Document:

Exhibit No. 4.1

               STRATS(SM) CERTIFICATES SERIES SUPPLEMENT 2004-8

                                    between

                   SYNTHETIC FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES, INC.,
                                  as Trustor

                                      and

                     U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                    as Trustee and Securities Intermediary

      STRATS(SM) TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP SECURITIES, SERIES 2004-8

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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PRELIMINARY STATEMENT                                                                                  1
Section 1.    Certain Defined Terms                                                                    1
Section 2.    Creation and Declaration of Trust; Sale of Underlying Securities; Acceptance by
              Trustee                                                                                  5
Section 3.    Designation                                                                              7
Section 4.    Date of the Certificates                                                                 7
Section 5.    Certificate Stated Amount and Denominations                                              7
Section 6.    Currency of the Certificates                                                             7
Section 7.    Form of Securities                                                                       7
Section 8.    Swap Payments; Collateral Account                                                        7
Section 9.    Certain Provisions of Base Trust Agreement Not Applicable                                8
Section 10.   Distributions                                                                            8
Section 11.   Termination of Trust                                                                    10
Section 12.   Limitation of Powers and Duties                                                         11
Section 13.   Compensation of Trustee                                                                 12
Section 14.   Modification or Amendment of the Base Trust Agreement, the Series Supplement or
              the Swap Agreement                                                                      13
Section 15.   Assignment of Rights under the Swap Agreement                                           14
Section 16.   Accounting                                                                              14
Section 17.   No Investment of Amounts Received on Underlying Securities                              14
Section 18.   No Event of Default                                                                     14
Section 19.   Notices                                                                                 14
Section 20.   Access to Certain Documentation                                                         15
Section 21.   Advances                                                                                15
Section 22.   Ratification of Agreement                                                               15
Section 23.   Counterparts                                                                            15
Section 24.   Governing Law                                                                           15
Section 25.   Certificate of Compliance                                                               15
Section 26.   Certain Filing to be Made by the Trustee                                                15
Section 27.   Establishment of Accounts                                                               16
Section 28.   Statement of Intent                                                                     16
Section 29.   Filing of Partnership Returns                                                           17
Section 30.   "Financial Assets" Election                                                             17
Section 31.   Trustee's Entitlement Orders                                                            17
Section 32.   Conflict with Other Agreements                                                          17
Section 33.   Additional Trustee and Securities Intermediary Representations                          17
Section 34.   Additional Trustor Representations                                                      18

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Section 35.   Certification Requirements                                                              18
Section 36.   Additional Rights of the Swap Counterparty                                              18
Section 37.   Modification of Certain Provisions of Base Trust Agreement                              18
Section 38.   Evidence of Integration for Tax Purposes                                                19

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Exhibit A -- Identification of the Underlying Securities as of Closing Date
Exhibit B -- Terms of the Certificates as of Closing Date
Exhibit C -- Form of Certificates
Exhibit D -- Form of Swap Agreement
Exhibit E -- Evidence of Integration for Tax Purposes

                                      ii
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     STRATS(SM) SERIES SUPPLEMENT 2004-8, dated as of June 29, 2004 (this
     "Series Supplement"), between SYNTHETIC FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES, INC.,
     a Delaware corporation, as Trustor (the "Trustor"), and U.S. Bank Trust
     National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the
     "Trustee") and as securities intermediary (the "Securities
     Intermediary").

                             PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
          Pursuant to the Base Trust Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2003
(the "Base Trust Agreement" and, as supplemented pursuant to the Series
Supplement, the "Agreement"), between the Trustor and the Trustee, such
parties may at any time and from time to time enter into a series supplement
supplemental to the Base Trust Agreement for the purpose of creating a trust.
Section 5.13 of the Base Trust Agreement provides that the Trustor may at any
time and from time to time direct the Trustee to authenticate and deliver, on
behalf of any such trust, a new Series of trust certificates. Each trust
certificate of such new Series of trust certificates will represent a
fractional undivided beneficial interest in such trust. Certain terms and
conditions applicable to each such Series are to be set forth in the related
series supplement to the Base Trust Agreement.

          Pursuant to this Series Supplement, the Trustor and the Trustee
shall create and establish a new trust to be known as STRATS(SM) Trust For
Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8, and a new Series of trust
certificates to be issued thereby, which certificates shall be known as the
STRATS(SM) Certificates, Series 2004-8, and the Trustor and the Trustee shall
herein specify certain terms and conditions in respect thereof. The Trust
shall also enter into a swap agreement (the "Swap Agreement") pursuant to
which the Trust will exchange interest payments due on the Underlying
Securities for payments from the Swap Counterparty which will be passed
through to the Certificateholders.

          The STRATS(SM) Certificates, Series 2004-8 shall be floating rate
Certificates (the "Certificates") issued in the form thereof set forth in
Exhibit C.

          On behalf of and pursuant to the authorizing resolutions of the
Board of Directors of the Trustor, an authorized officer of the Trustor has
authorized the execution, authentication and delivery of the Certificates, and
has authorized the Base Trust Agreement, the Swap Agreement (as defined
below), and this Series Supplement in accordance with the terms of Section
5.13 of the Base Trust Agreement.

Section 1. Certain Defined Terms. (A) All terms used in this Series Supplement
that are defined in the Base Trust Agreement, either directly or by reference
therein, have the meanings assigned to such terms therein, except to the
extent such terms are defined or modified in this Series Supplement or the
context requires otherwise. The Base Trust Agreement also contains rules as to
usage which shall be applicable hereto.

(B) Pursuant to Article I of the Base Trust Agreement, the meaning of certain
defined terms used in the Base Trust Agreement shall, when applied to the
trust certificates of a particular Series, be as defined in Article I but with
such additional provisions and modifications as are specified in the related
series supplement. With respect to the Certificates, the following definitions
shall apply:

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          "761 Election": Shall have the meaning set forth in Section 28 of
this Series Supplement.

          "Acceleration": The acceleration of the maturity of the Underlying
Securities after the occurrence of any default on the Underlying Securities
other than a Payment Default.

          "Accounts": Collectively the Certificate Account and the Collateral
Account.

          "Affected Party": Shall have the meaning provided under the Swap
Agreement.

          "Agreement": Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the
Preliminary Statement to this Series Supplement.

          "Base Trust Agreement": Base Trust Agreement shall have the meaning
specified in the Preliminary Statement to this Series Supplement.

          "Business Day": Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on
which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated
by law, executive order or governmental decree to be closed.

          "Certificate Account": With respect to this Series, the Eligible
Account, which shall be a securities account established and maintained by the
Securities Intermediary in the Trustee's name, to which the Underlying
Securities and all payments made on or with respect to the related Underlying
Securities and all payments made to the Trust on or with respect to the Swap
Agreement shall be credited.

          "Certificateholder" or "Holder": With respect to any Certificate,
the Holder thereof.

          "Certificateholders" or "Holders": The Holders of the Certificates.

          "Certificates": Certificates shall have the meaning specified in the
Preliminary Statement to this Series Supplement.

          "Closing Date": June 29, 2004.

          "Collateral Account": With respect to this Series, the Eligible
Account, which shall be a securities account established and maintained by the
Securities Intermediary in the Trustee's name, to which any Posted Collateral
and all proceeds thereof shall be credited in accordance with the Swap
Agreement.

          "Collection Period": The period from (but excluding) the preceding
Distribution Date (or, in the case of the first Distribution Date, from and
including the Closing Date), through and including the current Distribution
Date.

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          "Corporate Trust Office": U.S. Bank Trust National Association, 100
Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005 or such other corporate
trust office as the Trustee shall designate in writing to the Trustor and the
Certificateholders.

          "Defaulting Party": Shall have the meaning provided under the Swap
Agreement.

          "Depositary": The Depositary Trust Company.

          "Depositor": The Trustor acting specifically with respect to the
conveyance of the Underlying Securities under this Series Supplement.

          "Distribution Date": Any Scheduled Distribution Date, the Maturity
Date or any Underlying Securities Default Distribution Date or, if applicable,
any Underlying Securities Redemption Distribution Date.

          "Interest Collections": For any Distribution Date, the sum of (i)
all amounts received during the Collection Period ending on such Distribution
Date from the Swap Counterparty pursuant to the Swap Agreement and (ii) any
amounts representing interest on the Underlying Securities that are actually
received by the Trust pursuant to the Underlying Securities Indenture on such
Distribution Date and not required to be paid to the Swap Counterparty
pursuant to the Swap Agreement.

          "Maturity Date": October 15, 2013.

          "Optional Exchange": Any exchange of Certificates held by the
Depositor for Underlying Securities under Section 39 of this Series
Supplement.

          "Payment Default": A default by the Underlying Securities Issuer in
the payment of any amount due on the Underlying Securities after the same
becomes due and payable (and the expiration of any applicable grace period on
the Underlying Securities).

          "Place of Distribution": New York, New York.

          "Posted Collateral": Shall have the meaning provided under the Swap
Agreement.

          "Rating Agency": S&P and any successor thereto. References to "the
Rating Agency" in the Agreement shall be deemed to be such credit rating
agency.

          "Record Date": With respect to any Distribution Date, the day
immediately preceding such Distribution Date.

          "SEC Reporting Failure": Any circumstance in which the Underlying
Securities Issuer either (x) states in writing that it intends permanently to
cease filing periodic reports required under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or (y) fails to file its required periodic reports for any quarterly
reporting period, and (2) the Trustor determines after consultation with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, that under applicable securities laws,
rules or regulations the Trust must be liquidated or the Underlying Securities
distributed.

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          "S&P": Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or any successor thereto.

          "Scheduled Distribution Date": (i) For so long as the Swap Agreement
shall not have been terminated, the 15th calendar day of each month or, if any
such day is not a Business Day, then the immediately following Business Day,
commencing July 15, 2004, until the date on which the Certificates have been
retired; provided, however, that payment on each Scheduled Distribution Date
shall be subject to prior payment of interest or principal, as applicable, on
the Underlying Securities, or (ii) upon the occurrence of a Swap Agreement
Termination Event that is not also a Trust Termination Event, Scheduled
Distribution Dates will thereafter occur semi-annually on each April 15 and
October 15, or the immediately following Business Day, until the Certificates
have been retired.

          "Specified Currency": United States Dollars.

          "Swap Agreement": The ISDA Master Agreement dated as of the Closing
Date, between the Trust and the Swap Counterparty (including the Schedule and
Credit Support Annex thereto) as supplemented by Confirmation Number 418617
and 418618, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

          "Swap Agreement Termination Event": The occurrence of any "Event of
Default" or "Termination Event" under the Swap Agreement.

          "Swap Counterparty": Wachovia Bank, N.A., or any permitted successor
or assign thereto.

          "Trust": STRATS(SM) Trust For Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series
2004-8.

          "Trust Termination Event": (a) the payment in full at maturity or
upon early redemption of the Certificates, (b) the distribution of the
proceeds received upon a recovery on the Underlying Securities (in the case of
Payment Default, after deducting the costs incurred in connection therewith)
after a Payment Default or on Acceleration or other default with respect to
the Underlying Securities (and the expiration of any applicable grace period
on the Underlying Securities), (c) the distribution (or liquidation and
distribution) of the Underlying Securities in accordance with Section 10(i)
hereof in the event of an SEC Reporting Failure, (d) any Swap Agreement
Termination Event pursuant to which the Trust is the Defaulting Party or an
Affected Party and amounts are owed by the Trust under the Swap Agreement that
are in excess of the redemption proceeds or other current distributions on the
Underlying Securities or (e) any Optional Exchange of all Certificates then
outstanding.

          "Underlying Securities": As of the Closing Date, $40,000,000
aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Notes due 2013 issued by the Underlying
Securities Issuer, sold to the Trustee by Wachovia Securities and identified
on Exhibit A hereto.

          "Underlying Securities Default Distribution Date": The date on which
the Trustee makes a distribution of the proceeds received in connection with a
recovery on the Underlying Securities (in the case of Payment Default, after
deducting any costs incurred in connection therewith) following a Payment
Default or an Acceleration or other default with respect to the Underlying
Securities.

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          "Underlying Securities Issuer": The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
("Goldman").

          "Underlying Securities Payment Date": The 15th day of each April and
October; provided, however, that if any Underlying Securities Payment Date
would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such Underlying
Securities Payment Date will be the following Business Day, commencing on July
15, 2004 and ending on October 15, 2013.

          "Underlying Securities Trustee": The trustee for the Underlying
Securities.

          "Unpaid Amounts": As to the Trust or the Swap Counterparty,
respectively, an amount equal to the regular scheduled payments that such
party is otherwise required to make under the Swap Agreement, through, but
excluding, the date on which the Swap Agreement is terminated.

          "Voting Rights": The Certificateholders shall have 100% of the total
Voting Rights with respect to the Certificates and shall be allocated among
all Holders of Certificates in proportion to the Stated Amounts held by such
Holders on any date of determination.

          "Wachovia Securities": Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC.

Section 2. Creation and Declaration of Trust; Sale of Underlying Securities;
Acceptance by Trustee. (A) The Trust, of which the Trustee is the trustee, is
hereby created under the laws of the State of New York for the benefit of the
holders of the Certificates and the Swap Counterparty. The Trust shall be
irrevocable. (B) The Trustor, acting as Depositor, does hereby sell, assign,
convey and set-over to the Trustee, on behalf and for the benefit of the
Trust, the Underlying Securities at a purchase price of $39,721,666.67 in
cash. The Trustee shall pay the full purchase price for the Underlying
Securities by delivering to Wachovia Securities, for the account of the
Depositor, and as the assignee of Depositor with respect to such amounts, (i)
$39,290,000.00 on the Closing Date and (ii) $431,666.67 on October 15, 2004,
which represents the accrued and unpaid interest of the Underlying Securities
on the Closing Date. The amounts to be paid to Wachovia Securities set forth
in clause (ii) above, shall be paid from the Interest Payment to be received
by the Trustee on October 15, 2004. In the event that such Interest Payment is
not received by the Trustee on such date or is otherwise insufficient to pay
such amount of accrued and unpaid interest to Wachovia Securities, Wachovia
Securities, for the account of the Depositor, and as assignee of Depositor
with respect to such amounts, shall have a claim for the unpaid portion of
such amount and shall share pari passu with Certificateholders to the extent
of such claim in the proceeds from the sale or recovery of the Underlying
Securities. The Trustor hereby instructs the Trustee on behalf of and for the
benefit of the Trust to enter into and execute the Swap Agreement and perform
the obligations thereunder on behalf of the Trust, including, but not limited
to, receiving and returning any collateral posted by the Swap Counterparty in
accordance with the Swap Agreement.

(C) The Trustee hereby (i) acknowledges such sale, deposit and delivery,
pursuant to subsection (b) above, and receipt by it of the Underlying
Securities, (ii) acknowledges receipt of the duly authorized and executed Swap
Agreement, (iii) accepts the trusts created hereunder in accordance with the
provisions hereof and of the Base Trust Agreement but subject to the

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Trustee's obligation, as and when the same may arise, to make any payment or
other distribution of the assets of the Trust as may be required pursuant to
this Series Supplement, the Base Trust Agreement, the Certificates and the
Swap Agreement, and (iv) agrees to perform the duties herein or therein
required and any failure to receive reimbursement of expenses and
disbursements under Section 13 hereof shall not release the Trustee from its
duties herein or therein.

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Section 3. Designation. There is hereby created a Series of trust certificates
to be issued pursuant to the Base Trust Agreement and this Series Supplement
to be known as the "STRATS(SM) Certificates, Series 2004-8". The Certificates
shall have the terms provided for in this Series Supplement. The Certificates
shall be issued in the amount set forth in Section 5 and with the additional
terms set forth in Exhibit B to this Series Supplement. The Certificates shall
be issued in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit C to this Series
Supplement with such necessary or appropriate changes as shall be approved by
the Trustor and the Trustee, such approval to be manifested by the execution
and authentication thereof by the Trustee. The Certificates shall evidence
undivided ownership interests in the assets of the Trust, subject to the
liabilities of the Trust and shall be payable solely from payments or property
received by the Trustee on or in respect of the Underlying Securities and the
Swap Agreement.

Section 4. Date of the Certificates. The Certificates that are authenticated
and delivered by the Trustee to or upon Trustor Order on the Closing Date
shall be dated the Closing Date. All other Certificates that are authenticated
after the Closing Date for any other purpose under the Agreement shall be
dated the date of their authentication.

Section 5. Certificate Stated Amount and Denominations. On the Closing Date,
up to 1,600,000 Certificates with an aggregate Stated Amount of $40,000,000
may be authenticated and delivered under the Base Trust Agreement and this
Series Supplement. The Stated Amount of the Certificates shall equal 100% of
the initial principal amount of Underlying Securities sold to the Trustee and
deposited in the Trust. Such Stated Amount shall be calculated without regard
to Certificates authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of,
or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Certificates pursuant to Sections
5.3, 5.4 or 5.5 of the Base Trust Agreement.

Section 6. Currency of the Certificates. All distributions on the Certificates
will be made in the Specified Currency.

Section 7. Form of Securities. The Trustee shall execute and deliver the
Certificates in the form of one or more global certificates registered in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee.

Section 8. Swap Payments; Collateral Account. (A) The Trust shall pay to the
Swap Counterparty (i) for so long as the Swap Agreement shall not have been
terminated, an amount equal to all interest payments payable on the Underlying
Securities on each Underlying Securities Payment Date or on any other date on
which such amounts are received by the Trust, excluding any amount of interest
that accrued with respect to the Underlying Securities from the Underlying
Securities Payment Date immediately preceding the Closing Date to, but
excluding, the Closing Date and (ii) all other amounts owing to the Swap
Counterparty under the Swap Agreement to the extent Trust assets are
sufficient therefor, including but not limited to all Unpaid Amounts upon the
occurrence of any Swap Agreement Termination Event

(B) The Trustee shall within 3 Business Days of the Closing Date establish the
Collateral Account. Any and all amounts at any time on deposit in the
Collateral Account shall be held in trust by the Trustee for the benefit of
Certificateholders and the Swap Counterparty; provided, that, the only
permitted withdrawal from or application of funds on deposit in, or otherwise
to the credit of, the Collateral Account shall be (i) for application to
obligations of the Swap Counterparty to the Trust under the Swap Agreement in
accordance with the terms of the Swap

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Agreement or (ii) to return Posted Collateral to the Swap Counterparty when
and as required by the Swap Agreement, which the Trustee shall return to the
Swap Counterparty in accordance with the related Swap Agreement.

Section 9. Certain Provisions of Base Trust Agreement Not Applicable. The
provisions of Sections 5.11, 5.16, 6.2, Article VII, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.10 of the
Base Trust Agreement and any other provision of the Base Trust Agreement which
imposes obligations on or creates rights in favor of the Trustee or the
Certificateholders as a result of or in connection with an "Event of Default"
or "Administrative Agent Termination Event" shall be inapplicable with respect
to the Certificates. In addition, there is no "Administrative Agent" specified
herein, and all references to "Administrative Agent" in the Base Trust
Agreement, therefore shall be inapplicable with respect to the Certificates.

Section 10. Distributions. (A) On each Distribution Date, so long as no Swap
Agreement Termination Event has occurred for which the Trust is the Defaulting
Party or an Affected Party, the Trustee shall distribute to the
Certificateholders the Interest Collections. On the Maturity Date, and to the
extent received on any other Scheduled Distribution Date, so long as no Swap
Agreement Termination Event has occurred for which the Trust is the Defaulting
Party or an Affected Party, the Trustee shall distribute to the
Certificateholders, the principal amount of the Underlying Securities to the
extent the principal of the Underlying Securities is received by the Trustee
on such date or during the related Collection Period plus any accrued interest
thereon.

(B) If a Swap Agreement Termination Event has occurred for which the Trust is
the Defaulting Party or an Affected Party the Trustee, first, shall distribute
all collections received on the Underlying Securities to the Swap Counterparty
until all amounts owing to the Swap Counterparty under the Swap Agreement for
payments in connection with such Swap Agreement Termination Event (including
any Unpaid Amounts) have been paid in full and, second, shall distribute all
remaining amounts to the Certificateholders. If the distribution in the
preceding sentence is insufficient to pay in full all amounts owing to the
Swap Counterparty, the Trustee shall proceed to liquidate or distribute the
Underlying Securities in accordance with Section 10(h). Upon any liquidation
of the Underlying Securities, the Trustee, first, shall distribute the
proceeds thereof to the Swap Counterparty until all amounts owing to the Swap
Counterparty have been paid in full and, second, shall distribute all
remaining amounts to the Certificateholders. In the event of a Swap Agreement
Termination Event, after paying all amounts due to the Swap Counterparty as
set forth in the first sentence of this Section 10(b), if no Trust Termination
Event has occurred, all Interest Collections shall thereafter be distributed
to Certificateholders on each applicable Distribution Date. If a Swap
Agreement Termination Event has occurred for which the Swap Counterparty is
the Defaulting Party or the only Affected Party, notwithstanding the
termination of the Swap Agreement, the Trustee shall distribute any Unpaid
Amounts to the Swap Counterparty from Interest Collections on the Underlying
Securities.

(C) In all cases hereunder, if any payment with respect to the Underlying
Securities is made to the Trustee after the Underlying Securities Payment Date
on which such payment was due, the Trustee shall distribute such amount
received on the Business Day following such receipt.

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(D) In the event of a Payment Default while the Swap Agreement is in effect
and if any payment is due to the Swap Counterparty, the Underlying Securities
will be liquidated in accordance with Section 10(h). Otherwise, in the event
of a Payment Default, the Trustee shall proceed against the Underlying
Securities Issuer on behalf of the Certificateholders to enforce the
Underlying Securities or otherwise to protect the interests of the
Certificateholders, subject to the receipt of indemnity in form and substance
satisfactory to the Trustee; provided, that Holders of the Certificates
representing a majority of the Voting Rights on the Certificates will be
entitled to direct the Trustee in any such proceeding or direct the Trustee to
sell the Underlying Securities, subject to the Trustee's receipt of
satisfactory indemnity.

(E) In the event of an Acceleration and a corresponding payment on the
Underlying Securities prior to any liquidation of the Underlying Securities
hereunder, the Trustee shall distribute the proceeds to the Certificateholders
no later than two (2) Business Days after the receipt of immediately available
funds pursuant to Section 10(b).

(F) In the event the Trustee receives property other than cash in respect of
the Underlying Securities such property will be applied first, to the Swap
Counterparty until all amounts owing to the Swap Counterparty have been paid
in full and, second, to the Certificateholders. Property other than cash will
be liquidated by the Trustee, and the proceeds thereof distributed in cash, to
the extent necessary to pay to the Swap Counterparty all amounts owed to it
under the Swap Agreement and, thereafter, to the extent necessary to avoid
distribution of fractional securities to Certificateholders. In-kind
distribution of Underlying Securities or other property to Certificateholders
will be deemed to reduce the Stated Amount of Certificates on a proportionate
basis. Following such in-kind distribution, all Certificates will be
cancelled. No amounts will be distributed to the Trustor in respect of the
Underlying Securities. The Swap Counterparty shall direct the Trustee with
respect to any liquidation of such property to the extent of the full amount
owed to it under the Swap Agreement.

(G) If an SEC Reporting Failure occurs, then the Trustor shall promptly notify
the Trustee, the Swap Counterparty and the Rating Agency of such SEC Reporting
Failure and the Trustee shall proceed to liquidate or distribute the
Underlying Securities in accordance with Section 10(h).

(H) If at any time, the Trustee is directed to sell the Underlying Securities,
the Trustee shall solicit bids for the sale of the Underlying Securities with
settlement thereof on or before the third (3rd) Business Day after such sale
from three leading dealers in the relevant market, which may include but is
not limited to any three of the following dealers: (1) Wachovia Securities,
(2) Goldman, Sachs & Co., (3) Lehman Brothers Inc., (4) Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, (5) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., (6) J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc. and (7) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.; provided,
however, that no bid from Wachovia Securities or any affiliate thereof shall
be accepted unless such bid equals the then fair market value of such
Underlying Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible for the failure to
obtain a bid so long as it has made reasonable efforts to obtain bids. If a
bid for the sale of the Underlying Securities has been accepted by the Trustee
but the sale has failed to settle on the proposed settlement date, the Trustee
shall request new bids from such leading dealers. In any circumstance in which
the sale of the Underlying Securities is required hereunder, the Trustee
shall, to the extent it is so directed by the Trustor, provide
Certificateholders with the option to elect to receive an "in-kind"
distribution of their pro rata share of the Underlying Securities; provided,
that, (1) an in-kind

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distribution shall be subject to the prior sale of Underlying Securities in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 10(h) to the extent necessary,
to pay any amounts owing to the Swap Counterparty under Section 10(b), (2) a
Certificateholders' pro rata share of the Underlying Securities shall be a
principal amount of Underlying Securities equal to the aggregate principal
amount of the Underlying Securities multiplied by a fraction the numerator of
which is the Stated Amount of that holder's Certificates and the denominator
of which is the aggregate principal amount of the Underlying Securities minus
the amount required to be distributed to the Swap Counterparty pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 10(b) and (3) odd-lot amounts that cannot be
distributed in-kind because they are not within the authorized denominations
of the Underlying Securities shall be distributed in cash. Any such in-kind
distribution shall constitute the final distribution in respect of the
Certificates as to which such option is exercised.

(I) Distributions to the Certificateholders on each Distribution Date will be
made to the Certificateholders of record on the Record Date.

(J) All distributions to Certificateholders shall be allocated pro rata among
the Certificates based on their respective Outstanding Amounts as of the
Record Date.

(K) Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, to the
extent funds are available, the Trustee will initiate payment in immediately
available funds by 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on each Distribution Date of
all amounts payable to each Certificateholder with respect to any Certificate
held by such Certificateholder or its nominee (without the necessity for any
presentation or surrender thereof or any notation of such payment thereon) in
the manner and at the address as each Certificateholder may from time to time
direct the Trustee in writing 15 days prior to such Distribution Date
requesting that such payment will be so made and designating the bank account
to which such payments shall be so made. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely
on the last instruction delivered by the Certificateholder pursuant to this
Section 10(f) unless a new instruction is delivered 15 days prior to a
Distribution Date.

(L) The rights of the Certificateholders to receive distributions in respect
of the Certificates, and all interests of the Certificateholders in such
distributions, shall be as set forth in this Series Supplement. The Trustee
shall in no way be responsible or liable to the Certificateholders nor shall
any Certificateholder in any way be responsible or liable to any other
Certificateholder in respect of amounts previously distributed on the
Certificates based on their respective Outstanding Amounts.

Section 11. Termination of Trust. (A) The Trust shall terminate upon the
occurrence of any Trust Termination Event.

(B) Except for any reports and other information required to be provided to
Certificateholders hereunder and under the Base Trust Agreement and except as
otherwise specified herein and therein, the obligations of the Trustee will
terminate upon the distribution to the Swap Counterparty and
Certificateholders of all amounts required to be distributed to them and the
disposition of all Underlying Securities held by the Trustee. The Trust shall
thereupon terminate, except for surviving rights of indemnity.

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Section 12. Limitation of Powers and Duties. (A) The Trustee shall administer
the Trust and the Underlying Securities solely as specified herein and in the
Base Trust Agreement.

(B) The Trust is constituted solely for the purpose of acquiring and holding
the Underlying Securities, entering into and performing its obligations under
the Swap Agreement and issuing the Certificates. The Trustee is not authorized
to acquire any other investments or engage in any activities not authorized
herein and, in particular, unless expressly provided in the Agreement, the
Trustee is not authorized (i) to sell, assign, transfer, exchange, pledge,
set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Underlying Securities, once
acquired, or interests therein, including to Certificateholders, (ii) to merge
or consolidate the Trust with any other entity, or (iii) to do anything that
would materially increase the likelihood that the Trust will fail to qualify
as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. In addition,
the Trustee has no power to create, assume or incur indebtedness or other
liabilities in the name of the Trust other than as contemplated herein and in
the Base Trust Agreement.

(C) The parties acknowledge that the Trustee, as the holder of the Underlying
Securities, has the right to vote and give consents and waivers in respect of
the Underlying Securities and enforce the other rights, if any, of a holder of
the Underlying Securities, except as otherwise limited by the Base Trust
Agreement or this Series Supplement. In the event that the Trustee receives a
request from the Underlying Securities Trustee, the Underlying Securities
Issuer or, if applicable, the Depositary with respect to the Underlying
Securities, for the Trustee's consent to any amendment, modification or waiver
of the Underlying Securities, or any document relating thereto, or receives
any other solicitation for any action with respect to the Underlying
Securities, the Trustee shall within two (2) Business Days mail a notice of
such proposed amendment, modification, waiver or solicitation to the Swap
Counterparty and each Certificateholder of record as of the date of such
request. The Trustee shall request instructions from the Certificateholders as
to what action to take in response to such request and shall be protected in
taking no action if no direction is received. Except as otherwise provided
herein, the Trustee shall consent or vote, or refrain from consenting or
voting, in the same proportion (based on the Stated Amounts of the
Certificates of each Class as allocated based on the respective Voting Rights
of each Class) as the Certificates were actually voted or not voted by the
Holders thereof as of the date determined by the Trustee prior to the date
such vote or consent is required; provided, however, that, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the Base Trust Agreement or this Series
Supplement, the Trustee shall at no time vote in favor of or consent to any
matter (i) which would alter the timing or amount of any payment on the
Underlying Securities (including, without limitation, any demand to accelerate
the Underlying Securities) or (ii) which would result in the exchange or
substitution of any Underlying Security whether or not pursuant to a plan for
the refunding or refinancing of such Underlying Security, except in each case
with the unanimous consent of the Certificateholders; provided, further, that
the Trustee shall not take any such action if it would affect the method,
amount or timing of payments due to the Swap Counterparty or otherwise
materially adversely affect the interests of the Swap Counterparty under the
Swap Agreement and result in a Swap Agreement Termination Event, in each case
without the prior written consent of the Swap Counterparty. The Trustee shall
have no liability for any failure to act or to refrain from acting resulting
from the Certificateholders' late return of, or failure to return, directions
requested by the Trustee from the Certificateholders.

                                      11
<PAGE>

(D) Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, the
Trustee may require from the Certificateholders prior to taking any action at
the direction of the Certificateholders, an indemnity agreement of a
Certificateholder or any of its Affiliates to provide for security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities the Trustee may incur by
reason of any such action. An unsecured indemnity agreement, if acceptable to
the Trustee, shall be deemed to be sufficient to satisfy such security or
indemnity requirement.

(E) Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, the
Trustee shall act as the sole Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent and
Registrar.

Section 13. Compensation of Trustee. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive
from the Trustor as compensation for its services hereunder, trustee's fees
pursuant to a separate agreement between the Trustee and the Trustor, and
shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by it (including the reasonable compensation, disbursements
and expenses of its counsel and other persons not regularly in its employ).
The Trustor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee and its successors,
assigns, agents and servants against any and all loss, liability or reasonable
expense (including attorney's fees) incurred by it in connection with the
administration of this trust and the performance of its duties thereunder. The
Trustee shall notify the Trustor promptly of any claim for which it may seek
indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Trustor shall not relieve
the Trustor of its obligations hereunder. The Trustor need not reimburse any
expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the
Trustee through the Trustee's own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
The indemnities contained in this Section 13 shall survive the resignation or
termination of the Trustee or the termination of this Agreement.

          Failure by the Trustor to pay, reimburse or indemnify the Trustee
shall not entitle the Trustee to any payment, reimbursement or indemnification
from the Trust, nor shall such failure release the Trustee from the duties it
is required to perform under this Series Supplement. Any unpaid, unreimbursed
or unindemnified amounts shall not be borne by the Trust and shall not
constitute a claim against the Trust, but shall be borne by the Trustee in its
individual capacity, and the Trustee shall have no recourse against the Trust
with respect thereto.

                                      12
<PAGE>

Section 14. Modification or Amendment of the Base Trust Agreement, the Series
Supplement or the Swap Agreement. (A) The Trustee shall not enter into any
modification or amendment of the Base Trust Agreement or this Series
Supplement unless such modification or amendment is in accordance with Section
10.1 of the Base Trust Agreement. If the Rating Agency Condition is not
satisfied with respect to any proposed modification or amendment of the Base
Trust Agreement or this Series Supplement, then any such modification or
amendment must be approved by 100% of the Certificateholders. The Trustee
shall not enter into any amendment or modification of this Agreement that
would affect the method, amount or timing of payment due to the Swap
Counterparty or the consent rights of the Swap Counterparty hereunder or
otherwise materially adversely affect the interests of the Swap Counterparty
under the Swap Agreement and result in a Swap Agreement Termination Event, in
each case without the prior written consent of the Swap Counterparty. The
Trustee shall provide fifteen Business Days written notice to the Swap
Counterparty before entering into any amendment or modification of this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 14.

(B) The Trustee shall not enter into any modification or amendment of the Swap
Agreement without the prior written consent of holders of Certificates
representing 66 ?% of the Voting Rights and without prior written confirmation
from the Rating Agency that such amendment will not result in a reduction or
withdrawal of the then current rating of the Certificates; provided, however,
that each of the Swap Counterparty and the Trustee may amend the Swap
Agreement without the prior written consent of Certificateholders to cure any
ambiguity in, or to correct or supplement any provision of the Swap Agreement
which may be inconsistent with any other provision of the Swap Agreement, or
to otherwise cure any defect in the Swap Agreement, provided that any such
amendment does not materially adversely affect the interest of the
Certificateholders and that the Rating Agency will have given its prior
written confirmation that such amendment will not result in a reduction or
withdrawal of the then current rating of the Certificates; provided further,
however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no amendment may alter
the timing or amount of any payment on the Swap Agreement without the prior
consent of 100% of the Certificateholders and without giving the Rating Agency
prior written notice of any such amendment.

(C) Until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge of the
occurrence of an event that would constitute a Swap Agreement Termination
Event, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume (and shall be fully protected,
indemnified and held harmless in doing so) that no Swap Agreement Termination
Event has occurred and may accordingly seek instructions under Section 12 and
this Section 14 exclusively from the Swap Counterparty.

                                      13
<PAGE>

Section 15. Assignment of Rights under the Swap Agreement. The Trustee may
consent to any transfer or assignment by the Swap Counterparty of its rights
under the Swap Agreement, so long as the Rating Agency shall have given its
prior written confirmation that such transfer or assignment will not result in
a reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating of the Certificates.

Section 16. Accounting. Notwithstanding Section 3.16 of the Base Trust
Agreement, "Independent Public Accountants' Administration Report," no such
accounting reports shall be required. Pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Base
Trust Agreement, "Reports to Certificateholders," the Trustee shall cause the
statement described in Section 4.2 to be prepared and forwarded as provided
therein.

Section 17. No Investment of Amounts Received on Underlying Securities. All
amounts received on or with respect to the Underlying Securities shall be held
uninvested by the Trustee.

Section 18. No Event of Default. There shall be no Events of Default defined
with respect to the Certificates.

Section 19. Notices. (A) All directions, demands and notices hereunder and
under the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received if personally delivered or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid or by express delivery service or by certified mail, return
receipt requested or delivered in any other manner specified herein, (i) in
the case of the Trustor, to Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc., One
Wachovia Center 301 South College Street, DC-7 Charlotte, NC 28288, Attention:
Investment Grade Debt Syndicate Desk, or such other address as may hereafter
be furnished to the Trustee in writing by the Trustor, and (ii) in the case of
the Trustee, to U.S. Bank Trust National Association, 100 Wall Street, Suite
1600, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Corporate Trust, facsimile number
(212) 809-5459, or such other address as may hereafter be furnished to the
Trustor in writing by the Trustee.

(B) For purposes of delivering notices to the Rating Agency under Section
10.07 of the Base Trust Agreement, "Notice to Rating Agency," or otherwise,
such notices shall be mailed or delivered as provided in such Section 10.07,
"Notice to Rating Agency," to: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, 55 Water
Street, New York, New York 10041; or such other address as the Rating Agency
may designate in writing to the parties hereto.

(C) In the event a Payment Default or an Acceleration occurs, the Trustee
shall promptly give notice to the Swap Counterparty and to the Depositary or,
for any Certificates which are not then held by the Depositary or any other
depository, directly to the registered holders of the Certificates thereof.
Such notice shall set forth (i) the identity of the issue of Underlying
Securities, (ii) the date and nature of such Payment Default or Acceleration,
(iii) the principal amount of the interest or principal in default, (iv) the
Certificates affected by the Payment Default or Acceleration, and (v) any
other information which the Trustee may deem appropriate.

(D) Notwithstanding any provisions of the Agreement to the contrary, the
Trustee shall deliver all notices or reports required to be delivered to or by
the Trustee or the Trustor to the Certificateholders or the Swap Counterparty
without charge to such Certificateholders or the Swap Counterparty.

                                      14
<PAGE>

(E) The Trustee shall, in connection with any notice or delivery of documents
to Certificateholders (whether or not such notice or delivery is required
pursuant to the Agreement), provide such notice or documents to the Swap
Counterparty concurrently with the delivery thereof to the Certificateholders.

Section 20. Access to Certain Documentation. Access to documentation regarding
the Underlying Securities will be afforded without charge to any
Certificateholder so requesting pursuant to Section 3.17 of the Base Trust
Agreement, "Access to Certain Documentation." Additionally, the Trustee shall
provide at the request of any Certificateholder without charge to such
Certificateholder the name and address of each Certificateholder of
Certificates hereunder as recorded in the Certificate Register for purposes of
contacting the other Certificateholders with respect to their rights hereunder
or for the purposes of effecting purchases or sales of the Certificates,
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth herein.

Section 21. Advances. There is no Administrative Agent specified herein; hence
no person (including the Trustee) shall be permitted or obligated to make
Advances as described in Section 4.3 of the Base Trust Agreement, "Advances."

Section 22. Ratification of Agreement. With respect to the Series issued
hereby, the Base Trust Agreement (including the grant of a security interest
in Section 10.8 of the Base Trust Agreement with respect to the Underlying
Securities conveyed hereunder), as supplemented by this Series Supplement, is
in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Trust Agreement as so
supplemented by this Series Supplement shall be read, taken and construed as
one and the same instrument. To the extent there is any inconsistency between
the terms of the Base Trust Agreement and this Series Supplement, the terms of
this Series Supplement shall govern.

Section 23. Counterparts. This Series Supplement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.

Section 24. Governing Law. This Series Supplement and each Certificate issued
hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed
entirely therein without reference to such State's principles of conflicts of
law to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction
would be required thereby, and the obligations, rights and remedies of the
parties hereunder shall be determined in accordance with such laws. The State
of New York is the securities intermediary's jurisdiction of the Securities
Intermediary for purposes of the UCC.

Section 25. Certificate of Compliance. The Trustor shall deliver to the
Trustee and the Swap Counterparty on or prior to June 30 of each year prior to
a Trust Termination Event the Officer's Certificate as to compliance as
required by Section 6.1(b) of the Base Trust Agreement.

Section 26. Certain Filing to be Made by the Trustee. In the event that an
event requiring the sale of the Underlying Securities under this Agreement
occurs and the Underlying Securities are liquidated at a loss, the Trustee
will disclose pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 the loss in
accordance with the procedures of such regulation, unless the Trustee obtains
advice from counsel that such disclosure is not necessary. In general, the
Trustee will (x) attach a completed

]                                      15
<PAGE>

Form 8886 to its tax return in the year the requisite loss occurs and (y) file
a completed form with the Office of Tax Shelter Analysis (OTSA) at: Internal
Revenue Service LM:PFTG:OTSA, Large and Midsize Business Division, 1111
Constitution Avenue., NW., Washington DC 20224 (or such other address
subsequently required).

Section 27. Establishment of Accounts. The Securities Intermediary and the
Trustee hereby represent and warrant that:

(A) Each Account for the Trust is a "securities account" within the meaning of
Section 8-501 of the UCC and is held only in the name of the Trustee on behalf
of the Trust. The Securities Intermediary is acting in the capacity of a
"securities intermediary" within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(14) of the
UCC;

(B) All Underlying Securities have been (i) delivered to the Securities
Intermediary pursuant to the Agreement and (ii) credited to the Certificate
Account; and

(C) Each Account is an account to which financial assets are or may be
credited, and the Securities Intermediary shall treat the Trustee as entitled
to exercise the rights that comprise any financial asset credited to the
Accounts.

Section 28. Statement of Intent. It is the intention of the parties hereto
that, for purposes of federal income taxes, state and local income and
franchise taxes and any other taxes imposed upon, measured by or based upon
gross or net income, the Trust shall be treated as a grantor trust, but
failing that, as a partnership (other than a publicly traded partnership
taxable as a corporation) and, in any event, shall not be classified as a
corporation. The parties hereto agree that, unless otherwise required by
appropriate tax authorities, the Trustee shall file or cause to be filed
annual or other necessary returns, reports and other forms consistent with
such intended characterization. In the event that the Trust is characterized
by appropriate tax authorities as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes, each Certificateholder, by its acceptance of its Certificate, agrees
to report its respective share of the items of income, deductions, and credits
of the Trust on its respective returns (making such elections as to individual
items as may be appropriate) in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section
1.761-2(b) (the "761 Election") and in a manner consistent with the complete
exclusion of the Trust from subchapter K of the Code. The terms of the
Agreement shall be interpreted to further these intentions of the parties. As
further consideration for each Certificateholder's purchase of a Certificate,
each such Certificateholder is deemed to agree not to irrevocably delegate to
any person (for a period of more than one year) authority to purchase, sell or
exchange its Certificates.

          Each Certificateholder (and each beneficial owner of a Certificate)
by acceptance of its Certificate (or its beneficial interest therein) agrees,
unless otherwise required by appropriate tax authorities, to file its own tax
returns and reports in a manner consistent with the characterization indicated
above.

                                      16
<PAGE>

Section 29. Filing of Partnership Returns. In the event that the Trust is
characterized (by appropriate tax authorities) as a partnership for United
States federal income tax purposes, and the 761 Election is ineffective, the
Trustor agrees to reimburse the Trust for any expenses associated with the
filing of partnership returns (or returns related thereto).

Section 30. "Financial Assets" Election. The Securities Intermediary hereby
agrees that the Underlying Securities credited to the Certificate Account and
any Posted Collateral credited to the Collateral Account shall be treated as a
"financial asset" within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC.

Section 31. Trustee's Entitlement Orders. If at any time the Securities
Intermediary shall receive any order from the Trustee directing the transfer
or redemption of any Underlying Securities credited to the Accounts, the
Securities Intermediary shall comply with such entitlement order without
further consent by the Trustor or any other Person. The Securities
Intermediary shall take all instructions (including without limitation all
notifications and entitlement orders) with respect to the Accounts solely from
the Trustee.

Section 32. Conflict with Other Agreements. The Securities Intermediary hereby
confirms and agrees that:

(A) There are no other agreements entered into between the Securities
Intermediary and the Trustor with respect to the Accounts. Each Account and
all property credited to the Account is not subject to, and the Securities
Intermediary hereby waives, any lien, security interest, right of set off, or
encumbrance in favor of the Securities Intermediary or any Person claiming
through the Securities Intermediary (other than the Trustee);

(B) It has not entered into, and until the termination of the Agreement will
not enter into, any agreement with any other Person relating to the Accounts
and/or any financial assets credited thereto pursuant to which it has agreed
to comply with entitlement orders of any Person other than the Trustee; and

(C) It has not entered into, and until the termination of the Agreement will
not enter into, any agreement with any Person purporting to limit or condition
the obligation of the Securities Intermediary to comply with entitlement
orders as set forth in Section 31 hereof.

Section 33. Additional Trustee and Securities Intermediary Representations.
The Trustee and the Securities Intermediary each hereby represents and
warrants as follows:

(A) The Trustee and the Securities Intermediary each maintains its books and
records with respect to its securities accounts in the State of New York;

(B) The Trustee and the Securities Intermediary each has not granted any lien
on the Underlying Securities nor are the Underlying Securities subject to any
lien on properties of the Trustee or the Securities Intermediary in its
individual capacity; the Trustee and the Securities Intermediary each has no
actual knowledge and has not received actual notice of any lien on the
Underlying Securities (other than any liens of the Trustee in favor of the
beneficiaries of the Trust Agreement); other than the interests of the
Trustee, the Certificateholders and the Swap

                                      17
<PAGE>

Counterparty, the books and records of the Trustee and the Securities
Intermediary each do not identify any Person as having an interest in the
Underlying Securities; and

(C) The Trustee and the Securities Intermediary each makes no representation
as to (i) the validity, legality, sufficiency or enforceability of any of the
Underlying Securities or (ii) the collectability, insurability, effectiveness
or suitability of any of the Underlying Securities.

Section 34. Additional Trustor Representations. The Trustor hereby represents
and warrants to the Trustee as follows:

(A) Immediately prior to the sale of the Underlying Securities to the Trustee,
the Trustor, as Depositor, owned and had good and marketable title to the
Underlying Securities free and clear of any lien, claim or encumbrance of any
Person;

(B) The Trustor, as Depositor, has received all consents and approvals
required by the terms of the Underlying Securities to the sale to the Trustee
of its interest and rights in the Underlying Securities as contemplated by the
Agreement; and

(C) The Trustor has not assigned, pledged, sold, granted a security interest
in or otherwise conveyed any interest in the Underlying Securities (or, if any
such interest has been assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered, it has been
released), except such interests sold pursuant to the Agreement. The Trustor
has not authorized the filing of and is not aware of any financing statements
against the Trustor that includes a description of the Underlying Securities,
other than any such filings pursuant to the Agreement. The Trustor is not
aware of any judgment or tax lien filings against Trustor.

Section 35. Certification Requirements. The Trustee agrees to obtain, at the
Trustor's direction and expense, a report of an independent public accountant
sufficient for the Trustor on behalf of the Trust to satisfy its obligations
with respect to certification requirements under Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of
the Exchange Act.

Section 36. Additional Rights of the Swap Counterparty. Section 10.8 of the
Base Trust Agreement is hereby modified for purposes of this Series Supplement
to provide that the security interest referred to and created pursuant thereto
in the Trust assets shall, in addition to the obligations provided for under
Section 10.8(b)(3), secure all of the obligations of the Trustor and the Trust
to the Swap Counterparty under the Swap Agreement and this Agreement. The Swap
Counterparty shall have the rights of a third party beneficiary with respect
to this Agreement.

Section 37. Modification of Certain Provisions of Base Trust Agreement. The
provisions of the Base Trust Agreement shall be modified as they are applied
with respect to this Series of Certificates to provide that (i)
notwithstanding Section 3.9 of the Base Trust Agreement, the Certificate
Account shall be held for the benefit of Certificateholders and the Swap
Counterparty and amounts in the Certificate Account shall be used to make
distributions to the Swap Counterparty as and when required under this Series
Supplement, (ii) the appointment of any successor of the Trustee under Section
8.7 of the Base Trust Agreement shall be subject to the prior approval of the
Swap Counterparty and (iii) notwithstanding Section 9.1(a) of the Base Trust
Agreement and subject to the proviso therein, the respective obligations and
responsibilities under this Agreement of the Trustor and the Trustee shall
terminate upon the distribution to

                                      18
<PAGE>

Certificateholders and the Swap Counterparty of all amounts held in all the
Accounts and required to be paid to such Holders or the Swap Counterparty
pursuant to this Agreement and the Swap Agreement on the Distribution Date
coinciding with or following the final payment on or other liquidation of the
Underlying Securities and the disposition of all amounts acquired therefrom in
accordance with this Agreement and the Swap Agreement and the disposition of
the final payments received under the Swap Agreement.

Section 38. Evidence of Integration for Tax Purposes. The Trustee retains
Exhibit E on behalf of each Certificateholder.

Section 39. Optional Exchange.

(A) On any Business Day occurring on or after January 15, 2005, subject to
satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in clause (b), the Depositor
may exchange Certificates held by it for a distribution of Underlying
Securities representing the same percentage of the Underlying Securities as
such Certificates represent of all outstanding Certificates.

(B) The following conditions shall apply to any Optional Exchange.

(i)    A notice specifying the number of Certificates being surrendered and the
       optional exchange date shall be delivered to the Trustee no less than 5
       days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Trustee) but not more
       than 30 days before the optional exchange date.

(ii)   Certificates shall be surrendered to the trustee no later than 10:00
       a.m. (New York City time) on the optional exchange date.

(iii)  The Trustee shall have received an opinion of counsel stating that
       the Optional Exchange would not cause the Trust to be treated as an
       association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation
       for federal income tax purposes.

(iv)   No more than one (1) Optional Exchange shall occur in any Collection
       Period.

(v)    The Trustee shall not be obligated to determine whether an Optional
       Exchange complies with the applicable provisions for exemption under
       Rule 3a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the
       rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

(vi)   The provisions of Section 4.5 of the Base Trust Agreement shall not
       apply to an Optional Exchange pursuant to this Section 39. This Section
       39 shall not provide any Person with a lien against, an interest in or a
       right to specific performance with respect to the Underlying Securities;
       provided that satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section
       39 shall entitle the Depositor to a distribution thereof.

(vii)  The aggregate principal balance of Certificates exchanged in connection
       with any Optional Exchange pursuant to this Section 39 shall be in an
       amount that results in a distribution of Underlying Securities in an
       even multiple of the minimum denomination of the Underlying Securities.

                                      19
<PAGE>

(viii) No Swap Agreement Termination Event shall have occurred as a result of
       the Optional Exchange except to the extent of a termination resulting
       from the reduction in the Hedge Notional Amount (as defined in the Swap
       Agreement) to an amount equal to the principal amount of the Underlying
       Securities after giving effect to the Optional Exchange.

(ix)   Any payments due under the Swap Agreement as a result of the reduction
       in such Hedge Notional Amount and any such Swap Agreement Termination
       Event (x) that are due to the Swap Counterparty (including but not
       limited to Unpaid Amounts) shall have been paid to the Swap Counterparty
       by the Depositor and (y) that are payable by the Swap Counterparty,
       shall be payable for the account of the Depositor.

(x)    The Depositor shall have determined that more than 100 holders of the
       Certificates independent of the Trust and each other will remain after
       the Optional Exchange, unless the Depositor determined that such
       exchange is otherwise consistent with the restrictions under ERISA and
       Section 4975 of the Code.

(xi)   The Depositor shall have determined that the Optional Exchange shall
       not result in the suspension or withdrawal of any listing of the
       Certificates on any exchange.

                                      20
<PAGE>

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

                                SYNTHETIC FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES, INC.
                                By:
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                           Authorized Signatory

                                U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                as Trustee and Securities Intermediary
                                By:
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                            Responsible Officer

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT A

        IDENTIFICATION OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES AS OF CLOSING DATE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                     <C>
Underlying Securities Issuer:           The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Underlying Securities:                  $40,000,000 5.250% Notes due 2013

Maturity Date/Final Distribution Date:  October 15, 2013

Original Principal Amount Issued:       $1,750,000,000

CUSIP No.:                              38141GDQ4

Stated Interest Rate:                   5.250% per annum.

Interest Payment Dates:                 April 15 and October 15

Redemption:                             The Underlying Securities will be redeemable in whole and not in part if at any
                                        time the Underlying Issuer becomes obligated to pay additional amounts on any
                                        notes on the next interest payment date, but only if the Underlying Issuer's
                                        obligation results from a change in the laws or regulations of any U.S. taxing
                                        authority, or from a change in any official interpretation or application of
                                        those laws or regulations, that becomes effective or is announced on or after
                                        October 7, 2003. If the Underlying Issuer redeems the Underlying Securities it
                                        will do so at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the
                                        notes redeemed, plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

                                        If the Underlying Issuer becomes entitled to redeem the Underlying Securities,
                                        it may do so at any time on a redemption date of its choice. However, the
                                        Underlying Issuer must give the holders of the Underlying Securities notice of
                                        the redemption not less than 30 days or more than 60 days before the redemption
                                        date and not more than 90 days before the next date on which the Underlying
                                        Issuer would be obligated to pay additional amounts. In addition, the Underlying
                                        Issuer's obligation to pay additional amounts must

                                                          A-1
<PAGE>

                                        remain in effect when it gives the notice of redemption.

Principal Amount of Underlying          $40,000,000
Securities Deposited Under Trust
Agreement:

</TABLE>

The Underlying Securities will be held by the Trustee as securities
entitlements credited to an account of the Trustee or its agent at the
Depositary.

                                     A-2
<PAGE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT B

                 TERMS OF THE CERTIFICATES AS OF CLOSING DATE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                     <C>
Maximum Number of STRATS(SM)            1,750,000.
Certificates, Series 2004-8:

Aggregate Stated Amount of STRATS(SM)   $40,000,000.
Certificates, Series 2004-8:

Authorized Denomination:                $25 and integral multiples thereof.

Rating Agency:                          S&P.

Closing Date:                           June 29, 2004.

Record Date:                            With respect to any Distribution Date, the day immediately preceding such
                                        Distribution Date.

Trustee's Fees:                         The Trustee's fees shall be payable by the Trustor pursuant to a separate fee
                                        agreement between the Trustee and the Trustor.

Initial Certificate Registrar:          U.S. Bank Trust National Association

Corporate Trust Office:                 U.S. Bank Trust National Association 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600 New York, New
                                        York 10005 Attention: Corporate Trust Department, Regarding STRATS(SM) Trust For
                                        Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8

</TABLE>

                                      B-1
<PAGE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT C

                              FORM OF CERTIFICATE

THIS CERTIFICATE REPRESENTS AN UNDIVIDED INTEREST IN THE TRUST AND DOES NOT
EVIDENCE AN OBLIGATION OF, OR AN INTEREST IN, AND IS NOT GUARANTEED BY THE
TRUSTOR OR THE TRUSTEE OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES. NEITHER THIS
CERTIFICATE NOR THE DEPOSITED ASSETS ARE INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY ANY
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR ANY OTHER PERSON.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITARY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH
OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY
(AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED
BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR
OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL
INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

CERTIFICATE NUMBER: 1                     $40,000,000 Certificate Stated Amount
CUSIP: 86311R202                                         1,600,000 Certificates
CERTIFICATE INTEREST RATE:  Variable Floating Rate

                      STRATS CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-8

evidencing an undivided interest in the Trust, as defined below, the assets of
which include 5.250% Notes due 2013 issued by the Underlying Securities
Issuer.

This Certificate does not represent an interest in or obligation of the
Trustor or any of its affiliates.

     THIS CERTIFIES THAT Cede & Co. is the registered owner of a
nonassessable, fully-paid, fractional undivided interest in STRATS(SM) Trust
For Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8 (the "Trust") formed by
SYNTHETIC FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES, INC., as Trustor (the "Trustor") evidenced
by Certificates in the number and the Stated Amount set forth above.

     The Trust was created pursuant to a Base Trust Agreement, dated as of
September 26, 2003 (as amended and supplemented, the "Agreement"), between the
Trustor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, a national banking
association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee (the
"Trustee"), as supplemented by the STRATS(SM) Certificates Series

                                     C-1
<PAGE>

Supplement 2004-8, dated as of June 29, 2004 (the "Series Supplement" and,
together with the Agreement, the "Trust Agreement"), between the Trustor and
the Trustee. This Certificate does not purport to summarize the Trust
Agreement and reference is hereby made to the Trust Agreement for information
with respect to the interests, rights, benefits, obligations, proceeds and
duties evidenced hereby and the rights, duties and obligations of the Trustee
with respect hereto. A copy of the Trust Agreement may be obtained from the
Trustee by written request sent to the Corporate Trust Office. Capitalized
terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
Trust Agreement.

     This Certificate is one of the duly authorized Certificates designated as
"STRATS(SM) Certificates, Series 2004-8 (herein called the "Certificate" or
"Certificates"). This Certificate is issued under and is subject to the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Trust Agreement, to which Trust Agreement the
Holder of this Certificate by virtue of the acceptance hereof assents and by
which such Holder is bound. The assets of the Trust include the Underlying
Securities, all proceeds of the Underlying Securities and the Trust's rights
under the Swap Agreement.

     Under the Trust Agreement, there shall be distributed on the dates
specified in the Trust Agreement (a "Distribution Date"), to the person in
whose name this Certificate is registered at the close of business on the
related Record Date, such Certificateholder's fractional undivided interest in
the amount of distributions of the Underlying Securities to be distributed to
Certificateholders on such Distribution Date and distributions to the Trust
under the Swap Agreement. The Underlying Securities will pay interest on April
15 and October 15 of each year commencing on April 15, 2004. The principal of
the Underlying Securities is scheduled to be paid on October 15, 2013. The
Swap Agreement provides for payments on the 15th day of each month commencing
in July 2004.

     The distributions in respect of this Certificate are payable in such coin
or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts as set forth in the Series
Trust Agreement.

     The Underlying Securities held by the Trust are subject to the rights of
the Swap Counterparty, as provided for in the Series Supplement and the Swap
Agreement, and each Certificateholder, by accepting its Certificate,
acknowledges such rights in accordance with the terms of the Series Supplement
and the Swap Agreement.

     It is the intent of the Trustor and the Certificateholders that the Trust
will be classified as a grantor trust under subpart E, Part I of subchapter J
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Except as otherwise required
by appropriate taxing authorities, the Trustor and the Trustee, by executing
the Trust Agreement, and each Certificateholder, by acceptance of a
Certificate, agrees to treat, and to take no action inconsistent with the
treatment of, the Certificates for such tax purposes as interests in a grantor
trust and the provisions of the Trust Agreement shall be interpreted to
further this intention of the parties.

     By acceptance of a Certificate, each Certificateholder (1) elects to
integrate the Underlying Securities and the Swap Agreement for United States
federal income tax purposes, (2) authorizes and directs the trustee (or the
trustee's agent) to retain, as part of the Certificateholder's books and
records, information that (a) describes the Underlying Securities

                                     C-2
<PAGE>

and the Swap Agreement, (b) identifies the two positions as integrated for
federal income tax purposes and (c) describes the features of the resulting
"synthetic" debt instrument and (3) agrees to retain copies of such
information as provided to the Certificateholder by the Trust.

     Each Certificateholder, by its acceptance of a Certificate, covenants and
agrees that such Certificateholder shall not, prior to the date which is one
year and one day after the termination of the Trust Agreement, acquiesce,
petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Trustor to invoke the process of any
court or governmental authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining a
case against the Trustor under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Trustor or
any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or
liquidation of the affairs of the Trustor.

     The Trust Agreement permits the amendment thereof, in certain
circumstances, without the consent of the Holders of any of the Certificates.

     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been executed
by an authorized officer of the Trustee by manual signature, this Certificate
shall not entitle the Holder hereof to any benefit under the Trust Agreement
or be valid for any purpose.

     A copy of the Trust Agreement is available upon request and all of its
terms and conditions are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part
hereof.

     THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND
THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE
DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

                                     C-3
<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT D-1

(Multicurrency - Cross Border)

                                    ISDA(R)
                 International Swap Dealers Association, Inc.

                               MASTER AGREEMENT

                           dated as of June 29, 2004

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and STRATS TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP
                                        SECURITIES, SERIES 2004-8

have entered and/or anticipate entering into one of more transactions (each a
"Transaction") that are or will be governed by this Master Agreement, which
includes the schedule (the "Schedule"), and the documents and other confirming
evidence (each a "Confirmation") exchanged between the parties confirming
those Transactions.

Accordingly, the parties agree as follows: --

1.   Interpretation

(a)  Definitions. The terms defined in Section 14 and in the Schedule will
have the meanings therein specified for the purpose of this Master Agreement.

(b)  Inconsistency. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions
of the Schedule and the other provisions of this Master Agreement, the
Schedule will prevail. In the event of any inconsistency between the
provisions of any Confirmation and this Master Agreement (including the
Schedule), such Confirmation will prevail for the purpose of the relevant
Transaction.

(c)  Single Agreement. All Transactions are entered into in reliance on the
fact that this Master Agreement and all Confirmations form a single agreement
between the parties (collectively referred to as this "Agreement"), and the
parties would not otherwise enter into any Transactions.

2.   Obligations

(a)  General Conditions.

     (i) Each party will make each payment or delivery specified in each
     Confirmation to be made by it, subject to the other provisions of this
     Agreement.

     (ii) Payments under this Agreement will be made on the due date for value
     on that date in the place of the account specified in the relevant
     Confirmation or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement, in freely
     transferable funds and in the manner customary for payments in the
     required currency. Where settlement is by delivery (that is, other than
     by payment), such delivery will be made for receipt on the due date in
     the manner customary for the relevant obligation unless otherwise
     specified in the relevant Confirmation or elsewhere in this Agreement.

     (iii) Each obligation of each party under Section 2(a)(i) is subject to
     (1) the condition precedent that no Event of Default or Potential Event
     of Default with respect to the other party has occurred and is
     continuing, (2) the condition precedent that no Early Termination Date in
     respect of the relevant Transaction has occurred or been effectively
     designated and (3) each other applicable condition precedent specified in
     this Agreement.

                                    D-1-1
<PAGE>

(b)  Change of Account. Either party may change its account for receiving a
payment or delivery by giving notice to the other party at least five Local
Business Days prior to the scheduled date for the payment or delivery to which
such change applies unless such other party gives timely notice of a
reasonable objection to such change.

(c)  Netting. If on any date amounts would otherwise be payable: --

     (i) in the same currency; and

     (ii) in respect of the same Transaction,

by each party to the other, then, on such date, each party's obligation to
make payment of any such amount will be automatically satisfied and discharged
and, if the aggregate amount that would otherwise have been payable by one
party exceeds the aggregate amount that would otherwise have been payable by
the other party, replaced by an obligation upon the party by whom the larger
aggregate amount would have been payable to pay to the other party the excess
of the larger aggregate amount over the smaller aggregate amount.

The parties may elect in respect of two or more Transactions that a net amount
will be determined in respect of all amounts payable on the same date in the
same currency in respect of such Transactions, regardless of whether such
amounts are payable in respect of the same Transaction. The election may be
made in the Schedule or a Confirmation by specifying that subparagraph (ii)
above will not apply to the Transactions identified as being subject to the
election, together with the starting date (in which case subparagraph (ii)
above will not, or will cease to, apply to such Transactions from such date).
This election may be made separately for different groups of Transactions and
will apply separately to each pairing of Offices through which the parties
make and receive payments or deliveries.

(d)  Deduction or Withholding for Tax.

     (i) Gross-Up. All payments under this Agreement will be made without any
     deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax unless such
     deduction or withholding is required by any applicable law, as modified
     by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue authority, then in
     effect. If a party is so required to deduct or withhold, then that party
     ("X") will: --

          (1) promptly notify the other party ("Y") of such requirement;

          (2) pay to the relevant authorities the full amount required to be
          deducted or withheld (including the full amount required to be
          deducted or withheld from any additional amount paid by X to Y under
          this Section 2(d)) promptly upon the earlier of determining that
          such deduction or withholding is required or receiving notice that
          such amount has been assessed against Y;

          (3) promptly forward to Y an official receipt (or a certified copy),
          or other documentation reasonably acceptable to Y, evidencing such
          payment to such authorities; and

          (4) if such Tax is an Indemnifiable Tax, pay to Y, in addition to
          the payment to which Y is otherwise entitled under this Agreement,
          such additional amount as is necessary to ensure that the net amount
          actually received by Y (free and clear of Indemnifiable Taxes,
          whether assessed against X or Y) will equal ft full amount Y would
          have received had no such deduction or withholding been required.
          However, X will not be required to pay any additional amount to Y to
          the extent that it would not be required to be paid but for: --

               (A) the failure by Y to comply with or perform any agreement
               contained in Section 4(a)(i), 4(a)(iii) or 4(d); or

               (B) the failure of a representation made by Y pursuant to
               Section 3(f) to be accurate and true unless such failure would
               not have occurred but for (I) any action taken by a taxing
               authority, or brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, on
               or after the date on which a Transaction is entered into
               (regardless of whether such action is taken or brought with
               respect to a party to this Agreement) or (II) a Change in Tax
               Law.

                                    D-1-2
<PAGE>

     (ii) Liability. If: --

          (1) X is required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice
          of any relevant governmental revenue authority, to make any
          deduction or withholding in respect of which X would not be required
          to pay an additional amount to Y under Section 2(d)(i)(4);

          (2) X does not so deduct or withhold; and

          (3) a liability resulting from such Tax is assessed directly against
          X,

     then, except to the extent Y has satisfied or then satisfies the
     liability resulting from such Tax, Y will promptly pay to X the amount of
     such liability (including any related liability for interest, but
     including any related liability for penalties only if Y has failed to
     comply with or perform any agreement contained in Section 4(a)(i),
     4(a)(iii) or 4(d)).

(e)  Default Interest; Other Amounts. Prior to the occurrence or effective
designation of an Early Termination Date in respect of the relevant
Transaction, a party that defaults in the performance of any payment
obligation will, to the extent permitted by law and subject to Section 6(c),
be required to pay interest (before as well as after judgment) on the overdue
amount to the other party on demand in the same currency as such overdue
amount, for the period from (and including) the original due date for payment
to (but excluding) the date of actual payment, at the Default Rate. Such
interest will be calculated on the basis of daily compounding and the actual
number of days elapsed. If, prior to the occurrence or effective designation
of an Early Termination Date in respect of the relevant Transaction, a party
defaults in the performance of any obligation required to be settled by
delivery, it will compensate the other party on demand if and to the extent
provided for in the relevant Confirmation or elsewhere in this Agreement.

3.   Representations

Each party represents to the other party (which representations will be deemed
to be repeated by each party on each date on which a Transaction is entered
into and, in the case of the representations in Section 3(f), at all times
until the termination of this Agreement) that: --

(a)  Basic Representations.

     (i) Status. It is duly organised and validly existing under the laws of
     the jurisdiction of its organisation or incorporation and, if relevant
     under such laws, in good standing;

     (ii) Powers. It has the power to execute this Agreement and any other
     documentation relating to this Agreement to which it is a party, to
     deliver this Agreement and any other documentation relating to this
     Agreement that it is required by this Agreement to deliver and to perform
     its obligations under this Agreement and any obligations it has under any
     Credit Support Document to which it is a party and has taken all
     necessary action to authorise such execution, delivery and performance;

     (iii) No Violation or Conflict. Such execution, delivery and performance
     do not violate or conflict with any law applicable to it, any provision
     of its constitutional documents, any order or judgment of any court or
     other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets or any
     contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or any of its assets;

     (iv) Consents. All governmental and other consents that are required to
     have been obtained by it with respect to this Agreement or any Credit
     Support Document to which it is a party have been obtained and are in
     full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been
     complied with; and

     (v) Obligations Binding. Its obligations under this Agreement and any
     Credit Support Document to which it is a party constitute its legal,
     valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their
     respective terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganisation,
     insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
     generally and subject, as to enforceability, to equitable principles of
     general application (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
     proceeding in equity or at law)).

                                    D-1-3
<PAGE>

(b)  Absence of Certain Events. No Event of Default or Potential Event of
Default or, to its knowledge, Termination Event with respect to it has
occurred and is continuing and no such event or circumstance would occur as a
result of its entering into or performing its obligations under this Agreement
or any Credit Support Document to which it is a party.

(c)  Absence of Litigation. There is not pending or, to its knowledge,
threatened against it or any of its Affiliates any action, suit or proceeding
at law or in equity or before any court, tribunal, governmental body, agency
or official or any arbitrator that is likely to affect the legality, validity
or enforceability against it of this Agreement or any Credit Support Document
to which it is a party or its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or such Credit Support Document.

(d)  Accuracy of Specified Information. All applicable information that is
furnished in writing by or on behalf of it to the other party and is
identified for the purpose of this Section 3(d) in the Schedule is, as of the
date of the information, true, accurate and complete in every material
respect.

(e)  Payer Tax Representation. Each representation specified in the Schedule
as being made by it for the purpose of this Section 3(e) is accurate and true.

(f)  Payee Tax Representations. Each representation specified in the Schedule
as being made by it for the purpose of this Section 3(f) is accurate and true.

4.   Agreements

Each party agrees with the other that, so long as either party has or may have
any obligation under this Agreement or under any Credit Support Document to
which it is a party: --

(a)  Furnish Specified Information. It will deliver to the other party or, in
certain cases under subparagraph (iii) below, to such government or taxing
authority as the other party reasonably directs: --

     (i) any forms, documents or certificates relating to taxation specified
     in the Schedule or any Confirmation;

     (ii) any other documents specified in the Schedule of any Confirmation;
     and

     (iii) upon reasonable demand by such other party, any form or document
     that may be required or reasonably requested in writing in order to allow
     such other party or its Credit Support Provider to make a payment under
     this Agreement or any applicable Credit Support Document without any
     deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax or with such
     deduction or withholding at a reduced rate (so long as the completion,
     execution or submission of such form or document would not materially
     prejudice the legal or commercial position of the party in receipt of
     such demand), with any such form or document to be accurate and completed
     in a manner reasonably satisfactory to such other party and to be
     executed and to be delivered with any reasonably required certification,

in each case by the date specified in the Schedule or such Confirmation or, if
none is specified, as soon as reasonably practicable.

(b)  Maintain Authorisations. It will use all reasonable efforts to maintain in
full force and effect all consents of any governmental or other authority that
are required to be obtained by it with respect to this Agreement or any Credit
Support Document to which it is a party and will use all reasonable efforts to
obtain any that may become necessary in the future.

(c)  Comply with Laws. It will comply in all material respects with all
applicable laws and orders to which it may be subject if failure so to comply
would materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or any Credit Support Document to which it is a party.

(d)  Tax Agreement. It will give notice of any failure of a representation made
by it under Section 3(f) to be accurate and true promptly upon learning of
such failure.

(e)  Payment of Stamp Tax. Subject to Section 11, it will pay any Stamp Tax
levied or imposed upon it or in respect of its execution or performance of
this Agreement by a jurisdiction in which it is incorporated,

                                    D-1-4
<PAGE>

organised, managed and controlled. or considered to have its seat, or in which
a branch or office through which it is acting for the purpose of this
Agreement is located ("Stamp Tax Jurisdiction") and will indemnify the other
party against any Stamp Tax levied or imposed upon the other party or in
respect of the other party's execution or performance of this Agreement by any
such Stamp Tax Jurisdiction which is not also a Stamp Tax Jurisdiction with
respect to the other party.

5.   Events of Default and Termination Events

(a)  Events of Default. The occurrence at any time with respect to a party or,
if applicable, any Credit Support Provider of such party or any Specified
Entity of such party of any of the following events constitutes an event of
default (an "Event of Default") with respect to such party: --

     (i) Failure to Pay or Deliver. Failure by the party to make, when due,
     any payment under this Agreement or delivery under Section 2(a)(i) or
     2(e) required to be made by it if such failure is not remedied on or
     before the third Local Business Day after notice of such failure is given
     to the party;

     (ii) Breach of Agreement. Failure by the party to comply with or perform
     any agreement or obligation (other than an obligation to make any payment
     under this Agreement or delivery under Section 2(a)(i) or 2(e) or to give
     notice of a Termination Event or any agreement or obligation under
     Section 4(a)(i), 4(a)(iii) or 4(d)) to be complied with or performed by
     the party in accordance with this Agreement if such failure is not
     remedied on or before the thirtieth day after notice of such failure is
     given to the party;

     (iii) Credit Support Default.

           (1) Failure by the party or any Credit Support Provider of such
           party to comply with or perform any agreement or obligation to be
           complied with or performed by it in accordance with any Credit
           Support Document if such failure is continuing after any applicable
           grace period has elapsed;

           (2) the expiration or termination of such Credit Support Document
           or the failing or ceasing of such Credit Support Document to be in
           full force and effect for the purpose of this Agreement (in either
           case other than in accordance with its terms) prior to the
           satisfaction of all obligations of such party under each
           Transaction to which such Credit Support Document relates without
           the written consent of the other party; or

           (3) the party or such Credit Support Provider disaffirms,
           disclaims, repudiates or rejects, in whole or in part, or
           challenges the validity of, such Credit Support Document;

     (iv) Misrepresentation. A representation (other than a representation
     under Section 3(e) or (f)) made or repeated or deemed to have been made
     or repeated by the party or any Credit Support Provider of such party in
     this Agreement or any Credit Support Document proves to have been
     incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or repeated or
     deemed to have been made or repeated;

     (v) Default under Specified Transaction. The party, any Credit Support
     Provider of such party or any applicable Specified Entity of such party
     (1) defaults under a Specified Transaction and, after giving effect to
     any applicable notice requirement or grace period, there occurs a
     liquidation of, an acceleration of obligations under, or an early
     termination of, that Specified Transaction, (2) defaults, after giving
     effect to any applicable notice requirement or grace period, in making
     any payment or delivery due on the last payment, delivery or exchange
     date of, or any payment on early termination of, a Specified Transaction
     (or such default continues for at least three Local Business Days if
     there is no applicable notice requirement or grace period) or (3)
     disaffirms, disclaims, repudiates or rejects, in whole or in part, a
     Specified Transaction (or such action is taken by any person or entity
     appointed or empowered to operate it or act on its behalf);

     (vi) Cross Default. If "Cross Default" is specified in the Schedule as
     applying to the party, the occurrence or existence of (1) a default,
     event of default or other similar condition or event (however

                                    D-1-5
<PAGE>

     described) in respect of such party, any Credit Support Provider of such
     party or any applicable Specified Entity of such party under one or more
     agreements or instruments relating to Specified Indebtedness of any of
     them (individually or collectively) in an aggregate amount of not less
     than the applicable Threshold Amount (as specified in the Schedule) which
     has resulted in such Specified Indebtedness becoming, or becoming capable
     at such time of being declared, due and payable under such agreements or
     instruments, before it would otherwise have been due and payable or (2) a
     default by such party, such Credit Support Provider or such Specified
     Entity (individually or collectively) in making one or more payments on
     the due date thereof in an aggregate amount of not less than the
     applicable Threshold Amount under such agreements or instruments (after
     giving effect to any applicable notice requirement or grace period);

     (vii) Bankruptcy. The party, any Credit Support Provider of such party or
     any applicable Specified Entity of such party:-

           (1) is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation,
           amalgamation or merger); (2) becomes insolvent or is unable to pay
           its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to
           pay its debts as they become due; (3) makes a general assignment,
           arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its
           creditors; (4) institutes or has instituted against it a proceeding
           seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief
           under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law
           affecting creditors' rights, or a petition is presented for its
           winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding
           or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or
           petition (A) results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or
           the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its
           winding-up or liquidation or (B) is not dismissed, discharged,
           stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution
           or presentation thereof, (5) has a resolution passed for its
           winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant
           to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); (6) seeks or becomes
           subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional
           liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other
           similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets;
           (7) has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all
           its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration
           or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all
           or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains
           possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged,
           stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; (8)
           causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which. under
           the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to
           any of the events specified in clauses (1) to (7) (inclusive); or
           (9) takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent
           to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts; or

     (viii) Merger Without Assumption. The party or any Credit Support
     Provider of such party consolidates or amalgamates with, or merges with
     or into, or transfers all or substantially all its assets to, another
     entity and, at the time of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or
     transfer: -

           (1) the resulting, surviving or transferee entity fails to assume
           all the obligations of such party or such Credit Support Provider
           under this Agreement or any Credit Support Document to which it or
           its predecessor was a party by operation of law or pursuant to an
           agreement reasonably satisfactory to the other party to this
           Agreement; or

           (2) the benefits of any Credit Support Document fail to extend
           (without the consent of the other party) to the performance by such
           resulting, surviving or transferee entity of its obligations under
           this Agreement.

(b)  Termination Events. The occurrence at any time with respect to a party or,
if applicable, any Credit Support Provider of such party or any Specified
Entity of such party of any event specified below constitutes an Illegality if
the event is specified in (i) below, a Tax Event if the event is specified in
(ii) below or a Tax Event Upon Merger if the event is specified in (iii)
below, and, if specified to be applicable, a Credit Event

                                    D-1-6
<PAGE>

Upon Merger if the event is specified pursuant to (iv) below or an Additional
Termination Event if the event is specified pursuant to (v) below:--

     (i) Illegality. Due to the adoption of, or any change in, any applicable
     law after the date on which a Transaction is entered into, or due to the
     promulgation of, or any change in, the interpretation by any court,
     tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any
     applicable law after such date. it becomes unlawful (other than as a
     result of a breach by the party of Section 4(b)) for such party (which
     will be the Affected Party):--

          (1) to perform any absolute or contingent obligation to make a
          payment or delivery or to receive a payment or delivery in respect
          of such Transaction or to comply with any other material provision
          of this Agreement relating to such Transaction; or

          (2) to perform, or for any Credit Support Provider of such party to
          perform, any contingent or other obligation which the party (or such
          Credit Support Provider) has under any Credit Support Document
          relating to such Transaction;

     (ii) Tax Event. Due to (x) any action taken by a taxing authority, or
     brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, on or after the date on
     which a Transaction is entered into (regardless of whether such action is
     taken or brought with respect to a party to this Agreement) or (y) a
     Change in Tax Law, the party (which will be the Affected Party) will, or
     there is a substantial likelihood that it will, on the next succeeding
     Scheduled Payment Date (1) be required to pay to the other party an
     additional amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section
     2(d)(i)(4) (except in respect of interest under Section 2(e), 6(d)(ii) or
     6(e)) or (2) receive a payment from which an amount is required to be
     deducted or withheld for or on account of a Tax (except in respect of
     interest under Section 2(e), 6(d)(ii) or 6(e)) and no additional amount
     is required to be paid in respect of such Tax under Section 2(d)(i)(4)
     (other than by reason of Section 2(d)(i)(4)(A) or (B));

     (iii) Tax Event Upon Merger. The party (the "Burdened Party") on the next
     succeeding Scheduled Payment Date will either (1) be required to pay an
     additional amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section
     2(d)(i)(4) (except in respect of interest under Section 2(e), 6(d)(ii) or
     6(e)) or (2) receive a payment from which an amount has been deducted or
     withheld for or on account of any Indemnifiable Tax in respect of which
     the other party is not required to pay an additional amount (other than
     by reason of Section 2(d)(i)(4)(A) or (B)), in either case as a result of
     a party consolidating or amalgamating with, or merging with or into, or
     transferring all or substantially all its assets to, another entity
     (which will be the Affected Party) where such action does not constitute
     an event described in Section 5(a)(viii);

     (iv) Credit Event Upon Merger. If "Credit Event Upon Merger" is specified
     in the Schedule as applying to the party, such party ("X"), any Credit
     Support Provider of X or any applicable Specified Entity of X
     consolidates or amalgamates with, or merges with or into, or transfers
     all or substantially all its assets to, another entity and such action
     does not constitute an event described in Section 5(a)(viii) but the
     creditworthiness of the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is
     materially weaker than that of X, such Credit Support Provider or such
     Specified Entity, as the case may be, immediately prior to such action
     (and, in such event, X or its successor or transferee, as appropriate,
     will be the Affected Party); of

     (v) Additional Termination Event. If any "Additional Termination Event"
     is specified in the Schedule or any Confirmation as applying, the
     occurrence of such event (and, in such event, the Affected Party or
     Affected Parties shall be as specified for such Additional Termination
     Event in the Schedule or such Confirmation).

(j)  Event of Default and Illegality. If an event or circumstance which would
otherwise constitute or give rise to an Event of Default also constitutes an
Illegality, it will be treated as an Illegality and will not constitute an
Event of Default.

                                    D-1-7
<PAGE>

6.   Early Termination

(a)  Right to Terminate Following Event of Default. If at any time an Event of
Default with respect to a party (the "Defaulting Party") has occurred and is
then continuing, the other party (the "Non-defaulting Party") may, by not more
than 20 days notice to the Defaulting Party specifying the relevant Event of
Default, designate a day not earlier than the day such notice is effective as
an Early Termination Date in respect of all outstanding Transactions. If,
however, "Automatic Early Termination" is specified in the Schedule as
applying to a party, then an Early Termination Date in respect of all
outstanding Transactions will occur immediately upon the occurrence with
respect to such party of an Event of Default specified in Section
5(a)(vii)(l), (3), (5), (6) or, to the extent analogous thereto, (8), and as
of the time immediately preceding the institution of the relevant proceeding
or the presentation of the relevant petition upon the occurrence with respect
to such party of an Event of Default specified in Section 5(a)(vii)(4) or, to
the extent analogous thereto, (8).

(b)  Right to Terminate Following Termination Event.

     (i) Notice. If a Termination Event occurs, an Affected Party will,
     promptly upon becoming aware of it, notify the other party, specifying
     the nature of that Termination Event and each Affected Transaction and
     will also give such other information about that Termination Event as the
     other party may reasonably require.

     (ii) Transfer to Avoid Termination Event. If either an Illegality under
     Section 5(b)(i)(1) or a Tax Event occurs and there is only one Affected
     Party, or if a Tax Event Upon Merger occurs and the Burdened Party is the
     Affected Party, the Affected Party will, as a condition to its right to
     designate an Early Termination Date under Section 6(b)(iv), use all
     reasonable efforts (which will not require such party to incur a loss,
     excluding immaterial, incidental expenses) to transfer within 20 days
     after it gives notice under Section 6(b)(i) all its rights and
     obligations under this Agreement in respect of the Affected Transactions
     to another of its Offices or Affiliates so that such Termination Event
     ceases to exist.

     If the Affected Party is not able to make such a transfer it will give
     notice to the other party to that effect within such 20 day period,
     whereupon the other party may effect such a transfer within 30 days after
     the notice is given under Section 6(b)(i).

     Any such transfer by a party under this Section 6(b)(ii) will be subject
     to and conditional upon the prior written consent of the other party,
     which consent will not be withheld if such other party's policies in
     effect at such time would permit it to enter into transactions with the
     transferee on the terms proposed.

     (iii) Two Affected Parties. If an Illegality under Section 5(b)(i)(1) or
     a Tax Event occurs and there are two Affected Parties, each party will
     use all reasonable efforts to reach agreement within 30 days after notice
     thereof is given under Section 6(b)(i) on action to avoid that
     Termination Event.

     (iv) Right to Terminate. If:--

          (1) a transfer under Section 6(b)(ii) or an agreement under Section
          6(b)(iii), as the case may be, has not been effected with respect to
          all Affected Transactions within 30 days after an Affected Party
          gives notice under Section 6(b)(i); or

          (2) an Illegality under Section 5(b)(i)(2), a Credit Event Upon
          Merger or an Additional Termination Event occurs, or a Tax Event
          Upon Merger occurs and the Burdened Party is not the Affected Party,

     either party in the case of an Illegality, the Burdened Party in the case
     of a Tax Event Upon Merger, any Affected Party in the case of a Tax Event
     or an Additional Termination Event if there is more than one Affected
     Party, or the party which is not the Affected Party in the case of a
     Credit Event Upon Merger or an Additional Termination Event if there is
     only one Affected Party may, by not more than 20 days notice to the other
     party and provided that the relevant Termination Event is then

                                    D-1-8
<PAGE>

     continuing, designate a day not earlier than the day such notice is
     effective as an Early Termination Date in respect of all Affected
     Transactions.

(c)  Effect of Designation.

     (i) If notice designating an Early Termination Date is given under
     Section 6(a) or (b), the Early Termination Date will occur on the date so
     designated, whether or not the relevant Event of Default or Termination
     Event is then continuing.

     (ii) Upon the occurrence or effective designation of an Early Termination
     Date, no further payments or deliveries under Section 2(a)(i) or 2(e) in
     respect of the Terminated Transactions will be required to be made, but
     without prejudice to the other provisions of this Agreement. The amount,
     if any, payable in respect of an Early Termination Date shall be
     determined pursuant to Section 6(e).

(d)  Calculations.

     (i) Statement. On or as soon as reasonably practicable following the
     occurrence of an Early Termination Date, each party will make the
     calculations on its part, if any, contemplated by Section 6(e) and will
     provide to the other party a statement (1) showing, in reasonable detail,
     such calculations (including all relevant quotations and specifying any
     amount payable under Section 6(e)) and (2) giving details of the relevant
     account to which any amount payable to it is to be paid. In the absence
     of written confirmation from the source of a quotation obtained in
     determining a Market Quotation, the records of the party obtaining such
     quotation will be conclusive evidence of the existence and accuracy of
     such quotation.

     (ii) Payment Date. An amount calculated as being due in respect of any
     Early Termination Date under Section 6(e) will be payable on the day that
     notice of the amount payable is effective (in the case of an Early
     Termination Date which is designated or occurs as a result of an Event of
     Default) and on the day which is two Local Business Days after the day on
     which notice of the amount payable is effective (in the case of an Early
     Termination Date which is designated as a result of a Termination Event).
     Such amount will be paid together with (to the extent permitted under
     applicable law) interest thereon (before as well as after judgment) in
     the Termination Currency, from (and including) the relevant Early
     Termination Date to (but excluding) the date such amount is paid, at the
     Applicable Rate. Such interest will be calculated on the basis of daily
     compounding and the actual number of days elapsed.

(e)  Payments on Early Termination. If an Early Termination Date occurs, the
following provisions shall apply based on the parties' election in the
Schedule of a payment measure, either "Market Quotation" or "Loss", and a
payment method, either the "First Method" or the "Second Method". If the
parties fail to designate a payment measure or payment method in the Schedule,
it will be deemed that "Market Quotation" or the "Second Method", as the case
may be, shall apply. The amount, if any, payable in respect of an Early
Termination Date and determined pursuant to this Section will be subject to
any Set-off.

     (i) Events of Default. If the Early Termination Date results from an
     Event of Default:--

          (1) First Method and Market Quotation. If the First Method and
          Market Quotation apply, the Defaulting Party will pay to the
          Non-defaulting Party the excess, if a positive number, of (A) the
          sum of the Settlement Amount (determined by the Non-defaulting
          Party) in respect of the Terminated Transactions and the Termination
          Currency Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts owing to the
          Non-defaulting Party over (B) the Termination Currency Equivalent of
          the Unpaid Amounts owing to the Defaulting Party.

          (2) First Method and Loss. If the First Method and Loss apply, the
          Defaulting Party will pay to the Non-defaulting Party, if a positive
          number, the Non-defaulting Party's Loss in respect of this
          Agreement.

          (3) Second Method and Market Quotation. If the Second Method and
          Market Quotation apply, an amount will be payable equal to (A) the
          sum of the Settlement Amount (determined by the

                                    D-1-9
<PAGE>

          Non-defaulting Party) in respect of the Terminated Transactions and
          the Termination Currency Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts owing to
          the Non-defaulting Party less (B) the Termination Currency
          Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts owing to the Defaulting Party. If
          that amount is a positive number, the Defaulting Party will pay it
          to the Non-defaulting Party; if it is a negative number, the
          Non-defaulting Party will pay the absolute value of that amount to
          the Defaulting Party.

          (4) Second Method and Loss. If the Second Method and Loss apply, an
          amount will be payable equal to the Non-defaulting Party's Loss in
          respect of this Agreement. If that amount is a positive number, the
          Defaulting Party will pay it to the Non-defaulting Party; if it is a
          negative number, the Non-defaulting Party will pay the absolute
          value of that amount to the Defaulting Party.

     (ii) Termination Events. If the Early Termination Date results from a
     Termination Event:--

          (1) One Affected Party. If there is one Affected Party, the amount
          payable will be determined in accordance with Section 6(e)(i)(3), if
          Market Quotation applies, or Section 6(e)(i)(4), if Loss applies,
          except that, in either case, references to the Defaulting Party and
          to the Non-defaulting Party will be deemed to be references to the
          Affected Party and the party which is not the Affected Party,
          respectively, and, if Loss applies and fewer than all the
          Transactions are being terminated, Loss shall be calculated in
          respect of all Terminated Transactions.

          (2) Two Affected Parties. If there are two Affected Parties:--

              (A) if Market Quotation applies, each party will determine a
              Settlement Amount in respect of the Terminated Transactions, and
              an amount will be payable equal to (I) the sum of (a) one-half
              of the difference between the Settlement Amount of the party
              with the higher Settlement Amount ("X") and the Settlement
              Amount of the party with the lower Settlement Amount ("Y") and
              (b) the Termination Currency Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts
              owing to X less (II) the Termination Currency Equivalent of the
              Unpaid Amounts owing to Y; and

              (B) if Loss applies, each party will determine its Loss in
              respect of this Agreement (or, if fewer than all the
              Transactions are being terminated, in respect of all Terminated
              Transactions) and an amount will be payable equal to one-half of
              the difference between the Loss of the party with the higher
              Loss ("X") and the Loss of the party with the lower Loss ("Y").

          If the amount payable is a positive number, Y will pay it to X; if it
          is a negative number, X will pay the absolute value of that amount
          to Y.

     (iii) Adjustment for Bankruptcy. In circumstances where an Early
     Termination Date occurs because "Automatic Early Termination" applies in
     respect of a party, the amount determined under this Section 6(e) will be
     subject to such adjustments as are appropriate and permitted by law to
     reflect any payments or deliveries made by one party to the other under
     this Agreement (and retained by such other party) during the period from
     the relevant Early Termination Date to the date for payment determined
     under Section 6(d)(ii).

     (iv) Pre-Estimate. The parties agree that if Market Quotation applies an
     amount recoverable under this Section 6(e) is a reasonable pre-estimate
     of loss and not a penalty. Such amount is payable for the loss of bargain
     and the loss of protection against future risks and except as otherwise
     provided in this Agreement neither party will be entitled to recover any
     additional damages as a consequence of such losses.

                                    D-1-10
<PAGE>

7.   Transfer

Subject to Section 6(b)(ii), neither this Agreement nor any interest or
obligation in or under this Agreement may be transferred (whether by way of
security or otherwise) by either party without the prior written consent of
the other party, except that:--

(a)  a party may make such a transfer of this Agreement pursuant to a
consolidation or amalgamation with, or merger with or into, or transfer of all
or substantially all its assets to, another entity (but without prejudice to
any other right or remedy under this Agreement); and

(b)  a party may make such a transfer of all or any part of its interest in any
amount payable to it from a Defaulting Party under Section 6(e).

Any purported transfer that is not in compliance with this Section will be
void.

8.   Contractual Currency

(a)  Payment in the Contractual Currency. Each payment under this Agreement
will be made in the relevant currency specified in this Agreement for that
payment (the "Contractual Currency"). To the extent permitted by applicable
law, any obligation to make payments under this Agreement in the Contractual
Currency will not be discharged or satisfied by any tender in any currency
other than the Contractual Currency, except to the extent such tender results
in the actual receipt by the party to which payment is owed, acting in a
reasonable manner and in good faith in converting the currency so tendered
into the Contractual Currency, of the full amount in the Contractual Currency
of all amounts payable in respect of this Agreement. If for any reason the
amount in the Contractual Currency so received falls short of the amount in
the Contractual Currency payable in respect of this Agreement, the party
required to make the payment will, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
immediately pay such additional amount in the Contractual Currency as may be
necessary to compensate for the shortfall. If for any reason the amount in the
Contractual Currency so received exceeds the amount in the Contractual
Currency payable in respect of this Agreement, the party receiving the payment
will refund promptly the amount of such excess.

(b)  Judgments. To the extent permitted by applicable law, if any judgment or
order expressed in a currency other than the Contractual Currency is rendered
(i) for the payment of any amount owing in respect of this Agreement, (ii) for
the payment of any amount relating to any early termination in respect of this
Agreement or (iii) in respect of a judgment or order of another court for the
payment of any amount described in (i) or (ii) above, the party seeking
recovery, after recovery in full of the aggregate amount to which such party
is entitled pursuant to the judgment or order, will be entitled to receive
immediately from the other party the amount of any shortfall of the
Contractual Currency received by such party as a consequence of sums paid in
such other currency and will refund promptly to the other party any excess of
the Contractual Currency received by such party as a consequence of sums paid
in such other currency if such shortfall or such excess arises or results from
any variation between the rate of exchange at which the Contractual Currency
is converted into the currency of the judgment or order for the purposes of
such judgment or order and the rate of exchange at which such party is able,
acting in a reasonable manner and in good faith in converting the currency
received into the Contractual Currency, to purchase the Contractual Currency
with the amount of the currency of the judgment or order actually received by
such party. The term "rate of exchange" includes, without limitation, any
premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or
conversion into the Contractual Currency.

(c)  Separate Indemnities. To the extent permitted by applicable law, these
indemnities constitute separate and independent obligations from the other
obligations in this Agreement, will be enforceable as separate and independent
causes of action, will apply notwithstanding any indulgence granted by the
party to which any payment is owed and will not be affected by judgment being
obtained or claim or proof being made for any other sums payable in respect of
this Agreement.

(d)  Evidence of Loss. For the purpose of this Section 8, it will be sufficient
for a party to demonstrate that it would have suffered a loss had an actual
exchange or purchase been made.

                                    D-1-11
<PAGE>

9.   Miscellaneous

(a)  Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes
all oral communication and prior writings with respect thereto.

(b)  Amendments. No amendment, modification or waiver in respect of this
Agreement will be effective unless in writing (including a writing evidenced
by a facsimile transmission) and executed by each of the parties or confirmed
by an exchange of telexes or electronic messages on an electronic messaging
system.

(c)  Survival of Obligations. Without prejudice to Sections 2(a)(iii) and
6(c)(ii), the obligations of the parties under this Agreement will survive the
termination of any Transaction.

(d)  Remedies Cumulative. Except as provided in this Agreement, the rights,
powers, remedies and privileges provided in this Agreement are cumulative and
not exclusive of any rights, powers, remedies and privileges provided by law.

(e)  Counterparts and Confirmations.

     (i) This Agreement (and each amendment, modification and waiver in
     respect of it) may be executed and delivered in counterparts (including
     by facsimile transmission), each of which will be deemed an original.

     (ii) The parties intend that they are legally bound by the terms of each
     Transaction from the moment they agree to those terms (whether orally or
     otherwise). A Confirmation shall be entered into as soon as practicable
     and may be executed and delivered in counterparts (including by facsimile
     transmission) or be created by an exchange of telexes or by an exchange
     of electronic messages on an electronic messaging system, which in each
     case will be sufficient for all purposes to evidence a binding supplement
     to this Agreement. The parties will specify therein or through another
     effective means that any such counterpart, telex or electronic message
     constitutes a Confirmation.

(f)  No Waiver of Rights. A failure or delay in exercising any right, power or
privilege in respect of this Agreement will not be presumed to operate as a
waiver, and a single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege will
not be presumed to preclude any subsequent or further exercise, of that right,
power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

(g)  Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and are not to affect the construction of or to be taken into
consideration in interpreting this Agreement.

10.  Offices; Multibranch Parties

(a)  If Section 10(a) is specified in the Schedule as applying, each party
that enters into a Transaction through an Office other than its head or home
office represents to the other party that, notwithstanding the place of
booking office or jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation of such party,
the obligations of such party are the same as if it had entered into the
Transaction through its head or home office. This representation will be
deemed to be repeated by such party on each date on which a Transaction is
entered into.

(b)  Neither party may change the Office through which it makes and receives
payments or deliveries for the purpose of a Transaction without the prior
written consent of the other party.

(c)  If a party is specified as a Multibranch Party in the Schedule, such
Multibranch Party may make and receive payments or deliveries under any
Transaction through any Office listed in the Schedule, and the Office through
which it makes and receives payments or deliveries with respect to a
Transaction will be specified in the relevant Confirmation.

11.  Expenses

A Defaulting Party will, on demand, indemnify and hold harmless the other
party for and against all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including legal
fees and Stamp Tax, incurred by such other party by reason of the enforcement
and protection of its rights under this Agreement or any Credit Support
Document

                                    D-1-12
<PAGE>

to which the Defaulting Party is a party or by reason of the early termination
of any Transaction, including, but not limited to, costs of collection.

12.  Notices

(a)  Effectiveness. Any notice or other communication in respect of this
Agreement may be given in any manner set forth below (except that a notice or
other communication under Section 5 or 6 may not be given by facsimile
transmission or electronic messaging system) to the address or number or in
accordance with the electronic messaging system details provided (see the
Schedule) and will be deemed effective as indicated:--

     (i) if in writing and delivered in person or by courier, on the date it
     is delivered;

     (ii) if sent by telex, on the date the recipient's answerback is
     received;

     (iii) if sent by facsimile transmission, on the date that transmission is
     received by a responsible employee of the recipient in legible form (it
     being agreed that the burden of proving receipt will be on the sender and
     will not be met by a transmission report generated by the sender's
     facsimile machine);

     (iv) if sent by certified or registered mail (airmail, if overseas) or
     the equivalent (return receipt requested), on the date that mail is
     delivered or its delivery is attempted; or

     (v) if sent by electronic messaging system, on the date that electronic
     message is received,

unless the date of that delivery (or attempted delivery) or that receipt as
applicable, is not a Local Business Day or that communication is delivered (or
attempted) or received, as applicable, after the close of business on a Local
Business Day, in which case that communication shall be deemed given and
effective on the first following day that is a Local Business Day.

(b)  Change of Addresses. Either party may by notice to the other change the
address, telex or facsimile number or electronic messaging system details at
which notices or other communications are to be given to it.

13.  Governing Law and Jurisdiction

(a)  Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law specified in the Schedule.

(b)  Jurisdiction. With respect to any suit, action or proceedings relating to
this Agreement ("Proceedings"), each party irrevocably:--

     (i) submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts, if this Agreement
     is expressed to be governed by English law, or to the non-exclusive
     jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States
     District Court located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, if
     this Agreement is expressed to be governed by the laws of the State of
     New York; and

     (ii) waives any objection which it may have at any time to the laying of
     venue of any Proceedings brought in any such court, waives any claim that
     such Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and further
     waives the right to object, with respect to such Proceedings, that such
     court does not have any jurisdiction over such party.

Nothing in this Agreement precludes either party from bringing Proceedings in
any other jurisdiction (outside, if this Agreement is expressed to be governed
by English law, the Contracting States, as defined in Section 1(3) of the
Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 or any modification, extension or
re-enactment thereof for the time being in force) nor will the bringing of
Proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the bringing of
Proceedings in any other jurisdiction.

(c)  Service of Process. Each party irrevocably appoints the Process Agent (if
any) specified opposite its name in the Schedule to receive, for it and on its
behalf, service of process in any Proceedings. If for any

                                    D-1-13
<PAGE>

reason any party's Process Agent is unable to act as such, such party will
promptly notify the other party and within 30 days appoint a substitute
process agent acceptable to the other party. The parties irrevocably consent
to service of process given in the manner provided for notices in Section 12.
Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of either party to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

(d)  Waiver of Immunities. Each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, with respect to itself and its revenues and
assets (irrespective of their use or intended use), all immunity on the
grounds of sovereignty or other similar grounds from (i) suit, (ii)
jurisdiction of any court, (iii) relief by way of injunction, order for
specific performance or for recovery of property, (iv) attachment of its
assets (whether before or after judgment) and (v) execution or enforcement of
any judgment to which it or its revenues or assets might otherwise be entitled
in any Proceedings in the courts of any jurisdiction and irrevocably agrees,
to the extent permitted by applicable law, that it will not claim any such
immunity in any Proceedings.

14.  Definitions

As used in this Agreement: --

"Additional Termination Event" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

"Affected Party" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

"Affected Transactions" means (a) with respect to any Termination Event
consisting of an Illegality, Tax Event or Tax Event Upon Merger, all
Transactions affected by the occurrence of such Termination Event and (b) with
respect to any other Termination Event, all Transactions.

"Affiliate" means, subject to the Schedule, in relation to any person, any
entity controlled, directly or indirectly, by the person, any entity that
controls, directly or indirectly, the person or any entity directly or
indirectly under common control with the person. For this purpose, "control"
of any entity or person means ownership of a majority of the voting power of
the entity or person.

"Applicable Rate" means: --

(a)  in respect of obligations payable or deliverable (or which would have been
but for Section 2(a)(iii)) by a Defaulting Party, the Default Rate;

(b)  in respect of an obligation to pay an amount under Section 6(e) of either
party from and after the date (determined in accordance with Section 6(d)(ii))
on which that amount is payable, the Default Rate;

(c)  in respect of all other obligations payable or deliverable (or which would
have been but for Section 2(a)(iii)) by a Non-defaulting Party, the
Non-default Rate; and

(d)  in all other cases, the Termination Rate.

"Burdened Party" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

"Change in Tax Law" means the enactment, promulgation, execution or
ratification of, or any change in or amendment to, any law (or in the
application or official interpretation of any law) that occurs on or after the
date on which the relevant Transaction is entered into.

"consent" includes a consent, approval, action, authorisation, exemption,
notice, filing, registration or exchange control consent.

"Credit Event Upon Merger" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

"Credit Support Document" means any agreement or instrument that is specified
as such in this Agreement.

"Credit Support Provider" has the meaning specified in the Schedule.

"Default Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the cost (without proof or
evidence of any actual cost) to the relevant payee (as certified by it) if it
were to fund or of funding the relevant amount plus 1% per annum.

                                    D-1-14
<PAGE>

"Defaulting Party" has the meaning specified in Section 6(a).

"Early Termination Date" means the date determined in accordance with Section
6(a) or 6(b)(iv).

"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 5(a) and, if
applicable, in the Schedule.

"Illegality" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

"Indemnifiable Tax" means any Tax other than a Tax that would not be imposed
in respect of a payment under this Agreement but for a present or former
connection between the jurisdiction of the government or taxation authority
imposing such Tax and the recipient of such payment or a person related to
such recipient (including, without limitation, a connection arising from such
recipient or related person being or having been a citizen or resident of such
jurisdiction, or being or having been organised, present or engaged in a trade
or business in such jurisdiction, or having or having had a permanent
establishment or fixed place of business in such jurisdiction, but excluding a
connection arising solely from such recipient or related person having
executed, delivered, performed its obligations or received a payment under, or
enforced, this Agreement or a Credit Support Document).

"law" includes any treaty, law, rule or regulation (as modified, in the case
of tax matters, by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue
authority) and "lawful" and "unlawful" will be construed accordingly.

"Local Business Day" means, subject to the Schedule, a day on which commercial
banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign exchange and
foreign currency deposits) (a) in relation to any obligation under Section
2(a)(i), in the place(s) specified in the relevant Confirmation or, if not so
specified, as otherwise agreed by the parties in writing or determined
pursuant to provisions contained, or incorporated by reference, in this
Agreement, (b) in relation to any other payment, in the place where the
relevant account is located and, if different, in the principal financial
centre, if any, of the currency of such payment, (c) in relation to any notice
or other communication, including notice contemplated under Section 5(a)(i),
in the city specified in the address for notice provided by the recipient and,
in the case of a notice contemplated by Section 2(b), in the place where the
relevant new account is to be located and (d) in relation to Section
5(a)(v)(2), in the relevant locations for performance with respect to such
Specified Transaction.

"Loss" means, with respect to this Agreement or one or more Terminated
Transactions, as the case may be, and a party, the Termination Currency
Equivalent of an amount that party reasonably determines in good faith to be
its total losses and costs (or gain, in which case expressed as a negative
number) in connection with this Agreement or that Terminated Transaction or
group of Terminated Transactions, as the case may be, including any loss of
bargain, cost of funding or, at the election of such party but without
duplication, loss or cost incurred as a result of its terminating,
liquidating, obtaining or reestablishing any hedge or related trading position
(or any gain resulting from any of them). Loss includes losses and costs (or
gains) in respect of any payment or delivery required to have been made
(assuming satisfaction of each applicable condition precedent) on or before
the relevant Early Termination Date and not made, except, so as to avoid
duplication, if Section 6(e)(i)(1) or (3) or 6(e)(ii)(2)(A) applies. Loss does
not include a party's legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses referred to under
Section 11. A party will determine its Loss as of the relevant Early
Termination Date, or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as of the
earliest date thereafter as is reasonably practicable. A party may (but need
not) determine its Loss by reference to quotations of relevant rates or prices
from one or more leading dealers in the relevant markets.

"Market Quotation" means, with respect to one or more Terminated Transactions
and a party making the determination, an amount determined on the basis of
quotations from Reference Market-makers. Each quotation will be for an amount,
if any, that would be paid to such party (expressed as a negative number) or
by such party (expressed as a positive number) in consideration of an
agreement between such party (taking into account any existing Credit Support
Document with respect to the obligations of such party) and the quoting
Reference Market-maker to enter into a transaction (the "Replacement
Transaction") that would have the effect of preserving for such party the
economic equivalent of any payment or delivery (whether the underlying
obligation was absolute or contingent and assuming the satisfaction of each
applicable condition

                                    D-1-15
<PAGE>

precedent) by the parties under Section 2(a)(i) in respect of such Terminated
Transaction or group of Terminated Transactions that would, but for the
occurrence of the relevant Early Termination Date, have been required after
that date. For this purpose, Unpaid Amounts in respect of the Terminated
Transaction or group of Terminated Transactions are to be excluded but,
without limitation, any payment or delivery that would, but for the relevant
Early Termination Date, have been required (assuming satisfaction of each
applicable condition precedent) after that Early Termination Date is to be
included. The Replacement Transaction would be subject to such documentation
as such party and the Reference Market-maker may, in good faith, agree. The
party making the determination (or its agent) will request each Reference
Market-maker to provide its quotation to the extent reasonably practicable as
of the same day and time (without regard to different time zones) on or as
soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant Early Termination Date. The
day and time as of which those quotations are to be obtained will be selected
in good faith by the party obliged to make a determination under Section 6(e),
and, if each party is so obliged, after consultation with the other. If more
than three quotations are provided, the Market Quotation will be the
arithmetic mean of the quotations, without regard to the quotations having the
highest and lowest values. If exactly three such quotations are provided, the
Market Quotation will be the quotation remaining after disregarding the
highest and lowest quotations. For this purpose, if more than one quotation
has the same highest value or lowest value, then one of such quotations shall
be disregarded. If fewer than three quotations are provided, it will be deemed
that the Market Quotation in respect of such Terminated Transaction or group
of Terminated Transactions cannot be determined.

"Non-default Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the cost (without proof or
evidence of any actual cost) to the Non-defaulting Party (as certified by it)
if it were to fund the relevant amount.

"Non-defaulting Party" has the meaning specified in Section 6(a).

"Office" means a branch or office of a party, which may be such party's head
or home office.

"Potential Event of Default" means any event which, with the giving of notice
or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

"Reference Market-makers" means four leading dealers in the relevant market
selected by the party determining a Market Quotation in good faith (a) from
among dealers of the highest credit standing which satisfy all the criteria
that such party applies generally at the time in deciding whether to offer or
to make an extension of credit and (b) to the extent practicable, from among
such dealers having an office in the same city.

"Relevant Jurisdiction" means, with respect to a party, the jurisdictions (a)
in which the party is incorporated, organised, managed and controlled or
considered to have its seat, (b) where an Office through which the party is
acting for purposes of this Agreement is located, (c) in which the party
executes this Agreement and (d) in relation to any payment, from or through
which such payment is made.

"Scheduled Payment Date" means a date on which a payment or delivery is to be
made under Section 2(a)(i) with respect to a Transaction.

"Set-off" means set-off, offset, combination of accounts, right of retention
or withholding or similar right or requirement to which the payer of an amount
under Section 6 is entitled or subject (whether arising under this Agreement,
another contract, applicable law or otherwise) that is exercised by, or
imposed on, such payer.

"Settlement Amount" means, with respect to a party and any Early Termination
Date, the sum of:-

(a)  the Termination Currency Equivalent of the Market Quotations (whether
positive or negative) for each Terminated Transaction or group of Terminated
Transactions for which a Market Quotation is determined; and

(b)  such party's Loss (whether positive or negative and without reference to
any Unpaid Amounts) for each Terminated Transaction or group of Terminated
Transactions for which a Market Quotation cannot be determined or would not
(in the reasonable belief of the party making the determination) produce a
commercially reasonable result.

"Specified Entity" has the meanings specified in the Schedule.

                                    D-1-16
<PAGE>

"Specified Indebtedness" means, subject to the Schedule, any obligation
(whether present or future, contingent or otherwise, as principal or surety or
otherwise) in respect of borrowed money.

"Specified Transaction" means, subject to the Schedule, (a) any transaction
(including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter
entered into between one party to this Agreement (or any Credit Support
Provider of such party or any applicable Specified Entity of such party) and
the other party to this Agreement (or any Credit Support Provider of such
other party or any applicable Specified Entity of such other party) which is a
rate swap transaction, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap,
commodity option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option,
bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap
transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction,
cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar
transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions),
(b) any combination of these transactions and (c) any other transaction
identified as a Specified Transaction in this Agreement or the relevant
confirmation.

"Stamp Tax" means any stamp, registration, documentation or similar tax.

"Tax" means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, assessment
or fee of any nature (including interest, penalties and additions thereto)
that is imposed by any government or other taxing authority in respect of any
payment under this Agreement other than a stamp, registration, documentation
or similar tax.

"Tax Event" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

"Tax Event Upon Merger" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

"Terminated Transactions" means with respect to any Early Termination Date (a)
if resulting from a Termination Event, all Affected Transactions and (b) if
resulting from an Event of Default, all Transactions (in either case) in
effect immediately before the effectiveness of the notice designating that
Early Termination Date (or, if "Automatic Early Termination" applies,
immediately before that Early Termination Date).

"Termination Currency" has the meaning specified in the Schedule.

"Termination Currency Equivalent" means, in respect of any amount denominated
in the Termination Currency, such Termination Currency amount and, in respect
of any amount denominated in a currency other than the Termination Currency
(the "Other Currency"), the amount in the Termination Currency determined by
the party making the relevant determination as being required to purchase such
amount of such Other Currency as at the relevant Early Termination Date, or,
if the relevant Market Quotation or Loss (as the case may be), is determined
as of a later date, that later date, with the Termination Currency at the rate
equal to the spot exchange rate of the foreign exchange agent (selected as
provided below) for the purchase of such Other Currency with the Termination
Currency at or about 11:00 a.m. (in the city in which such foreign exchange
agent is located) on such date as would be customary for the determination of
such a rate for the purchase of such Other Currency for value on the relevant
Early Termination Date or that later date. The foreign exchange agent will, if
only one party is obliged to make a determination under Section 6(e), be
selected in good faith by that party and otherwise will be agreed by the
parties.

"Termination Event" means an Illegality, a Tax Event or a Tax Event Upon
Merger or, if specified to be applicable, a Credit Event Upon Merger or an
Additional Termination Event.

"Termination Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the arithmetic mean of the
cost (without proof or evidence of any actual cost) to each party (as
certified by such party) if it were to fund or of funding such amounts.

"Unpaid Amounts" owing to any party means, with respect to an Early
Termination Date, the aggregate of (a) in respect of all Terminated
Transactions, the amounts that became payable (or that would have become
payable but for Section 2(a)(iii)) to such party under Section 2(a)(i) on or
prior to such Early Termination Date and which remain unpaid as at such Early
Termination Date and (b) in respect of each Terminated Transaction. for each
obligation under Section 2(a)(i) which was (or would have been but for Section
2(a)(iii)) required to be settled by delivery to such party on or prior to
such Early Termination Date and which has not been so settled as at such Early
Termination Date, an amount equal to the fair market value of that which was
(or would have been) required to be delivered as of the originally scheduled
date for delivery, in each case together with (to the extent permitted under
applicable law) interest, in the currency of such amounts, from (and
including) the date such amounts or

                                    D-1-17
<PAGE>

obligations were or would have been required to have been paid or performed to
(but excluding) such Early Termination Date, at the Applicable Rate. Such
amounts of interest will be calculated on the basis of daily compounding and
the actual number of days elapsed. The fair market value of any obligation
referred to in clause (b) above shall be reasonably determined by the party
obliged to make the determination under Section 6(e) or, if each party is so
obliged, it shall be the average of the Termination Currency Equivalents of
the fair market values reasonably determined by both parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this document on the respective
dates specified below with effect from the date specified on the first page of
this document.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                             <C>
                                                STRATS TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION             GROUP SECURITIES, SERIES 2004-8
-----------------------------------             -------------------------------
           (Name of Party)                               (Name of Party)

By:                                             By: U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee
   ---------------------------------                ------------------------------------------------
   Name:                                            Name:
   Title:                                           Title:
   Date:                                            Date:
</TABLE>

                                    D-1-18
<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT D-2

                                   SCHEDULE
                                    to the
                               MASTER AGREEMENT
                       dated as of June 29, 2004 between
                WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Party A")
                                      and
       STRATSSM TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP SECURITIES, SERIES 2004-8
                                  ("Party B")

Part 1.  Termination Provisions

(a)  "Specified Entity" means, with respect to Party A for all purposes of
     this Agreement, none specified, and with respect to Party B for all
     purposes of this Agreement, none specified.

(b)  "Specified Transaction" has its meaning as defined in Section 14 of this
     Agreement.

(c)  "Cross Default" does not apply to Party A or Party B.

(d)  "Credit Event Upon Merger" does not apply to Party A or Party B.

(e)  "Automatic Early Termination" does not apply to Party A or Party B.

(f)  Payments on Early Termination. Except as otherwise provided in this
     Schedule, "Market Quotation" and the "Second Method" apply. In the case
     of any Terminated Transaction that is, or is subject to, any unexercised
     option, the words "economic equivalent of any payment or delivery"
     appearing in the definition of "Market Quotation" shall be construed to
     take into account the economic equivalent of the option. Additionally, in
     the event an Early Termination Date is designated by Party B in
     connection with an Event of Default or Termination Event with respect to
     which Party A is the Defaulting Party or sole Affected Party, then in no
     event shall any Settlement Amount be payable under Section 6(e) of the
     Agreement by either Party A or Party B.

(g)  "Termination Currency" means United States Dollars.

(h)  Limitation on Defaults by Party B. The Events of Default specified in
     Section 5 of this Agreement shall not apply to Party B except for the
     following:

     (i) Section 5(a)(i) of this Agreement (Failure to Pay or Deliver);

     (ii) Section 5(a)(vii) of this Agreement (Bankruptcy), provided that, the
     failure to make any payment of interest on or principal of the
     Certificates which does not give rise to an event of default pursuant to
     the terms of the Trust Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a
     Bankruptcy within the meaning of clause (2) thereof with respect to Party
     B; and

     (iii) Section 5(a)(viii) of this Agreement (Merger Without Assumption).

                                    D-2-1
<PAGE>

(i)  Additional Termination Events.

     (i) The occurrence of any of the following events shall be an Additional
     Termination Event:

     (A)  the unsecured and unsubordinated debt, deposit or letter of credit
          obligations of Party A or its Credit Support Provider, as
          applicable, are assigned a rating by S&P below the Hedge
          Counterparty Required Rating ("S&P Required Rating Downgrade
          Event"), and Party A fails to make a Permitted Transfer in
          accordance with the provisions of Part 6(a)(ii) of this Schedule
          within seven (7) days of such S&P Required Rating Downgrade Event,
          provided, however, that termination due to any such S&P Required
          Rating Downgrade Event shall not be permitted if S&P agrees in
          writing that it will not downgrade, reduce, suspend or withdraw
          S&P's then-current rating on the Certificates if this Agreement
          remains in full force and effect with respect to each transaction
          hereunder. Party A shall notify Party B within one (1) Business Day
          of the occurrence of a S&P Required Rating Downgrade Event;

     (B)  the unsecured and unsubordinated debt, deposit or letter of credit
          obligations of Party A or its Credit Support Provider, as
          applicable, are assigned a rating by S&P below the Hedge
          Counterparty Collateral Threshold Rating ("Collateral Rating
          Downgrade Event"), unless Party A either (i) transfers to Party B's
          Custodian under the Credit Support Annex an amount of Eligible
          Collateral equal to the Delivery Amount required to be transferred
          with respect to the Affected Transactions on that Credit Support
          Commencement Date (as defined in the Credit Support Annex) or (ii)
          makes a Permitted Transfer with respect to the Affected Transactions
          or (iii) provides Alternative Credit Support (as defined below) with
          respect to the Affected Transactions on or before the Credit Support
          Commencement Date. Party A shall notify Party B within five (5)
          Business Days of the occurrence of a Collateral Rating Downgrade
          Event;

     (C)  The Certificates become due and payable prior to their final
          scheduled maturity date for any reason;

     (D)  Party B fails to comply with sub-paragraph (e)(i) of Part 6 of this
          Schedule; any prepayment, redemption, retirement, liquidation or
          distribution of the Underlying Securities (including as a result of
          a Payment Default, an Acceleration or an SEC Reporting Failure) or
          other prepayment in full of all Certificates outstanding occurs
          under the Trust Agreement (or any notice is given to that effect and
          such prepayment, redemption, retirement, liquidation or distribution
          of the Underlying Securities is not capable of being rescinded); any
          Trust Termination Event (as defined in the Trust Agreement) occurs
          under the Trust Agreement (or any notice is given by the Trustee or
          any other authorized party to that effect) and the Trustee, the
          Certificateholders or any other authorized party thereunder takes
          any action or exercises any rights or remedies under the Trust
          Agreement or under law that would result in (1) the appropriation of
          all right, title and interest in and to the assets under the Trust
          Agreement in satisfaction, in whole or in part, of the

                                    D-2-2
<PAGE>

          obligations secured thereby, (2) the sale, liquidation or
          disposition of the assets under the Trust Agreement and the
          application of the proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, to the
          obligations secured thereby, or (3) the release of the security
          interest in the assets granted under the Trust Agreement in exchange
          for receiving either the payment, in whole or in part, of the
          obligations secured thereby or substitute collateral or credit
          support; or

     (E)  Party B fails to comply with sub-paragraph (j)(i) of Part 1 of this
          Schedule, or any Additional Termination Event occurs under paragraph
          (j) of Part 1 of this Schedule in either event to the extent of the
          applicable Affected Notional Amount as described in that paragraph.

     (ii) For purposes of the right to terminate under Section 6(b)(iv), Party
     A will be the sole Affected Party for any Additional Termination Event
     described in clause (A) or (B) of sub-paragraph (i) above, and Party B
     will be the sole Affected Party for any other Additional Termination
     Event.

     (iii) Notwithstanding which party is the Affected Party for any
     Additional Termination Event, upon the occurrence of an Early Termination
     Date for any Additional Termination Event under this Part 1(i), Party A
     shall make the calculations under Section 6(e) of this Agreement as
     though it were the non-Affected Party for purposes of Section 6(e)(ii)(1)
     of this Agreement.

     (iv) "Hedge Counterparty Required Rating" means, as applicable, at any
     time that any Certificates outstanding under the Trust Agreement and have
     a long-term rating of at least A by S&P, with respect to a Person as an
     issuer or with respect to long-term senior unsecured debt of such Person,
     BBB- by S&P (for so long as any Certificates are outstanding under the
     Trust Agreement and are rated by S&P); provided that should S&P effect an
     overall downward adjustment of its short-term or long-term ratings, then
     the applicable Hedge Counterparty Required Rating shall be downwardly
     adjusted accordingly; provided further, that any adjustment to a rating
     shall be subject to the prior written consent of S&P.

     (v) "Hedge Counterparty Collateral Threshold Rating" mean, so long as any
     Certificates are outstanding under the Trust Agreement and are rated by
     S&P:

     (A)  if the actual long-term rating assigned by S&P with respect to the
          Certificates outstanding under the Trust Agreement (in the event S&P
          has assigned more than one long-term rating with respect to the
          Certificates, then the applicable long-term rating shall be the
          highest of such long-term ratings) (the "Actual Certificate Rating")
          is "AA-" or above, "A" with respect to the long-term senior
          unsecured debt of Party A (so long as the short-term debt of Party A
          is rated at least "A-1") or "A+" with respect to the long-term
          senior unsecured debt of Party A (if Party A has a short-term debt
          rating below "A-1" or does not have a short-term debt rating) in
          each case, by S&P;

                                    D-2-3
<PAGE>

     (B)  if the Actual Certificate Rating is "A+" or "A", "A-" with respect
          to the long-term senior unsecured debt of Party A and "A-2" with
          respect to the short-term debt of Party A, in each case, by S&P; and

     (C)  if the Actual Certificate Rating is "A-" or below, then the Hedge
          Counterparty Collateral Threshold Rating shall be the Actual
          Certificate Rating;

     provided that should S&P effect an overall downward adjustment of its
     short-term or long-term ratings, then the applicable Hedge Counterparty
     Collateral Threshold Rating shall be downwardly adjusted accordingly;
     provided further, that any adjustment to a rating shall be subject to the
     prior written consent of S&P.

     (vi) "Alternative Credit Support" means an absolute and unconditional
     guarantee, credit intermediation arrangement, letter of credit or other
     additional credit support or collateral, in a form which meets S&P's then
     current criteria with respect to such types of credit support reasonably
     acceptable to S&P and for which S&P confirms in writing that such support
     will not cause the reduction or withdrawal of its then current rating of
     any outstanding class of Certificates under the Trust Agreement with
     respect to which it has previously issued a rating.

     (vii) "S&P" means, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The
     McGraw-Hill Companies ("S&P") (so long as any Certificates deemed
     outstanding under the Trust Agreement are rated by S&P).

(j)  Mandatory Reduction Events. To protect Party A's interest in the Trust
     Agreement as a source of payment for Party B's obligations hereunder,
     including the priority of those payments under the Trust Agreement, the
     following provisions shall apply with respect to all Transactions
     hereunder:

     (i) If either (x) without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B
     enters into any "Hedge Agreement" (as defined in the Trust Agreement) on
     any date (a "Principal Payment Date") with any person or entity that
     would result in the Hedge Notional Amount exceeding the remaining
     Principal Balance on any date or (y) as the result of any payment,
     repayment, retirement or redemption of any amount of the Principal
     Balance under the Trust Agreement on any date (a "Principal Payment
     Date"), (A) the Principal Balance would be reduced to zero, or (B) the
     Hedge Notional Amount would exceed the remaining Principal Balance (after
     giving effect to that repayment), (each, a "Mandatory Reduction Event"),
     then not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date
     ("Mandatory Reduction Date") which is the second New York Business Day
     prior to that Principal Payment Date, Party B shall:

          (1)  notify Party A of that Mandatory Reduction Event, including the
               amount to be repaid and the outstanding Hedge Notional Amount;
               and

          (2)  specify in that notice each outstanding Transaction hereunder
               and the corresponding amount by which the Transactional
               Notional Amount of that Transaction is to be reduced for that
               Mandatory Reduction Event ("Affected Notional Amount") so that
               the Hedge Notional Amount for any

                                    D-2-4
<PAGE>

               date (after giving effect to all such reductions) would not
               exceed the Principal Balance for that date (after giving effect
               to any repayment) (except that if the Principal Balance is
               reduced to zero, the Hedge Notional Amount shall be reduced to
               zero).

       "Hedge Notional Amount" means, as of the date of determination, an
       amount equal to the aggregate Notional Amount outstanding on that date
       and for the then current Calculation Period of all Transactions
       outstanding under any Hedge Agreement (as defined in the Trust
       Agreement) then in effect.

       "Principal Balance" means, on any date, the aggregate principal amount
       of the Certificates, outstanding under the Trust Agreement on that
       date, after giving effect to all repayments, redemptions, advances or
       distributions of principal thereon on that date.

     (ii) For each Transaction for which a corresponding Affected Notional
     Amount is specified ("Affected Transaction") pursuant to sub-paragraph
     (i) above, the Notional Amount of that Affected Transaction shall be
     reduced as of the Mandatory Reduction Date by an amount equal to the
     Affected Notional Amount (and, if the Notional Amount otherwise accretes
     or amortizes after the Mandatory Reduction Date, the effect of that
     reduction shall be to reduce proportionately the Notional Amount of each
     future Calculation Period remaining under the Transaction), and an
     Additional Termination Event and Early Termination Date shall be deemed
     to have occurred on the Mandatory Reduction Date for that Transaction and
     Party B will be the sole Affected Party. For purposes of such Early
     Termination Date, the term "Terminated Transaction" as used in Section
     6(e) of this Agreement shall be only that part of the Affected
     Transaction relating to the Affected Notional Amount, and the remainder
     of the Affected Transaction shall continue in full force and effect as a
     Transaction hereunder subject to the terms of this Agreement. The amount
     payable under Section 6(e) of this Agreement with respect to any such
     Early Termination Date shall be due and payable in accordance with such
     Section 6(e), provided that such payment shall be made no later than the
     next "Distribution Date" under the Trust Agreement to occur after the
     Mandatory Reduction Date, and provided further that the Market Quotation
     with respect to any Terminated Transaction under this sub-paragraph (ii)
     shall be determined on the basis of the quotation of one Reference
     Market-maker selected by Party A, which may be Party A to the extent its
     quotation is reasonably determined in good faith.

(k)  Events of Default. An Event of Default shall not occur with respect to
     Party A under Section 5(a)(v)(1) or (2) or Section 5(a)(vi) when the
     failure to pay or deliver, or the default, event of default or other
     similar condition or event, as the case may be, arises solely (i) out of
     a wire transfer problem or an operational or administrative error or
     omission (so long as the required funds or property required to make that
     payment or delivery were otherwise available to Party A), or (ii) from
     the general unavailability of the relevant currency due to exchange
     controls or other similar governmental action, but in either case only if
     the payment or delivery is made within three Local Business Days after
     the problem has been corrected, the error or omission has been discovered
     or the currency becomes generally available.

                                    D-2-5
<PAGE>

(l)  Modification of Section 5(a)(i) - Failure to Pay or Deliver. Section
     5(a)(i) is hereby amended to change the reference to "third Local
     Business Day" in the third line of such subsection to read "thirtieth
     (30th) day".

(m)  Reports. For purposes hereof, Party B shall cause to be delivered to
     Party A within 10 days of the end of each calendar month a statement
     ("Reporting Statement") showing the Stated Amount of all Outstanding
     Certificates as of the end of such month and the Hedge Notional Amount as
     of the end of such month and each following month during the term of this
     Agreement for all outstanding Transactions under all Hedge Agreements
     which Party B has entered into, whether the same have already commenced
     or are scheduled to commence on a future date.

Part 2. Tax Provisions

(a)  Payer Tax Representations. For the purpose of Section 3(e) of this
     Agreement, each party makes the following representation:

       It is not required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice
       of any relevant governmental revenue authority, of any Relevant
       Jurisdiction to make any deduction or withholding for or on account of
       any Tax from any payment (other than interest under Section 2(e),
       6(d)(ii) or 6(e) of this Agreement) to be made by it to the other party
       under this Agreement.

       In making this representation, a party may rely on (i) the accuracy of
       any representations made by the other party pursuant to Section 3(f) of
       this Agreement, (ii) the satisfaction of the agreement contained in
       Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement, and the accuracy and
       effectiveness of any document provided by the other party pursuant to
       Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement, and (iii) the
       satisfaction of the agreement of the other party contained in Section
       4(d) of this Agreement, provided that it shall not be a breach of this
       representation where reliance is placed on clause (ii) above and the
       other party does not deliver a form or document under Section 4(a)(iii)
       by reason of material prejudice to its legal or commercial position.

(b)  Payee Tax Representations. For the purpose of Section 3(f) of this
     Agreement:

     (i) Party A makes the following representation(s):

      (A)  It is a national banking association organized or formed under the
           laws of the United States and is a United States resident for
           United States federal income tax purposes.

      (B)  Party A makes no other Payee Tax Representations.

     (ii) Party B makes the following representation(s):

      (A)  It is a common law trust organized or formed under the laws of New
           York.

                                    D-2-6
<PAGE>

(c)  Tax Forms.

     (i) Delivery of Tax Forms. For the purpose of Section 4(a)(i), and
     without limiting Section 4(a)(iii), each party agrees to duly complete,
     execute and deliver to the other party the tax forms specified below with
     respect to it (A) before the first Payment Date under this Agreement, (B)
     promptly upon reasonable demand by the other party and (C) promptly upon
     learning that any such form previously provided by the party has become
     obsolete or incorrect.

     In addition, in the case of any tax form that is a Periodic Tax Form
     required to be delivered by Party B under this Agreement, Party B agrees
     to renew such tax form prior to its expiration by completing, executing
     and delivering to Party A that tax form ("Renewal Tax Form") in each
     succeeding third year following the year of execution of any such tax
     form or Renewal Tax Form delivered by Party B to Party A under this
     Agreement so that Party A receives each Renewal Tax Form not later than
     December 31 of the relevant year. "Periodic Tax Form" means any IRS Form
     W-9 that is delivered by Party B to Party A without a U.S. Taxpayer
     Identification Number.

     (ii) Tax Forms to be Delivered by Party A:

     Party A will deliver a correct, complete and duly executed U.S. Internal
     Revenue Service Form W-9 (or successor thereto), together with
     appropriate attachments, that eliminates U.S. federal withholding and
     backup withholding tax on payments to Party A under this Agreement.

     (iii) Tax forms to be Delivered by Party B:

     Party B will deliver a correct, complete and duly executed U.S. Internal
     Revenue Service Form W-9 (or successor thereto), together with
     appropriate attachments, that eliminates U.S. federal withholding and
     backup withholding tax on payments to Party B under this Agreement.

Part 3.  Documents

(a)  Delivery of Documents. When it delivers this Agreement, each party shall
     also deliver its Closing Documents to the other party in form and
     substance reasonably satisfactory to the other party. For each
     Transaction, a party shall deliver, promptly upon request, a duly
     executed incumbency certificate for the person(s) executing the
     Confirmation for that Transaction on behalf of that party.

(b)  Closing Documents.

     (i) For Party A, "Closing Documents" mean:

     (A)  an opinion of Party A's counsel addressed to Party B in form and
          substance acceptable to Party B;

                                    D-2-7
<PAGE>

     (B)  a duly executed incumbency certificate for each person executing
          this Agreement for Party A, or in lieu thereof, a copy of the
          relevant pages of its official signature book; and

     (C)  each Credit Support Document (if any) specified for Party A in this
          Schedule, together with a duly executed incumbency certificate for
          the person(s) executing that Credit Support Document, or in lieu
          thereof, a copy of the relevant pages of its official signature
          book.

     (ii) For Party B, "Closing Documents" mean:

     (A)  an opinion of Party B's counsel addressed to Party A in form and
          substance acceptable to Party A;

     (B)  a duly executed copy of the Trust Agreement and the other operative
          documents relating thereto and referred to therein, executed and
          delivered by the parties thereto.

     (C)  a copy, certified by the secretary or assistant secretary of Party
          B, of the resolutions of the board of directors or extracts from the
          bylaws of Party B authorizing the execution, delivery and
          performance by Party B of this Agreement and authorizing Party B to
          enter into Transactions hereunder; and

     (D)  a duly executed certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary
          of Party B certifying the name and true signature of each person
          authorized to execute this Agreement and enter into Transactions for
          Party B.

Part 4.   Miscellaneous

(a)  Addresses for Notices. For purposes of Section 12(a) of this Agreement,
     all notices to a party shall, with respect to any particular Transaction,
     be sent to its address, telex number or facsimile number specified in the
     relevant Confirmation, provided that any notice under Section 5 or 6 of
     this Agreement, and any notice under this Agreement not related to a
     particular Transaction, shall be sent to a party at its address, telex
     number or facsimile number specified below; provided further that any
     notice under the Credit Support Annex shall be sent to a party at its
     address, telex number or facsimile number specified in the Credit Support
     Annex.

       To Party A:

       WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
       301 South College, DC-8
       Charlotte, NC 28202-0600

       Attention: Bruce M. Young
       Senior Vice President, Risk Management

                                    D-2-8
<PAGE>

       Fax: (704) 383-0575
       Phone: (704) 383-8778

       To Party B:

       STRATS Trust for Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8
       U.S. Bank Trust National Association
       100 Wall Street, Suite 1600
       New York, New York 10005
       Attention: Corporate Trust
       Fax: (212)809-5459

(b)  Process Agent. Not applicable.

(c)  Offices. Section 10(a) applies.

(d)  Multibranch Party. Neither party is a Multibranch Party.

(e)  "Calculation Agent" means Party A.

(f)  Credit Support Document.

     (i) For Party A, the following is a Credit Support Document: a Credit
     Support Annex dated the date hereof and duly executed and delivered by
     Party A and Party B and any applicable document governing Alternative
     Credit Support beginning on the effective date of such document.

     (ii) For Party B, the following is a Credit Support Document: none
     specified.

(g)  Credit Support Provider.

     (i) For Party A, Credit Support Provider means: none specified; provided
     that such party (other than Party A) executing a document governing
     Alternative Credit Support shall be a Credit Support Provider hereunder
     beginning on the effective date of such document.

     (ii) For Party B, Credit Support Provider means: none specified.

(h)  Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
     accordance with the law (and not the law of conflicts except with respect
     to Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law) of
     the State of New York.

(i)  Waiver of Jury Trial. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each
     party irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal
     proceeding in connection with this Agreement, any Credit Support Document
     to which it is a party, or any Transaction.

(j)  Netting of Payments. Section 2(c)(ii) of this Agreement will apply.

(k)  "Affiliate" has its meaning as defined in Section 14 of this Agreement.

                                    D-2-9
<PAGE>

Part 5.  Other Provisions

(a)  ISDA Publications.

     (i) 2000 ISDA Definitions. This Agreement and each Transaction are
     subject to the 2000 ISDA Definitions (including its Annex) published by
     the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (together, the
     "2000 ISDA Definitions") and will be governed by the provisions of the
     2000 ISDA Definitions. The provisions of the 2000 ISDA Definitions are
     incorporated by reference in, and shall form part of, this Agreement and
     each Confirmation. Any reference to a "Swap Transaction" in the 2000 ISDA
     Definitions is deemed to be a reference to a "Transaction" for purposes
     of this Agreement or any Confirmation, and any reference to a
     "Transaction" in this Agreement or any Confirmation is deemed to be a
     reference to a "Swap Transaction" for purposes of the 2000 ISDA
     Definitions. The provisions of this Agreement (exclusive of the 2000 ISDA
     Definitions) shall prevail in the event of any conflict between such
     provisions and the 2000 ISDA Definitions.

(b)  Additional Representations. Section 3 is amended by adding the following
     Sections 3(g), (h), (i) and (j):

       "(g) Non-Reliance. For any Relevant Agreement: (i) it acts as principal
       and not as agent; (ii) it acknowledges that the other party acts only
       at arm's length and is not its agent, broker, advisor or fiduciary in
       any respect, and any agency, brokerage, advisory or fiduciary services
       that the other party (or any of its affiliates) may otherwise provide
       to the party (or to any of its affiliates) excludes the Relevant
       Agreement; (iii) with respect to Party A, it understands the Relevant
       Agreement and those risks, has determined they are appropriate for it,
       and willingly assumes those risks, and with respect to Party B, it has
       been directed to execute the Relevant Agreement and it understands the
       Relevant Agreement and those risks and willingly assumes those risks;
       (iv) it has not relied and will not be relying upon any evaluation or
       advice (including any recommendation, opinion, or representation) from
       the other party, or the representatives or advisors of the other party
       (except representations expressly made in the Relevant Agreement or an
       opinion of counsel required thereunder); and (vi) if a party is acting
       as a Calculation Agent or Valuation Agent, it does so not as the other
       party's agent or fiduciary, but on an arm's length basis for the
       purpose of performing an administrative function in good faith.

       "Relevant Agreement" means this Agreement, each Transaction, each
       Confirmation, any Credit Support Document, and any agreement (including
       any amendment, modification, transfer or early termination) between the
       parties relating thereto or to any Transaction.

       (h) Eligibility. It is an "eligible contract participant" within the
       meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act (as amended by the Commodity
       Futures Modernization Act of 2000).

       (i) FDIC Requirements. If it is a bank subject to the requirements of
       12 U.S.C. Section 1823(e), its execution, delivery and performance of
       this Agreement (including the Credit Support Annex and each
       Confirmation) have been approved by its board of directors or

                                    D-2-10
<PAGE>

       its loan committee, such approval is reflected in the minutes of said
       board of directors or loan committee, and this Agreement (including the
       Credit Support Annex and each Confirmation) will be maintained as one
       of its official records continuously from the time of its execution (or
       in the case of any Confirmation, continuously until such time as the
       relevant Transaction matures and the obligations therefor are satisfied
       in full).

       (j) ERISA. It is not (i) an employee benefit plan as defined in Section
       3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
       ("ERISA") or a plan as defined in Section 4975(e) of the Internal
       Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), subject to Title I of
       ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or a plan as so defined but which is
       not subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (each, an
       "ERISA Plan"), (ii) a person or entity acting on behalf of an ERISA
       Plan, or (iii) a person or entity the assets of which constitute assets
       of an ERISA Plan.

(c)  Recorded Conversations. Each party and any of its Affiliates may
     electronically record any of its telephone conversations with the other
     party or with any of the other party's Affiliates in connection with this
     Agreement or any Transaction, and any such recordings may be submitted in
     evidence in any proceeding to establish any matters pertinent to this
     Agreement or any Transaction.

(d)  Confirmation Procedures. Upon receipt thereof, Party B shall examine the
     terms of each Confirmation sent by Party A, and unless Party B objects to
     the terms within three New York business days after receipt of that
     Confirmation, those terms shall be deemed accepted and correct absent
     manifest error, in which case that Confirmation will be sufficient to
     form a binding supplement to this Agreement notwithstanding Section
     9(e)(ii) of this Agreement.

Part 6.  Additional Terms Relating to the Trust Agreement

(a)  Permitted Transfers.

     (i) Notwithstanding Section 7 of this Agreement, Party A may make a
     Permitted Transfer without the prior written consent of Party B, and at
     Party A's own cost and expense, if either of the following events occurs:

     (A)  the unsecured and unsubordinated debt, deposit or letter of credit
          obligations of Party A are rated below the Hedge Counterparty
          Required Rating or the Hedge Counterparty Collateral Threshold
          Rating by S&P at the time of the transfer; or

     (B)  any Tax Event or Tax Event Upon Merger exists with respect to Party
          A at the time of the transfer.

     (ii) "Permitted Transfer" means a transfer, in whole but not in part, of
     all of Party A's rights and obligations under this Agreement and which
     meets all of the following requirements:

     (A)  the transferee is a "Qualified Hedge Party " (as defined in the
          Trust Agreement) or a recognized dealer in interest rate swaps
          organized under the laws of the United States of America

                                    D-2-11
<PAGE>

          or a jurisdiction located in the United States of America (or
          another jurisdiction reasonably acceptable to Party B and the
          Trustee under the Trust Agreement) that, at the time of the
          transfer, maintains (or its proposed guarantor maintains) the Hedge
          Counterparty Required Rating from S&P on its unsecured and
          unsubordinated debt, deposit or letter of credit obligations;

     (B)  S&P confirms in writing that such transfer will not result in a
          reduction or withdrawal of its then current rating of the
          Certificates under the Trust Agreement with respect to which it has
          previously issued a rating;

     (C)  neither an Event of Default with respect to the transferee nor a
          Termination Event would exist immediately after that transfer;

     (D)  the transferee executes and delivers a written agreement reasonably
          satisfactory to Party B and the Trustee under the Trust Agreement in
          which the transferee, among other things, legally and effectively
          accepts all the rights and assumes all the obligations of Party A
          under this Agreement; and

     (E)  such transfer otherwise complies with the terms of the Trust
          Agreement.

(b)  Transfer. No Party to this Agreement may transfer its obligations under
     this Agreement pursuant to Section 7(a) of this Agreement except upon
     written confirmation from S&P that, any such reduction would not cause
     S&P's then-current rating on the Certificates to be adversely qualified,
     reduced, suspended or withdrawn.

(c)  Payments. All payments to Party B under this Agreement or any Transaction
     shall be made to the Certificate Account created under the Trust
     Agreement.

(d)  Set-off. Party A and Party B hereby waive any and all right of set-off
     with respect to any amounts due under this Agreement or any Transaction,
     provided that nothing herein shall be construed to waive or otherwise
     limit the netting provisions contained in Sections 2(c) and 6(e) of this
     Agreement or the setoff rights contained in the Credit Support Annex.

(e)  Trust Agreement

     (i) Party B hereby acknowledges that Party A is a secured party under the
     Trust Agreement with respect to this Agreement and a third-party
     beneficiary under the Trust Agreement and Party B agrees for the benefit
     of Party A that neither it nor any other Person will take any action
     (whether in the form of an amendment, a modification, waiver, approval,
     consent or otherwise) which may have a material adverse effect with
     respect to the rights, interest or benefits granted to Party A under the
     Trust Agreement with respect to this Agreement, whether or not this
     Agreement is specifically referred to or identified therein.

     (ii) On the date Party B executes and delivers this Agreement and on each
     date on which a Transaction is entered into, Party B hereby represents
     and warrants to Party A: that the Trust Agreement is in full force and
     effect; that Party B is not party to any separate agreement with any of
     the parties to the Trust Agreement that would have the effect of
     diminishing or impairing the rights, interests or benefits that have been
     granted to Party A under, and which are expressly set forth in, the Trust
     Agreement; that Party B's obligations under this

                                    D-2-12
<PAGE>

     Agreement are secured under the Trust Agreement; and that nothing herein
     violates or conflicts with any of the provisions of the Trust Agreement
     or any other documents executed in connection therewith.

(f)  Consent to Notice & Communications. Party B hereby consents to the giving
     to the Trustee of notice by Party A of Party A's address and telecopy and
     telephone numbers for all purposes of the Trust Agreement, and in
     addition, Party A shall also be entitled at any time to provide the
     Trustee with copies of this Agreement, including all Confirmations. In
     addition, Party A shall not be precluded from communicating with the
     Trustee or any party to, or any third party beneficiary under, the Trust
     Agreement for the purpose of exercising, enforcing or protecting any of
     Party A's rights or remedies under this Agreement or any rights,
     interests or benefits granted to Party A under the Trust Agreement.

(g)  No Bankruptcy Petition. Party A agrees that, prior to the date which is
     at least one year and one day after all Rated Indebtedness (as
     hereinafter defined) has been paid in full, it will not institute
     against, or join any other person or entity in instituting against, Party
     B any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, moratorium or
     liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under federal or State
     bankruptcy or similar laws, provided that nothing herein shall preclude,
     or be deemed to estop, Party A from taking any action in any case or
     proceeding voluntarily filed or commenced by or on behalf of Party B or
     in any involuntary case or proceeding after it has commenced.

(h)  Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
     contrary, in executing this Agreement (including the Schedule, Credit
     Support Annex and each Confirmation) on behalf of Party B, the Trustee is
     acting solely in its capacity as trustee of Party B and not in its
     individual capacity, and in no event shall the Trustee, in its individual
     capacity or as beneficial owner of Party B, have any liability for the
     representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations
     of Party B hereunder, for which recourse shall be had solely to the
     assets of Party B.

(i)  Party A Rights Solely Against Collateral. The liability of Party B to
     Party A hereunder is limited in recourse to the assets of Party B and to
     the extent that the proceeds of such assets, when applied in accordance
     with the Trust Agreement, are insufficient to meet the obligations of
     Party B hereunder in full, Party B shall have no further liability in
     respect of any such outstanding obligations and any obligations of Party
     B which remain outstanding shall be extinguished. Party A further agrees
     that it shall not take any action against the directors, shareholders,
     administrator or officers of Party B to recover any amounts due hereunder
     (absent fraud or willful misconduct by any such person). This clause
     shall survive the termination of this agreement for any reason.

Part 7. Definitions:

     All capitalized terms used herein and not defined, shall have the
     definition ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.

     "Rated Indebtedness," means the Certificates issued under the Trust
     Agreement.

                                    D-2-13
<PAGE>

     "Trust Agreement" means that certain STRATS Certificates Series
     Supplement 2004-8 between Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc., as
     trustor (the "Trustor") and the Trustee, dated as of June 29, 2004, which
     was entered into pursuant to, and as a supplement to, that certain Base
     Trust Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2003 by and between the
     Trustor and the Trustee.

     "Trustee" means U.S. Bank Trust, National Association or any successor,
     acting as Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement.

                                    D-2-14
<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Schedule by their duly
authorized signatories as of the date hereof.

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:   __________________________________
      Name:
      Title:

STRATS TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP SECURITIES, SERIES 2004-8

By:  U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee

By:    __________________________________
Name:
Title:

                                    D-2-15
<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT D-3

                                    ISDA(R)
             International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.

                             CREDIT SUPPORT ANNEX
                            to the Schedule to the
                             ISDA MASTER AGREEMENT
                           dated as of June 29, 2004
                                    between
                WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Party A")
                                      and
        STRATS TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP SECURITIES, SERIES 2004-8
                                  ("Party B")

This Annex supplements, forms part of, and is subject to, the ISDA Master
Agreement referred to above (this "Agreement"), is part of its Schedule and is
a Credit Support Document under this Agreement with respect to Party A.

At any time a Collateral Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to
Party A, Party A shall be obligated to transfer Eligible Collateral in
accordance with the terms of this Annex. If a Collateral Event occurs and
thereafter ceases to be continuing (and provided that no Event of Default or
Potential Event of Default exists with respect to Party A) or Party A has made
a Permitted Transfer under this Agreement, then Party A's obligations to
transfer Eligible Collateral under this Annex will immediately cease with
respect to that Collateral Event, and Party B will, upon demand by Party A,
return to Party A, or cause its Custodian to return, all Collateral held under
this Annex.

"Collateral Event" means that the unsecured and unsubordinated debt, deposit
or letter of credit obligations of Party A carry an assigned rating by S&P
that is below the Hedge Counterparty Collateral Threshold Rating. The "Credit
Support Commencement Date" is in connection with a Collateral Rating Downgrade
Event, the first Business Day following the 30-day period after the occurrence
of the Collateral Rating Downgrade Event.

Accordingly, the parties agree as follows:

Paragraphs 1 - 12.  Incorporation

Paragraphs 1 through 12 inclusive of the ISDA Credit Support Annex (Bilateral
Form) (ISDA Agreements Subject to New York Law Only) published in 1994 by the
International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. are incorporated herein
by reference and made a part hereof, except that Paragraph 1(b) is hereby
amended in its entirety to read as follows:

     "(b) Secured Party and Pledgor. Notwithstanding anything contained in
          this Annex to the contrary, (i) all references in this Annex to the
          "Secured Party" and all references to "other party" in Paragraphs 2,
          9 and 11(b) of this Annex, will be to Party B exclusively, and (iii)
          all references in this Annex to the "Pledgor" and all references to
          "Each party" or "a party" in Paragraphs 2, 9 and 11(b) of this
          Annex, will be to Party A exclusively."

                                    D-3-1
<PAGE>

Paragraph 13.  Elections and Variables

(a)  Security Interest for "Obligations". The term "Obligations" as used in
     this Annex includes no obligations of Secured Party and, for purposes of
     the definition of Obligations in Paragraph 12, includes no additional
     obligations of Pledgor.

(b)  Credit Support Obligations.

     (i)  Delivery Amount, Return Amount and Credit Support Amount.

     (A)  "Delivery Amount" has the meaning specified in Paragraph 3(a).

     (B)  "Return Amount" has the meaning specified in Paragraph 3(b).

     (C)  "Credit Support Amount" means (x) on and after a Credit Support
          Commencement Date and during the continuance of the related
          Collateral Event the amount specified in Paragraph 3(b); provided,
          however, if on or after such Credit Support Commencement Date Party
          A's ratings from S&P are below the Hedge Counterparty Collateral
          Threshold Rating for S&P, then it shall mean the S&P Credit Support
          Amount (as defined in Schedule 1 hereof).

          "Transaction Notional Amount" shall mean, as of the date of
          determination, an amount equal to the aggregate Notional Amount
          outstanding at the beginning of the related Calculation Period under
          the applicable Affected Transactions.

     (ii) Eligible Collateral. The following items will qualify as "Eligible
          Collateral":

                                    D-3-2
<PAGE>

                                                                  Valuation
                                                              Percentage (S&P):
  (A)  Cash: U.S Cash: U.S. Dollars in depositary account           100%
       form.

  (B)  U.S. Treasury Securities: negotiable debt                   98.60%
       obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department
       ("Treasuries") having a remaining maturity of up to
       and not more than 1 year.

  (C)  Treasuries having a remaining maturity of greater            94.10%
       than 1 year but not more than 5 years.

  (D)  Treasuries having a remaining maturity of greater            90.70%
       than 5 years but not more than 10 years.

  (E)  Treasuries having a remaining maturity of greater            85.30%
       than 10 years but not more than 20 years.

  (F)  Treasuries having a remaining maturity of greater            85.30%
       than 20 years not more than 30 years.

  (G)  Agency Securities: negotiable debt obligations of            98.20%
       the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA),
       Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC),
       Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB), Federal Farm Credit
       Banks (FFCB), Student Loan Marketing Association
       (SLMA), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
       (collectively, "Agency Securities") having a
       remaining maturity of not more than 1 year.

  (H)  Agency Securities having a remaining maturity of             93.30%
       greater than 1 year but not more than 5 years.

  (I)  Agency Securities having a remaining maturity of             88.60%
       greater than 5 years but not more than 10 years.

  (J)  Agency Securities having a remaining maturity of             80.80%
       greater than 10 years but not more than 20 years.

  (K)  Agency Securities having a remaining maturity of             80.80%
       greater than 20 years but not more than 30 years.

                                    D-3-3
<PAGE>

  (L)  FHLMC Certificates. Mortgage participation                    93%
       certificates issued by FHLMC evidencing undivided
       interests or participations in pools of first lien
       conventional or FHA/VA residential mortgages or
       deeds of trust, guaranteed  by FHLMC, and having a
       remaining maturity of not more than 30 years.

  (M)  FNMA Certificates.  Mortgage-backed  pass-through             90%
       certificates issued by FNMA evidencing undivided
       interests in pools of first lien mortgages or deeds
       of trust on residential properties, guaranteed by
       FNMA, having a remaining maturity of not more than
       30 years.

  (N)  GNMA Certificates.  Mortgage-backed pass-through             90.60%
       certificates issued by private entities, evidencing
       undivided interests in pools of first lien
       mortgages or deeds of trust on single family
       residences, guaranteed by the Government National
       Mortgage Association (GNMA) with the full faith and
       credit of the United States, and having a remaining
       maturity of not more than 30 years.

  (O)  Commercial Paper. Commercial Paper with a rating              98%
       of at least P-1 by Moody's and at least A-1 by S&P
       and having a remaining maturity of not more than 30
       days.

  (P)  Other Items of Credit Support approved by the S&P           % to be
       to the extent any Certificates are rated by S&P.           determined

                                    D-3-4
<PAGE>

     (iii) Other Eligible Support. Not applicable.

     (iv) Thresholds.

          "Independent Amount" means for Pledgor:  zero.

          "Independent Amount" means for Secured Party:  zero

     (B)  "Threshold" means for Pledgor: at any time prior to a Credit Support
          Commencement Date, infinite; and thereafter, zero.

     (C)  "Minimum Transfer Amount" is $100,000.00 for any Delivery Amount of
          Pledgor, and zero for any Return Amount of Secured Party.

     (D)  Rounding: The Delivery Amount and the Return Amount will be rounded
          down to the nearest integral multiple of $10,000.

(c)  Valuation and Timing.

     (i)  "Valuation Agent" means, for purposes of Paragraphs 3, 4(d)(ii), 5
          and 6(d), the Pledgor.

     (ii) "Valuation Date" means, for any Collateral Event, the second New
          York Business Day prior to the Credit Support Commencement Date and
          thereafter any Local Business Day while the Collateral Event is
          continuing, provided that there shall be one Valuation Date per week
          on a date selected by the Valuation Agent, which shall be the same
          calendar day each week to the extent practicable, on a reasonably
          consistent basis. If the Delivery Amount for the Valuation Date
          associated with the Credit Support Commencement Date or a weekly
          Valuation Date equals or exceeds the Pledgor's Minimum Transfer
          Amount, then the demand by the Secured Party referred to in
          Paragraph 3(a) of this Annex shall be deemed to have been given (A)
          with respect to a Credit Support Commencement Date, on the first New
          York Business Day preceding the Credit Support Commencement Date,
          prior to the Notification Time and (B) with respect to a weekly
          Valuation Date, on that weekly Valuation Date, prior to the
          Notification Time, and subject to the terms and conditions of this
          Annex, the Pledgor will transfer to the Secured Party the amount of
          Eligible Collateral it is required to Transfer with respect to that
          Valuation Date in accordance with Paragraph 3(a) of this Annex.

    (iii) "Valuation Time" means the close of business in New York City on
          the Local Business Day before the Valuation Date or date of
          calculation, as applicable; provided that the calculations of Value
          and Exposure will be made as of approximately the same time on the
          same date.

     (iv) "Notification Time" means 11:00 a.m., New York time, on a Local
          Business Day.

                                    D-3-5
<PAGE>

(d)  Conditions Precedent and Secured Party's Rights and Remedies. No
     Specified Conditions apply.

(e)  Substitution.

     (i)  "Substitution Date" has the meaning specified in Paragraph 4(d)(ii).

     (ii) Consent. The Pledgor is not required to obtain the Secured Party's
          consent for any substitution pursuant to Paragraph 4(d).

(f)  Dispute Resolution.

     (i)  "Resolution Time" means 1:00 p.m., New York time, on the Local
          Business Day following the date on which the notice is given that
          gives rise to a dispute under Paragraph 5.

     (ii) Value. For the purpose of Paragraphs 5(i)(C) and 5(ii), the Value of
          Posted Credit Support other than Cash will be calculated based upon
          the mid-point between the bid and offered purchase rates or prices
          for that Posted Credit Support as reported on the Bloomberg
          electronic service as of the Resolution Time, of if unavailable, as
          quoted to the Valuation Agent as of the Resolution Time by a dealer
          in that Posted Credit Support of recognized standing selected in
          good faith by the Valuation Agent, which calculation shall include
          any unpaid interest on that Posted Credit Support.

    (iii) Alternative. The provisions of Paragraph 5 will apply.

(g)  Holding and Using Posted Collateral.

     (i)  Eligibility to Hold Posted Collateral; Custodians. Secured Party
          will not be entitled to hold Posted Collateral itself, and instead
          the Secured Party will be entitled to hold Posted Collateral through
          a Custodian pursuant to Paragraph 6(b), provided that (1) Posted
          Collateral may be held in New York or an alternative jurisdiction
          acceptable to Party A, (2) the Custodian shall at all times be a
          bank or trust company with total assets in excess of $10 billion and
          having a rating assigned to its unsecured and unsubordinated
          long-term debt or deposit obligations of at least BBB+ from S&P and
          (3) Posted Collateral may be held by the Trustee. Initially the
          Custodian will be U.S. Bank Trust National Association.

     (ii) Use of Posted Collateral. The provisions of Paragraph 6(c) will not
          apply to Secured Party and without prejudice to Secured Party's
          rights under Paragraph 8 of the Credit Support Annex, Secured Party
          will not take any action specified in such Section 6(c).

(h)        Interest Amount.

     (i)  Interest Rate. The "Interest Rate" will be the rate actually earned
          by the Custodian on the Posted Collateral as from time to time in
          effect and the

                                    D-3-6
<PAGE>

          Custodian shall hold all Posted Collateral in the form of Cash in
          Eligible Investments (as defined in the Trust Agreement) at the
          direction of the Pledgor. Custodian will provide details concerning
          such earnings upon Party A's request.

     (ii) Transfer of Interest Amount. The Transfer of the Interest Amount
          will be made on the first Local Business Day of each calendar month
          and on any Local Business Day that Posted Collateral in the form of
          Cash is Transferred to the Pledgor pursuant to Paragraph 3(b).

    (iii) Alternative to Interest Amount. The provisions of Paragraph
          6(d)(ii) will apply.

(i)  Additional Representation(s). Not applicable.

(j)  Other Eligible Support and Other Posted Support. Not applicable.

(k)  Demands and Notices. All demands, specifications and notices under this
     Annex will be made to a party as follows unless otherwise specified from
     time to time by that party for purposes of this Annex in a written notice
     given to the other party:

     To Pledgor:
     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
     201 South College Street, 6th Floor
     Charlotte, NC 28288-0601

     Attention:  Collateral Management Group

     Fax:       (704) 383-3194
     Phone:     (704) 383-9529

     To Secured Party:
     STRATS TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP SECURITIES,
     SERIES 2004-8
     U.S. Bank Trust National Association
     100 Wall Street, Suite 1600
     New York, New York 10005
     Attention: Corporation Trust
     Fax: (212) 809-5459

(l)  Addresses for Transfers.

     (i)  For each Transfer hereunder to Pledgor, instructions will be
          provided by Pledgor for that specific Transfer.

     (ii) For each Transfer hereunder to Secured Party, instructions will be
          provided by Secured Party for that specific Transfer.

                                    D-3-7
<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Credit Support Annex as of
the date hereof.

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:   __________________________________
      Name:
      Title:

STRATS TRUST FOR GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP SECURITIES, SERIES 2004-8

By:  U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee

By:   __________________________________
      Name:
      Title:

                                    D-3-8
<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT D-4

                                  Schedule 1
                                  ----------

                           S&P Credit Support Amount

     The term "S&P Credit Support Amount" shall mean for any Valuation Date
(i) Party B's Exposure for that Valuation Date plus (ii) the product of the
applicable S&P Volatility Buffer (as determined by reference to the applicable
provisions below) times the Transaction Notional Amount, minus (iii) Party A's
Threshold; provided, however the S&P Credit Support Amount shall be zero if
(x) S&P is no longer rating any of the Certificates, or (y) Party A's ratings
from S&P are not below the Hedge Counterparty Collateral Threshold Rating for
S&P.

                            S&P Volatility Buffers

     If, on the related Valuation Date, the highest rated Certificates are
rated "AA-" or higher by S&P, then the Volatility Buffer will be determined
using the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Party A Rating (as                                Remaining Maturity of the Highest Rated Certificates:
hereinafter defined)*
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Up to 5 years                     Up to 10 years                    Up to 30 years
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
<S>                            <C>                            <C>                               <C>
A-2                                               3.25%                             4.00%                             4.75%
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
A-3                                               4.00%                             5.00%                             6.25%
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
BB+ or lower                                      4.50%                             6.75%                             7.50%
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
</TABLE>

     If, on the related Valuation Date, the highest rated Certificates are
rated "A" or "A+" by S&P, then the Volatility Buffer will be determined using
the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Party A Rating (as                               Remaining Maturity of the Highest Rated Certificates:
hereinafter defined)*
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Up to 5 years                     Up to 10 years                    Up to 30 years
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
<S>                            <C>                            <C>                               <C>
BBB+/BBB/BBB-                                     3.25%                             4.00%                             4.50%
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
A-2                                               3.25%                             4.00%                             4.50%
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
A-3                                               3.50%                             4.50%                             6.00%
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
BB+ or lower                                      4.00%                             5.25%                             7.00%
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
</TABLE>

     If, on the related Valuation Date, the highest rated Certificates are
rated "A-" or below by S&P, then the Volatility Buffer will be determined in
consultation with S&P and will be at such levels as may be required in order
for S&P to agree in writing that it will not downgrade, reduce, suspend or
withdraw S&P's then-current rating on the Certificates; provided, however, in
no event shall such Volatility Buffer levels exceed the levels set forth
in the table set forth

--------
* If Party A has a long-term or short-term rating from S&P which is not
expressly set forth in the applicable table above, then the S&P Volatility
Buffer shall be deemed to be 0.0%.

                                    D-4-1
<PAGE>

immediately above which would have applied had the highest rated Certificates
been rated "A" or "A+" by S&P.

"Party A Rating" means, Party A's rating with respect to its long-term senior
unsecured debt or its short-term debt, as applicable, by S&P on the related
Valuation Date; provided, however, if both Party A's long-term debt and
short-term debt are rated by S&P on such Valuation Date, then Party A Rating
shall mean the higher of the two ratings by S&P.

                                    D-4-2
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            EXHIBIT D-5

WACHOVIA
                         SWAP TRANSACTION CONFIRMATION
               --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                     <C>
Date:                   June 24, 2004

To:                     STRATS Trust for Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8 ("Counterparty")

Address:                U.S. Bank Trust National Association
                        100 Wall Street, Suite 1600
                        New York, NY 10005 USA

Fax:                    (212) 805-5459

Attention:              Corporate Trust

From:                   Wachovia Bank, N.A. ("Wachovia")

Ref. No.                418617, 418618
</TABLE>

Dear Corportate Trust:

This confirms the terms of the Transaction described below between
Counterparty and Wachovia. The definitions and provisions contained in the
2000 ISDA Definitions, as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives
Association, Inc., are incorporated into this Confirmation. In the event of
any inconsistency between those definitions and provisions and this
Confirmation, this Confirmation will govern.

1. The terms of the particular Transaction to which the Confirmation relates
are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                           <C>
Transaction Type:                             Interest Rate Swap
----------------
Currency for Payments:                        U.S. Dollars
-----------------------
Notional Amount:                              USD 40,000,000.00
---------------
Term:
----
         Trade Date:                          June 18, 2004
         Effective Date:                      June 29, 2004
         Termination Date:                    October 15, 2013

Fixed Amounts:
-------------
         Fixed Rate Payer:                    Counterparty
         Period End Dates:                    Semi-annually on the 15th of each October and April commencing October 15, 2004,
                                              through and including the Termination Date; No Adjustment.
         Payment Dates:                       Semi-annually on the 15th of each October and April commencing October 15, 2004,
                                              through and including the Termination Date.
         Business Day Convention:             Following
         Business Day:                        New York, London
         Fixed Rate:                          5.25%
         Fixed Rate Day Count
         Fraction:                            30/360

Additional Fixed Amounts:
------------------------
         Additional Fixed Amount Payer:       Wachovia
         Additional Fixed Amount:             USD 210,000.00
         Additional Fixed Amount Payment
         Date:                                June 29, 2004

                                    D-5-1
<PAGE>

Floating Amounts:
----------------
         Floating Rate Payer:                 Wachovia
         Period End Dates:                    Monthly on the 15th of each month, commencing July 15, 2004, through and including the
                                              Termination Date; No Adjustment.
         Payment Dates:                       Monthly on the 15th of each month, commencing July 15, 2004, through and including the
                                              Termination Date.
         Business Day Convention:             Following
         Business Day:                        New York, London
         Floating Rate Option:                USD-TBILL-H15
         Designated Maturity:                 3 Months
         Spread:                              Plus 0.65%
         Floating Rate Day Count Fraction:    Actual/Actual
         Reset Dates:                         Weekly on Monday
         Method of Averaging:                 Unweighted Average
         Compounding:                         Inapplicable
         Rounding convention:                 5 decimal places per the ISDA Definitions.

Interest Rate Cap:
-----------------
         Cap Buyer:                           Wachovia
         Cap Rate:                            6.50%
         Period End Dates:                    Monthly on the 15th of each month, commencing July 15, 2004, through and including the
                                              Termination Date; No Adjustment.
         Payment Dates:                       Monthly on the 15th of each month, commencing July 15, 2004, through and including the
                                              Termination Date.
         Business Day Convention:             Following
         Business Day:                        New York, London
         Floating Rate Option:                USD-TBILL-H15
         Designated Maturity:                 3 Months
         Spread:                              Plus 0.65%
         Floating Rate Day Count Fraction:    Actual/Actual
         Reset Dates:                         Weekly on Monday
         Method of Averaging:                 Unweighted Average
         Compounding:                         Inapplicable
         Rounding convention:                 5 decimal places per the ISDA Definitions.

Interest Rate Floor:
-------------------
         Floor Buyer:                         Counterparty
         Floor Rate:                          3.00%
         Period End Dates:                    Monthly on the 15th of each month, commencing July 15, 2004, through and including the
                                              Termination Date; No Adjustment.
         Payment Dates:                       Monthly on the 15th of each month, commencing July 15, 2004, through and including the
                                              Termination Date.
         Business Day Convention:             Following
         Business Day:                        New York, London
         Floating Rate Option:                USD-TBILL-H15
         Designated Maturity:                 3 Months
         Spread:                              Plus 0.65%

                                    D-5-2
<PAGE>

         Floating Rate Day Count Fraction:    Actual/Actual
         Reset Dates:                         Weekly on Monday
         Method of Averaging:                 Unweighted Average
         Compounding:                         Inapplicable
         Rounding convention:                 5 decimal places per the ISDA Definitions.

2. The additional provisions of this Confirmation are as follows:

Calculation Agent:                            Wachovia
-------------------
Payment Instructions:                         Wachovia Bank, N.A.
----------------------
                                              CIB Group
                                              ABA 053000219
                                              Ref: Derivative Desk (Trade No: 418617, 418618)
                                              Account #: 04659360006116
Wachovia Contacts:                            Settlements and/or Rate Resets:
-------------------
                                              Tel: (800) 249-3865
                                              Fax: (704) 383-9139
                                              Documentation :
                                              Tel: (704) 383-4599
                                              Fax: (704) 383-9139
                                              Collateral:
                                              Tel: (704) 383-9529
                                              Please quote transaction reference number.
Counterparty DTC Delivery Instructions:       Participant #2803 US Bank NA
---------------------------------------
                                              Agent #52675 Firstar Bank NA - Corporate Trust
                                              Agent Internal #785985000, STRATS Trust for Goldman Sachs, Series 2004-8
Payments to Counterparty:                     ABA #091 000 022
--------------------------
                                              BBK= U.S. Bank National Association, Minneapolis, MN.
                                              A/C 1801 2116 7365
                                              BNF= U.S. Bank Trust NA
                                              STRATS Trust for Goldman Sachs, Series 2004-8, A/C# 786088000
</TABLE>

Documentation
-------------

This Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to, the ISDA
Master Agreement between Wachovia and Counterparty dated as of June 29, 2004,
as amended and supplemented from time to time (the "ISDA Master Agreement").
All provisions contained or incorporated by reference in the ISDA Master
Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein.

                                    D-5-3
<PAGE>

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our
agreement by executing a copy of this Confirmation and returning it to us at
fax number (704) 383-9139.

                                    Very truly yours,
                                    Wachovia Bank, N.A.

                                    By:__________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                                    Ref. No. 418617, 418618

Accepted and confirmed as of date first above written:

STRATS Trust for Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8
   By:  U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee

By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:

                                    D-5-4
<PAGE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT E

                   EVIDENCE OF INTEGRATION FOR TAX PURPOSES

This information is retained on behalf of each Certificateholder and is
intended to comply with requirements imposed by Section 1.1275-6(e) of the
United States Treasury Regulations.

     (1) The date the qualifying debt instrument was issued or acquired (or is
     expected to be issued or acquired) by the taxpayer and the date the
     Section 1.1275-6 hedge was entered into by the taxpayer.

     The Trust acquired the qualifying debt instrument on June 29, 2004 and
     entered into the Section 1.1275-6 hedge on the same date. Each
     Certificateholder simultaneously acquires its interest in the qualifying
     debt instrument and enters into the Section 1.1275-6 hedge on the trade
     date identified in the trade confirmation for the purchase of
     Certificates.

     (2) A description of the qualifying debt instrument and the Section
     1.1275-6 hedge.

     The qualifying debt instrument is $40,000,000 in aggregate principal
     amount of 5.250% notes due October 15, 2013 issued by The Goldman Sachs
     Group, Inc. The Section 1.1275-6 hedge is a swap agreement between the
     Trust and Wachovia Bank, N.A, as evidenced by an ISDA Master Agreement
     (including a schedule and credit support annex thereto) dated as of June
     29, 2004 and as supplemented by a confirmation number 418617 and 418618
     in the form attached to this series supplement as Exhibit D.

     (3) A summary of the cash flows and accruals resulting from treating the
     qualifying debt instrument and the Section 1.1275-6 hedge as an
     integrated transaction (that is, the cash flows and accruals on the
     synthetic debt instrument).

     A single principal payment of $40,000,000 is payable on the maturity date
     of October 15, 2013. Interest at the Treasury Bill Average plus 0.65%
     (but no less that 3% per annum and no more than 6.50% per annum) is
     payable on the 15th calendar day of each month (or if the 15th calendar
     day is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day).

     For any interest period (with respect to the first distribution date, the
period from and including the original issue date of the Certificates to, but
excluding, the first distribution date, and thereafter, with respect to each
distribution date, the period from and including the preceding distribution
date to but excluding the current distribution date), the "Treasury Bill
Average" will be the unweighted average of the USD-TBILL-H.15 rate (as
hereinafter defined) as determined on each Reset Date (as hereinafter defined)
during the applicable interest period. For purposes hereof, the term
"USD-TBILL-H.15 rate" shall mean the rate for a Reset Date which appears on
either the Telerate Page 56 or the Telerate Page 57 opposite the three (3)
month designated

                                     E-1
<PAGE>

maturity under the heading "INVEST RATE." If on the calculation date for an
interest period, United States Treasury bills of the three (3) month
designated maturity have been auctioned on a Reset Date during that Interest
Period but such rate for such Reset Date does not appear on either the
Telerate Page 56 or the Telerate Page 57, the rate for that Reset Date will be
the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate set forth in H.15 Daily Update, or such
other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such
rate, for that day in respect of the three (3) month designated maturity under
the caption "U.S. Government securities/Treasury bills/Auction high." If on
the calculation date for an Interest Period, United States Treasury bills of
the three (3) month designated maturity have been auctioned on a Reset Date
during that Interest Period but such rate for such Reset Date does not appear
on either the Telerate Page 56 or the Telerate page 57 and such rate is not
set forth in the H.15 Daily Update in respect of the three (3) month
designated maturity under the caption "U.S. Government securities/Treasury
bills/Auction high" or another recognized electronic source, the rate for that
Reset Date will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the auction rate for those
Treasury bills as announced by the United States Department of the Treasury.
If the United States Treasury bills of the three (3) month designated maturity
are not auctioned during any period of seven consecutive calendar days ending
on, and including, any Friday and a Reset Date would have occurred if such
Treasury bills had been auctioned during that seven-day period, a Reset Date
will be deemed to have occurred on the day during that seven-day period on
which such Treasury bills would have been auctioned in accordance with the
usual practices of the United States Department of the Treasury, and the rate
for that Reset Date will be determined as if the parties had specified
"USD-TBILL-Secondary Market" as the applicable USD-TBILL-H.15 rate. For
purposes hereof, the term "Reset Date" shall mean each Monday during the
applicable Interest Period, provided, however, if any such Monday is not a
Business Day, then the Reset Date shall be deemed to be the next succeeding
Business Day. For purposes hereof, the terms "Bond Equivalent Yield", "H.15
Daily Update" and "USD-TBILLSecondary Market" shall each have the meanings set
forth in the Annex to the 2000 ISDA Definitions (June 2000 Version) as
published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.

                                     E-2EXHIBIT 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

18% Subordinated Secured
	Notes due March 31, 2007

 

 

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

among

 

 

HORIZON OFFSHORE, INC.,

as Issuer

 

 

THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON
	THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF,

as Guarantors

 

 

and

 

 

THE PURCHASERS LISTED ON
	THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF,

as Initial Purchasers

 

 

 

Dated as of May 27, 2004

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

	
		
		ARTICLE 1. 
			
		AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES; SALE AND
			PURCHASE OF NOTES; INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS *	
		1

	 	 
	 	
		
		SECTION 1.1.	
		
		Authorization of Notes	
		1

	 	
		
		SECTION 1.2.	
		
        
		Sale and
			Purchase of Notes	
		1
	 	
		
		SECTION 1.3.	
		
        
		Investment
			Representations	
		2
	 	
		
		SECTION 1.4.	
		
        
		Subordination of Notes; Security	
		4
	 	 	 	 
	
		
        
		ARTICLE 2. 
			TERMS OF THE NOTES	
		4
	 	 	 
	 	
		
		SECTION 2.1.	
		
        
		Interest	
		4
	 	
		
        
		SECTION
			2.1.1	
		
        
		Interest
			Rate	
		4
	 	
		
        
		SECTION
			2.1.2	
		
        
		Post-Default Rates	
		5
	 	
		
        
		SECTION
			2.1.3	
		
        
		Payment
			Dates	
		5
	 	
		
        
		SECTION
			2.2.	
		
        
		Principal
			Payments; Voluntary Prepayments; Mandatory Prepayments	
		5
	 	
		SECTION 2.3	
		
        
		Payments,
			Interest Rate Computations, Other Computations, etc	
		6
	 	
		SECTION 2.4	
		
        
		Additional Notes	
		6
	 	
		SECTION 2.5	
		
        
		Proration
			of Payments	
		7
	 	
		SECTION 2.6	
		Setoff

				
		8
	 	
		SECTION 2.7	
		
        
		Tax Treatment	
		8
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 3. COLLATERAL MATTERS	
		8
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 3.1.	
		Appointment of Collateral Agent	
		8
	 	 
	
		
		
		ARTICLE 4. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING	
		9
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 4.1.	
		
		
		Resolutions, etc.	
		9
	 	
		SECTION 4.2.	
		
		
		No Contest, etc.	
		9
	 	
		SECTION 4.3.	
		
		
		Certificate as to Completed Conditions,
			Warranties, No Default, etc.	
		10
	 	
		SECTION 4.4.	
		
		
		Compliance with Requirements of Law	
		10
	 	
		SECTION 4.5.	
		
		
		Opinions of Counsel	
		10
	 	
		SECTION 4.6.	
		
		
		Closing Expenses, etc.	
		10
	 	
		SECTION 4.7.	
		
		
		Security Documents.
				
		10
	 	
		SECTION 4.8.	
		
		
		Other Documents, Certificates, etc.	
		11
	 	
		SECTION 4.9.	
		
		
		Satisfactory Legal Form..	
		11
	 	
		SECTION 4.10	
		
		
		Amendment and Waiver of Credit Facilities.	
		11
	 	
		SECTION 4.11.	
		
		
		IEC Parent Guarantee.	
		11
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 5.  
			
		
		WARRANTIES, ETC.	
		11
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 5.1.	
		
		
		Organization, Power, Authority, etc.	
		11
	 	
		SECTION 5.2.	
		
		
		Due Authorization.	
		12
	 	
		SECTION 5.3.	
		
		
		Validity, etc.	
		12
	 	
		SECTION 5.4.	
		
		
		Capitalization of the Issuer
				
		12
	 	
		SECTION 5.5.	
		
		
		Financial Information; Solvency.	
		12
	 	
		SECTION 5.6.	
		
		
		Material Adverse Change.	
		13
	 	
		SECTION 5.7.	
		
		
		Absence of Default
				
		13
	 	
		SECTION 5.8.	
		
		
		Litigation, Legislation, etc.
				
		13
	 	
		SECTION 5.9.	
		
		
		Use of Proceeds; Regulations T, U and X.	
		13
	 	
		SECTION 5.10.	
		
		
		Government Regulation.	
		14
	 	
		SECTION 5.11.	
		
		
		Taxes.	
		14
	 	
		SECTION 5.12.	
		
		
		ERISA.	
		14
	 	
		SECTION 5.13.
				
		
		
		Labor Controversies.	
		14
	 	
		SECTION 5.14.	
		
		
		Ownership of Properties.	
		14
	 	
		SECTION 5.15.
				
		
		
		Intellectual Property.	
		14
	 	
		SECTION 5.16.	
		
		
		Accuracy of Information.	
		15
	 	
		SECTION 5.17.	
		
		
		Insurance.
				
		15
	 	
		SECTION 5.18.	
		
		
		Certain Indebtedness.	
		15
	 	
		SECTION 5.19.	
		
		
		Company Actions.	
		15
	 	
		SECTION 5.20.	
		
		
		Consents.	
		16
	 	
		SECTION 5.21.	
		
		
		Contracts.	
		16
	 	
		SECTION 5.22.	
		
		
		Condition of Property.	
		16
	 	
		SECTION 5.23.	
		
		
		Subsidiaries.	
		16
	 	
		SECTION 5.24.	
		
		
		No Offering of Notes.
				
		16
	 	
		SECTION 5.25.	
		
		
		Collateral and Security Documents.	
		16
	 	
		SECTION 5.26.	
		
		
		No Registration Required.	
		16
	 	
		SECTION 5.27.	
		
		
		Private Placement	
		17
	 	
		SECTION 5.28.	
		
		
		Tax Treatment of Contingencies.
				
		17
	 	
		SECTION 5.29.	
		
		
		IEC Contract.	
		17
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 6.  
			
		
		COVENANTS	
		17
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.	
		
		
		Covenants.
				
		17
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.1.	
		
		
		Information.	
		17
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.2.	
		
		
		Payment of Obligations.	
		18
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.3.	
		
		
		Corporate Existence; Mergers.	
		18
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.4.	
		
		
		Compliance with Law.	
		18
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.5.	
		
		
		Further Assurance.	
		18
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.6.	
		
		
		Cross Collateralization.
				
		18
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.7.	
		
		
		Perfection and Validity of Security Interests.	
		19
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.8.	
		
		
		Additional Guarantees.
				
		19
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.9.	
		
		
		Form D.	
		20
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.10.	
		
		
		Use of Proceeds of Equity Offerings.	
		20
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.11.	
		
		
		Iroquois and Pemex May Costero Collateral;
			etc.	
		20
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.12.	
		
		
		Liens.	
		21
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.13.	
		
		
		Affiliate Transaction.	
		21
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.14.	
		
		
		Other Indebtedness.	
		21
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.15.	
		
		
		Business Activities.	
		22
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.16.	
		
		
		Anti-Layering.	
		22
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.17.	
		
		
		Pemex Contract	
		22
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.18.	
		
		
		Restricted Payments, etc.
			
		22
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.19.	
		
		
		Asset Dispositions, etc.	
		23
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.20.	
		
		
		Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary
			Dividends.	
		23
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.21.	
		
		
		Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.	
		23
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.22.	
		
		
		Board of Directors.	
		23
	 	
		SECTION 6.1.23.	
		
		
		IEC Contract.	
		24
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 7.  
			
		
		EVENTS OF DEFAULT	
		24
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.	
		
		
		Events of Default
			
		24
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.1.	
		
		
		Non-Payment of Obligations.	
		24
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.2.	
		
		
		Non-Performance of Certain Covenants.	
		24
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.3.	
		
		
		Defaults Under Other Documents;
			Non-Performance of Other Obligations.	
		25
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.4.	
		
		
		Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc.	
		25
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.5.	
		
		
		Breach of Warranty.	
		25
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.6.	
		
		
		Default on Other Indebtedness, Contracts, etc.	
		26
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.7.	
		
		
		Judgments.	
		26
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.8.	
		
		
		Invalidity of Guarantees.	
		26
	 	
		SECTION 7.1.9.	
		
		
		Change of Control	
		26
	 	
		SECTION 7.2.	
		
		
		Action if Bankruptcy.	
		26
	 	
		SECTION 7.3.	
		
		
		Action if Other Event of Default
			
		26
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 8.  
			
		
		GUARANTEE	
		27
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 8.1.	
		
		
		The Guarantee.	
		27
	 	
		SECTION 8.2.	
		
		
		Demand by the Noteholders.
				
		28
	 	
		SECTION 8.3.	
		
		
		Enforcement of Guarantee.	
		28
	 	
		SECTION 8.4.	
		
		
		Waivers.	
		28
	 	
		SECTION 8.5.	
		
		
		Benefits of Guarantee.	
		29
	 	
		SECTION 8.6.	
		
		
		Modification of Notes, etc.	
		29
	 	
		SECTION 8.7.	
		
		
		Reinstatement	
		30
	 	
		SECTION 8.8.	
		
		
		Waiver of Subrogation, etc.
			
		30
	 	
		SECTION 8.9.	
		
		
		Election of Remedies, etc.	
		30
	 	
		SECTION 8.10.	
		
		Subordination of Guarantees	
		31
	 	
		SECTION 8.11.	
		
		
		Continuing Guarantee.	
		31
	 	
		SECTION 8.12.	
		
		
		Contribution.	
		31
	 	
		SECTION 8.13.	
		
		
		Savings Clause	
		31
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 9.  
			
		
		DEFINITIONS	
		32
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 9.1.	
		
		
		Defined Terms.	
		32
	 	
		SECTION 9.2.	
		
		
		Use of Defined Terms.	
		44
	 	
		SECTION 9.3.	
		
		
		Cross-References.	
		44
	 	
		SECTION 9.4.	
		
		
		Accounting and Financial Determinations.
				
		44
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 10.  
			
		
		REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.	
		44
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 10.1.	
		
		
		Registration of Notes.	
		44
	 	
		SECTION 10.2.	
		
		
		Transfer and Exchange of Notes.	
		44
	 	
		SECTION 10.3.	
		
		
		Replacement of Notes.	
		45
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 11.   MISCELLANEOUS	
		45
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 11.1.	
		
		
		Waivers, Amendments, etc.
			
		45
	 	
		SECTION 11.2.	
		
		
		Notices.
				
		47
	 	
		SECTION 11.3.	
		
		
		Costs and Expenses.	
		48
	 	
		SECTION 11.4.	
		
		
		Indemnification.	
		48
	 	
		SECTION 11.5.	
		
		
		Survival	
		50
	 	
		SECTION 11.6.	
		
		
		Severability.	
		50
	 	
		SECTION 11.7.	
		
		
		Headings.
				
		50
	 	
		SECTION 11.8.	
		
		
		Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc.	
		50
	 	
		SECTION 11.9.	
		
		
		Governing Law; Entire Agreement
			
		50
	 	
		SECTION 11.10.	
		
		
		Successors and Assigns.	
		52
	 	
		SECTION 11.11.	
		
		
		Other Transactions.	
		52
	 	
		SECTION 11.12.	
		
		
		Confidentiality.	
		52
	 	
		SECTION 11.13.	
		
		
		Waiver of Jury Trial, etc.	
		52
	 	
		SECTION 11.14.	
		
		
		Limitation of Liability.
				
		52
	 	
		SECTION 11.15.	
		
		
		Usury Savings Clause.	
		53
	 	 	 	 
	
		ARTICLE 12.   SUBORDINATION OF INDEBTEDNESS	
		53
	 	 	 	 
	 	
		SECTION 12.1.	
		
		
		Subordination.
				
		54
	 	
		SECTION 12.2.	
		
		
		Subordination in Event of Insolvency or
			Liquidation, Etc.	
		54
	 	
		SECTION 12.3.	
		
		
		Turnover of Improper Payments.
				
		54
	 	
		SECTION 12.4.	
		
		
		Subrogation.	
		54
	 	
		SECTION 12.5.	
		
		
		Reinstatement	
		54
	 	
		SECTION 12.6.	
		
		
		Obligors’ Obligations Absolute.	
		54
	 	
		SECTION 12.7.	
		
		
		Certain Payments and Distributions.	
		55
	 	
		SECTION 12.8.	
		
		
		Legend.
				
		55
	 	
		SECTION 12.9.	
		
		
		No Waiver or Impairment of Subordination
			Provisions.	
		55
	 	
		SECTION 12.10.	
		
		
		Exclusion for Collateral	
		55
	 	
		SECTION 12.11	
		
		
		Reliance by Senior Lenders on Subordination
			Provisions.	
		55

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

	
		Schedule 1 -  	
		Disclosure Schedule
	
		Schedule 2 -	
		Notes Purchased by Initial Purchasers

	
		Schedule 3 -	
		Security Documents
	
		Schedule 4 -	
		Senior Debt Documents
	
		Exhibit A -
				
		Form of Note

	
		Exhibit B -	
		Form of Agreement to Be Bound as Guarantor

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

Schedule 1 - Disclosure Schedule

Schedule 2 - Notes Purchased by Initial Purchasers

Schedule 3 - Security Documents

Schedule 4 - Senior Debt Documents

Exhibit A - Form of Note

Exhibit B - Form of Agreement to Be Bound as Guarantor

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 27, 2004, among
HORIZON OFFSHORE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), the
guarantors listed on the signature pages hereof (the "Guarantors"), the
purchasers listed on the signature pages hereof, as initial purchasers (the "Initial
Purchasers"), and each other Person that may hereafter become a registered
holder of a Note in accordance with Article 10 below (the Initial
Purchasers and any such holder, individually a "Noteholder", and
collectively, the "Noteholders").

W I T N E S S E T H:

RECITALS:

A.        The Issuer desires to issue (1) $18,750,000 aggregate principal
        amount of its 18% Subordinated Secured Notes due March 31, 2007 and (2)
        up to an additional $6,250,000 aggregate principal amount of its 18%
        Subordinated Secured Notes due March 31, 2007 at the option of the
        Noteholders in accordance with Section 2.4(b) hereof; and

B.        The Initial Purchasers are willing, on the terms and conditions set
        forth herein, to purchase such Notes on the date hereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound, agree as follows (with certain terms defined in Article 9):

ARTICLE 1

AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES;
SALE AND PURCHASE

OF NOTES; INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS

SECTION 1.1.       
    Authorization of Notes    
(a) The Issuer hereby authorizes the issuance and sale of
Eighteen Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($18,750,000) aggregate
principal amount of its 18% Subordinated Secured Notes due March 31, 2007 (the "Notes";
such term to include (i) any such notes issued in exchange or substitution
therefor or renewal thereof pursuant to Section 10.2 or Section 10.3,
(ii) any Additional Notes and (iii) unless the context indicates otherwise, the
related Guarantees). The Notes shall be substantially in the form of 
Exhibit A.

(b)        The Notes are being offered and sold to the Initial
Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act, in reliance upon
Section 4(2) thereof and/or Regulation D thereunder. In connection with this
Agreement, the other Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, each Initial Purchaser agrees that it is acting solely for itself and
not as agent, and shall not be deemed to be acting as agent, for any other
Initial Purchaser.

SECTION 1.2.       

Sale and Purchase of Notes.     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
Issuer will issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial
Purchasers, acting severally and not jointly, agree to purchase the Notes in the
respective amounts set forth in Schedule 2 attached hereto, at the
purchase price set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"). The sale and
purchase of such Notes (the "Closing") will occur at the offices of King
& Spalding LLP, 1100 Louisiana, Suite 4000, Houston, Texas 77002 at 10:00 a.m.,
on May 27, 2004 (the "Closing Date"). At the Closing, the Issuer shall
deliver such Notes to the Initial Purchasers in such denominations as the
Initial Purchasers shall request, dated as of the Closing Date, against delivery
by the Initial Purchasers to the Issuer of immediately available funds in the
amount of the Purchase Price by wire transfer to the account of Horizon Offshore
Contractors, Inc., account number 159506 at Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A.,
Houston, Texas, ABA No. 113011258. If the Issuer shall fail to tender such Notes
to the Initial Purchasers as provided in this Section 1.2, or any of the
conditions specified in Article 4 shall have not been fulfilled to the
satisfaction of the Initial Purchasers, the Initial Purchasers shall have no
obligations under this Agreement, without waiving any rights they may have by
reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.  

SECTION 1.3.       

Investment Representations.        Each of the Initial Purchasers,
severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Issuer:  

(a)        (i) it is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making,
        and is qualified to make, decisions with respect to investments in
        securities representing an investment decision like that involved in the
        purchase of the Notes, and has requested, received, reviewed and
        considered all information it deems relevant in making an informed
        decision to purchase the Notes; (ii) it is acquiring the Notes set forth
        in Schedule 2 attached hereto in the ordinary course of its
        business and for its own account for investment only and with no present
        intention of distributing any of such Notes or any arrangement or
        understanding with any other persons regarding the distribution of such
        Notes; (iii) it will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, pledge,
        transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase
        or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Notes except in
        compliance with the Securities Act and any applicable state securities
        laws; (iv) it, or its representatives, if any, have been furnished with,
        or have had access to, all materials relating to the business, finances
        and operations of the Issuer and the Guarantors (including all reports
        filed with the Commission) and materials relating to the offer and sale
        of the Notes which have been requested by such Initial Purchaser; such
        Initial Purchaser, or its representatives, if any, have been afforded
        the opportunity to ask questions of the Issuer and the Guarantors; and
        neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations
        conducted by such Initial Purchaser, or its representatives, if any,
        shall modify, amend or affect such Initial Purchaser’s right to rely on
        the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ representations and warranties
        contained in Article 5 below; and (v) it understands that its
        investment in the Notes involves a significant degree of risk, including
        a risk of total loss of its investment, and it is fully aware of and
        understands all the risks related to its purchase of the Notes.
        
        

(b)        it has all necessary power and authority to execute
        and deliver this Agreement; this Agreement has been duly authorized by
        it; assuming that this Agreement is the valid and binding agreement of
        each of the parties thereto, other than such Initial Purchaser, this
        Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Initial
        Purchaser, enforceable against such Initial Purchaser in accordance with
        its terms, subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy,
        insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting rights
        of creditors generally and to the effect of general principals of
        equity.

(c)        it understands that the Notes are being offered in
        transactions not involving any public offering within the meaning of the
        Securities Act, that the Notes have not been and will not be registered
        under the Securities Act and that (i) if in the future it decides to
        offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer any of the Notes, such Notes
        may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (a) to the
        Issuer, (b) in the United States to a person whom the seller reasonably
        believes is a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the
        requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (c) pursuant to an
        exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule
        144 thereunder (if available), (d) to an accredited investor in a
        transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities
        Act, or (e) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
        Securities Act, in each of cases (a) through (e) in accordance with any
        applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the
        United States, and that (ii) such Initial Purchaser will, and each
        subsequent holder is required to, notify any subsequent purchaser of the
        Notes from it of the resale restrictions referred to in (i) above.

(d)        it understands that the Notes will bear a legend to
        the following effect unless the Issuer determines otherwise in
        compliance with applicable law:

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED
        IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
        1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE
        OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH
        REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF
        THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING
        ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT
        PROVIDED BY RULE l44A THEREUNDER.  

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
        ISSUER THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
        TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE ISSUER THEREOF, (II) IN THE UNITED STATES
        TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED
        INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT)
        IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) PURSUANT
        TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY
        RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (IV) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A
        TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES
        ACT OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
        SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (V) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
        APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS OF THE
        UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS
        REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE
        RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

THIS NOTE IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE
        DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1271, 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE
        INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE ISSUE PRICE OF THIS NOTE IS $800.00 PER
        PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $1,000 AT MATURITY; THE ISSUE DATE IS MAY 27, 2004.
        THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THIS NOTE WILL BE DETERMINED IN
        ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 1272(a)(6) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

(e)        it understands that no United States federal or state
        agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or
        made any recommendation or endorsement of the Notes or the fairness or
        suitability of the investment in the Notes nor have such authorities
        passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Notes.  

(f)        its principal executive offices are in the
        jurisdiction set forth immediately below such Initial Purchaser’s
        signature on the signature page hereto.  

(g)        it is an "accredited
investor" (as defined in
        Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) or a "qualified
        institutional buyer" (as defined in 144A(a)(1) under the Securities
        Act).

(h)        it acknowledges that the Obligors and others will
        rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgements,
        representations and agreements; it agrees that if any of the
        acknowledgements, representations or agreements such Initial Purchaser
        is deemed to have made in connection with its purchase of Notes is no
        longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Issuer; if any Initial
        Purchaser is purchasing Notes as a fiduciary or agent for one or more
        investor accounts, such Initial Purchaser represents that it has sole
        investment discretion with respect to each of those accounts and full
        power to make the above acknowledgements, representations and agreements
        on behalf of each account.

SECTION 1.4.       

Subordination of Notes; Security.     The Indebtedness evidenced
        by the Notes and the Guarantees shall be subordinate and junior in right
        of payment to Senior Debt in the manner and to the extent provided in Articles 8 and
12 and, except as provided herein with respect
        to certain Collateral, shall rank equal in right of payment to the
        Existing Subordinated Notes (and related guarantees thereof,
        respectively). The Notes shall be secured by the Security Documents.

ARTICLES 2.

TERMS OF THE NOTES

SECTION 2.1       
Interest.   Interest on the outstanding
        principal amount of the Notes and other outstanding Obligations shall
        accrue and be payable in accordance with this Section 2.1.

SECTION 2.1.1      
 Interest Rate.    Subject to
Section 2.1.2, the Notes shall accrue interest
        from their respective dates of issuance at a rate of 18% per annum; provided,
however, that if the Mexican Pledge Agreement is
        not duly registered by the Public Registry of Commerce of Mexico City on
        or prior to July 9, 2004, then the Notes shall accrue interest at a rate
        of 1% per annum above the rate otherwise applicable to the Notes from
        such date until such time as the Mexican Pledge Agreement is so duly
        registered.  

SECTION 2.1.2       
Post-Default Rates. From and after the
        occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof,
        interest shall accrue (after as well as before judgment) on the
        outstanding principal amount of the Notes and on other Obligations that
        are due and payable (including, to the extent permitted by applicable
        law, interest on overdue interest) at a rate per annum equal to the
        Post-Default Rate; provided that upon the cessation or cure of such
        Event of Default (and any other Event of Default that may have occurred
        and be continuing) the Notes again shall bear interest at the rate
        provided in Section 2.1.1.

SECTION 2.1.3       
Payment Dates. Accrued interest on the
        Notes shall be payable, without duplication:

(a)        on the Stated Maturity Date;
        
        

(b)       with respect to any portion of the Notes prepaid or
        repaid pursuant to Section 2.2, on the date such prepayment or
        repayment is due   as provided in Section 2.2 and, in the case of a
        voluntary prepayment, on the date set forth in any notice required for
        such prepayment;

(c)        on each Quarterly Payment Date;

(d)        on the date of acceleration of the Notes pursuant to
        Section 7.2 or 7.3; and

(e)        in the case of interest accruing at the Post-Default
        Rate, upon demand.

SECTION 2.2.       
Principal
Payments;
        Voluntary Prepayments; Mandatory Prepayments.     (a) The Issuer will make payment in full of all
        unpaid principal of the Notes on the Stated Maturity Date (or such
        earlier date as the Notes may become or be declared due and payable
        pursuant to Article 7).  

(b)        Prior to the Stated Maturity Date, the Issuer may
        from time to time on any Business Day, make a voluntary prepayment
        (allocated on a pro rata basis to each Noteholder), in
        whole or in part, of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes; provided,
however, that (i) the Issuer shall allocate the
        amount of any such voluntary prepayment between the Notes and the
        Existing Subordinated Notes on a pro rata basis based on
        the aggregate principal amount of the Notes and Existing Subordinated
        Notes then outstanding; (ii) all such voluntary prepayments shall
        require at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice to the
        Noteholders, (iii) all such voluntary prepayments shall be in a minimum
        amount of $1,000,000 (subject to the Issuer’s right to prepay in full
        the entire unpaid principal amount of the Notes), and (iv) as to the
        voluntary prepayment in full of the Notes, such prepayment shall require
        at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice to the Noteholders.

(c)        Prior to the Stated Maturity Date, subject to full
        payment and satisfaction of prior Liens on the Collateral permitted by
        this Agreement, the Issuer shall, following the receipt of any funds
        from any Person by the Issuer, any other Obligor or any other Person,
        including, without limitation, any proceeds from a sale, issuance,
        conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of, and any payments
        made for fees, costs or expenses under, or as compensation,
        indemnification or settlement or compromise of claims or law suits for,
        in connection with or related to, all or any portion of the Collateral,
        apply all of such funds to make a prepayment (allocated on a pro
rata basis to each Noteholder and subject to the rights of the
        Existing Noteholders and to the terms of the Amended Collateral Agency
        Agreement), in whole or in part, of the outstanding principal amount of
        the Notes. The Issuer shall send a notice of such prepayment, promptly
        following the receipt of such proceeds, providing three (3) Business
        Days prior notice to the Noteholders.

SECTION 2.3       

Payments, Interest Rate Computations, Other
Computations, etc.     All payments by the Issuer of the principal of or interest on the
        Notes shall be made by the Issuer to the Noteholders pro rata
        according to the unpaid principal amounts of their respective Notes. All
        other amounts payable to any Noteholder under this Agreement or any
        other Document shall be paid to such Noteholder entitled thereto.
        Subject to Section 2.4, all such payments required to be made to
        such Noteholder shall be made, without setoff, deduction or
        counterclaim, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date
        due, in immediately available funds, to such account as each Noteholder
        shall specify from time to time by notice to the Issuer. Funds received
        after that time shall be deemed to have been received by the Noteholders
        on the next following Business Day. All interest shall be computed on
        the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Whenever
        any payment to be made shall otherwise be due on a day which is not a
        Business Day, such payment shall be made on the immediately succeeding
        Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in the
        computation of accrued interest.  

SECTION 2.4.       
Additional Notes.        (a) The Issuer shall pay any interest due on any
        Quarterly Payment Date in cash to the extent that such payment is not
        prohibited by the Senior Debt Documents. To the extent that the Issuer
        is prohibited by the Senior Debt Documents from paying all or part of
        any interest due on any Quarterly Payment Date in cash, then the Issuer
        shall issue to each Noteholder Additional Notes (allocated on a pro
rata basis to each Noteholder) in an aggregate principal amount
        equal to the amount of interest due to such Noteholder that is not paid
        in cash.

(b)        The Noteholders shall have the option, but not the
        obligation, to purchase from time to time up to $5,000,000 aggregate
        purchase price of Additional Notes in accordance with the procedures set
        forth below. In the event that any or all of the Noteholders elect to
        purchase Additional Notes pursuant to the immediately preceding
        sentence, the Issuer agrees to issue such Additional Notes on the same
        terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. If any Noteholder
        elects to purchase Additional Notes pursuant to this Section 2.4(b),
        such Noteholder shall give five (5) Business Days prior written notice
        of such election and the aggregate purchase price of such intended
        purchase to the Issuer and the other Noteholders and shall give such
        other Noteholders an opportunity to purchase Additional Notes pursuant
        to this Section 2.4(b). In the event that the aggregate purchase
        price of Additional Notes that all of the Noteholders intend to purchase
        exceeds $5,000,000, then the amount of Additional Notes to be issued and
        sold to each Noteholder shall be reduced on as nearly a pro rata basis as practicable. The Issuer shall issue to each Noteholder
        electing to purchase Additional Notes pursuant to this Section 2.4(b)
        an aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes equal to the sum of
        (x) the purchase price for such Additional Notes to be paid by such
        Noteholder pursuant to this Section 2.4(b) and (y) twenty-five
        percent (25%) of such purchase price to be paid by such Noteholder
        pursuant to this Section 2.4(b). Notwithstanding anything to the
        contrary in this Section 2.4(b), the aggregate purchase price for
        all Additional Notes issued at any one time pursuant to this Section 2.4(b) shall be not less than $100,000 and shall be in
        integral multiples thereof. The aggregate purchase price for any
        Additional Notes issued pursuant to this Section 2.4(b) shall be
        reduced pro rata among the Noteholders then electing to
        purchase Additional Notes (based upon the purchase price each such
        Noteholder has elected to pay) to the extent necessary to comply with
        the immediately preceding sentence.

(c)        If the Issuer issues Additional Notes pursuant to
        this Section 2.4, then the Issuer shall deliver to the
        Noteholders to which such Additional Notes are to be issued an opinion
        of counsel satisfactory to such Noteholder that: (1) each such
        Additional Note (and the Guarantees thereof) (A) has been duly
        authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and the Guarantors, and
        (B) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer or
        the relevant Guarantor, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with
        its terms subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy,
        insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting rights
        of creditors generally and to the effect of general principles of
        equity; and (2) the issuance and delivery of such Additional Notes (and
        the Guarantees thereof) complies with all Requirements of Law,
        including, without limitation, all federal and state securities laws.

SECTION 2.5.       
Proration of Payments.     (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its
        Subsidiaries to, prepay or otherwise retire in whole or in part, or
        purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any Notes held by
        any Noteholder unless the Issuer or such Subsidiary shall have offered
        to prepay or otherwise retire, purchase or acquire, as the case may be,
        the same proportion of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes held
        by each other Noteholder at the time outstanding upon the same terms and
        conditions. Any Notes prepaid or otherwise retired, purchased or
        acquired by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, shall not be deemed
        to be outstanding for any purpose under this Agreement.  

(b)        If any Noteholder shall obtain any payment or other
        recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of setoff or
        otherwise) on account of principal of or interest on the Notes or other
        Obligations in excess of such Noteholder’s pro rata share of
        payments then or therewith obtained thereon by all Noteholders, such
        Noteholder which has received in excess of its pro rata share
        shall purchase from the other Noteholders such participations in the
        Notes or other Obligations held by them as shall be necessary to cause
        such purchaser to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably
        with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any
        portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered
        from such purchasing holder, the purchase shall be rescinded and the
        purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without
        interest. The Issuer agrees that any Noteholder so purchasing a
        participation from another Noteholder pursuant to this Section 2.5
        may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of
        payment (including pursuant to Section 2.6) with respect to such
        participation as fully as if such Noteholder were the direct creditor of
        the Issuer in the amount of such participation. If under any applicable
        bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Noteholder receives a
        secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this Section 2.5
        applies, such Noteholder shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its
        rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the
        rights of the Noteholders under this Section 2.5 to share in the
        benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

(c)        Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 2.5
        to the contrary, the Issuer shall be permitted to exchange Notes for
        consideration consisting only of common equity of the Issuer at any
        time, without making a pro rata offer to other
        Noteholders.

SECTION 2.6.       

Setoff.      In addition to and not in
        limitation of any rights of any Noteholder under applicable law, each
        Noteholder shall, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
        Event of Default, have the right to appropriate and apply to the payment
        of the Obligations owing to it (whether or not then due), and (as
        security for such Obligations) the Issuer hereby grants to each
        Noteholder, a continuing security interest in, any and all balances,
        credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of such Issuer then or thereafter
        maintained with such Noteholder; provided, however, that
        any such appropriation and application shall be subject to the
        provisions of Section 2.5.

SECTION 2.7.       

Tax Treatment.     For United States federal income tax purposes, the
        Issuer, and each Noteholder by purchasing Notes, agrees to treat the
        Notes as indebtedness of the Issuer to which Section 1272(a)(6) of the
        Internal Revenue Code applies. Original issue discount on the Notes for
        U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be computed by the Issuer in
        accordance with Section 1272(a)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code; provided,
however, that any assumptions made by the Issuer in
        making such computation shall be subject to the approval of the
        Noteholders.

ARTICLE 3.

COLLATERAL MATTERS

SECTION 3.1.       
Appointment of Collateral Agent.     Elliott Associates, L.P., a Delaware limited
        partnership with its principal place of business in New York, is hereby
        appointed the initial collateral agent (in such capacity, the "Collateral
        Agent") to act on behalf of the Noteholders in connection with the
        Collateral and pursuant to the provisions of the Amended Collateral
        Agency Agreement and the other Security Documents. Subject to the
        provisions of the Amended Collateral Agency Agreement, the Collateral
        Agent shall hold all Collateral granted pursuant to the Security
        Documents for the equal and ratable benefit of itself and the
        Noteholders. Subject to the provisions of the Amended Collateral Agency
        Agreement and the other Security Documents, (a) the Collateral Agent
        will execute and deliver the Collateral Agency Agreement Amendment and
        the other Security Documents and act in accordance with the terms
        thereof, (b) the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion and
        without the consent of the Noteholders, take all actions it deems
        necessary or appropriate in order to (i) enforce any of the terms of the
        Security Documents and (ii) collect and receive, for the benefit of the
        Noteholders, any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations,
        and (c) the Collateral Agent shall have power to institute and to
        maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent
        any impairment of the Collateral by any act that may be unlawful or in
        violation of the Security Documents or this Agreement, and such suits
        and proceedings as the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve
        or protect its interests and the interests of the Noteholders in the
        Collateral (including the power to institute and maintain suits or
        proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any
        legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be
        unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or
        compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security
        interest thereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of the
        Noteholders or the Collateral Agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
        Collateral Agent may, at the expense of the Issuer, request the
        direction of the Required Holders with respect to any such actions and,
        upon receipt of the written consent of the Required Holders, shall take
        such actions, subject in each case to the provisions of the Amended
        Collateral Agency Agreement and the other Security Documents. Reference
        is made to the Amended Collateral Agency Agreement with respect to the
        appointment of a successor Collateral Agent in the event of resignation
        or removal of the initial Collateral Agent or any successor Collateral
        Agent.

ARTICLE 4.

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

The several obligations of the Initial Purchasers to
        purchase the Notes on the Closing Date shall be subject to the prior or
        concurrent satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in
        this Article 4.

SECTION 4.1.       
Resolutions, etc.       
The Initial Purchasers shall have received:

(a)        a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Secretary or an
        assistant secretary of each Obligor as of the Closing Date;

(b)        electronic forms of "bring down" certificates as to the so-called "good
        standing" certificate with respect to each Obligor (other than any
        Obligors organized under the laws of The United Mexican States) as of
        the Closing Date for the appropriate State of its incorporation or
        organization;

(c)        electronic forms of evidence of qualification of each Obligor as of
        the Closing Date to do business in each other jurisdiction in which the
        failure to so qualify could result in a Material Adverse Change;
        
        

(d)        such other documents (certified if requested) as the
        Initial Purchasers may request with respect to this Agreement, the
        Notes, the Guarantees, any other Document, the transactions contemplated
        hereby and thereby, or any Organic Document, Contractual Obligation or
        Approval.

SECTION 4.2.       
No Contest, etc.       
No litigation, arbitration, governmental
        investigation, injunction, proceeding or inquiry shall be pending or, to
        the knowledge of any Obligor, threatened which:

(a)        seeks to enjoin or otherwise prevent the consummation
        of, or to recover any damages or obtain relief as a result of, the
        transactions contemplated by or in connection with this Agreement or any
        other Document; or

(b)        would be materially adverse to any of the parties
        hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

No litigation set forth in Item 5.8
        (Litigation) of the Disclosure Schedule (except for such litigation
        identified as Pemex, Iroquois or Williams), in the opinion of the
        Initial Purchasers could result in a Material Adverse Change or give
        rise to any liability on the part of any Noteholder in connection with
        this Agreement or the other Documents or the transactions contemplated
        hereby or thereby.

SECTION 4.3.       
Certificate as to Completed Conditions,
Warranties, No Default, etc.    The Initial Purchasers shall have received a
        certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the chief financial or other
        executive officer of the Issuer to the effect that:

(a)        all conditions precedent set forth in this
Article 4 have
        been satisfied;
        
        

(b)        all representations and warranties set forth in
Article 5 are true and correct in all material respects as of the
        date hereof and as of the Closing Date;

(c)        all representations and warranties set forth in the
        Documents are true and correct in all material respects; and

(d)        no Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 4.4.       
Compliance with
        Requirements of Law.     The Initial Purchasers shall have received evidence
        satisfactory to them that each Obligor is in compliance in all material
        respects with all Requirements of Law and has obtained and maintains in
        full force and effect (a) all licenses, permits and approvals issued by
        Governmental Authorities necessary to carry on its business (except
        where the failure to have any such license, permit or approval could not
        result in a Material Adverse Change), and (b) all Approvals.  

SECTION 4.5.       
Opinions of Counsel.     The Initial Purchasers shall have received an
        opinion letter, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial
        Purchasers, from (i) Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère &
        Denègre, L.L.P., counsel to the Obligors, (ii) Goodrich Riquelme y
        Asociados, Mexican counsel to the Obligors and (iii) Solomon Harris,
        Cayman Islands counsel to the Obligors, each in form and substance
        satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, and covering such matters as the
        Initial Purchasers may request.

SECTION 4.6.       
Closing Expenses, etc.   
The Initial Purchasers shall have received all costs
        and expenses which have been invoiced on or prior to the Closing Date
        and are payable by the Obligors pursuant to Section 11.3. The
        Obligors agree that they will continue to be obligated to pay costs and
        expenses to the Noteholders pursuant to Section 11.3 after the
        Closing Date whether such costs arise before or after the Closing Date.

SECTION 4.7.       
Security Documents.    The Initial Purchasers shall have received each
        Security Document, duly executed and delivered by the Obligor(s) and
        each other party thereto.

SECTION 4.8.       
Other Documents,
        Certificates, etc.    The Initial Purchasers shall have received such other
        documents, certificates, opinions of counsel or other materials as they
        reasonably request from any Obligor (including, without limitation, a
        certificate to the effect of the matters set forth in Section 6.1.11(c) executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the
        Issuer). All representations and warranties set forth in Article 5
        are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and
        as of the Closing Date.

SECTION 4.9.       
Satisfactory Legal
        Form.    All documents executed or submitted by or on behalf
        of any Obligor shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
        Initial Purchasers, the Initial Purchasers shall have received all
        information, and such counterpart originals or such certified or other
        copies of such Instruments, as the Initial Purchasers may request. All
        legal matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this
        Agreement shall be satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers.

SECTION 4.10.       

Amendment and Waiver of Credit Facilities.     The Issuer shall have amended all of its existing
        loan documents, or otherwise received a waiver pursuant to the terms of
        such loan documents effective for the full terms thereof, to permit the
        Obligors to have outstanding at any time an aggregate amount of surety
        and performance bonds at least equal to the aggregate amount of such
        surety and performance bonds outstanding as of the Closing Date.

SECTION 4.11.       
IEC Parent
        Guarantee.    The Obligors shall have delivered to IEC the parent
        guarantee required under Section 17.4 of the IEC Contract in the form
        required by Appendix "X-1" contained therein and in compliance with the
        terms of the IEC Contract and shall have delivered an executed copy of
        such parent guarantee to the Initial Purchasers. Such guarantee shall be
        in full force and effect.

ARTICLE 5.

WARRANTIES, ETC.

In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter
        into this Agreement and the other Documents and to purchase the Notes,
        each Obligor represents and warrants to each Noteholder, as of the date
        hereof and as of the Closing Date, as set forth in this Article 5.
        
        

SECTION 5.1.       
Organization, Power,
        Authority, etc.        Each of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (i) is
        validly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of
        the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (ii) is duly
        qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
        where the failure to so qualify could result in a Material Adverse
        Change, and (iii) has full power and authority, and holds all
        governmental licenses, permits, registrations and other approvals
        required under all Requirements of Law, to own and hold under lease its
        property and to conduct its business as conducted prior to the Closing
        Date and as contemplated to be conducted subsequent to the Closing Date,
        except where the failure to hold any such licenses, permits,
        registrations and other approvals could not result in a Material Adverse
        Change. Each Obligor has full power and authority to enter into and
        perform its obligations under this Agreement and each other Document
        executed or to be executed by it and, in the case of the Issuer, to
        issue the Notes.  

SECTION 5.2.       
Due Authorization.     The execution and delivery by the Obligors of this
        Agreement and the Amendment, the issuance, execution and delivery by the
        Issuer of the Notes, and the execution and delivery by each Obligor of
        each other Document executed or to be executed by it and the incurrence
        and performance by the Obligors of their respective obligations under
        the Amendment and the Documents have been duly authorized by all
        necessary corporate action, do not require any Approval (except those
        Approvals already obtained), do not and will not conflict with, result
        in any violation of, or constitute any default under, any provision of
        any Organic Document or Contractual Obligation of any Obligor or any law
        or governmental regulation or court decree or order, and will not result
        in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any Obligor’s
        properties pursuant to the provisions of any Contractual Obligation of
        any Obligor, except for Liens imposed pursuant to this Agreement or any
        other Document.

SECTION 5.3.       
Validity, etc.       
This Agreement, the Notes, the Amendment and the
        other Documents executed by each Obligor constitute, the legal, valid
        and binding obligations of such Obligor, enforceable in accordance with
        their respective terms subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to
        bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws
        affecting rights of creditors generally and to the effect of general
        principles of equity.

SECTION 5.4.       

Capitalization of the
        Issuer.     The authorized capital stock of the Issuer consists
        of 35,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 26,549,250 shares of which were
        outstanding as of March 11, 2004. All such outstanding shares are duly
        authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are not,
        and will not have been, issued in violation of any preemptive rights.
        Except for options to purchase shares of Common Stock (of which there
        were 3,369,850 options outstanding as of March 11, 2004 at a weighted
        average exercise price of $7.35 per share) and the Warrants, no issued,
        no authorized but unissued and no treasury shares of capital stock of
        the Issuer are subject to any preemptive right, option, warrant, right
        of conversion or purchase or any similar right issued or granted by the
        Issuer or, to the best knowledge of the Obligors, by any of its
        stockholders. Since March 11, 2004, the Issuer has not issued any shares
        of Common Stock, any securities exercisable for or convertible into
        shares of Common Stock, or any other shares of capital stock of the
        Issuer except for the issuance of (i) the Warrants, (ii) shares of
        Common Stock upon exercise of any Warrants and (iii) shares of Common
        Stock upon exercise of any options outstanding as of March 11, 2004.
        There are no agreements or understandings with respect to the voting,
        sale or transfer of any shares of capital stock of the Issuer to which
        the Issuer or, to the best knowledge of the Obligors, any of its
        stockholders is a party.

SECTION 5.5.       

Financial Information;
        Solvency.     (a)  All balance sheets, all statements of operations,
        stockholders’ equity and cash flows, and all other financial information
        of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished by or on
        behalf of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries to the Initial Purchasers for
        the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction
        contemplated hereby, including the consolidated audited balance sheets
        of the Issuer as of December 31, 2003, and the related consolidated
        statements of income and cash flows for the Fiscal Year ended December
        31, 2003, together with the opinion thereon of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
        throughout the periods involved and present fairly in all material
        respects the matters reflected therein subject, in the case of unaudited
        statements, to changes resulting from normal year end audit adjustments
        and to the absence of footnotes. As of the date hereof and except for
        transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Documents,
        neither the Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries has material contingent
        liabilities or material liabilities for taxes, long term leases or
        unusual forward or long term commitments which are not reflected in the
        financial statements described above.  

(b)        The Projections are based upon estimates and
        assumptions believed by the Issuer and its management to be reasonable
        in light of current conditions and reflect the good faith estimate of
        the Issuer and its management of the results of operations and the other
        information projected therein. The Projections were prepared in a manner
        consistent with the preparation of the Issuer’s historical financial
        statements.

(c)        After giving effect to the issuance of the Notes and
        to the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this
        Agreement and the other Documents to occur on the Closing Date, each
        Obligor is Solvent.

SECTION 5.6.       
Material Adverse
        Change.     Except as disclosed in Item 5.6 (Material
        Adverse Change) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Issuer nor any
        of its Subsidiaries shall have sustained since December 31, 2003, the
        date of the latest audited financial statements (i) any material Loss or
        (ii) since such date, there shall not have been any change in the
        capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Issuer or any of
        its Subsidiaries or any Material Adverse Change.

SECTION 5.7.       
Absence of Default.     Except for such defaults as shall be cured
        simultaneously with the Closing, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries are not
        in default in the payment of (or in the performance of any obligation
        applicable to) any material Indebtedness, are not in material default
        under any regulation of any Governmental Authority or court decree or
        order, and are not in default under any Requirements of Law which
        default could result in a Material Adverse Change.

SECTION 5.8.       
Litigation,
        Legislation, etc.       
Except as disclosed in Item 5.8 (Litigation)
        of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no pending or, to the knowledge of
        the Obligors, threatened litigation, arbitration or governmental
        investigation, proceeding or inquiry which, if adversely determined,
        could result in a Material Adverse Change; and none of the proceedings
        set forth in such Item 5.8 seeks to amend, modify or enjoin the
        transactions contemplated hereby or is likely to be adversely
        determined. There is no legislation, governmental regulation or judicial
        decision known to the Obligors that could result in a Material Adverse
        Change.

SECTION 5.9.       

Use of Proceeds;
        Regulations T, U and X.     (a) The Issuer shall use the proceeds of the Notes
        on the Closing Date in accordance with Item 5.9(a) (Transaction
        Costs and Use of Proceeds) of the Disclosure Schedule.

(b)        Neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary is engaged
        principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of
        extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock
        (as defined in F.R.S. Board Regulation U), and no assets of the Issuer
        or any Subsidiary consist of Margin Stock. The proceeds of the Notes
        hereunder will not be used for a purpose which violates, or would be
        inconsistent with, F.R.S. Board Regulation T, U or X.

SECTION 5.10.       
Government Regulation.     Neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary is or, as of
        the Closing Date, after giving effect to the issuance of the Notes and
        application of the net proceeds therefrom, will be an "investment
        company" within the meaning of the Investment Holding Company Act of
        1940, as amended, or a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of a
        "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a
        "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," within the meaning of the
        Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, or subject to
        regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act or,
        based upon the Initial Purchasers’ representations set forth in Section 1.3, any other federal or state law limiting the Obligors’
        ability to issue the Notes or of any Obligor to otherwise incur
        Indebtedness or to execute, deliver or perform the Documents to which it
        is party.

SECTION 5.11.       
Taxes.     Each of the Issuer and its present or past
        Subsidiaries has filed all tax returns and reports required by law to
        have been filed by it and has paid all Taxes and Charges owed by it
        whether or not shown to be due on such tax returns or reports, except
        any such Taxes or Charges which are being diligently contested in good
        faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in
        accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books.

SECTION 5.12.       
ERISA.        The Issuer and its Subsidiaries (i) are not party to any employee
        benefit plan subject to part 3 of Title I of ERISA and (ii) are in
        compliance in all material respects with ERISA. The consummation of the
        transactions provided for in this Agreement and compliance by the Issuer
        and each other Obligor with the provisions of the Documents will not
        involve any prohibited transaction within the meaning of ERISA or
        Section 4975.  

SECTION 5.13.       
Labor Controversies.       There are no labor controversies pending or, to the
        best knowledge of the Obligors, threatened, relating to the Issuer or
        any Subsidiary. To the best knowledge of the Obligors, there is no
        unfair labor practice complaint pending or threatened against the Issuer
        or any Subsidiary before the National Labor Relations Board, and no
        grievance or arbitration proceeding or arising out of or under any
        collective bargaining agreement is so pending or threatened against the
        Issuer or any Subsidiary. There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or
        stoppage pending against the Issuer or any Subsidiary or, to the best
        knowledge of the Obligors, threatened against the Issuer or any
        Subsidiary. Neither the Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to
        any collective bargaining agreement.

SECTION 5.14.        

Ownership of
        Properties.        Each of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries owns good
        title to all of its material personal properties and assets of any
        nature whatsoever, free and clear of all Liens except as permitted
        pursuant to Section 6.1.12.

SECTION 5.15.       
Intellectual Property        Each of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries owns or
        licenses all intellectual property, and has obtained assignments of all
        licenses and other rights, as the Issuer considers necessary for or as
        are otherwise material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and
        its Subsidiaries as now conducted without, individually or in the
        aggregate, any infringement upon rights of other Persons which could
        result in a Material Adverse Change.

SECTION 5.16.       
Accuracy of
        Information.        All factual information heretofore or
        contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of the Issuer or any
        Subsidiary in writing to any Noteholder for purposes of or in connection
        with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby and all
        information that has been furnished to or filed with the Commission by
        or on behalf of the Issuer or any Subsidiary pursuant to the Exchange
        Act is true and accurate in every material respect on the date as of
        which such information is dated or certified, in the case of any such
        information furnished in writing to any Noteholder, and as of the date
        of execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Noteholder and as of
        the Closing Date, and such information is not incomplete by omitting to
        state any material fact necessary to make such information not
        misleading. None of this Agreement, any document or written statement
        furnished to any of the Noteholders by or on behalf of the Issuer or any
        Subsidiary or any information that has been furnished to or filed with
        the Commission by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Subsidiary pursuant
        to the Exchange Act contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
        omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
        statements contained herein or therein not materially misleading. The
        Noteholders recognize that the Projections are not to be viewed as facts
        and that actual results during the period or periods covered by the
        Projections may differ from the projected or forecasted results.

SECTION 5.17.       

Insurance.        All policies of insurance in effect of any kind or
        nature owned by or issued to the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, including
        policies of life, fire, theft, product liability, public liability,
        property damage, other casualty, employee fidelity, workers’
        compensation, property and liability insurance, (a) are, together with
        all policies of employee health and welfare and title insurance, if any,
        in full force and effect, (b) comply in all respects with the applicable
        requirements set forth herein and (c) are of a nature and provide such
        coverage, including through self-insurance, retentions and deductibles,
        as is customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and
        owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Issuer
        and its Subsidiaries operate.

SECTION 5.18.       

Certain Indebtedness.       
Item 5.18 (Existing Indebtedness) of the
        Disclosure Schedule sets forth all Indebtedness of the Issuer and its
        Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date, which (a) is for borrowed money,
        (b) is not incurred in the ordinary course of the business of the Issuer
        or any Subsidiary in a manner and to the extent consistent with past
        practice or (c) is material to the financial condition, operations,
        businesses, properties or prospects of the Issuer or any Subsidiary.

SECTION 5.19.       
Company Actions.        Since December 31, 2003, the Obligors have not,
        except for the Existing Subordinated Notes, (i) issued or granted any
        securities other than the Existing Subordinated Notes, the Warrants,
        shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of any Warrants and shares
        of Common Stock issued upon exercise of any options outstanding as of
        March 11, 2004; (ii) incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
        contingent, other than liabilities and obligations which were incurred
        in the ordinary course of business or which are not material, (iii)
        entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of
        business or (iv) declared or paid any dividend on any of its capital
        stock.

SECTION 5.20.       
Consents.        The Issuer and its Subsidiaries have all material
        permits and governmental consents and approvals necessary under
        Requirements of Law in connection with the transactions contemplated
        hereby and in the reasonable business judgment of the Obligors, deemed
        advisable under Requirements of Law in connection with the ongoing
        business and operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, except for
        permits, consents and approvals the failure to so have could not result
        in a Material Adverse Change.

SECTION 5.21.       
Contracts.        Except for any contract defaults as will be cured
        upon or prior to the Closing, there are no material defaults by the
        Issuer or any Subsidiary or, to the Obligors’ knowledge after due
        inquiry, any other default in existence under any such material
        Contractual Obligations, in each case that could result in a Material
        Adverse Change.

SECTION 5.22.       

Condition of Property.        The Issuer and its Subsidiaries own or lease all of
        the assets and properties material to the conduct of their business.

SECTION 5.23.       
Subsidiaries.       
Item 5.23 (Subsidiaries) of the Disclosure
        Schedule sets forth all Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

SECTION 5.24.       

No Offering of Notes.        None of the Issuer or any of its Affiliates nor any
        agent acting on their behalf, has directly or indirectly offered any of
        the Notes or any similar security of any Obligor for sale to, or
        solicited offers to buy the Notes or any similar security of any Obligor
        from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect thereto with,
        any Person other than institutional investors, and neither any Obligor
        nor any agent acting on behalf of any Obligor has taken or will take any
        action which would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the
        provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of
        any securities or Blue Sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

SECTION 5.25.       

Collateral and
        Security Documents.        As of the Closing Date, (i) each Obligor has good
        title, free of all Liens other than those permitted pursuant to Section 6.1.12 to all of the material Collateral owned by such
        Obligor; (ii) the representations and warranties of each Obligor
        contained in the Security Documents are true and correct; (iii) when
        executed and delivered the Security Documents will create a valid lien
        on, and enforceable security interests in favor of the Collateral Agent
        for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as such term is defined in the
        Security Documents) in all Collateral subject to the Security Documents,
        subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
        reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting rights of
        creditors generally and to the effect of general principals of equity;
        and (iv) to the extent governed by Article 8 or Article 9 of the UCC,
        when financing statements have been filed in the appropriate offices,
        the Collateral Agent will have a perfected first or second priority
        Lien, as the case may be (as provided in the Security Documents), upon
        all of the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by
        filing, subject to (a) Liens permitted by this Agreement and the
        Security Documents and (b) Collateral in which security interests or
        liens can only be perfected through compliance with the terms of the
        Federal Assignment of Claims Act.

SECTION 5.26.       
No Registration
        Required.        Assuming the accuracy of the representations and
        warranties of each of the Initial Purchasers contained in this Agreement
        and the compliance of such parties with the agreements set forth herein
        and therein, it is not necessary, in connection with the issuance and
        sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the
        other Documents, to register the Notes under the Securities Act.

SECTION 5.27.       
Private Placement.    (a) None of the Issuer or any of its Affiliates
        has, directly or indirectly engaged in any form of general solicitation
        or general advertising in connection with the offering of the Notes (as
        those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) under the
        Securities Act or in any manner involving a public offering within the
        meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act; the Issuer has not
        entered into any arrangement with respect to the distribution of the
        Notes and each Obligor hereby agrees not to enter into any such
        arrangement.

(b)        None of the Company or any of its affiliates has,
        directly or indirectly, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy
        or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any "security" (as defined
        in the Securities Act) which is or will be integrated with the sale of
        any of the Notes in a manner that would require the registration under
        the Securities Act of any of the Notes.

SECTION 5.28.       
Tax Treatment of Contingencies.    The Issuer believes that the contingencies that would
        give rise to an increase in the interest rate on the Notes under
        Section 2.1.1 are remote within the meaning of United States Treasury
        Regulations section 1.1275-2(h)(2) and that Section 1272(a)(6) of the
        Internal Revenue Code applies to the Notes.

SECTION 5.29.       
IEC Contract.    (a) None of the Obligors or any Subsidiary has
        defaulted or is in default in any payment or performance obligation
        under the IEC Contract, except for such defaults which have been waived
        or consented to in writing by IEC, such waiver or consent signed by a
        duly authorized officer of IEC.

(B)        As of the Closing Date, the Issuer has given irrevocable
        wire instructions to Citibank, N.A. to transfer immediately after the
        Closing $9.1 million of the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes by
        the Issuer in order to cause the IEC Letter of Credit to be issued.
 

ARTICLE 6.

COVENANTS

SECTION 6.1.       
Covenants.        The Obligors, jointly and severally, agree with each Noteholder
        that until the Notes and all other Obligations (other than Obligations
        that expressly survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.5) have been paid and performed in full, such Person will
        perform the Obligations set forth in this Section 6.1.

SECTION 6.1.1       
Information.    (a) The Issuer shall furnish, or cause to be
        furnished, to each Noteholder (i) as soon as possible and in no event
        more than ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year copies of
        the Issuer's (A) consolidating financial statements and financial
        statements categorized by geographic area, each as is prepared by the
        Issuer in the ordinary course of its business and (B) consolidated
        financial statements, all as prepared in accordance with GAAP and
        certified by the Issuer's accountants as of the end of such period,
        including a balance sheet and related statements of income, and, if
        applicable, stockholders’ equity and cash flows; (ii) as soon as
        possible and in no event more than forty-five (45) days after the end of
        each Fiscal Quarter, similar financial statements to those referred to
        in (i) above, unaudited, but certified by the Issuer's chief financial
        officer; (iii) if requested by any Noteholder, as soon as possible and
        in no event more than thirty (30) days after the end of each month,
        internal unaudited financial statements for such month and (iv) such
        other financial or other information and access to the management of the
        Issuer as the Noteholders may from time to time reasonably request. Such
        financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
        on a consistent basis.

(b)        Concurrently with the furnishing of the annual and
        quarterly financial statements pursuant to Section 6.1.1(a), the
        Issuer will furnish to each Noteholder a certificate signed by the chief
        financial officer of the Issuer stating that no Default exists, or if a
        Default exists then the nature, period of existence and status thereof.

SECTION 6.1.2       
Payment of Obligations.    The Issuer and each of its Subsidiaries will pay
        and discharge, as the same shall become due and payable, all lawful
        taxes, assessments and charges or levies made upon it or its property or
        assets, by any governmental body, agency or official except where any of
        such items may be diligently contested in good faith by appropriate
        proceedings, and the Issuer and each of its Subsidiaries shall have set
        aside on its respective books, if required under GAAP, reserves for the
        liabilities related to such items.

SECTION 6.1.3        
Corporate Existence; Mergers.    Each Obligor shall at all times maintain its
        corporate existence and shall not, without prior written consent of the Noteholders, dissolve or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
        of its assets, in one transaction or a series of transactions, or
        consolidate with or merge into another corporation.

SECTION 6.1.4       

Compliance with Law.    Each Obligor shall comply with and satisfy all
        applicable Governmental Requirements.

SECTION 6.1.5        
Further Assurance.    The Obligors will, at their expense, promptly (and
        in no event later than 30 days after written notice from the Noteholders
        is received) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered,
        to the Noteholders upon reasonable request all such other and further
        documents, agreements and instruments (including without limitation
        further security agreements, financing statements, continuation
        statements, and assignments of accounts and contract rights) in
        compliance with or accomplishment of the covenants and agreements of the
        Obligors in this Agreement or the other Documents or to further evidence
        and more fully describe the Collateral, including any renewals,
        additions, substitutions, replacements or accessions to the Collateral,
        or to correct any omissions in the Security Documents, or more fully
        state the security obligations set out herein or in any of the Security
        Documents, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant
        to any of the Security Documents, or to make any recordings, to file any
        notices, or obtain any consents as may be necessary or appropriate in
        connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  

SECTION 6.1.6       

Cross
        Collateralization.    If the Issuer issues any Additional Notes, the
        Obligors shall amend the Security Documents to the extent required to
        ensure that any Additional Notes will be secured by the Security
        Documents.

SECTION 6.1.7       

Perfection and
        Validity of Security Interests.    The Obligors shall use their commercially
        reasonable efforts to ensure that the following occur within the time
        periods specified below:

(i)        written consent to the assignment to the Collateral
        Agent under the Security Documents is obtained from Pemex on or before
        June 9, 2004;

(ii)        on or before June 1, 2004, the Obligors deliver to
        the Noteholders all corporate "good standing" certificates, legal
        opinions and other corporate documents of any of the Obligors which are
        not delivered to the Initial Purchasers on or before the Closing Date
        and which are reasonably requested by the Noteholders; and

(iii)        all other Security Documents will be filed, perfected
        or recorded and valid against third parties within ten (10) days after
        the Closing Date.

If the Obligors fail to cause any of the events set
        forth in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 6.1.7 to occur
        within the time periods set forth therein, then the Obligors shall
        continue to use their best efforts to cause such events to occur after
        the expiration of such time periods. On or before the date of delivery
        of any of the documents set forth in clauses (i) and (iii) of this Section 6.1.7, the Obligors will deliver to the Noteholders an
        opinion or opinions of counsel to such Obligors as to the due
        recordation, perfection and validity of such security interests in form
        and substance satisfactory to the Noteholders.

SECTION 6.1.8       

Additional Guarantees.        If (1) any Obligor transfers or causes to be
        transferred, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, any
        Collateral to any Subsidiary that, following such transaction or series
        of related transactions, is not a Guarantor, (2) if any Subsidiary that
        is a "significant subsidiary" (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation
        S-X promulgated by the Commission) is not at such time a Guarantor or
        (3) if any Subsidiary that is not at such time a Guarantor is or becomes
        a guarantor of the Existing Subordinated Notes pursuant to the terms of
        the Existing Purchase Agreement, then such transferee, significant
        subsidiary or other Subsidiary or other Subsidiary shall:

(a)        execute and deliver to the Noteholders an agreement
        to be bound as a Guarantor pursuant to this Agreement in the form set
        forth in Exhibit B pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall agree
        to unconditionally guarantee on a subordinated secured basis all of the
        Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Agreement on the terms set
        forth in this Agreement;

(b)        execute and deliver to the Noteholders such
        amendments to the Security Documents as the Noteholders deem necessary
        or advisable in order to make such Subsidiary a party to such
        instruments as applicable;

(c)        take such actions necessary or advisable to grant to
        the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Noteholders a perfected
        security interest, as required by Security Documents;

(d)        take such further action and execute and deliver such
        other documents specified in this Agreement or otherwise reasonably
        requested by the Collateral Agent to effectuate the foregoing; and

(e)        deliver to the Noteholders an opinion of counsel that
        such Guarantee and any other documents required to be delivered (i) have
        been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary, (ii)
        comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 6.1.8 and
        (iii) constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of
        such Subsidiary and such other opinions regarding the perfection of such
        liens in the Collateral as provided for in this Agreement.

Thereafter, such Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for
        all purposes of this Agreement.

SECTION 6.1.9     
Form D.    The Issuer agrees to file Forms D with respect to
        the Notes as required under Regulation D and to provide copies thereof
        to the Initial Purchasers promptly after such filing.

SECTION 6.1.10     
Use of Proceeds of
        Equity Offerings.    The Issuer and its Subsidiaries have not entered,
        and will not enter, into any Instrument or otherwise agree to prohibit
        or restrict the ability of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries to use all or
        part of the proceeds of any equity or rights offering to make one or
        more prepayments, in whole or in part, of the outstanding aggregate
        principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.1.11     
Iroquois and Pemex May Costero Collateral;
        etc.    (a)  The Obligors will use their best efforts to cause Exim Bank and/or Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A., as necessary, to enter
        into a collateral sharing agreement or other appropriate agreement or
        document in form and substance satisfactory to the Noteholders in their
        sole discretion pursuant to which Exim Bank and/or Southwest Bank of
        Texas, N.A. agree to share with the Noteholders all collections or
        proceeds received by either of them in connection with any claims or
        receivables under the Iroquois Contract as follows: all Noteholders
        shall share in 50% of all such collections or proceeds (such percentage
        the "Sharing Percentage"); provided that the Sharing
        Percentage shall increase by 1% for each $125,000 aggregate principal
        amount of Additional Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.4(b); and
        provided further that in no event shall the amount received in
        respect of such collections or proceeds by the Noteholders in respect of
        Notes issued on the Closing Date, including any Additional Notes issued
        pursuant to Section 2.4(a) deriving from any such Notes and any
        notes issued in exchange or substitution for any such Notes or
        Additional Notes or renewal thereof pursuant to Section 10.2 or
        Section 10.3, exceed $6,250,000 plus an amount equal to
        one-third (1/3) of the aggregate principal amount of any such Additional
        Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.4(a). Upon the receipt of all
        documents contemplated by this Section 6.1.11(a), the Obligors
        shall reduce the maximum amount that may be borrowed under the Issuer’s
        domestic revolving credit facility to not more than an aggregate of $15
        million.

(b)        The Obligors will use their best efforts to cause the
        Issuer, RLI Insurance Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank to amend the
        Escrow and Security Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2004, among the
        Issuer, RLI Insurance Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, or to enter into
        a similar agreement, in either case in form and substance satisfactory
        to the Noteholders in their sole discretion, such that the escrow agent
        under such agreement will hold the monies thereunder first in favor of
        RLI Insurance Company, second in favor of the Collateral Agent on behalf
        of the Noteholders and third in favor of the Collateral Agent on behalf
        of the Existing Noteholders.

(c)        As of the date hereof, the Issuer has not drawn down, and during the
        period from the date hereof until the date of receipt of all documents
        contemplated by Section 6.1.11(a), the Issuer will not draw down,
        in excess of $15 million under its domestic revolving credit facility.

(d)        The Issuer will use its best efforts to obtain as promptly as
        possible the release of the guaranty of ECH Offshore, S. de R.L. de C.V.
        under the Exim Bank Agreement and shall deliver a copy of such release
        to the Noteholders promptly upon receipt thereof.

SECTION 6.1.12       

Liens.    Each of the Obligors lawfully owns (and shall at all times
own) and is (and shall at all times be) lawfully possessed of its respective
Collateral free and clear of all liens, mortgages, taxes and encumbrances except
for (i) liens under the Security Documents; (ii) liens set forth in Item
6.1.12 (Liens) of the Disclosure Schedule; (iii) such other liens,
mortgages, taxes and encumbrances, if any, as have been consented to in writing
by the Noteholders; (iv) liens securing Senior Debt; (v) liens for loss, damage,
or expense which are covered by insurance; (vi) liens for which a bond or other
security has been posted by or on behalf of the Issuer; (vii) liens for taxes,
assessments and governmental charges or levies on its property for monies which
are not yet past due and payable; (viii) liens imposed by law, such as
carriers’, warehousemens’ and mechanics’ liens and other similar liens arising
in the ordinary course of business for monies which are not yet past due and
payable; and (ix) easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances
or charges against real property as are of a nature generally existing with
respect to properties of a similar character and which do not in any material
way affect the marketability of the same or interfere with the use thereof in
the business of the Obligors, and except where any of the items listed in
clauses (iii), (vii) and (viii) of this section may be diligently contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings, and the Issuer shall have set aside on
its books, if required, by GAAP, appropriate reserves for the liabilities
related to any such liens (with such liens described in subsections (i) through
(viii) sometimes hereinafter referred to as "Permitted Liens"); and the
Issuer does hereby warrant and will defend the title and possession thereto and
to every part thereof for the benefit of the Noteholders against the claims and
demands of all Persons whomsoever.

SECTION 6.1.13      

Affiliate Transaction.      The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, authorize, permit or suffer to occur any transactions,
contracts or other agreements by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries with any
Affiliate of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary
course of business and on terms that are no less favorable to the Issuer than
those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction on an
arm's-length basis.  

SECTION 6.1.14       

Other Indebtedness.    Neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall incur any
Indebtedness of any kind whatsoever, except for the Notes, the Guarantees, the
Existing Subordinated Notes (and any existing or future guarantees in connection
therewith), loans under the Issuer’s existing revolving credit facilities with
The CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc. and Southwest Bank of Texas, NA,
ordinary course of business leases and accounts payable, and Refinancing
Indebtedness.

SECTION 6.1.15       

Business Activities.    The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, engage in any business activity, except business activities in
which the Issuer and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the Closing Date and such
activities as may be ancillary, incidental or related thereto.

SECTION 6.1.16       

Anti-Layering.    The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist or otherwise become or
be liable in respect of any Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of
payment to any Senior Debt and senior in any respect in right of payment to the
Notes or any Guarantee, as applicable.

SECTION 6.1.17       

Pemex Contract.    (a) Any funds received from any Person by the Issuer, any
other Obligor or any other Person (other than the Collateral Agent), including,
without limitation, any payments made for fees, costs or expenses under, or as
compensation, indemnification or settlement or compromise of claims of law suits
or arbitration proceedings ("Contract Payments") for, in connection with
or related to the Public Works Contract for Engineering, Procurement and Start
Up (the "Pemex Contract"), known as EPC-64, dated August 18, 2000, by and
between Pemex Exploración y Producción ("Pemex") and ECH shall be
deposited by the Issuer or any such Obligor within two (2) Business Days after
such Obligor’s receipt directly into the account of ECH, account number 312010
at Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A. in Houston, Texas, for distribution by the
Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Amended Collateral Agency
Agreement.  

(b)        The Obligors will use their commercially reasonable efforts
to give prior notice to the Noteholders of any meetings or discussions with
Pemex or its representatives relating to the Pemex Claims and will use their
commercially reasonable efforts to give one or more representatives of the
Noteholders the opportunity to participate in any such meetings or discussions.
The Obligors will comply with all reasonable suggestions of the Noteholders or
the duly authorized representatives thereof in connection with the Pemex Claims
and will not take any actions in respect thereof to which the Noteholders or the
duly authorized representatives thereof shall reasonably object. The Issuer will
not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, settle or compromise any
claim, cause of action, demand, right, liability, litigation, arbitration or
other proceeding (a "Suit") in connection with, or agree to any
reduction, set off or discount of, the Pemex Claims, or any payments,
compensation or monies to be received in connection with the Pemex Claims,
without the prior written consent of the Required Holders; provided, 
however, that the Issuer shall be permitted to settle or compromise any Suit
in connection with, or agree to any reduction, set off or discount of (a "Settlement"),
the Pemex Claims in accordance with the terms set forth in Item 6.17(b)
(Settlement of Suits) of the Disclosure Schedule.

SECTION 6.1.18       

Restricted Payments, etc.    The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its
Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries to, declare, pay or make any dividend or
distribution (in cash, property or obligations) on any shares of any class of
its Stock or on any warrants, options or other rights in respect of any class of
its Stock. The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
apply any of its funds, property or assets to the purchase, redemption, sinking
fund or other retirement of any shares of any class of Stock of the Issuer or
any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or make any deposit for any of the foregoing.

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, make any Investments other than (1) Investments in any Person
that is or immediately after such Investment will become a Subsidiary or that
will merge or consolidate with a Subsidiary, (2) Permitted Joint Ventures and
(3) any guarantees issued in connection with the Existing Subordinated Notes.

SECTION 6.1.19       

Asset Dispositions, etc.    
The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, or grant
options, warrants or other rights with respect to, any of its assets (including
accounts receivable and Stock of Subsidiaries) to any Person, unless (a) such
disposition is made in the ordinary course of business and consists of
inventories; or (b) such disposition constitutes a disposition of obsolete or
retired assets not used in the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 6.1.20       

Limitation on Restrictions
on Subsidiary Dividends.    The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Subsidiary to: (a) pay dividends or make other distributions on its Stock or
other interests or participations in profits owned by the Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries; (b) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries; (c) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries; or (d) transfer any of its property or assets to the Issuer or any
of its Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances and restrictions existing
under or by reason of this Agreement, the other Documents, the Existing Purchase
Agreement and the documents executed in connection therewith, or the Senior Debt
Documents.

SECTION 6.1.21       

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.    The Obligors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully
do so) that they will not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner
whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or
usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may
affect the covenants or the performance of this Agreement; and the Obligors (to
the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or
advantage of any such law, and covenant that they will not, by resort to any
such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to
the Collateral Agent, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such
power as though such law has not been enacted.

SECTION 6.1.22       

Board of Directors.    The Issuer agrees that (i) for so long as Falcon Mezzanine
Partners, LP or an Affiliate thereof is a Noteholder it shall have the right to
designate one observer to the Issuer’s Board of Directors, such observer to
receive all information distributed to the Board of Directors and all committees
of the Board of Directors and to be invited to all meetings of the Board of
Directors and all committees of the Board of Directors, but without the right to
vote with the Board of Directors; and (ii) for so long as Bryant R. Riley or an
Affiliate thereof is a Noteholder he shall have the right to (x) designate one
observer to the Issuer’s Board of Directors, such observer to receive all
information distributed to the Board of Directors and all committees of the
Board of Directors and to be invited to all meetings of the Board of Directors
and all committees of the Board of Directors, but without the right to vote with
the Board of Directors or (y) designate one individual to be nominated by the
Issuer’s Board of Directors as a member of the Issuer’s Board of Directors. 
Any designated observers to the Issuer’s Board of Directors must execute and
deliver, in a form acceptable to the Issuer, an agreement to keep the Issuer’s
confidential information confidential and to comply with the Issuer’s insider
trading policy. The Issuer may exclude any such observer from access to any
information distributed to the Board of Directors or any portion thereof to the
extent that the Issuer believes in good faith and for reasonable cause that such
access would result in the loss by the Issuer of the attorney-client privilege
or other valuable right. The Issuer agrees to use its best efforts, subject to
legal requirements and Nasdaq listing standards, to nominate the individual
designated from time to time pursuant to clause (ii)(y) above, and to support
their election by the Issuer’s stockholders, provided, however, that any
such designee that is subsequently elected to the Issuer’s board of directors by
the Issuer’s stockholders must immediately resign as a member of the Issuer’s
board of directors once the Noteholder that initially nominated him or her is no
longer a Noteholder. The nomination of any such designee is conditioned upon the
receipt by the Issuer of all information required by the Nominating Committee of
the Issuer’s Board of Directors to make an informed judgment that the designee’s
nomination would not violate legal requirements or Nasdaq listing standards.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Bryant R. Riley shall not be entitled to more
than one nominee as a member of the Issuer’s Board of Directors pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement and the Existing Purchase Agreement.

SECTION 6.1.23      

IEC Contract.    On the Closing Date, the Issuer will use $9.1 million of the
net proceeds from its sale of the Notes in order to cause the IEC Letter of
Credit to be issued.

ARTICLE 7.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 7.1.       
Events of Default.    The term "Event of Default" shall mean any of the
events set forth in this Section 7.1.  

SECTION 7.1.1       

Non-Payment of
      Obligations.    The Issuer shall default:

(a)        in the payment or prepayment when due of any principal of the Notes;
        or

(b)        in the payment when due of the interest payable in respect of the
        Notes or any other Obligations and such default shall continue
        unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days.

SECTION 7.1.2       

Non-Performance of Certain Covenants.  

(a)        Any Obligor shall default in the due performance and
observance of any of its obligations under Article 6 (other than 
Sections 6.1.7, 6.1.14, 6.1.16 and 6.1.17) and such
default shall continue unremedied for a period of ten (10) days after notice
thereof shall have been given to the Issuer by the Noteholders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or if such default is not reasonably
susceptible to cure within ten (10) days, such longer period as is reasonably
needed to effect such cure, but in no event longer than thirty (30) days from
the date notice is given, so long as the Obligors promptly commence and
diligently pursue such cure).

(b)        Any Obligor shall default in the due performance and
observance of any of its obligations under Section 6.1.7, 6.1.14,
6.1.16 or 6.1.17.

SECTION 7.1.3       

Defaults Under Other Documents; Non-Performance of Other Obligations. Any "Event of Default" shall occur under the other
Documents; or any Obligor shall default in the due performance and observance of
any other obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or in
any other Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
ten (10) days after notice thereof shall have been given to the Issuer by the
Required Holders (or if such default is not reasonably susceptible to cure
within ten (10) days, such longer period as is reasonably needed to effect such
cure, but in no event longer than thirty (30) days from the date notice is
given, so long as the Issuer promptly commences and diligently pursues such
cure).

SECTION 7.1.4       

Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc.  The Issuer or any Subsidiary shall:

(a)        become insolvent or generally fail to pay, or admit in writing its
        inability to pay, its debts as they become due;

(b)        apply for, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a
        trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian for itself or any of
        its property, or make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

(c)        in the absence of such application, consent or acquiescence, permit
        or suffer to exist the appointment of a trustee, receiver, sequestrator
        or other custodian for itself or for any of its property, and such
        trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian shall not be
        discharged within sixty (60) days;

(d)        permit or suffer to exist the commencement of any bankruptcy,
        reorganization, debt arrangement or other case or proceeding under any
        bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution, winding up or
        liquidation proceeding, in respect of the Issuer or any Subsidiary and,
        if such case or proceeding is not commenced by the Issuer or Subsidiary,
        such case or proceeding shall be consented to or acquiesced in by the
        Issuer or such Subsidiary or shall result in the entry of an order for
        relief or shall remain for sixty (60) days undismissed; or

(e)        take any corporate action authorizing, or in furtherance of, any of
        the foregoing.  

SECTION 7.1.5       
Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty of any Obligor under
        this Agreement or any other Document or in any other writing furnished
        by or on behalf of any Obligor to any Noteholder for the purposes of or
        in connection with this Agreement or any such Document is or shall be
        incorrect when made in any material respect.

SECTION 7.1.6      
Default on Other
        Indebtedness, Contracts, etc.  (a) Any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in an aggregate
        principal amount exceeding $250,000 (other than the Notes) shall not be
        paid at its stated maturity or shall be duly declared to be or shall
        become due and payable prior to the stated maturity thereof, (b) there
        shall occur and be continuing any event under any Instrument relating to
        any such Indebtedness, the effect of which is to cause such Indebtedness
        to become due prior to its stated maturity, or (c) the holder or holders
        of such Indebtedness, or any trustee, agent or other representative on
        behalf of such holder or holders, shall have demanded or required,
        pursuant to the terms of any Instrument relating to such Indebtedness,
        that the Issuer or any Subsidiary redeem, repurchase or otherwise
        acquire or retire such Indebtedness for value at any time prior to its
        stated maturity.

SECTION 7.1.7       

Judgments.  A final judgment which, with other such outstanding final
judgments against the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (in each case to the extent
not covered by insurance), exceeds an aggregate of $250,000 shall be entered
against the Issuer or any Subsidiary and, within 30 days after entry thereof,
such judgment shall not have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending
appeal or, within 30 days after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment
shall not have been discharged or stayed or bonded.

SECTION 7.1.8       

Invalidity of Guarantees.  Any of the Guarantees, the ECH Mexico Guarantee or the HOC
Mexico Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect; any Guarantee is
declared to be null and void and unenforceable; any of the Guarantees, the ECH
Mexico Guarantee or the HOC Mexico Guarantee is found to be invalid; or any
Guarantor or any guarantor under the ECH Mexico Guarantee or the HOC Mexico
Guarantee denies its liability under its Guarantee, the ECH Mexico Guarantee or
the HOC Mexico Guarantee, as the case may be (in each case, other than by reason
of release of a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement).

SECTION 7.1.9.       

Change of Control. A Change of Control shall have occurred.

SECTION 7.2       
Action if Bankruptcy.  If any Event of Default described in Section 7.1.4
shall occur, the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and all other
Obligations shall automatically be and become immediately due and payable
without notice, demand or presentment.

SECTION 7.3       

Action if Other Event of Default.  If any Event of Default (other than any Event of Default
described in Section 7.1.4) shall occur for any reason, whether voluntary
or involuntary, and be continuing, the Required Holders may, upon notice or
demand, declare all or any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the
Notes to be due and payable and all other Obligations to be due and payable,
whereupon the full unpaid amount of the Notes and all other Obligations which
shall be so declared due and payable shall be and become immediately due and
payable without further notice, demand, or presentment, and to the extent any
Obligations are paid by the Issuer, they shall constitute a prepayment under
this Agreement. If at any time any portion of the outstanding principal amount
of the Notes or any other Obligations shall be declared due and payable in
accordance with this Section 7.3, the Required Holders may at any time
thereafter, by written instrument filed with the Issuer, rescind and annul such
declaration and its consequences. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to
the subordination provisions of this Agreement, the right of any Noteholder to
receive payment of principal of, or interest on any Note held by such Noteholder
on or after the respective dates expressed in such Note, or to bring suit for
the enforcement of any such repayment on or after such respective date, is
absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the
consent of such Noteholder.

ARTICLE 8

GUARANTEE

SECTION 8.1.      
The Guarantee.    Each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby absolutely,
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Noteholders, and their
successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt payment (whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and performance of (a) the Notes
and the other Obligations of the Issuer, including (i) all principal of and
interest (including any interest which accrues after the commencement of any
case, proceeding or other action relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of the Issuer, whether or not such interest constitutes an
allowable claim) on any Note issued pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all
other amounts payable and all obligations to be performed by the Issuer under
this Agreement or any other Document and (b) any renewals or extensions of any
of the foregoing (collectively, the "Guaranteed Obligations"). Each
Guarantor, jointly and severally, agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and
performance and not of collection, and that its obligations hereunder shall be
primary, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by:

(1)        the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or
    any future amendment of, or change in, the Notes, this Agreement or any
    other Document or any other agreement, document or instrument to which the
    Issuer or any other Obligor is or are or may become a party;

(2)        the absence of any action to enforce the Notes, this
    Agreement or any other Document or the waiver or consent by the Noteholders
    with respect to any of the provisions of any Document;

(3)        any other action or circumstances which might otherwise
    constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or
    guarantor (other than payment in full);

it being agreed by each Guarantor that its obligations
hereunder shall not be discharged until the payment and performance, in full, of
the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor shall be regarded, and shall be in
the same position, as principal debtor with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations. Each Guarantor expressly waives all rights it may now or in the
future have under any statute, or at common law, or at law or in equity, or
otherwise, to compel any Noteholder to proceed in respect of the Guaranteed
Obligations against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against, or
as a condition to proceeding against, the Issuer. Each Guarantor further
expressly waives and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any defense based
upon the failure of any Noteholder to commence an action in respect of the
Guaranteed Obligations against the Issuer, any other Obligor or any other
Person. Each Guarantor agrees that any notice or directive given at any time to
any Noteholder by the Issuer, any other Obligor or any other Person which is
inconsistent with the waivers in the preceding two sentences shall be null and
void and may be ignored by such Noteholder, and, in addition, may not be pleaded
or introduced as evidence in any litigation relating to the obligations of such
Guarantor under this Article 8 for the reason that such pleading or
introduction would be at variance with the written terms hereof, unless the
Required Holders have specifically agreed otherwise in writing. The foregoing
waivers are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Documents and,
but for this provisions of this Article 8 and such waivers, the Initial
Purchasers and each subsequent Noteholder would decline to purchase the Notes.

SECTION 8.2.      

Demand by the Noteholders.    In addition to the terms of the guarantee set forth in 
Section 8.1, and in no manner imposing any limitation on such terms, if the
then outstanding principal amount of the Guaranteed Obligations is declared to
be immediately due and payable (or automatically becomes immediately due and
payable), then the Guarantors are, jointly and severally, required to pay to the
holder of the Guaranteed Obligations the entire outstanding Guaranteed
Obligations due and owing to such holder. Payment by the Issuer shall be
credited and applied upon the Guaranteed Obligations and shall be made in
immediately available federal funds to an account as set forth in Section 2.3.
The Noteholders will, upon any such payment to such Noteholders, promptly
thereafter cause to be distributed like funds (after payment of any amounts
payable to the Noteholders pursuant to Section 2.3) ratably to each
holder of the Guaranteed Obligations based on the respective Guaranteed
Obligations held by such holder.

SECTION 8.3.      

Enforcement of Guarantee.    Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in no event
shall any Noteholder have any obligation (although each is entitled, at its
option) to proceed against the Issuer or any other Obligor or Person or any real
or personal property pledged to secure the Guaranteed Obligations before
proceeding against any Guarantor, and any Noteholder may proceed, prior or
subsequent to, or simultaneously with, the enforcement of any Noteholder’s
rights hereunder, to exercise any right or remedy which it may have against the
Issuer or any such other Person or against any property, real or personal, as a
result of any Lien it may have as security for all or any portion of the
Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 8.4.      

Waivers.    In addition to the waivers contained in Section 8.1,
each Guarantor waives, and agrees that it shall not at any time insist upon,
plead or in any manner whatever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any
appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, marshalling of assets or redemption laws,
or exemption, whether now or at any time hereafter in force, which may delay,
prevent or otherwise affect the performance by it of its obligations under, or
the enforcement by the Noteholders of, the provisions of this Article 8.
Each Guarantor further hereby waives diligence, presentment and demand (whether
for non-payment or protest or of acceptance, maturity, extension of time, change
in nature or form of the Guaranteed Obligations, acceptance of the Guarantees by
the Noteholders and acceptance of security, release of security, composition or
agreement arrived at as to the amount of, or the terms of, the Guaranteed
Obligations, notice of adverse change in the Issuer’s or any other Obligor’s
financial condition or any other fact which might materially increase the risk
to the Guarantors) with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations or all
other demands whatsoever and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives
the benefit of all provisions of law which are or might be in conflict with the
terms of this Article 8. Each Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees
that its obligations under this Article 8 are not and shall not be
subject to any counterclaims, offsets or defenses of any kind against the
Noteholders, the Issuer, the other Obligors or any other guarantor of the
Guaranteed Obligations now existing or which may arise in the future.

SECTION 8.5.      
Benefits of Guarantee.    The provisions of this Article 8 are for the benefit
of the Noteholders and their respective successors, transferees, endorsees and
assigns and nothing herein contained shall impair, as among the Issuer and the
Noteholders, the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and the Documents.

SECTION 8.6.      
Modification of Notes, etc.    If the Noteholders shall at any time or from time to time,
with or without the consent of, or notice to, each Guarantor:

(1)        change or extend the manner, place or terms of payment of, or renew
        or alter all or any portion of, the Guaranteed Obligations, including,
        without limitation, the Notes and the other Obligations under the
        Documents;

(2)        take any action under or in respect of the Notes or the Documents in
        the exercise of any remedy, power or privilege contained therein or
        available to it at law, equity or otherwise, or waive or refrain from
        exercising any such remedies, powers or privileges;

(3)        amend or modify, in any manner whatsoever, the Notes or the
        Documents;

(4)        extend or waive the time for any of the Issuer’s or other Person’s
        performance of, or compliance with, any term, covenant or agreement on
        its part to be performed or observed under the Notes or the Documents,
        or waive such performance or compliance or consent to a failure of, or
        departure from, such performance or compliance;

(5)        take and hold security or collateral for the payment of the
        Guaranteed Obligations or sell, exchange, release, dispose of, or
        otherwise deal with, any property pledged, mortgaged or conveyed, or in
        which the Noteholders may have been granted a Lien, to secure any
        Indebtedness of the Issuer, any other Obligors or any other guarantor of
        any of the Guaranteed Obligations, to the Noteholders;

(6)        release anyone who may be liable in any manner for the payment of
        any amounts owed by the Issuer, any other Obligors or any other
        guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, to any Noteholder;

(7)        modify or terminate the terms of any intercreditor or subordination
        agreement pursuant to which claims of other creditors of the Issuer, any
        other Obligors or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed
        Obligations, are subordinated to the claims of any Noteholder; or

(8)        apply any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any amounts
        owing by the Issuer, any other Obligors or any other guarantor of the
        Guaranteed Obligations, to any Noteholder in such manner as any
        Noteholder shall determine in its discretion;

then none of the Noteholders shall incur any liability to any
Guarantor as a result thereof, and no such action shall impair or release the
obligations of any Guarantor under this Article 8.

SECTION 8.7.      
Reinstatement. To the extent permitted by law, the provisions of this 
Article 8 shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective
in the event any petition is filed by or against the Issuer or other Obligors
for liquidation or reorganization, in the event the Issuer or any other Obligors
becomes insolvent or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or in the
event a receiver or trustee is appointed for all or any significant part of the
assets of the Issuer or any other Obligors, and shall continue to be effective
or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of
the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof is, pursuant to applicable law,
rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any
Noteholder, whether as a "voidable preference", "fraudulent conveyance"
or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In
the event that any payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any part thereof,
is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Guaranteed Obligations or part
thereof so rescinded, restored or returned shall be reinstated, and the
Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not
so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

SECTION 8.8.      
Waiver of Subrogation, etc.    Upon the making by any Guarantor of any payment hereunder in
respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the
rights of the Noteholders against the Issuer with respect to such payment; 
provided that such Guarantor shall not enforce any right to receive any
payment by way of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution or setoff resulting
from such payment until all of the Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in
full. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such
subrogation, reimbursement, contribution or setoff rights, such amount shall be
held in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders and any other holders of the
Guaranteed Obligations and shall forthwith be paid to the Noteholders and all
other holders of Guaranteed Obligations to be credited and applied upon the
Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the
terms of the Notes and this Agreement.  

SECTION 8.9.      
Election of Remedies, etc.    Any election of remedies which results in the denial or
impairment of the right of any Noteholder to seek a deficiency judgment against
the Issuer shall not impair any Guarantor’s obligations to pay the full amount
of the Guaranteed Obligations. In the event any Noteholder shall bid at any
foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale permitted by law or the
Documents, such Noteholder may bid all or less than the amount of the Guaranteed
Obligations and the amount of such bid need not be paid by such Noteholder but
shall be credited against the Guaranteed Obligations. The amount of the
successful bid at any such sale, whether any Noteholder or any other party is
the successful bidder, shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value
of the collateral and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining
balance of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the
amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed under the provisions of this
Article 8, notwithstanding that any present or future law or court decision or
ruling may have the effect of reducing the amount of any deficiency claim to
which any Noteholder might otherwise be entitled but for such bidding at any
such sale.

SECTION 8.10.      

Subordination of
    Guarantees. All Guarantees pursuant to this Article 8 will be
subordinated on the same basis to Senior Debt of such Guarantor as the Notes are
subordinated to Senior Debt under Article 12.

SECTION 8.11.      

Continuing Guarantee. Each Guarantor agrees that the provisions of this 
Article 8 are a continuing Guarantee and shall remain in full force and
effect until the payment and performance in full of the Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 8.12.      

Contribution. In the event any Guarantor (a "Funding Guarantor")
shall make a payment in respect of the Notes or any other Obligations or shall
suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any of its assets pursuant
to any Document, the other Guarantors (the "Contributing Guarantors") shall,
subject to the last sentence of this Section 8.12, contribute to such
Funding Guarantor an amount equal to such Contributing Guarantor’s Pro Rata
Share of such payment made, or loss suffered, by such Funding Guarantor. The
Contributing Guarantor’s Pro Rata Share with respect to any such payment or loss
by each Funding Guarantor shall be determined as of the date on which such
payment or loss was made or suffered by reference to the ratio of (i) such
Contributing Guarantor’s maximum obligation hereunder as provided in
Section 8.13 (such Guarantor’s "Maximum Obligation") as of such date
(without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any
contribution hereunder) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Obligations of all
Guarantor’s (including such Funding Guarantor) as of such date (without giving
effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution
hereunder). Nothing in this Section 8.12 shall affect each Guarantor’s
several liability for the entire amount of the Obligations (up to such
Guarantor’s Maximum Obligation). Each Guarantor covenants and agrees that its
obligation to make a contribution hereunder to a Funding Guarantor and its right
to receive any contribution hereunder from a Contributing Guarantor shall be
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the Obligations.

SECTION 8.13.      
Savings Clause.

(a)        It is the intent of each Guarantor that its maximum
obligations hereunder (the "Guarantor Maximum Obligation") shall be in,
but not in excess of:

(i)        in a case or proceeding commenced by or against such
    Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code on or within one year from the date on
    which such Guaranteed Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount which
    would not otherwise cause such Guaranteed Obligations to be avoidable or
    unenforceable against the Guarantor under (A) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy
    Code or (B) any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or
    statute applied in such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the
    Bankruptcy Code; or

(ii)        in a case or proceeding commenced by or against such
    Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code subsequent to one year from the date on
    which the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor are incurred, the maximum
    amount which would not otherwise cause such Guaranteed Obligations to be
    avoidable or unenforceable against such Guarantor under any state fraudulent
    transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or
    proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or

(iii)        in a case or proceeding commenced by or against such
    Guarantor under any law, statute or regulation other than the Bankruptcy
    Code (including any other bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
    moratorium, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar debtor
    relief laws or any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or
    statute applied in any such case or proceeding), the maximum amount which
    would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor to be
    avoidable or unenforceable against such Guarantor under such law, statute or
    regulation.

The substantive laws under which possible avoidance or
unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be determined in any such
case or proceeding shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Avoidance
Provisions."  

(b)        To the extent set forth in this Section 8.13(b), but
only to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor would
otherwise be subject to avoidance under any Avoidance Provisions if such
Guarantor is not deemed to have received valuable consideration, fair value or
reasonably equivalent value for such Guaranteed Obligations, and if such
Guaranteed Obligations would render such Guarantor insolvent, leave such
Guarantor with an unreasonably small capital to conduct its business or cause
such Guarantor to have incurred debts (or to have intended to have incurred
debts) beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, in each case as of
the time any of the Guaranteed Obligations are deemed to have been incurred
under the Avoidance Provisions, then the maximum Guaranteed Obligations shall be
reduced to that amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not cause the
Guaranteed Obligations, as so reduced, to be subject to avoidance under the
Avoidance Provisions. This Section 8.13(b) is intended solely to preserve
the rights of the Noteholders under the Notes and the other Documents to the
maximum extent that would not cause the Guaranteed Obligations to be subject to
avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions, and neither such Guarantor nor any
other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section 8.13(b) as
against any Noteholder that would not otherwise be available to such Person
under the Avoidance Provisions.

ARTICLE 9

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 9.1.       
Defined Terms.    The following terms (whether or not underscored) when used
in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, shall, except where the
context otherwise requires, have the following meanings (such meanings to be
equally applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof):

"Additional Notes" means notes substantially in the
form of Exhibit A that are issued after the Closing Date from time to
time in accordance with Section 2.4.

"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any of
(i) a director or executive officer of such Person, (ii) a spouse, parent,
sibling or descendant of such Person (or a spouse, parent, sibling or descendent
of any director or executive offer of such Person) and (iii) any other Person
that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common
control with such Person. For the purpose of this definition, "control"
(including the terms "controlling," "controls by" and "under
common control with"), as used respect to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities or by contract or agency or otherwise.

"Agreement" means, on any date, this Purchase
Agreement as originally in effect on the Closing Date and as thereafter from
time to time amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified
and in effect.

"Amended Collateral Agency Agreement" means the
Collateral Agency Agreement dated as of March 11, 2004, among Elliott
Associates, L.P., as Collateral Agent, the Obligors and the Initial Purchasers
as amended by the Collateral Agency Agreement Amendment, as the same may be
further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with
the terms thereof.

"Amendment" means
the Amendment No. 1 and Waiver to
Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2004, by and among the Issuer and the
holders listed on the signature pages thereof.

"Approval" means each and every approval, consent,
filing and registration by or with any Person, including, without limitation,
Governmental Authorities, necessary to authorize or permit the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Document, for
the issuance of the Notes, for the validity or enforceability hereof or thereof,
or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Documents.
 

"Avoidance Provisions" is defined in Section 8.13.

"Bankruptcy Code"
means the Bankruptcy Code of 1978,
11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., as amended.

"Business Day" means
any day which is neither a
Saturday or Sunday nor a legal holiday on which banks are authorized or required
to be closed in New York, New York.

"Capitalized Lease Liabilities" means all monetary
obligations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries under any leasing or similar
arrangement which, in accordance with GAAP, are or would be classified as
capitalized leases.

"Change of Control" means any of (1) the sale, lease,
exchange or other transfer by the Issuer of all or substantially all of its
assets, (2) the merger of the Issuer with, or the consolidation of the Issuer
into, any other corporation as a result of which the stockholders of the Issuer
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not own Stock having more
than 50% of the outstanding voting power (assuming conversion of all convertible
securities and exercise of all outstanding options and warrants) of the
surviving corporation, (3) the dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer,
(4) more than 20% of the outstanding voting Stock of the Issuer becomes
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any "person" or "group" (as such
terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations thereunder), or (5) during any period of two
(2) years (whether commencing before or after the Closing Date), the failure of
individuals who on the first day of such period were directors of the Issuer
(together with any replacement or additional directors who are nominated or
elected by a majority of directors then in office) to constitute a majority of
the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

"Charges" means all federal, state, county, city,
municipal, local, foreign or other governmental (including PBGC) (a) taxes at
the time due and payable and (b) levies, assessments, charges, liens, claims or
encumbrances upon or relating to (i) the Obligations, (ii) the Issuer’s and its
Subsidiaries’ employees, payroll, income or gross receipts, (iii) the Issuer’s
and its Subsidiaries’ ownership or use of their assets, or (iv) any other aspect
of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ business.  

"Closing" is defined in Section 1.2.

"Closing Date" is defined in Section 1.2.

"Collateral" means collectively, all of the tangible
and intangible real and personal property, owned by Obligors (including but not
limited to contract rights, accounts receivable, payments, earnings, bank
accounts and other property of Obligors) over and in which the Collateral Agent
has a Lien under the Security Documents.

"Collateral Agency Agreement Amendment" means
Amendment No. 1 to Collateral Agency Agreement, of even date herewith, among
Elliott Associates, L.P., as Collateral Agent, the Obligors and the other
parties set forth therein.

"Collateral Agent" is defined
in
Section 3.1.

"Commission" means the
Securities and Exchange
Commission.

"Common Stock" means shares now or hereafter
authorized of any class of common stock of the Issuer and any other capital
stock of the Issuer, however designated, that has the right (subject to any
prior rights of any class or series of preferred stock) to participate in any
distribution of the assets upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Issuer or in the earnings of the Issuer without
limit as to per share amount, and shall include, without limitation, the
presently authorized 35,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per
share.

"Commonly Controlled Entity" means, with respect to
any Person, an entity or trade or business, whether or not incorporated, which
is from time to time a member of a controlled group or a group under common
control with such Person within the meaning of Sections 414(b), 414(c), 414(m)
or 414(o) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA. Unless
otherwise indicated in this Agreement, Commonly Controlled Entity shall refer to
a Commonly Controlled Entity with respect to the Issuer.

"Contract Payments" is defined in Section 6.1.17.

"Contractual Obligation" means,
relative to any
Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any Instrument
or undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its
property is bound.

"Contributing Guarantors" is
defined in 
Section 8.12.

"Convertible Securities" means evidences of
Indebtedness, shares of stock or other securities which, with or without payment
of additional consideration in cash or property, are convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, whether or not the right to convert or
exchange thereunder is immediately exercisable or is conditioned upon the
passage of time, the occurrence or non-occurrence of some other event, or both.

"Default" means any Event of
Default or any condition
or event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event
of Default.

"Disclosure Schedule" means the Disclosure Schedule
attached hereto as Schedule 1.

"Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the
Notes, the Security Documents and each other Instrument executed and delivered
by the Issuer or any other Obligor as of the date hereof or at any time
thereafter, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
in each case, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

"Dollar" and the sign "$" mean
lawful money of
the United States.

"ECH" means ECH Offshore, S. de R.L. de C.V., a 
sociedad de responsabilidad limitada de capital variable organized under the
laws of Mexico and one of the Obligors hereunder.

"ECH Mexico Guarantee" means
the "Contrato de Fianza"
(Guaranty Agreement), dated as of May 27, 2004, granted by ECH in favor of
Elliott Associates, L.P.

"Environment" means soil, surface
waters, ground
waters, land, streams, sediments, surface or subsurface strata and ambient air.

"Environmental Laws" means all
federal, state and
local laws or regulations, codes, common law, consent agreements, orders,
decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder relating to pollution or protection of the Environment, natural
resource or occupational health and safety.  

"Environmental Liabilities and Costs" means all
liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, remedial actions, losses, damages,
punitive damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses
(including all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, expert
and consulting fees and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines,
penalties, settlement costs, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of any
claim or demand, by any Person, whether based in contract, tort, implied or
express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, any Environmental
Law, permit, order, variance or agreement with a Governmental Authority or other
Person, arising from or related to the administration of any Environmental Law
or arising from environmental, health or safety conditions or a release or
threatened release resulting from the past, present or future operations of the
Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or affecting any of their properties, or any
release or threatened release for which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is
otherwise responsible under any Environmental Law.

"ERISA" means the Employee
Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute of similar import, together
with the regulation thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time.
References to sections of ERISA also refer to any successor sections.

"Event of Default" is defined in Section 7.1.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities
Exchange Act of
1934, as amended from time to time.

"Exim Bank" means the Export-Import
Bank of the United
States.

"Exim Bank Agreement" means the Loan Agreement, dated
August 15, 2001, between Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc., Horizon Subsea
Services, Inc. and Horizon Vessels, Inc., HorizEn, LLC, jointly and severally,
and Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A., as agent for the lenders, as amended through
the date hereof, and any notes, guarantees, security agreements and mortgages
executed with respect thereto.

"Existing Noteholders" means the "Noteholders" as
defined in the Existing Purchase Agreement.

"Existing Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2004, among the Issuer, the guarantors listed
on the signature pages thereof, and the purchasers listed on the signature pages
thereof, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance
with the terms thereof.

"Existing Subordinated Notes"
means the 16%
Subordinated Secured Notes due March 31, 2007 issued from time to time by the
Issuer pursuant to the Existing Purchase Agreement and guaranteed by the
guarantors as set forth therein.

"Fiscal Quarter" means any quarter
of a Fiscal Year.

"Fiscal Year" means each twelve
month accounting
period ending on December 31 of each calendar year.

"Funding Guarantor" is defined
in Section 8.12.

"F.R.S. Board" means the Board of
Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (or any successor).

"GAAP" means generally accepted
accounting principles
in effect from time to time in the United States.

"Governmental Authority" means any nation or
government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government.

"Guaranteed Obligations" is defined in Section 8.1.

"Guarantees" means the obligations of
the Guarantors
pursuant to Article 8.

"Guarantor" or "Guarantors" means (i)
any
Guarantor listed on the signature page of this Agreement, and (ii) each of the
Issuer’s current or future Subsidiaries that in the future becomes bound by this
Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1.17.

"Guarantor Maximum Obligation" is
defined in 
Section 8.13.

"herein", "hereof", "hereto", "hereunder"
and similar terms contained in this Agreement or any other Document refer to
this Agreement or such other Document, as the case may be, as a whole and not to
any particular Section, clause or provision of this Agreement or such other
Document.

"HOC Mexico" means HOC Offshore S. de R.L. de C.V., a
sociedad de responsabilidad limitada de capital variable organized under the
laws of Mexico and one of the Obligors hereunder.

"HOC Mexico Guarantee" means
the "Contrato de Fianza"
(Guaranty Agreement), dated as of May 27, 2004, granted by HOC Mexico in favor
of Elliott Associates, L.P.

"IEC" means Israel Electric
Corporation Ltd.

"IEC Contract" means the Construction
Agreement, dated
March 1, 2004, between Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc. and IEC.

"IEC Letter of Credit" means the letter
of credit
required to be issued on behalf of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in
favor of IEC pursuant to the IEC Contract.

"including" means including without
limiting the
generality of any description preceding such term.

"Indebtedness" of any Person means, without
duplication:

(a)        all obligations of such Person for borrowed money (including all
        notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit) and
        all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
        other similar instruments on which interest charges are customarily
        paid;

(b)        all obligations, contingent or otherwise, relative to the face
        amount of all letters of credit, whether or not drawn, and banker’s
        acceptances issued for the account of such Person;

(c)        all Capitalized
Lease Liabilities of such Person (to the extent
        required by GAAP to be included on the balance sheet of such Person);

(d)        whether or not so included as liabilities in accordance with GAAP
        (i) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of
        property or services (excluding trade accounts payable for other than
        borrowed money arising in the ordinary course of business) and
        indebtedness secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by
        such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or
        other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness
        shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse, and
        (ii) all obligations (contingent or otherwise) to guarantee, purchase or
        otherwise acquire, or otherwise assure a creditor against loss in
        respect of, Indebtedness of another Person;  

(e)        all net obligations of
such Person under Interest Rate Contracts;
        and

(f)        all obligations of such Person to redeem, purchase or otherwise
        retire or extinguish any of its Stock, or any warrants, options or
        rights to acquire its Stock, at a fixed or determinable date (whether by
        operation of a sinking fund or otherwise), at another’s option or upon
        the occurrence of a condition not solely within the control of such
        Person (e.g., redemption from future earnings).  

"Indemnified Liabilities"
        is defined in Section 11.4.

"Initial Purchasers" is
defined in the
        preamble to this Agreement.

"Insolvency" or "Insolvent" means, at
        any particular time, a Multiemployer Pension Plan is insolvent within
        the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

"Instrument" means any contract, agreement,
        letter of credit, indenture, mortgage, deed, certificate of title,
        document or writing (whether by formal agreement, letter or otherwise)
        under which any obligation is evidenced, assumed or undertaken, any Lien
        (or right or interest therein) is granted or perfected, or any property
        (or right or interest therein) is conveyed.

"Interest Rate Contract" means any interest
        rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate swap
        agreement or other agreement or arrangement designed to protect against
        fluctuations in interest rates.

"Internal Revenue Code" means the United
        States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

"Investment" means, relative to any Person,
        (a) any direct or indirect loan or advance or other extension of credit
        (including, without limitation, a guarantee) or capital contribution
        made by such Person to any other Person excluding commission, travel and
        similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course
        of business), (b) any ownership or similar interest held by such Person
        in any other Person, and (c) the purchase of any debt or equity
        securities or instruments issued by any other Person including, without
        limitation, Stock, notes, debentures, drafts and acceptances, trust
        certificates, partnership interests or units or membership interests in
        limited liability companies (other than temporary short term investments
        in cash equivalents made by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries for
        cash management purposes). The amount of any Investment of the nature
        referred to in clause (a) or (b) shall be the original principal or
        capital amount thereof less all returns of principal or equity thereon
        (and without adjustment by reason of the financial condition of such
        other Person) and, if made by the transfer or exchange of property other
        than cash, shall be deemed to have been made in an original principal or
        capital amount equal to the fair market value of such property.

"Iroquois Contract"
means the Construction
        Contract No. 02-12, dated April 12, 2002, between Iroquois Gas
        Transmission System, L.P. by its agent Iroquois Pipeline Operating
        Company and Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc.

"Issuer" is defined in the preamble to this
        Agreement.

"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge,
        hypothecation, assignment, charge, deposit arrangement, encumbrance,
        lien (statutory or other), adverse claim or preference, priority or
        other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or
        nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title
        retention agreement, any financing lease involving substantially the
        same economic effect as any of the foregoing and the filing of any
        financing statement under the UCC or comparable law of any
        jurisdiction).

"Loss" means any loss, damage, destruction,
        theft, or seizure of, or any other casualty with respect to, or any
        condemnation of, any property or asset of any Person in an amount in
        excess of $500,000 individually or in the aggregate for any Fiscal Year;
        and the "amount" of any Loss means (i) if such asset or property
        is repaired or replaced, the greater of (A) the cost to repair or
        replace the property or asset that was the subject of such Loss and (B)
        the amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards payable as a
        result of such Loss, and (ii) if such asset or property is not repaired
        or replaced, the amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards
        payable as a result of such loss.

"Material Adverse Change" means a material
        adverse change in (a) the condition (financial or otherwise),
        operations, performance, business, properties or prospects of the Issuer
        and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (b) the rights and remedies of
        the Noteholders under the Documents; or (c) the ability of the Issuer to
        repay the Notes or any other Obligations, or of the Issuer or other
        Obligor to perform its obligations under the Documents; or (d) the
        legality, validity or enforceability of any Document.

"Maturity" means the earlier of the Stated
        Maturity Date or such other date when the Notes or portion thereof shall
        be or become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this
        Agreement, whether by required repayment, prepayment, declaration or
        otherwise.

"Maximum Lawful Rate" is defined in
Section 11.15.

"Maximum Obligation"
is defined in Section 8.12.

"Mexican Pledge Agreement" means the Pledge
        Agreement without Transmission of Possession granted by ECH Offshore S.
        de R.L. de C.V. to Elliott Associates, L.P., as Collateral Agent for
        itself and the various holders.

"Multiemployer Pension Plan" means a
        Multiemployer Plan which is subject to Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

"Multiemployer Plan"
means a Plan which is a "multiemployer
        plan" within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA.

"Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means a
        Subsidiary of the Issuer whose Stock is not owned entirely by the Issuer
        or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

"Noteholder" and "Noteholders" is
        defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

"Noteholder Parties" is
defined in Section 11.4.

"Notes" is defined in Section 1.1.

"Obligations" means
all obligations of the
        Issuer (monetary or otherwise) arising under or in connection with this
        Agreement, the Notes and the other Documents.

"Obligor" means any of
the Issuer and the
        Guarantors.

"Organic Document"
means, relative to any
        Person, its articles or certificate of incorporation or certificate of
        limited partnership or organization, its bylaws, partnership or
        operating agreement or other organizational documents, and all
        stockholders agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements
        applicable to any of its Stock or partnership interests or other
        ownership interests.

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

"Pemex" is defined in
Section 6.1.17.

"Pemex Claims" means all claims for payment or
        damages, including all interest, penalties and fees thereon, made by the
        Obligors under the Pemex Contract other than claims relating to weather.

"Pemex Contract" is
defined in Section 6.1.17.

"Pension Plan" means
any Plan which is subject
        to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA, or to the provisions of
        Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Permitted Joint Venture" means the
        participation by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in (i) the joint
        ventures set forth in Item 9(a) (Permitted Joint Ventures) of the
        Disclosure Schedule in which the aggregate net Investment by the Issuer
        and its Subsidiaries in such joint ventures at any one time will not
        exceed (x) $10,000,000 for the joint venture set forth in section (1) of
Item 9(a) (Permitted Joint Ventures) of the Disclosure Schedule
        and (y) $15,000,000 for the joint venture set forth in section (2) of Item 9(a) (Permitted Joint Ventures) of the Disclosure Schedule and
        (ii) any other joint ventures to perform offshore services in the oil
        and gas industry with any other Persons in which the aggregate net
        Investments by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in all such joint
        ventures (excluding the joint ventures set forth in Item 9(a)
        (Permitted Joint Ventures) of the Disclosure Schedule) at any one time
        will not exceed $10,000,000.

"Person" means any natural person,
        corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, association,
        government, governmental agency or any other entity, whether acting in
        an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

"Plan" shall mean, at a particular time, any
        employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA),
        which is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Issuer or any
        Subsidiary or a Commonly Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were
        terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to
        be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

"Post-Default Rate"
means the sum of the rate
        per annum otherwise applicable to the Notes plus two percent (2%)
        per annum.

"Proceeding" means (a) any insolvency,
        bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment,
        composition or other similar proceeding relating to any of the Obligors,
        its properties or its creditors as such, (b) any proceeding for any
        liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up of any of the Obligors,
        whether voluntary or involuntary, and whether or not involving
        insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or (c) any assignment for the
        benefit of creditors or marshaling of assets of any of the Obligors or
        the appointment of a trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian
        for any of the Obligors or any of their properties.

"Projections" means the projected balance
        sheet and projected statements of income and cash flows of the Issuer
        prepared by the Issuer, together with supporting details and a statement
        of underlying assumptions, which have been delivered prior to the
        Closing Date to the Initial Purchasers in connection with their purchase
        of Notes pursuant to this Agreement.

"Purchase Price" is
defined in Section 1.2.

"Quarterly Payment Date" means each March 31,
        June 30, September 30 and December 31, commencing with June 30, 2004,
        or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately succeeding
        Business Day.

"Refinancing Indebtedness" means any
        refinancing, extension, renewal, refund, repayment, prepayment,
        redemption, defeasance, retirement, or issuance of a security or
        Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for any Senior Debt, in whole or
        in part, in each case that does not:

(1)  result in an increase in the aggregate principal
        amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in excess of
        the sum of (i) 5% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding under
        any term loans as of March 11, 2004 and (ii) 10% of the aggregate
        lending commitments under any revolving credit facilities as of March
        11, 2004;

(2)  create Indebtedness with: (a) a Weighted Average
        Life to Maturity that is less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity
        of the Indebtedness being refinanced; or (b) a final maturity earlier
        than the final maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Indebtedness
        solely of the Issuer or a Guarantor;

(3)  change any of the respective obligors from the
        obligors on the Indebtedness being refinanced;  

(4)  affect the security, if any, for the Indebtedness
        being refinanced (except to the extent that less security is granted to
        holders of such Refinancing Indebtedness); and

(5)  except as set forth in Item 9(b)
        (Refinancing Indebtedness) of the Disclosure Schedule, provide the
        holders of such Refinancing Indebtedness with covenants, defaults,
        rights or remedies that, taken as a whole, are materially more favorable
        to such holders than the terms that are applicable under the instruments
        and documents governing the Indebtedness being refinanced.

"Required Holders" means, at any time,
        Noteholders holding, in the aggregate, two-thirds of the outstanding
        principal amount of the Notes at any time (excluding any Notes held by
        any Obligor or any Subsidiary of any Obligor).

"Requirements of Law" means, as to any Person,
        the Organic Documents of such Person, and all federal, state and local
        laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees or other determinations of an
        arbitrator, court or other Governmental Authority, including, without
        limitation, all disclosure and other requirements of ERISA, the
        requirements of Environmental Laws and any permits under Environmental
        Laws, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health
        Administration, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person
        or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is
        subject.

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of
        1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the
        Commission thereunder.

"Security Documents" means those documents set
        forth in Schedule 3.

"Senior Debt" means the principal of and
        accrued interest on all Indebtedness incurred by any Obligor under any
        of the Senior Debt Documents, reduced by the amount of all principal
        repayments of any such Indebtedness consisting of term loans and,
        without duplication, the amount of all permanent reductions of
        commitments under any revolving facilities under which Senior Debt may
        be incurred. Senior Debt shall also include any Refinancing
        Indebtedness.

"Senior Debt Documents" means those documents
        set forth in Schedule 4.

"Senior Lender" means any holder of Senior
        Debt and "Senior Lenders" means the holders, collectively, of
        Senior Debt.

"Settlement" is defined in
Section 6.1.17(b).

"Sharing Percentage" is defined in
Section
        6.1.11(a).

"Solvent" means, with respect to any Person on
        a particular date, that on such date (i) the fair value of the assets of
        such Person (both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value)
        is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of
        liabilities of such Person (including all obligations and liabilities of
        such Person fixed or contingent, direct or indirect, disputed or
        undisputed, and whether or not required to be reflected on a balance
        sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP), (ii) such Person is able to pay
        all liabilities of such Person as they mature, and (iii) such Person
        does not have unreasonably small capital with which to carry on its
        business. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated
        liabilities at any time, such liabilities will be computed at the amount
        which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such
        time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an
        actual or matured liability.

"Stated Maturity Date" means March 31, 2007.

"Stock" means all shares of capital stock of
        or in a corporation, whether voting or non voting, and including,
        without limitation, common stock and preferred stock.

"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any
        Person, (1) any corporation of which the outstanding Stock having a
        least a majority of the votes entitled (without regard to the occurrence
        of any contingency) to be cast in the election of directors under
        ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or
        indirectly, by such Person; or (2) any other Person of which at least a
        majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the
        time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person. Except as otherwise
        indicated herein, references to Subsidiaries shall refer to Subsidiaries
        of the Issuer.

"Suit" is defined
in Section 6.1.17(b).

"SWBT Agreement" means the Loan Agreement,
        dated March 27, 2001, between Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc.,
        Horizon Subsea Services, Inc. and Horizon Vessels, Inc., jointly and
        severally, and Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A., as agent for the lenders,
        as amended through the date hereof, and any notes, guarantees, security
        agreements and mortgages executed with respect thereto.

"Taxes" means all taxes, levies, imposts,
        deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect
        thereto (including any penalties and interest thereon).

"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code of any
        applicable jurisdiction, as in effect from time to time.

"United States" or "U.S." means the
        United States of America, its 50 states and the District of Columbia.

"Warrants" mean the
warrants to purchase an
        aggregate of 5,283,300 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the
        Existing Purchase Agreement.

"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means,
        when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years
        obtained by dividing (a) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount
        of such Indebtedness into (b) the sum of the total of the products
        obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining
        installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of
        principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by
        (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which
        will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

"Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary
        of the Issuer whose Stock is, directly or indirectly, owned entirely by
        the Issuer.

"written" or "in writing" means any
        form of written communication or a communication by means of telecopier
        device, telegraph or cable.

SECTION 9.2.       

Use of Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined or the context otherwise
        requires, terms for which meanings are provided in this Agreement shall
        have such meanings when used in the Disclosure Schedule and each Note,
        notice and other communication delivered from time to time in connection
        with this Agreement or any other Document.

SECTION 9.3.       

Cross-References. Unless otherwise specified, references in this
        Agreement and in each other Document to any Article or Section are
        references to such Article or Section of this Agreement or such other
        Document, as the case may be, and unless otherwise specified, references
        in any Article, Section, or definition to any clause are references to
        such clause of such Section, Article or definition.

SECTION 9.4.       

Accounting and
        Financial Determinations. Unless otherwise specified, all accounting terms
        used herein or in any other Document shall be interpreted, all
        accounting determinations and computations hereunder or thereunder shall
        be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder
        or thereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE 10.

REGISTRATION;
        EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES

SECTION 10.1.        
Registration of Notes. The Issuer shall keep at its principal executive
        office a register for the registration of transfers of Notes. The name
        and address of each Noteholder, each transfer thereof and the name and
        address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in
        such register. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer,
        the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed
        and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and
        the Issuer shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the
        contrary. The Issuer shall give to any Noteholder, promptly upon request
        therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all
        such Noteholders.

SECTION 10.2.       

Transfer and Exchange
        of Notes. Upon surrender of any Note at the principal
        executive office of the Issuer for registration of transfer or exchange
        (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer, duly
        endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly
        executed by the registered Noteholder or his attorney duly authorized in
        writing and accompanied by the address for notices of each transferee of
        such Note or part thereof), the Issuer shall execute and deliver, at its
        expense, one or more new Notes as requested by the registered Noteholder
        thereof, in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount of the
        surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to or issued to
        such Person as such Noteholder shall request and shall be substantially
        in the form of Exhibit A. Each such new Note shall be dated and
        bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on
        the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no
        interest shall have been paid thereon. Notes shall not be transferred in
        denominations of less than $100,000 unless necessary to enable the
        registration of transfer by a Noteholder of all of its Notes. Transfers
        hereunder shall be made by the Issuer to the extent permitted by
        applicable law.  

If any transfer of all or a portion of a Note is not
        made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
        Securities Act, (i) the Noteholder thereof will, if reasonably requested
        by the Issuer, deliver to the Issuer an opinion of counsel, which may be
        counsel to the Noteholder but which must be reasonably satisfactory to
        the Issuer, reasonably satisfactory in form, scope and substance to the
        Issuer, that the Note (or portion thereof) may be sold without
        registration under the Securities Act; (ii) the proposed transferee
        shall make an investment covenant reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer
        (except that no such covenant will be required in connection with a
        transfer effected in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities
        Act); and (iii) the proposed transferee shall agree that the Note issued
        to such transferee shall bear the legend set forth in Section 1.3(d)
        of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.2, the restrictions upon the transferability of any Note
        and the requirement to include the first two paragraphs of the legend
        set forth in Section 1.3(d) of this Agreement shall terminate as
        to such Note (i) when and so long as such Note shall have been
        effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of pursuant
        thereto or (ii) when the Issuer shall have received an opinion of
        counsel reasonably satisfactory to it that such restrictive legend is
        not required in order to ensure compliance with the Securities Act.
        Whenever the restrictions imposed by this Section 10.2 shall
        terminate as to any Note, the Noteholder thereof shall be entitled to
        receive from the Issuer a new Note bearing a legend consisting only of
        the final paragraph of the legend set forth in Section 1.3(d) of
        this Agreement.

SECTION 10.3.       

Replacement of Notes. Upon receipt by the Issuer of notice from any
        Noteholder of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note
        held by such Noteholder and (a) in the case of loss, theft or
        destruction, of security reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer (or, in
        the case of the Initial Purchaser or any other Noteholder that is an
        institutional investor, an unsecured agreement of indemnity from such
        Noteholder), or (b) in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and
        cancellation thereof, the Issuer, at its own expense, shall execute and
        deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Note, dated and bearing interest from
        the date to which interest shall have been paid on such lost, stolen,
        destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen,
        destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.1.       
Waivers, Amendments,
        etc.

(a)        The provisions of this Agreement and of each Document may from time
        to time be amended, modified or waived, (1) if such amendment,
        modification or waiver is in writing and, (x) in the case of an
        amendment or modification, is consented to by the Issuer and the
        Required Holders and (y) in the case of a waiver of any obligation of
        the Issuer or compliance with any prohibition contained in this
        Agreement or any other Document, is consented to by the Required Holders
        or (2) as otherwise provided in any Document; provided, however, that no
        such amendment, modification or waiver of the following shall be
        effective unless:
        
        

(i)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would modify any requirement hereunder that any
        particular action be taken by all the Noteholders or by the Required
        Holders;

(ii)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would modify this Section 11.1, change the
        definition of "Required Holders," or subject any Noteholder to
        any additional obligations;

(iii)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would reduce any amounts payable to such
        Noteholders described in Article 2, extend the Stated Maturity
        Date, extend the due date for, or reduce the amount of, any payment or
        prepayment of principal of or interest on the Notes (or reduce the
        principal amount of or rate of interest on the Notes);  

(iv)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would release all or substantially all of the
        Collateral;

(v)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would release any Guarantor from any of its
        obligations under its Guarantee or this Agreement otherwise than in
        accordance with the terms hereof;

(vi)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would affect the ranking of the Notes or any
        Guarantee in a manner adverse to the Noteholders;

(vii)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would make any Notes payable in money other than
        that stated in the Notes; or

(viii)        consented to by each Noteholder, if such amendment,
        modification or waiver would, after the Issuer’s obligation to prepay
        Notes arises hereunder, amend, change or modify in any material respect
        the obligation of the Issuer to make any prepayment of the Notes.

(b)        No failure or delay on the part of any Noteholder in
        exercising any power or right under this Agreement or any other Document
        shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
        exercise of any such power or right preclude any other or further
        exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. No notice
        to or demand on the Issuer in any case shall entitle it to any notice or
        demand in similar or other circumstances. No waiver or approval by any
        Noteholder shall, except as may be otherwise stated in such waiver or
        approval, be applicable to subsequent transactions. No waiver or
        approval hereunder shall require any similar or dissimilar waiver or
        approval thereafter to be granted hereunder.

(c)        No Noteholder shall be under any obligation to
        marshal any assets in favor of the Issuer or any other party or against
        or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. Recourse for security
        shall not be required at any time. To the extent that the Issuer makes a
        payment or payments to the Noteholders, and such payment or payments or
        any part thereof are subsequently for any reason invalidated, set aside
        or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under
        any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause,
        then to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof
        originally intended to be satisfied, and all rights and remedies
        therefor, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if
        such payment had not been made.

SECTION 11.2       
Notices. All notices hereunder shall be in writing or by
        telecopy (confirmed in writing) and shall be sufficiently given to the
        Initial Purchasers, Noteholders, the Issuer or any Guarantor if
        addressed or delivered to them at the following addresses:

		
			If to the Initial Purchasers:	
			 To the address listed
        underneath such Initial Purchaser’s name in the signature pages hereof.
	 	 
	 	 
	
			
			with copies to:
	
			
			King & Spalding LLP

			
			1185 Avenue of the Americas

			
			New York, New York 10036

			
			Attention: Alexander G. Simpson

			
			Telecopier No.: (212) 556-2222

			
	 	 
	 	 
	
			If to any other Noteholder:	
			At its last known address
        appearing on the books of the Issuer maintained for such purpose in
        accordance with Section 10.1.
	 	 
	 	 
	
			If to the Issuer or any Guarantor:	
			
			Horizon Offshore, Inc.

			
			2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 2200

			
			Houston, Texas 77042

			
			Attention: Executive Vice President and Chief
        Financial Officer

			
			Telecopier No.: (713) 361-2677

			
	 	 
	 	 
	
			with copies to:  	
			
			Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,
        Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P.

			
			201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 5100

			
			New Orleans, Louisiana 70170

			
			Attention: William B. Masters

			
			Telecopier No.: (504) 582-8012

			

or at such other address as any party may designate
        to any other party by written notice. All such notices and
        communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time
        delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when received, if deposited
        in the mail postage prepaid; when transmission is verified, if
        telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air
        courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

SECTION 11.3       
Costs and Expenses. The Obligors agree to pay from time to time (before
        and after the Closing Date) all reasonable out of pocket expenses of the
        Noteholders for the negotiation, preparation, execution, and delivery of
        this Agreement and each other Document, including schedules and
        exhibits, and any amendments, waivers, consents, supplements,
        terminations, releases or other modifications to this Agreement or any
        other Document as may from time to time hereafter be required (including
        the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Noteholders, or of
        any consultants or other experts retained by the Noteholders from time
        to time in connection therewith), and to pay all reasonable expenses of
        the Required Holders (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
        to the Required Holders, or of any consultants or other experts retained
        by the Required Holders) incurred in connection with any restructuring
        or "work-out" of any Obligations, provided that the Noteholders
        shall be entitled to reimbursement in respect of reasonable attorneys’
        fees and expenses payable to a single law firm designated by the
        Required Holders in connection with any such enforcement, restructuring
        or "work-out". The Obligors also agree to pay and hold the
        Noteholders harmless from any stamp, documentary, intangibles, transfer
        or similar taxes or charges, and to reimburse each Noteholder upon
        demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable
        attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by such Noteholder in enforcing
        the Obligations of any Obligors under this Agreement or any other
        Document.

SECTION 11.4       
Indemnification. In consideration of the execution and delivery of
        this Agreement by each Noteholder and the making of the Notes, each
        Obligor, jointly and severally hereby indemnifies, exonerates and holds
        each Noteholder, each of its successors and assigns, each of its
        officers, directors, employees, attorneys and agents of each Noteholder
        and each of their respective successors and assigns (each, a "Noteholder
        Party" and collectively, the "Noteholder Parties") free and
        harmless from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits,
        losses, costs, liabilities (including, but not limited to, under the
        Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or state
        statutory law or regulation, and Environmental Liabilities and Costs),
        damages and expenses (irrespective of whether such Noteholder Party is a
        party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought),
        including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements (the "Indemnified
        Liabilities"), incurred by the Noteholder Parties or any of them or
        asserted or awarded against the Noteholder Parties or any of them as a
        result of, or arising out of, or relating to:

(a)        any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part,
        directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the Notes;

(b)        the use of any of the proceeds of the Notes by the Issuer for any
        other purpose;

(c)        the making of any claim by any investment banking firm, broker or
        third party that it is entitled to compensation from any Noteholder in
        connection with this Agreement (other than investment banking firms and
        brokers retained by any Noteholder);

(d)        the entering into and performance of this Agreement and any other
        Document by any of the Noteholder Parties (other than the breach by such
        Noteholder Party of this Agreement);

(e)        any investigation, litigation, or proceeding related to any of the
        Documents, whether or not any Noteholder is party thereto;

(f)        the existence of any contaminant, in, under, on or otherwise
        affecting any property owned, used, operated, or leased by the Issuer or
        any Subsidiary in the past, present, or future or any surrounding areas
        affected by such property, regardless of whether the existence of the
        contaminant is related to the past, present or future operations of the
        Issuer and the Subsidiaries, or their predecessors in interest or any
        other Person; any Environmental Liabilities and Costs related to any
        property owned, used, operated, or leased by the Issuer or any
        Subsidiary in the past, present or future; any Environmental Liabilities
        and Costs related to the past, present or future operations of the
        Issuer or any Subsidiary; any alleged violations of any Environmental
        Law related to any property owned, used, operated, or leased by the
        Issuer or any Subsidiary in the past, present or future; any alleged
        violations of any Environmental Law related to the past, present or
        future operations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; the performance of
        any remedial action that is related to any property owned, used,
        operated or leased by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the past, present
        or future; the performance of any remedial action that is related to the
        past, present or future operations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; and
        the imposition of any Lien on any property affected by this Agreement or
        any of the other Documents arising from any Environmental Liabilities or
        Costs; or

(g)        any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any
        of the foregoing, whether or not any Noteholder (or any of their
        respective officers, directors, employees or agents) is a party thereto;

except for any such Indemnified
        Liabilities arising for the account of a particular Noteholder Party by
        reason of the relevant Noteholder Party’s bad faith, gross negligence,
        willful misconduct or breach of this Agreement as determined by a final
        and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction. If and
        to the extent that the foregoing undertaking may be unenforceable for
        any reason, each Obligor hereby agrees, jointly and severally, to make
        the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the
        Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. The
        foregoing indemnity shall remain operative and in full force and effect
        notwithstanding the consummation of the transactions contemplated
        hereunder, the repayment of any of the Notes made hereunder, the
        invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this
        Agreement or any other Document, or any investigation made by or on
        behalf of any Noteholder. Promptly after receipt by any Noteholder Party
        of notice of commencement of any claim, investigation, litigation or
        proceeding such Noteholder Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is
        to be made against any Obligor under this Section 11.4, deliver
        to the Obligors written notice of such commencement thereof, provided
        that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Obligors of
        their obligations under this Section 11.4 except to the extent
        the Obligors are actually prejudiced by such failure. The Obligors shall
        have the right to participate in the defense thereof (including
        participation in discussions regarding such defense) at their own
        expense, but only to the extent such participation would not, in the
        opinion of counsel to the Noteholder Party, result in a waiver of the
        attorney-client privilege of such Noteholder Party. If an
        indemnification claim in respect of any claim, investigation, litigation
        or proceeding is to be made against any Obligor under this Section 11.4 by any Noteholder Party, such Noteholder Party shall
        not settle or compromise any such claim, investigation, litigation or
        proceeding without the prior consent of the Obligors (which consent
        shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) so long as the Obligors
        have provided evidence reasonably satisfactory to such Noteholder Party
        that the Obligors have the financial ability to satisfy the maximum
        amount for which such Noteholder Party may be found liable in connection
        with such claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding.

SECTION 11.5       

Survival. The obligations of the Obligors under Section 11.3
        and Section 11.4 shall in each case survive the payment or permitted
        transfer of any Notes, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any
        provision of this Agreement or the Notes and the termination of this
        Agreement. The representations and warranties made by the Obligors in
        this Agreement, the Notes and in each other Document shall survive the
        execution and deliver of this Agreement, the Notes and each such other
        Document, the purchase or transfer of any Notes or portion thereof or
        interest therein, and may be relied upon by any subsequent Noteholder,
        regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of any
        Noteholder

SECTION 11.6       

Severability. Any provision of this Agreement, the Notes or any
        other Document 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, the Notes or such other Document or
        affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
        jurisdiction.

SECTION 11.7       

Headings. The various Headings of this Agreement, the Notes
        and of each other Document are inserted for convenience only and shall
        not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement, the Notes or
        such other Document or any provisions hereof or thereof.

SECTION 11.8       
Counterparts,
        Effectiveness, etc.    This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto
        in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original
        and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same
        agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when counterparts
        hereof have been executed by the Issuer, the Guarantors and each Initial
        Purchaser.

SECTION 11.9       
Governing Law; Entire
        Agreement    (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES SHALL EACH BE DEEMED TO BE A
        CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF
        NEW YORK. This Agreement, the Notes and the other Documents constitute
        the entire understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the
        subject matter hereof and supersede any prior agreements, written or
        oral, with respect thereto.

(b)        Each Obligor hereby agrees that any legal action or proceeding
        against it with respect to this Agreement, the Notes or any of the other
        Documents may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or of
        the United States of America for the Southern District of New York as
        any Noteholder may elect, and, by execution and delivery hereof, it
        accepts and consents for itself and in respect of its property,
        generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts
        and agrees that such jurisdiction shall be exclusive, unless waived by
        the Required Holders in writing, with respect to any action or
        proceeding brought by it against such Noteholders. Each Obligor (other
        than any Obligor organized in The United Mexican States) hereby
        irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the
        aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of
        the copies thereof by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
        prepaid, to it at its address set forth herein, such service to become
        effective upon the earlier of (i) the date 10 calendar days after such
        mailing and (ii) any earlier date permitted by applicable law. Each
        Obligor hereby agrees that Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General
        Obligations Law of the State of New York shall apply to this Agreement
        and each of the other Documents and waives any right to stay or to
        dismiss any action or proceeding brought before said courts on the basis
        of forum non conveniens. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any
        Noteholder to bring proceedings against any Obligor in the courts of any
        other jurisdiction or to serve process in any other manner permitted by
        applicable law (including, with respect to any Obligor organized in The
        United Mexican States, in accordance with Mexican law).

(c)        Each Obligor, other than any Obligor organized in The United
Mexican States, hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers CT
Corporation System, whose present address is 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New
York 10011, as its authorized agent to receive, for and on its behalf and its
property, service of process in the State of New York when and as such legal
actions or proceedings may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or
of the United States of America sitting in New York, and such service of process
shall be deemed complete upon the date of delivery thereof to such agent whether
or not such agent gives notice thereof to such Obligor, or upon the earliest of
any other date permitted by applicable law. Each such Obligor shall furnish the
consent of CT Corporation System so to act to the
CollateralAgent and the Noteholders on or prior to the
Closing Date. It is understood that a copy of said process served on such agent
will as soon as practicable be forwarded to the Obligors at its address set
forth in Section 11.2, but its failure to receive such copy shall not
affect in any way the service of said process on said agent as such agent of
such Obligors. Each such Obligor agrees that it will at all times continuously
maintain an agent to receive service of process in the State of New York on
behalf of itself and its properties and in the event that, for any reason, the
agent named above or its successor shall no longer serve as its agent to receive
service of process in the State of New York on its behalf, it shall promptly
appoint a successor so to serve and shall advise the Collateral Agent and the
Noteholders thereof (and shall furnish to theCollateral
Agent and the Noteholders the consent of any successor agent so to act).

(d)        Each Obligor organized in The United Mexican States hereby
irrevocably agrees to grant within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing Date
a power of attorney for lawsuits and collections in accordance with the
applicable laws of The United Mexican States to William B. Gibbens, III, whose
present address is c/o Horizon Offshore, Inc., 2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite
2200, Houston, Texas 77042, for such individual to act as authorized agent for
each such Obligor to receive, for and on its behalf and its property, service of
process by personal service thereof when and as such legal actions or
proceedings may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or of the
United States of America sitting in New York, and such service of process shall
be deemed complete upon personal service thereof. It is understood that a copy
of said process served on such agent will as soon as practicable be forwarded to
each such Obligor at its address set forth in Section 11.2. Each such
Obligor agrees that it will at all times continuously maintain such agent to
receive service of process on behalf of itself and its properties and in the
event that, for any reason, the agent named above or its successor shall no
longer serve as its agent to receive service of process on its behalf, it shall
promptly grant a power of attorney in accordance with the applicable laws of The
United Mexican States to appoint a successor so to serve and shall advise the
Collateral Agent and the Noteholders thereof (and shall furnish to the
Collateral Agent and the Noteholders the consent of any successor agent so to
act).  

SECTION 11.10.       
Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; 
provided, however, that no Obligor may assign or transfer its rights
or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all Noteholders.
The Notes shall be freely transferable, without restriction, subject to
compliance with applicable securities laws and Section 10.2.

SECTION 11.11.       
Other Transactions. Nothing contained herein shall preclude any Noteholder from
engaging in any transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this Agreement
or any other Document, with the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates
that is not otherwise expressly prohibited under this Agreement or any other
Document.

SECTION 11.12.       

Confidentiality. The Noteholders shall hold all non-public, proprietary or
confidential information obtained pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement
in accordance with their customary procedures for handling confidential
information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound banking
practices; however, the Noteholders may make disclosure of any such information
to its examiners, Affiliates, outside auditors, counsel, consultants, appraisers
and other professional advisors in connection with this Agreement or as required
by or any proposed transferee in connection with the contemplated transfer of
any Notes or as required or requested by any Governmental Authority or
representative thereof or in connection with the enforcement hereof or of any
Document or related document or pursuant to legal process. In no event shall any
Noteholder be obligated or required to return any materials furnished to it by
or on behalf of the Issuer.

SECTION 11.13.       
Waiver of Jury Trial, etc.    EACH OF THE HOLDERS AND THE OBLIGORS HEREBY KNOWINGLY,
VOLUNTARILY, AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY
IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN
CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE
OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN), OR
ACTIONS OF SUCH HOLDERS OR OBLIGORS. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR
SUCH HOLDERS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.

SECTION 11.14.       

Limitation of Liability. None of the Noteholders, the Obligors nor any Affiliates
thereof shall have any liability with respect to, and each of the Noteholders
and the Obligors hereby waive, release and agree not to sue upon, any claim for
any special, indirect, punitive, exemplary or consequential damages suffered by
such Person in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to this
Agreement, the Documents, the transactions contemplated herein, or any act,
omission or event occurring in connection therewith.

SECTION 11.15.       

Usury Savings Clause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement
or any other Document, the Noteholders do not intend to and do not hereby
require the Obligors to agree to pay any interest in excess of that permitted by
applicable law and if at any time any rate of interest accruing on any
Obligation, when aggregated with all amounts payable by the Issuer or any other
Obligor under any of the Documents that are deemed or construed to be interest
accrued or accruing on such Obligation under applicable law, exceeds the highest
rate of interest permissible under any law which a court of competent
jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable to such Noteholder
with respect to such Obligation (each a "Maximum Lawful Rate"), then in
such event and so long as the Maximum Lawful Rate would be so exceeded, such
rate of interest shall be reduced to the Maximum Lawful Rate; provided
that if at any time thereafter such rate of interest accruing on Obligations
held by such Noteholder is less than the Maximum Lawful Rate, the Issuer shall
continue to pay interest to such Noteholder at the Maximum Lawful Rate until
such time as the total interest received by such Noteholder in respect of the
Obligations held by it is equal to the total interest which such Noteholder
would have received had interest on all Obligations held by such Noteholder (but
for the operation of this Section 11.15) accrued at the rate otherwise
applicable under this Agreement and the other Documents. Thereafter, interest
payable to such Noteholder in respect of the Obligations held by it shall accrue
at the applicable rate set forth in this Agreement or other Documents unless and
until such rate again exceeds the Maximum Lawful Rate, in which event this 
Section 11.15 shall again apply. In no event, shall the total interest
received by any Noteholder pursuant to the terms hereof exceed the amount which
such Noteholder could lawfully have received had interest been calculated for
the full term of this Agreement at the Maximum Lawful Rate. In the event that
the Maximum Lawful Rate is calculated pursuant to this Section 11.15, (a)
if required by applicable law, such interest shall be calculated at a daily rate
equal to the Maximum Lawful Rate divided by the number of days in the year in
which such calculation is made, and (b) if permitted by applicable law, the
Issuer and such Noteholder shall (i) characterize any non principal payment as
an expense, fee or premium rather than as interest, (ii) exclude voluntary
prepayments and the effect thereof, and (iii) amortize, prorate, allocate and
spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the
entire contemplated term of the Notes so that interest for the entire term of
the Notes shall not exceed the Maximum Lawful Rate. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 11.15, in the event that a court of competent
jurisdiction shall make a final determination that any Noteholder has received
interest in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate, such Noteholder shall, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, promptly apply such excess, first to any
interest due and outstanding under this Agreement and the other Documents,
second to any principal due and payable under this Agreement and the Notes,
third to the remaining principal amount of the Notes and fourth to other unpaid
Obligations held by such Noteholder, and thereafter shall refund any excess to
the Issuer or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise order.

ARTCILE 12.

SUBORDINATION OF INDEBTEDNESS.  

SECTION 12.1.       

Subordination. The Notes and the obligations of the Guarantors under 
Article 8 shall be and hereby are expressly made subordinate for all
purposes to the Senior Debt to the extent and in the manner provided in this
Agreement.

SECTION 12.2.       
Subordination in Event of
    Insolvency or Liquidation, Etc.   
(a) In the event of any Proceeding, (1) the Senior Debt shall
first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property, shall be made in respect of Notes, and (2) any
payment or distribution of assets which would otherwise (but for this Agreement)
be payable or deliverable in respect of the Notes shall be paid or delivered
directly to the Senior Lenders for application to and payment of the Senior Debt
until all Senior Debt shall have been paid in full.

(b)        The Noteholders agree that if they have not filed appropriate
claims or proofs of claim in respect of the Notes in any Proceeding within
thirty (30) days of any bar date, the Senior Lenders may file such claims or
proofs of claim on their behalf.

SECTION 12.3.       
Turnover of Improper
    Payments. If any payment or distribution,
whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be received by the
Noteholders in contravention of any of the terms hereof, such payment or
distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of the Senior
Lenders, and shall be promptly paid over and delivered to the Senior Lenders for
application to the payment of the Senior Debt to the extent necessary to cause
the Senior Debt to be paid in full.

SECTION 12.4.       
Subrogation. At such time as the Senior Debt has
been paid in full, the Noteholders shall be subrogated to any rights of the
Senior Lenders in and to the Senior Debt and any security therefor, to the
extent paid by or on behalf of the Noteholders, and to receive any further
payments or distributions of assets of the Obligors applicable to the Senior
Debt until the Notes shall be paid in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no
payments or distributions to the Senior Lenders of any cash, property or
securities to which the Noteholders would be entitled except for the provisions
of this Agreement shall, as among the Obligors and their creditors other than
the Senior Lenders on the one hand and the Noteholders on the other hand, be
deemed to have been made as a payment by any of them to or on account of the
Senior Debt.

SECTION 12.5.       
Reinstatement. The provisions of this Agreement
shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any payment in respect of the Senior Debt is rescinded or must otherwise be
returned by the Senior Lenders in the event of a Proceeding, all as though such
payment had not been made.

SECTION 12.6.       
Obligors’ Obligations
    Absolute. Nothing contained herein shall impair, as among the
Obligors and the Noteholders, the obligation of the Obligors to pay to the
Noteholders all amounts payable in respect of the Notes as and when the same
shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms thereof, or prevent
the Noteholders from exercising all rights, powers and remedies otherwise
permitted by applicable law or upon an Event of Default with respect to the
Notes.

SECTION 12.7.       

Certain Payments and
    Distributions. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the payment or
distribution on account of Notes that is made in the form of equity securities
of Obligors, or in the form of debt securities or other evidences of
Indebtedness that are subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt at least
to the extent and the same terms as provided for in this Agreement.

SECTION 12.8.       
Legend. Each Note now or hereafter issued shall bear on its face a
clear and conspicuous legend that it is subject to the terms of this Article.

SECTION 12.9.       
No Waiver or Impairment of Subordination
    Provisions. The subordination effected by this
Agreement is a continuing subordination, and each Noteholder hereby agrees that
at any time and from time to time, without notice to it, but subject in each
case to any limitation set forth in the definition of Senior Debt: (a) the time
for any Obligor’s performance of or compliance with any of its agreements
contained in any Senior Debt agreement may be extended or such performance or
compliance may be waived by the applicable Senior Lenders; (b) a Senior Debt
agreement may be amended for the purpose of adding any provisions thereto or
increasing the amount of, or changing the terms of, the Senior Debt or changing
in any manner the rights of any Senior Lender or any obligor thereunder; (c)
payment of any of Senior Debt or any portion thereof may be extended; (d) the
maturity of the Senior Debt may be accelerated on a default or an event of
default; and (e) any collateral security therefor may be exchanged, sold,
surrendered, released or otherwise dealt with, in accordance with the terms of
any Senior Debt Agreements; all without impairing or affecting the obligations
of the Noteholders. Each Noteholder hereby unconditionally waives notice of the
incurring of Senior Debt or any part thereof and reliance by any Senior Lender
upon the subordination of the Notes to Senior Debt.

SECTION 12.10.       
Exclusion for Collateral. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 12 to the
contrary, none of the provisions of this Article 12 (other than this 
Section 12.10) shall apply to the Collateral or to any payments,
distributions or proceeds, whether in cash, securities or property, deriving
from or made on account of the Collateral, whether received in the ordinary
course, upon foreclosure, upon transfer in lieu of foreclosure, as a
distribution or payment in any Proceeding, through voluntary or mandatory
prepayment or otherwise, and whether or not a Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing. Without limitation to the foregoing, no
provision of this Article 12 shall in any way limit or impair the rights
of any Noteholder to receive and retain any amount on account of any Collateral
and to apply such amount to the Notes, the obligations of the Guarantors under
Article 8 and any other obligations held by such Noteholder and secured by such
Collateral, and the Senior Lenders’ reliance on the subordination provisions set
forth in this Article 12 is expressly made subject to each Noteholder’s
right to receive and retain any amount on account of any Collateral and to apply
such amount to the Notes, the obligations of the Guarantors under Article 8
and any other obligations held by such Noteholder at any time, whether or not
the Senior Debt has been paid in full or otherwise.

SECTION 12.11.       
Reliance by Senior Lenders
    on Subordination Provisions. Each Noteholder, by accepting a Note, and each Obligor
acknowledges and agrees that the subordination provisions contained in this 
Article 12 are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to
each holder of any Senior Debt, whether such Senior Debt was created or acquired
before or after the issuance of the Notes, to acquire and continue to hold, or
to continue to hold, such Senior Debt and such holder of such Senior Debt shall
be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in
acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Debt.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized
as of the day and year first above written.

	
		 
	

                        
						HORIZON OFFSHORE, INC.

                        
	
		 
	
		 
	
		 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:	
		
/s/ David W. Sharp

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		David W. Sharp
	 	 	
		Title:
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

											GUARANTORS:

										
									
								
							
						
					
				
			
		
	

	
		 
	

                        
						HORIZON VESSELS, INC.

                        
	
		 
	
		 
	
		 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:	
		
/s/ David W. Sharp

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		David W. Sharp
	 	 	
		Title:
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

	
		 
	

                        
						HORIZON OFFSHORE CONTRACTORS, INC.

                        
	
		 
	
		 
	
		 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:	
		
/s/ David W. Sharp

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		David W. Sharp
	 	 	
		Title:
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

	
		 
	

                        HORIZON SUBSEA SERVICES, INC.
	
		 
	
		 
	
		 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:	
		
/s/ David W. Sharp

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		David W. Sharp
	 	 	
		Title:
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

                         

	
		 
	

                        HORIZON VESSELS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
	
		 
	
		 
	
		 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:	
		
/s/ David W. Sharp

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		David W. Sharp
	 	 	
		Title:
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

                        	
								 
	

                        		HorizEN, LLC

                        		

                        		
	
								 
	
								 
	
								 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
								By:	
								
/s/ David W. Sharp

								
	 	 	
								Name:
								David W. Sharp
	 	 	
								Title:
								Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
								Officer

 

                        	
								 
	

                        		ECH OFFSHORE, S. de R.L. de C.V.
	
								 
	
								 
	
								 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
								By:	
								
/s/ David W. Sharp

								
	 	 	
								Name:
								David W. Sharp
	 	 	
								Title:
								Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
								Officer

 

                        	
								 
	

                        		HOC OFFSHORE, S. de R.L. de C.V.
	
								 
	
								 
	
								 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
								By:	
								
/s/ David W. Sharp

								
	 	 	
								Name:
								David W. Sharp
	 	 	
								Title:
								Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
								Officer

 

										
									
								
							
						
					
				
			
		
	

	 	
                        
                        INITIAL PURACHASERS:
	 	 	 
	 	
		ELLIOTT ASSOCIATES, L.P.
	 	 
	 	
		By: 
		
			
		
Elliott Capital Advisors, L.P.,
as General Partner

		
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		Braxton
		Associates, Inc.,
as General Partner
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Elliot Greenberg

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		Elliot Greenberg
	 	 	
		Title:
		Vice President
	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		712 Fifth Avenue
36th Floor
New York, New York 10019

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		ELLIOTT INTERNATIONAL, L.P.
	 	 
	 	
		By: 
		
			
		
Elliott International Capital Advisors Inc.,
as Attorney-in-Fact

		
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Elliot Greenberg

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		Elliot Greenberg
	 	 	
		Title:
		Vice President
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		712 Fifth Avenue
36th Floor
New York, New York 10019
	 	 	 

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		FALCON MEZZANINE PARTNERS, LP
	 	 
	 	
		By: 
		
			
		
Falcon Mezzanine Investments, LLC, its
General Partner

		
	 	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Eric Rogoff

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		Eric Rogoff
	 	 	
		Title:
		Vice President
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		60 Kendrick Street
Needham, Massachusetts 02494
	 	
		Telecopier
		No.:	
		(781) 247-7299
	 	 	 

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		D. E. SHAW LAMINAR PORTFOLIOS, L.L.C.
	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Max Holmes

		
	 	 	
		Name: Max Holmes
	 	 	
		Title:
		Authorized Signatory
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		120 West 45th St.
New York, New York 10036
	 	
		Telecopier
		No.:	
		(781) 247-7299
	 	 	 

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		B. RILEY & CO., INC.
	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Bryant Riley

		
	 	 	
		Name: 
		Bryant Riley
	 	 	
		Title: 
		Chairman
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 750
Los Angeles, CA 90025
	 	 	 

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		SACC PARTNERS, LP
	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Tom Kelleher

		
	 	 	
		Name: 
		Tom Kelleher
	 	 	
		Title: 
		General Partner
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 750
Los Angeles, CA 90025
	 	
		Telecopier
		No.:	
		(781) 247-7299
	 	 	 

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		LLOYD I. MILLER
	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Lloyd I. Miller

		
	 	 	
		Name: 
		Lloyd I. Miller
	 	 	
		in his individual capacity
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		4550 Gordon Drive
Naples, FL 34102
	 	 	 

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		MILFAM I, L.P.
	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Lloyd I. Miller

		
	 	 	
		Name: 
		Lloyd I. Miller
	 	 	
		iTitle:
		Limited Partner
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		4550 Gordon Drive
Naples, FL 34102
	 	 	 

 

	 	 	 
	 	
		HIGHLAND CRUSADER OFFSHORE PARTNERS
	 	 
	 	
		By:  	
		
/s/ Kurt Plumer

		
	 	 	
		Name:
		Kurt Plumer
	 	 	
		iTitle:
		General Partner
	 	 	 
	 	
		Address:    	
		13455 Noel Road, Suite 1300
Dallas, TX 75240
	 	 	 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF NOTE

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND AS GUARANTOR

AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND AS GUARANTOR (this "Agreement"),
dated as of ____________, 20__ by ______________ ("New Guarantor") in
favor of the Noteholders in connection with that certain Purchase Agreement,
dated as of May 27, 2004, among Horizon Offshore, Inc., as Issuer (the "Issuer"),
the Guarantors listed on the signature pages thereof, as Guarantors (the "Guarantors"),
and the Purchasers listed on the signature pages thereof, as Initial Purchasers,
pursuant to which the Issuer has issued its 18% Subordinated Secured Notes due
March 31, 2007, guaranteed by the Guarantors.  

WHEREAS, the Issuer is obligated pursuant to Section 6.1.8
of the Purchase Agreement to cause the New Guarantor to become a Guarantor under
the Purchase Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the New Guarantor is executing this document
pursuant to Section 6.1.8 of the Purchase Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the New Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:

1.       
Definitions.    (a)    Capitalized terms used herein
without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Purchase
Agreement.

(b)      For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise
herein expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (i) the
terms and expression used herein shall have the same meanings as corresponding
terms and expressions used in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) the words
"herein," "hereof" and "hereby" and other words of similar import used in this
Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section
hereof.

2.       
Agreement to Guarantee.    The New Guarantor hereby
agrees, jointly and severally with all other Guarantors, to guarantee, on the
basis set forth in Article 8 of the Purchase Agreement, the Issuer’s
obligations under the Notes on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in Article 8 of the Purchase Agreement and to be bound by all other
applicable provisions of the Purchase Agreement. From and after the date hereof,
the New Guarantor shall be a Guarantor for all purposes under the Purchase
Agreement and the Notes.

3.       
Ratification of Purchase Agreement.    Except as
expressly amended hereby, the Purchase Agreement is in all respects ratified and
confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in
full force and effect.

4.       
Further Assurances.    At any time and from time to
time, upon the request and at the sole expense of the New Guarantor, the New
Guarantor will promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all further
instruments and documents and take such further action as the Noteholders
reasonably deem necessary to effect the purposes of this Agreement.

5.       
Binding Effect.    This Agreement shall be binding
upon the New Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Noteholders and
their respective successors and assigns.

6.       
Governing Law.    THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE
A CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.  

                        	
								 
	

                        		[NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR]
	
								 
	
								 
	
								 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
								By:	
								
 

								
	 	 	
								Name:
	 	 	
								Title:

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