
based on the then current standard hourly charge. Extraordinary services
include, but are not limited to, attending escrow closings, processing
assignments of escrow interest, specialized reports (e.g., tax reporting other
than 1099s), unusual certifications, reviewing and accepting modifications or
amendments to the escrow agreement, and letter of credit draws, etc. You will be
informed in advance of Wells Fargo's performance of services that are considered
extraordinary.

Any overdrafts caused by failed or incomplete wires of funds or failed or
incomplete securities deliveries will be reimbursable to Wells Fargo Bank at
prime plus two percent (2%).

<PAGE>

All out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the administration of the account,
including, but not limited to, postage, telephone charges, insurance,
photocopies, supplies, and legal fees with the exception of legal fees incurred
at the inception of the account, will be billed to the customer at cost.

Billings over 30 days past due are subject to a 1.5% per month late payment
penalty of the balance due.<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                               INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

      This Indemnity Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and
between Pioneer Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company"), and Marvin
E. Lesser ("Indemnitee").

                                  Introduction

      Indemnitee is a director of the Company. The parties desire that the
Company provide indemnification (including advancement of expenses) to
Indemnitee against any and all liabilities asserted against Indemnitee to the
fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and any other
law (including statutory law and law established by judicial decision) of the
State of Delaware (collectively, "Law"), as the Law presently exists and may be
expanded from time to time. Based on such premise, and for certain good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

      1. Continued Service. Indemnitee will serve at the will of the Company or
under separate contract, if such exists, as a director of the Company for so
long as Indemnitee is duly elected and qualified in accordance with the Bylaws
of the Company or until Indemnitee tenders Indemnitee's resignation to the
Company.

      2. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee as follows:

            2.1. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee when Indemnitee was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company), by
reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding
(including punitive and similar damages, to the extent permitted by Law) if
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that
Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful.

            2.2. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee when Indemnitee was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment
in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if Indemnitee
acted in good faith and in a manner that Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
indemnification pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery
or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon
application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court
shall deem proper.

            2.3. Any indemnification under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 (unless ordered
by a court) shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3,
that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because
Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such Sections
2.1 and 2.2. Subject to Section 3.3, such determination shall be made (1) by the
board of directors of the Company by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by the stockholders of the Company.

            2.4. Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by Indemnitee in
defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit or
proceeding shall be paid from time to time by the Company in advance of the
final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, within 14 days after the
receipt by the Company from Indemnitee of a Statement of Undertaking in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A, in which Indemnitee (1) states
that Indemnitee has reasonably incurred actual expenses in defending a civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit or proceeding and (2)
undertakes to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in
this Section 2.

            2.5. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, this Section 2 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors, Law or otherwise, both as to action in
Indemnitee's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office, shall continue after Indemnitee has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee.

            2.6. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did not
act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee's
conduct was unlawful.

      3. Determination of Right to Indemnification. For the purpose of making
the determination of whether to indemnify Indemnitee in a specific case under
Section 2.3, the board of directors of the Company, independent legal counsel or
stockholders, as the case may be, shall make the determination in accordance
with the following procedures:

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
            3.1. Indemnitee shall submit to the board of directors a Statement
of Request for Indemnification in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B,
in which Indemnitee states that Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in Sections 2.1 and 2.2.

            3.2. Indemnitee's submission of a Statement of Request for
Indemnification to the board of directors shall create a rebuttable presumption
that Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections
2.1 and 2.2 and, therefore, is entitled to indemnification under Section 2. The
board of directors, independent legal counsel or stockholders, as the case may
be, shall determine, within 45 days after submission of the Statement of Request
for Indemnification, specifically that Indemnitee is so entitled, unless it or
they shall possess clear and convincing evidence to rebut the foregoing
presumption, which evidence shall be disclosed to Indemnitee with particularity
in a sworn written statement signed by all persons who participated in the
determination and voted to deny indemnification.

            3.3. At Indemnitee's option, Indemnitee may elect that the
determination as to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel (as
defined below), in which event the Independent Counsel shall be selected by
Indemnitee, and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company
("Independent Counsel Notice") within 10 days after the delivery of the
Statement of Request for Indemnification advising it of the identity of the
Independent Counsel so selected (unless Indemnitee shall request in the
Independent Counsel Notice that such selection be made by the board of directors
of the Company), in which event the Company shall give written notice to
Indemnitee within 10 days after receipt of Indemnitee's Independent Counsel
Notice advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so
selected). In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may,
within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given,
deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection
to such selection. Any objection to selection of Independent Counsel pursuant to
this Section 3.3 may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel
so selected does not meet the requirements of the definition of "Independent
Counsel" below, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual
basis of such assertion. If such written objection is timely made, the
Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and
until a court has determined that such objection is without merit. In the event
of a timely written objection to a choice of Independent Counsel, the party
originally selecting the Independent Counsel shall have seven days to make an
alternate selection of Independent Counsel and to give written notice of such
selection to the other party, after which time such other party shall have seven
days to make a written objection to such alternate selection. If, within 45 days
after submission by Indemnitee of a Statement of Request for Indemnification
pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected
and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of
competent jurisdiction (the "Court") for resolution of any objections that shall
have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of
Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a
person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall
designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is so resolved or
the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel for purposes of the
determination to be made under Section 2.3 hereof. The Company shall pay any and
all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such
Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
to hereto and provide such person with appropriate indemnification, and the
Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of
this Section 3.3, regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was
selected or appointed. The rights and obligations of the parties under this
Section 3.3 shall be subject to, and shall be given effect only to the extent
permitted by, applicable Law.

            3.4. If the person or persons empowered or selected under this
Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall
not have made a determination within 45 days after receipt by the Company of the
Statement of Request for Indemnification by Indemnitee therefor (or, if the
determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent
Counsel pursuant to Section 3.3 of this Agreement, and such determination shall
not have been made and delivered in written opinion within 90 days after (i)
such Independent Counsel's being appointed, (ii) the overruling by the Court of
objections to such Counsel's selection or (iii) expiration of all periods for
the Company or Indemnitee to object to such Counsel's selection), the requisite
determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been
made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a
prohibition of such indemnification under applicable Law; provided, however,
that such 45-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an
additional 30 days, if the person making the determination with respect to
entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for
the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating to such
determination; and provided, further, that the 45-day limitation set forth in
this Section 3.4 shall not apply and such period shall be extended as necessary
if Independent Counsel is not to make the determination pursuant to section 3.3
of this Agreement and if within 30 days after receipt by the Company of the
Statement of Request for Indemnification the Board has resolved to submit such
determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting
thereof to be held within 90 days after such receipt and such determination is
made thereat, or a special meeting of stockholders is called within 30 days
after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is
held for such purpose within 60 days after having been so called and such
determination is made thereat.

      4. Merger, Consolidation or Change in Control. If the Company is a
constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation, whether the Company is the
resulting or surviving corporation or is absorbed as a result thereof, or if
there is a change in control of the Company, or a sale or other complete
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, Indemnitee
shall stand in the same position under this Agreement with respect to the
resulting, surviving, changed or acquiring corporation or other entity as
Indemnitee would have with respect to the Company if its separate existence had
continued or if there had been no change in control of the Company or a sale or
other complete disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company.

      5. Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the indicated meanings and understandings:

            5.1. The term "other enterprise" shall include, among others,
employee benefit plans and civic, non-profit and charitable organizations,
whether or not incorporated.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
            5.2. The term "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on
Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan.

            5.3. The term "serving at the request of the Company" shall include
any service, at the request or with the express or implied authorization of the
Company, as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, which service imposes
duties on, or involves services by, Indemnitee with respect to such corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, its participants or
beneficiaries. If Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such other
enterprise, its participants or beneficiaries, Indemnitee shall be deemed to
have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

            5.4. The term "change in control" shall include any change in the
ownership of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or
in the composition of a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
Company.

            5.5. The term "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of
a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither
contemporaneously is, nor in the five years theretofore has been, retained to
represent: (a) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such
party, (b) any other party to the proceeding giving rise to a claim for
indemnification hereunder or (c) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include any person who,
under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would
have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in
an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement.

      6. Attorneys' Fees. If Indemnitee institutes any legal action to enforce
Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement, or to recover damages for breach of
this Agreement, Indemnitee, if Indemnitee prevails in whole or in part, shall be
entitled to recover from the Company all fees and expenses (including attorneys'
fees) incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith.

      7. Deposit of Funds In Trust. If the Company voluntarily decides to
dissolve or to file a petition for relief under the applicable bankruptcy,
moratorium or similar laws, then not later than 10 days prior to such
dissolution or filing, the Company shall deposit in trust for the sole and
exclusive benefit of Indemnitee a cash amount equal to all amounts previously
authorized to be paid to Indemnitee hereunder, such amounts to be used to
discharge the Company's obligations to Indemnitee hereunder. Any amounts in such
trust not required for such purpose shall be returned to the Company. This
Section 7 shall not apply to the dissolution of the Company in connection with a
transaction as to which Section 4 applies.

      8. Amendments to Law. This Agreement is intended to provide indemnity to
Indemnitee to the fullest extent allowed under Law, including but not limited to
statutory law and judicial decisions. Accordingly, to the extent permitted by
Law, if the Law permits greater indemnity than the indemnity set forth herein,
or if any amendment is made to any Law

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
expanding the indemnity permissible under Law, the indemnity obligations
contained herein automatically shall be expanded, without the necessity of
action on the part of any party, to the extent necessary to provide to
Indemnitee the fullest indemnity permissible under Law.

      9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

            9.1. This Agreement shall continue for so long as Indemnitee serves
as a director of the Company or as a director, officer, partner, employee, agent
or fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise in which the Indemnitee served at the
request of the Company, and thereafter shall survive until and terminate upon
the later to occur of: (a) the final termination of all pending proceedings in
respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement
of expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee relating
thereto; or (b) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to
possible claims arising out of Indemnitee's services as described above. This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and
shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee's heirs, executors,
legal representatives and administrators.

            9.2. This Agreement constitutes the full understanding of the
parties and a complete and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings and
agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties, their affiliates, and
their respective principals, shareholders, directors, officers, employees,
consultants and agents with respect thereto; provided, however, that no rights
of Indemnitee under any certificate of incorporation, bylaw, insurance policy,
Law or other agreement shall be limited or terminated by this Agreement.

            9.3. No alteration, modification, amendment, change or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall be effective or binding on any party hereto
unless the same is in writing and is executed by all parties hereto.

            9.4. If a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any
provision of this Agreement is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, then such
provision shall be modified automatically to the extent necessary to make such
provision fully legal, valid or enforceable. If such court does not modify any
such provision as contemplated herein, but instead declares it to be wholly
illegal, invalid or unenforceable, then such provision shall be severed from
this Agreement, this Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties
hereto shall be construed as if this Agreement did not contain such severed
provision, and this Agreement otherwise shall remain in full force and effect.

            9.5. This Agreement shall be enforceable by and against the Company,
the Indemnitee and their respective executors, legal representatives,
administrators, heirs, successors and assignees.

            9.6. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed under, and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference
to the conflict-of-laws provisions thereof that would require the application of
another state's law.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
            9.7. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in
multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original for all
purposes, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

            9.8. The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding commenced under this Agreement that the procedures and presumptions
of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in
any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this
Agreement.

            9.9. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices,
requests, demands, consents, waivers, instructions, approvals and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if personally delivered to or mailed, certified mail return receipt
requested, first-class postage paid, addressed as follows:

      If to the Company, to it at:

              Pioneer Companies, Inc.
              700 Louisiana, Suite 4300
              Houston, Texas 77002
              Attention:  Secretary

      If to Indemnitee, to Indemnitee at:

              Marvin E. Lesser
              501 Islington Street, Third Floor
              Portsmouth, NH 03801

or to such other address or to such other addressees as any party shall have
last designated as its address or addressee by notice to the other party. All
notices and other communications given to any party in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when delivered
or sent to the intended recipient thereof in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 9.9.

      The parties hereto have executed this Agreement effective as of March 14,
2002.

                                           COMPANY:

                                           PIONEER COMPANIES, INC.

                                           By:__________________________________
                                           Name:________________________________
                                           Title:_______________________________

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
                                           INDEMNITEE:

                                           _____________________________________
                                           Marvin E. Lesser

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                            STATEMENT OF UNDERTAKING

STATE OF __________________    Section
                               Section
COUNTY OF _________________    Section

      I, Marvin E. Lesser, being first duly sworn, depose and say as follows:

      1. This Statement of Undertaking is submitted pursuant to the Indemnity
Agreement dated March 14, 2002, between Pioneer Companies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), and me.

      2. I am requesting the advancement of certain actual expenses that I have
reasonably incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding
by reason of the fact that I am or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company or I am serving or have served at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise.

      3. I hereby undertake to repay this advancement of expenses if it is
ultimately determined that I am not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

      4. I am requesting the advancement of expenses in connection with the
following action, suit or proceeding:

      I have executed this Statement of Undertaking on _____ _________________.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                  Marvin E. Lesser

      Subscribed and sworn to before me on ___________________.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                  Notary Public in and for
                                                    said state and county
                                                  My commission expires:________

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT B

                    STATEMENT OF REQUEST FOR INDEMNIFICATION

STATE OF __________________    Section
                               Section
COUNTY OF _________________    Section

      I, Marvin E. Lesser, being first duly sworn, depose and say as follows:

      1. This Statement of Request for Indemnification is submitted pursuant to
the Indemnity Agreement dated March 14, 2002, between Pioneer Companies, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Company"), and me.

      2. I am requesting indemnification against expenses (including attorneys'
fees) and, with respect to any action not by or in the right of the Company,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, all of which have been actually
and reasonably incurred by me in connection with a certain action, suit or
proceeding to which I am a party or am threatened to be made a party by reason
of the fact that I am or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Company or I am serving or have served at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise.

      3. With respect to all matters related to any such action, suit or
proceeding, I acted in good faith and in a manner I reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, I had no reason to believe that my conduct was
unlawful.

      4. I am requesting indemnification in connection with the following suit,
action or proceeding:

      I have executed this Statement of Request for Indemnification
on ______________________.

                                               _________________________________
                                               Marvin E. Lesser

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
      Subscribed and sworn to before me on ___________________.

                                               _________________________________
                                               Notary Public in and for
                                                said state and county
                                               My Commission expires:___________

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00052-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00052-of-00352.parquet"}]]