LOUIS DREYFUS NATURAL GAS CORP
SC 13D/A, 1997-02-18
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                                UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                SCHEDULE 13D


                 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                             (AMENDMENT NO. 2)*


                      LOUIS DREYFUS NATURAL GAS CORP.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             (Name of Issuer)


                              COMMON STOCK
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (Title of Class of Securities)

                               546011 10 7
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             (CUSIP Number)


 ANDREW J. CONNELLY, ESQ., GENERAL COUNSEL, LOUIS DREYFUS HOLDING COMPANY INC.,
           10 WESTPORT ROAD, WILTON, CT 06897-0810, (203) 761-8444
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)


                            FEBRUARY 7, 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following
box / / .

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with the statement / / .  (A
fee is not required only if the reporting person:  (1) has a previous
statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of
the class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment
subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of
such class.) (See Rule 13d-7.)

NOTE:  Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed
with the Commission.  See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies are
to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section
of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
see the Notes).


                         Exhibit Index on Page 19
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 13D


CUSIP NO.   546011 10 7                                
         -----------------                             


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Names of Reporting Person.  S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above
     Person

     S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member     (a)  / /
     of a Group*                               (b)  / /

     Not Applicable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (3) SEC Use Only

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (4) Source of Funds*

     WC/AF
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (5) Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant 
     to Items 2(d) or 2(e)                                                  / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (6) Citizenship or Place of Organization

     France
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Shares              (7) Sole Voting Power
 Beneficially Owned               None
 by Each Reporting           --------------------------------------------------
 Person With                  (8) Shared Voting Power
                                  20,630,000
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (9) Sole Dispositive Power
                                  None
                             --------------------------------------------------
                             (10) Shared Dispositive Power
                                  20,630,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
     20,630,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*
     Not Applicable                                                         / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
     74.2%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person*
     CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!

        INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7 
     (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.

                                        2
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 13D


CUSIP NO.   546011 10 7                                
         -----------------                             


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Names of Reporting Person.  S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above
     Person

     Louis Dreyfus Holding Company Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member     (a)  / /
     of a Group*                               (b)  / /

     Not Applicable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (3) SEC Use Only

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (4) Source of Funds*

     WC/AF
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (5) Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant 
     to Items 2(d) or 2(e)                                                  / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (6) Citizenship or Place of Organization

     Delaware
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Shares              (7) Sole Voting Power
 Beneficially Owned               None
 by Each Reporting           --------------------------------------------------
 Person With                  (8) Shared Voting Power
                                  20,630,000 shares
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (9) Sole Dispositive Power
                                  None
                             --------------------------------------------------
                             (10) Shared Dispositive Power
                                  20,630,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
     20,630,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*
     Not Applicable                                                         / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
     74.2%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person*
     CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!

        INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7 
     (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.

                                        3
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 13D


CUSIP NO.   546011 10 7                                
         -----------------                             


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Names of Reporting Person.  S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above
     Person

     Louis Dreyfus Commercial Activities Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member     (a)  / /
     of a Group*                               (b)  / /

     Not Applicable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (3) SEC Use Only

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (4) Source of Funds*

     WC/AF
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (5) Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant 
     to Items 2(d) or 2(e)                                                  / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (6) Citizenship or Place of Organization

     Delaware
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Shares              (7) Sole Voting Power
 Beneficially Owned               None
 by Each Reporting           --------------------------------------------------
 Person With                  (8) Shared Voting Power
                                  20,630,000 shares
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (9) Sole Dispositive Power
                                  None
                             --------------------------------------------------
                             (10) Shared Dispositive Power
                                  20,630,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
     20,630,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*
     Not Applicable                                                         / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
     74.2%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person*
     CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!

        INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7 
     (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.

                                        4
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 13D


CUSIP NO.   546011 10 7                                
         -----------------                             


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Names of Reporting Person.  S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above
     Person

     Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member     (a)  / /
     of a Group*                               (b)  / /

     Not Applicable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (3) SEC Use Only

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (4) Source of Funds*

     WC/AF
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (5) Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant 
     to Items 2(d) or 2(e)                                                  / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (6) Citizenship or Place of Organization

     Delaware
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Shares              (7) Sole Voting Power
 Beneficially Owned               None
 by Each Reporting           --------------------------------------------------
 Person With                  (8) Shared Voting Power
                                  20,000,000 shares
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (9) Sole Dispositive Power
                                  None
                             --------------------------------------------------
                             (10) Shared Dispositive Power
                                  20,000,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
     20,000,000 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*
     Not Applicable                                                         / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
     71.9%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person*
     CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!

        INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7 
     (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.

                                      5
<PAGE>

        This Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D of the Louis Dreyfus Group (as
defined below), dated December 6, 1994, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto
dated February 22, 1995 (the "Schedule 13D"), in respect of shares of Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp., amends and
restates the Schedule 13D to read in its entirety as set forth below.

ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER

        This statement relates to the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"), of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp., an Oklahoma
corporation (the "Issuer"), which has its principal executive offices at 14000
Quail Springs Parkway, Suite 600, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134.

ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND

        This Statement is filed by S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie., a corporation
organized under the laws of France ("SALD"), Louis Dreyfus Holding Company Inc.,
a Delaware corporation ("LDHC"), Louis Dreyfus Commercial Activities Inc.
("LDCA"), a Delaware corporation, and Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp.,
a Delaware corporation ("NGHC").  (SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC, collectively, are
sometimes referred to herein as the "Louis Dreyfus Group".)

        SALD is a privately-held corporation engaged in various businesses,
including international merchandising and exporting of various commodities,
ownership and management of ocean vessels, real estate ownership, development
and management, manufacturing, and natural gas and petroleum product marketing.
SALD's principal business and office address is 87 Avenue de la Grande Armee,
75782 Paris, France.

        LDHC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SALD and is itself a holding
company of subsidiaries which engage principally in commodities trading and
merchandising and real estate activities.  The principal business and office
address of LDHC is 10 Westport Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897-0810.

        LDCA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LDHC and is a company which holds
interests in various other corporations.  The principal business and office
address of LDCA is 10 Westport Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897-0810.

        NGHC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LDCA and is engaged in the business
of holding 20,000,000 of the shares of the Common Stock owned by the Louis
Dreyfus Group.  The principal

                                      6
<PAGE>

business and office address of NGHC is 3411 Silverside Road, Baynard Building,
Suite 210E, Wilmington, Delaware 19810.

        Information with respect to the executive officers and directors of
SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC, including (a) name, (b) business address, (c) present
principal occupation or employment and the name, principal business and address
of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted
and (d) citizenship, is listed on the Schedules attached hereto as Annexes A, B,
C and D, respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.

        None of SALD, LDHC, LDCA or NGHC, nor, to the best of their knowledge,
any executive officer or director of any of them, has during the last five years
been convicted in any criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or
similar misdemeanors) or been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction and, as a result of such
proceeding, was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining
future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal
or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION

        The Issuer's predecessor was acquired by the Louis Dreyfus Group on July
18, 1990, for $46.6 million provided from the Louis Dreyfus Group's general
corporate funds.  Subsequent to 1990, the Louis Dreyfus Group acquired or
established other subsidiaries or affiliates to conduct various related oil and
gas acquisition and marketing activities.  In November 1993, through various
intercompany mergers, the Issuer succeeded to certain of these businesses, with
NGHC owning 20,000,000 shares of the Common Stock, representing all of the
issued and outstanding shares of such Stock.  In November 1993, the Issuer
completed an initial public offering of 7,800,000 shares of the Common Stock
(the "IPO") at a price of $18.00 per share.  During the period from June 29,
1994 through November 21, 1994, NGHC purchased 590,500 additional shares of the
Common Stock on the open market for an aggregate of $8,344,725.  The funds for
these purchases were provided from the general corporate funds of the Louis
Dreyfus Group.

        On December 22, 1994, NGHC declared a dividend of 590,500 shares of the
Common Stock to its immediate parent corporation, LDCA.  On December 29, 1994,
5,000 of these shares were transferred from NGHC to LDCA, and on January 1,
1995, the remaining 585,500 such shares were transferred from NGHC to LDCA.

        During the period from December 27, 1994 through February 23, 1995, 
LDCA purchased 39,500 additional shares of the Common Stock on the open 
market for an aggregate of $462,875 bringing the total number of shares of 
the Common Stock owned by LDCA to 630,000.

                                      7
<PAGE>

The funds for the above purchases were provided from the general corporate 
funds of the Louis Dreyfus Group.

ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION

        Until the IPO in November 1993, the Issuer was an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of SALD, and the Louis Dreyfus Group had the ability to exercise
control over the management and operations of the Issuer.  The IPO reduced the
Louis Dreyfus Group's ownership in the Issuer to approximately 71.9%.  However,
during the period from June 29, 1994 through February 23, 1995, through the
purchase of 630,000 additional shares of the Common Stock on the open market,
the Louis Dreyfus Group increased its ownership to approximately 74.2%.  Six of
the eight directors of the Issuer are present or former employees of SALD or its
subsidiaries, and the Louis Dreyfus Group has maintained the ability to control
the outcome of matters upon which stockholders of the Issuer vote.

        In a press release dated February 7, 1997, the Issuer announced that 
it had filed a registration statement (the "Registration Statement") with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the offering by 
the Company of 2,750,000 shares of Common Stock.  The Registration Statement 
also covers 2,750,000 shares to be sold by the Louis Dreyfus Group, plus an 
additional 825,000 shares which may be sold by the Louis Dreyfus Group 
pursuant to an underwriter's over-allotment option.  The primary offering by 
the Issuer and the secondary offering by the Louis Dreyfus Group will further 
increase the number of shares and percentage of the Company owned by the 
public.  The Louis Dreyfus Group anticipates that the offering will occur as 
soon as practicable after the Registration Statement has been declared 
effective by the SEC.

        Subject to the arrangements described in Item 6 below, there is no
agreement between any member of the Louis Dreyfus Group and any other party,
including the Issuer, that would prevent the Louis Dreyfus Group from acquiring
or disposing of shares of the Common Stock.  Depending upon market conditions,
financial considerations and other factors, the Louis Dreyfus Group may purchase
or sell additional shares of Common Stock, if appropriate opportunities to do so
are available, at such times as the Louis Dreyfus Group considers advisable.

        Subject to the foregoing, none of SALD, LDHC, LDCA or NGHC has any
present plans or proposals which relate to or would result in:

        (a)  The acquisition by any person of additional securities of the
Issuer, or the disposition of securities of the Issuer;

                                      8
<PAGE>

        (b)  An extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
reorganization or liquidation, involving the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries;

        (c)  A sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Issuer or
any of its subsidiaries;

        (d)  Any change in the present board of directors or management of the
Issuer, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of
directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board;

        (e)  Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend
policy of the Issuer;

        (f)  Any other material change in the Issuer's business or corporate
structure;

        (g)  Changes in the Issuer's charter, bylaws or instruments
corresponding thereto or other actions which may impede the acquisition of
control of the Issuer by any person;

        (h)  Causing a class of securities of the Issuer to be delisted from a
national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an
inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association;

        (i)  A class of equity securities of the Issuer becoming eligible for
termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934; or

        (j)   Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.

ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

        (a)  As of the date hereof and subject to the arrangements described in
Item 6 below, NGHC is the direct beneficial owner of 20,000,000 shares of the
Common Stock, representing approximately 71.9% of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Common Stock.  LDCA is the direct beneficial owner of 630,000
shares of the Common Stock and the indirect beneficial owner of the 20,000,000
shares held by NGHC, for a total of 20,630,000 shares of the Common Stock,
representing approximately 74.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock.  SALD and LDHC are the indirect beneficial owners of the 20,630,000
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by LDCA, representing approximately
74.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

        Except as listed on the Schedule attached hereto as Annex E, which is
incorporated herein by reference, to the best

                                      9
<PAGE>

knowledge of SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC, none of their respective executive
officers or directors (i) beneficially owns any Common Stock (other than in
his or her capacity as an executive officer or director of such corporations)
or (ii) has the right to acquire any Common Stock.

        (b)  SALD, LDHC and LDCA share the power to vote or to direct the vote
and the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the 20,630,000 shares
of the Common Stock which they beneficially own.  In addition, NGHC shares with
SALD, LDHC and LDCA power to vote or to direct the vote and power to dispose or
to direct the disposition of 20,000,000 of such shares.

        To the best knowledge of SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC, none of their
respective executive officers or directors has the power to vote or to direct
the vote or to dispose or to direct the disposition of any shares of the Common
Stock beneficially owned by such corporations (other than in his or her capacity
as an executive officer or director of such corporations).

        To the best knowledge of SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC, each of their
respective executive officers and directors have sole power to vote or to direct
the vote or to dispose or to direct the disposition of any shares of the Common
Stock beneficially owned by such executive officer or director.

        (c)  No purchases or sales of the Common Stock have been made by the
Louis Dreyfus Group during the past 60 days.

        To the best knowledge of SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC, no executive officer
or director of any of them has effected any transactions in shares of the Common
Stock during the past 60 days.

        (d)  Subject to the arrangements described in Item 6 below, to the best
knowledge of SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC, no other person has the right to receive
or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the
sale of, the shares of the Common Stock beneficially owned by such corporations.

        (e) Not Applicable.


ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS
        WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

        Except as described below and except for the Issuer's Stock Option Plan,
there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or
otherwise) among any of SALD, LDHC, LDCA or NGHC or, to the best of their
knowledge, any

                                      10
<PAGE>

executive officer or director of any of them and any other person with
respect to any securities of the Issuer, including any contract, arrangement,
understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any
securities of the Issuer, finder's fees, joint ventures, loan or option
arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or
loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies.

   Twenty million of the shares of the Common Stock owned by NGHC have been 
pledged to a syndicate of French banks (the "Banks") to secure loans made by
the Banks to a member of the Louis Dreyfus Group. A default by the 
borrower under the terms of the loans could result in the sale of all or a 
portion of the pledged shares and a change of control of the Issuer. Upon the 
Louis Dreyfus Group's participation in the public offering referred to in the 
second paragraph of item 4, up to 3,575,000 of such shares will be released 
from such pledge and sold.

        Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 9, 
1993 between the Issuer and NGHC, the Louis Dreyfus Group is entitled to 
certain rights to register 20,000,000 shares of the Common Stock. However, 
pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of December 20, 
1994 among SALD and the Banks and the Subordinate Assignment and Assumption 
Agreement dated as of December 27, 1995 among SALD and certain of the Banks, 
the Banks, as pledgees, may become entitled to certain rights to register the 
pledged shares of the Common Stock under certain circumstances.

                                      11
<PAGE>

ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

        1.   Written Agreement of SALD, LDHC, LDCA and NGHC relating to the
filing of this Amendment as required by Rule 13d-1(f)

        2.   Pledge Agreement dated as of December 23, 1994 among SALD, Societe
Generale, Banque Nationale de Paris, Credit Lyonnais, Caisse Centrale des
Banques Populaires, Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur, Caisse Nationale de
Credit Agricole, Credit Industriel et Commercial, Banque Indosuez and Credit
National.*

        3.   Subordinate Pledge Agreement dated as of December 27, 1995 among
SALD, Societe Generale and Banque Nationale de Paris.

        4.   Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 9, 1993 between
the Issuer and NGHC.

        5.   Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of December 20, 1994
among SALD, Societe Generale, Banque Nationale de Paris, Credit Lyonnais, Caisse
Centrale des Banques Populaires, Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur, Caisse
Nationale de Credit Agricole, Credit Industriel et Commercial, Banque Indosuez
and Credit National.

        6.   Subordinate Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of
December 27, 1995 among SALD, Societe General and Banque Nationale de Paris.







- -------------------
* Filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D of the 
  Louis Dreyfus Group dated January 1, 1995.




                                      12
<PAGE>

SIGNATURE

        After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, we
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, correct and
complete.

                                       S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Gerard Louis-Dreyfus
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Gerard Louis-Dreyfus
                                          Chairman


                                       Louis Dreyfus Holding Company Inc.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Thomas Scheuer
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Thomas Scheuer
                                          Vice President


                                       Louis Dreyfus Commercial Activities Inc.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Peter B. Griffin
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Peter B. Griffin
                                          Vice President


                                       Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Connie S. Linhart
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Connie S. Linhart
                                          President and Treasurer


                                      13
<PAGE>

                                                                       ANNEX A


S.A. LOUIS DREYFUS ET CIE. ("SALD")

==============================================================================
Name and Business Address
(all business addresses are
S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie.
87 Avenue de la Grande Armee    Present Principal Occupation
75782 Paris, France             or Employment (all with SALD
unless otherwise indicated)     unless otherwise indicated)        Citizenship
==============================================================================
DIRECTORS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bernard Baldensperger           Directeur General                    France
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Claude Boquin                   Retired                              France
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean Louis-Dreyfus              Vice President Directeur General     France
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerard Louis-Dreyfus            Chairman                             U.S.A.
Louis Dreyfus Corporation
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pierre Louis-Dreyfus            Vice President Directeur General     France
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean-Hubert Pietra              Retired                              France
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean Pinchon                    Retired                              France
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philippe Pourier D'Orsay        Managing Director of Louis           France
                                  Dreyfus Armateurs
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ernest F. Steiner               President and Chief Financial        U.S.A.
Louis Dreyfus Holding             Officer of Louis Dreyfus
Company Inc.                      Holding Company Inc.
10 Westport Road
Wilton, CT  06897
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(who are not Directors)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None
==============================================================================

                                      14
<PAGE>

                                                                       ANNEX B


LOUIS DREYFUS HOLDING COMPANY INC. ("LDHC")

==============================================================================
Name and Business Address
(all business addresses are
Louis Dreyfus Holding
  Company Inc.
10 Westport Road
P.O. Box 810                  Present Principal Occupation
Wilton, Connecticut 06897     or Employment (all with LDHC
unless otherwise indicated)   unless otherwise indicated)         Citizenship
==============================================================================
DIRECTORS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel R. Finn, Jr.           Executive Vice President              U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerard Louis-Dreyfus*         
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Scheuer                Vice President and Senior Counsel     U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ernest Steiner*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(who are not Directors)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert L. Aiken               Vice President                        U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerome F. Dubrowski           Treasurer                             U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deborah J. Neff               Assistant Vice President              U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R. Bruce Radley               Vice President                        U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James G. Wayne, Jr.           Executive Vice President              U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hal Wolkin                    Vice President                        U.S.A.
==============================================================================





- -------------------
* See individual's business address, present principal occupation and 
  citizenship as set forth above under SALD.



                                      15
<PAGE>

                                                                       ANNEX C


LOUIS DREYFUS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES INC. ("LDCA")

==============================================================================
Name and Business Address
(all business addresses are
Louis Dreyfus Commerical
  Activities Inc.
10 Westport Road
P.O. Box 810                  Present Principal Occupation
Wilton, Connecticut 06897     or Employment (all with LDCA
unless otherwise indicated)   unless otherwise indicated)         Citizenship
==============================================================================
DIRECTORS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None--Louis Dreyfus Holding
Company Inc. acts as
Management
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey R. Gilman             Vice President and Treasurer          U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter B. Griffin              Vice President                        U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ernest Steiner*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hal Wolkin**
==============================================================================








- -------------------
* See individual's business address, present principal occupation and 
  citizenship as set forth above under SALD.
**See individual's business address, present principal occupation and 
  citizenship as set forth above under LDHC. 


                                       16
<PAGE>

                                                                       ANNEX D


LOUIS DREYFUS NATURAL GAS HOLDINGS CORP. ("NGHC")

==============================================================================
Name and Business Address
(all business addresses are
Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas
  Holdings Corp.
3411 Silverside Road
Baynard Building, Ste 210E    Present Principal Occupation
Wilmington, Delaware 19810    or Employment (all with NGHC
unless otherwise indicated)   unless otherwise indicated)          Citizenship
==============================================================================
DIRECTORS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert L. Bryant              President of United Manufacturing       U.S.A.
United Manufacturing          Company, an industrial
  Company                     manufacturing company
24 Blevins Drive
New Castle, Delaware 19720
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fil E. Spizzirro              Business Consultant                     U.S.A.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon W. Stewart             Attorney, President of Stewart &        U.S.A.
Stewart and Associates        Associates, a professional law
1201 Market Street            association
Suite 1700
Chemical Bank Plaza
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(who are not Directors)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connie Linhart                President and Treasurer                 U.S.A.
==============================================================================


                                      17
<PAGE>

                                                                      ANNEX E

                            OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK


=========================================================================
Executive Officer                               Number of Shares
or Director                                    Beneficially Owned
==============================================================================
Daniel R. Finn, Jr.                              13,000 shares*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerard Louis-Dreyfus                             11,000 shares*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ernest F. Steiner                                 2,500 shares
=========================================================================














- -------------------
* Includes 8,000 shares which the named individual has the right to acquire 
  by exercise of currently exercisable stock options granted under the Issuer's 
  Stock Option Plan.


                                      18
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  EXHIBIT
    NO.                DOCUMENT
  -------              --------

     1       Written Agreement of SALD, LDHC, LDCA
             and NGHC relating to the filing of
             this Amendment as required by Rule
             13d-1(f).

    *2       Pledge Agreement dated as of December 23, 
             1994 among SALD, Societe Generale, Banque
             Nationale de Paris, Credit Lyonnais, Caisse
             Centrale des Banques Populaires, Banque
             Francaise du Commerce Exterieur, Caisse
             Nationale de Credit Agricole, Credit
             Industriel et Commercial, Banque Indosuez
             and Credit National.

     3       Subordinate Pledge Agreement dated as of
             December 27 1995 among SALD, Societe
             Generale and Banque Nationale de Paris.

     4       Registration Rights Agreement dated
             as of November 9, 1993 between the
             Issuer and NGHC.

     5       Assignment and Assumption Agreement
             dated as of December 20, 1994 among SALD,
             Societe Generale, Banque Nationale de Paris,
             Credit Lyonnais, Caisse Centrale des Banques
             Populaires, Banque Francaise du Commerce
             Exterieur, Caisse Nationale de Credit
             Agricole, Credit Industriel et Commercial,
             Banque Indosuez and Credit National.

     6       Subordinate Assignment and Assumption
             Agreement dated as of December 27, 1995
             among SALD, Societe General and Banque
             Nationale de Paris.

- -------------------
* Filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D of the 
  Louis Dreyfus Group dated January 1, 1995.


                                      19 

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 1

        The undersigned agree that the foregoing Amendment to Schedule 13D
dated February 18, 1997, is being filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on behalf of each of S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie., a corporation
organized under the laws of France, Louis Dreyfus Holding Company Inc., a
Delaware corporation, Louis Dreyfus Commercial Activities Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp., a Delaware
corporation.


                                       S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Gerard Louis-Dreyfus
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Gerard Louis-Dreyfus
                                          Chairman


                                       Louis Dreyfus Holding Company Inc.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Thomas Scheuer
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Thomas Scheuer
                                          Vice President


                                       Louis Dreyfus Commercial Activities Inc.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Peter B. Griffin
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Peter B. Griffin
                                          Vice President


                                       Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp.


February 18, 1997                      By: /s/ Connie S. Linhart
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Connie S. Linhart
                                          President and Treasurer




<PAGE>
        ------------------------------------------------------------------



                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT


                          dated as of December 27, 1995


                                      Among


                            S.A. LOUIS DREYFUS ET CIE


                                       and


                 THE BANKS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF




        ------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

ARTICLE 1      SECURITY INTEREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

     Section 1.01.  Grant of Security Interest; Subordination. . . . . . . .   1
     Section 1.02.  Validity and Priority of Security Interest . . . . . . .   1
     Section 1.03.  Maintenance of Status of Security
                    Interest, Collateral and Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                    (a)  Required Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
                    (b)  Authorized Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
     Section 1.04.  Evidence of Status of Security Interest. . . . . . . . . . 2
     Section 1.05.  Pledgor Remains Obligated;
                    Principals Not Obligated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     Section 1.06.  Authorization of Agent to Take Action. . . . . . . . . .   2

ARTICLE 2      CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. . . . . . . . . . . .   3

     Section 2.01.  Organization; Power; Qualification . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     Section 2.02.  Authorization; Enforceability;
                    Required Consents; Absence of 
                    Conflicts; Ownership of Collateral . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     Section 2.03.  Corporate and Trade Names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     Section 2.04.  Identity and Corporate Structure . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     Section 2.05.  Location of Chief Executive Office
                    Books and Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4

ARTICLE 3      CERTAIN COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

A.   General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     Section 3.01.  Financing Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     Section 3.02.  Preservation of Existence and
                    Franchises, Scope of Business,
                    Compliance with Law, Preservation of Enforceability. . .   5
     Section 3.03.  Ownership and Defense of Collateral. . . . . . . . . . .   5
     Section 3.04.  Taxes; Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     Section 3.05.  Notice of Materially Adverse Effect. . . . . . . . . . .   5
     Section 3.06.  Requested Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
B.   Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     Section 3.07.  Status of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     Section 3.08.  Certain Rights of Agent and Pledgor. . . . . . . . . . .   6
     Section 3.09.  Distributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

                                       i
<PAGE>

     Section 3.10.  No Amendments Etc. of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

ARTICLE 4      EVENT OF DEFAULT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8

A.   Proceeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
     Section 4.01.  Application of Proceeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
B.   Remedies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
     Section 4.02.  General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                    (a)  Power of Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
                    (b)  Foreclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
     Section 4.03.  (a)  Agent's Rights with Respect to
                         Proceeds and Other Collateral . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
                    (b)  Enforcement by Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
                    (c)  Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
     Section 4.04.  Disposition of Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
                    (a)  Registration and Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . .10
                    (b)  Restricted Offering Dispositions. . . . . . . . . . .10

ARTICLE 5      MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

     Section 5.01.  Expenses of Pledgor's Agreements and Duties. . . . . . . .11
     Section 5.02.  Agent's Right to Perform on Pledgor's Behalf . . . . . . .11
     Section 5.03.  Agent's Right to Use Agents and to
                    Act in Name of Pledgor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
     Section 5.04.  No Interference; Compensation or Expense . . . . . . . . .11
     Section 5.05.  Limitation of Obligations with Respect to Collateral . . .11
     Section 5.06.  Rights of Agent under Uniform
                    Commercial Code and Applicable Law . . . . . . . . . . . .12
     Section 5.07.  Waivers of Rights Inhibiting Enforcement . . . . . . . . .12
     Section 5.08.  Power of Attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
     Section 5.09.  Termination of Security Interest . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     Section 5.10.  Notices and Deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
                    (a)  Notices and Materials Other 
                         than Collateral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
                    (b)  Collateral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
     Section 5.11.  Expenses; Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
     Section 5.12.  Amounts Payable Due Upon Request for Payment . . . . . . .18
     Section 5.13.  Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
     Section 5.14.  Payments by the Pledgor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
                    (a)  Time, Place and Manner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
                    (b)  No Reductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
                    (c)  Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
                    (d)  Authorization to Charge Bank Accounts . . . . . . . .20
                    (e)  Extension of Payment Dates. . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

                                       ii
<PAGE>

     Section 5.15.  Remedies of the Essence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     Section 5.16   Rights Cumulative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     Section 5.17   Amendments; Waivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     Section 5.18   Assignments and Participations . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
                    (a)  Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
                    (b)  Participations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
                    (c)  Rights of Assignees and Participants. . . . . . . .  22
     Section 5.19   Relationship Among Banks and with Agent. . . . . . . . .  23
     Section 5.20.  Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     Section 5.21.  Judicial Proceedings; Waiver of Jury Trial . . . . . . .  23
     Section 5.22.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     Section 5.23.  Severability of Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     Section 5.24.  Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     Section 5.25   Survival of Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     Section 5.26   Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     Section 5.27   Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
     Section 5.28.  Reasonableness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
     Section 5.29.  Inconsistency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25

ARTICLE 6      INTERPRETATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25

     Section 6.01.  Definitional Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
                    (a)  Certain Terms Defined by Reference. . . . . . . . .  25
                    (b)  Other Defined Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
     Section 6.02.  Other Interpretative Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     Section 6.03.  Representations and Warranties . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
     Section 6.04.  Captions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36


     Schedule 1.03       Schedule of Required Action

     Exhibit 1           Notice to Collateral Agent

     Schedule 1.03(a)    Standard Form UCC-1

     Annex A             Annex A to UCC-1 Financing Statement


                                       iii

<PAGE>

                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of December 27, 1995

          In consideration of the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement
by the banks listed on the signature pages thereof and Societe Generale, as
Agent, S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, a French corporation, hereby agrees with
Societe Generale and Banque Nationale de Paris as follows (with certain terms
used herein being defined in Article 6):

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                SECURITY INTEREST

          Section 1.01.  GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST; SUBORDINATION.  (a)  To
secure the payment, observance and performance of the Secured Obligations, the
Pledgor hereby mortgages, pledges and assigns the Collateral to the Secured
Parties, and grants to the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in,
and a continuing lien upon, the Collateral.  The Collateral shall secure the
amount of the Secured Obligations owing to the Secured Parties PARI PASSU in
accordance with the amount of such Secured Obligations owing to each Secured
Party.

          (b)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this   Agreement and
notwithstanding the date, manner or order of perfection of the Security Interest
and the Senior Security Interest, the parties hereto agree that (i) the Security
Interest in the Subordinate Collateral and all rights and remedies granted
hereby to the Secured Parties with respect to the Subordinate Collateral shall
be subordinate in right and second in priority to the Senior Security Interest
and all other rights and remedies granted by the Pledgor to the Senior Secured
Parties with respect to the Subordinate Collateral pursuant to the Senior Pledge
Agreement, and (ii) the Secured Parties shall not sell, collect, foreclose or
otherwise realize upon the Subordinate Collateral or exercise any of their other
rights or remedies hereunder with respect to the Subordinate Collateral.

          Section 1.02.  VALIDITY AND PRIORITY OF SECURITY INTEREST.  The
Pledgor agrees that the Security Interest shall at all times be valid, perfected
and enforceable against the Pledgor and all third parties, in accordance with
the terms hereof, as security for the Secured Obligations, and that the
Collateral shall not at any time be subject to any Lien, other than a Permitted
Lien, that is prior to, on a parity with or junior to such Security Interest,
except that, unless an Event of Default exists, this Section 1.02 (a) shall not
require the continuation of the perfection of the Security Interest in Ordinary

<PAGE>

Distributions that the Pledgor is entitled to, and does, receive and retain
pursuant to Section 3.09(a), and (b) insofar as it requires the Security
Interest to be perfected and enforceable against all third parties, shall not
apply to Collateral having a book value on any date, in the aggregate from the
Agreement Date to the date in question, of not in excess of $250,000.

          Section 1.03.  MAINTENANCE OF STATUS OF SECURITY INTEREST, COLLATERAL
AND RIGHTS.  (a)  REQUIRED ACTION.  The Pledgor shall take all action, including
the actions specified on SCHEDULE 1.03, that may be necessary or desirable, or
that the Agent may request, so as at all times (i) to maintain the validity,
perfection, enforceability and priority of the Security Interest in the
Collateral in conformity with the requirements of Section 1.02, (ii) to protect
and preserve the Collateral and (iii) to protect and preserve, and to enable the
exercise or enforcement of, the rights of the Agent and the other Secured
Parties therein and hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

          (b)  AUTHORIZED ACTION.  The Agent is hereby authorized to file one or
more financing or continuation statements or amendments thereto without the
signature of or in the name of the Pledgor.  A carbon, photographic or other
reproduction of this Agreement or of any financing statement filed in connection
with this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement.

          Section 1.04.  EVIDENCE OF STATUS OF SECURITY INTEREST.  The Pledgor
shall from time to time, upon the request of the Agent, deliver to the Agent
such opinions of counsel relating to the Collateral, the attachment and
perfection of the Security Interest and otherwise to this Agreement, as the
Agent may designate.

          Section 1.05.  PLEDGOR REMAINS OBLIGATED; PRINCIPALS NOT OBLIGATED. 
The grant by the Pledgor to the Secured Parties of the Security Interest shall
not (a) relieve the Pledgor of any Liability to any Person under or in respect
of any of the Collateral or (b) impose on the Agent or the other Secured Parties
any such Liability or any Liability for any act or omission on the part of the
Pledgor relative thereto.

          Section 1.06.  AUTHORIZATION OF AGENT TO TAKE ACTION.  (a)  Each
Secured Party agrees that Societe Generale, in its capacity as Agent, may, on
behalf of such Secured Party, take such actions with respect to the Collateral
as are required or permitted under the Credit Agreement or as the Agent
otherwise deems necessary or desirable, including but not limited to all action,
deemed 

                                       2
<PAGE>

necessary or desirable by the Agent to release any Collateral pursuant to
Article 6 of the Credit Agreement.

          (b)  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each
Secured Party agrees that Societe Generale, in its capacity as Agent, may, on
behalf of such Secured Party (i) execute and file UCC-1 Financing Statements
with respect to the Collateral in substantially the form attached hereto as
SCHEDULE 1.03 in such locations as the Agent deems necessary or desirable, (ii)
amend, continue or terminate such UCC-1 Financing Statements in such manner and
at such times as the Agent deems necessary or desirable in connection with any
action permitted or required under the Credit Agreement, including but not
limited to in connection with any release of Collateral pursuant to Article 6 of
the Credit Agreement, (iii) return to the Pledgor or its nominee or designee, in
connection with any action permitted or required under the Credit Agreement,
including but not limited to in connection with any release of Collateral
pursuant to Article 6 of the Credit Agreement, any stock certificates, stock
powers or other instruments or other documents constituting or relating to the
Collateral in the possession of the Agent or its nominee or designee, (iv)
execute and deliver such amendments to, or waivers or termination of, this
Agreement and the Subordinate Assignment and Assumption Agreement as the Agent
deems necessary or desirable in connection with any action permitted or required
under the Credit Agreement, including but not limited to in connection with any
release of Collateral pursuant to Article 6 of the Credit Agreement and (v) take
any other action which is required or permitted to be taken by it hereunder
(including but not limited to pursuant to the power of attorney granted to the
Agent by the Pledgor in Section 5.08) or under the Credit Agreement, the
Subordinate Assignment and Assumption Agreement or any other Loan Document.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                     CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

          The Pledgor represents and warrants as follows:

          Section 2.01.  ORGANIZATION; POWER; QUALIFICATION.   The Pledgor is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to
own its property and to carry on its business as now being and hereafter
proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign
corporation, and is authorized to do business, in all jurisdictions in which the
character of its property or the nature of its business requires such
qualification or 

                                       3
<PAGE>

authorization, except for qualifications and authorizations the lack of 
which, singly and in the aggregate, has not had and will not have a 
Materially Adverse Effect on the Pledgor or the Collateral.

          Section 2.02.  AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEABILITY; REQUIRED CONSENTS;
ABSENCE OF CONFLICTS; OWNERSHIP OF COLLATERAL.  The Pledgor has the power, and
has taken all necessary action (including any necessary stockholder action) to
authorize it, to execute, deliver and perform in accordance with their
respective terms the Collateral Documents.  This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Pledgor and is, and each of the other Collateral
Documents when delivered to the Agent will be, the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Pledgor, enforceable in accordance with its terms.  The
execution, delivery and performance in accordance with their respective terms by
the Pledgor of the Collateral Documents does not and (absent any change in any
Applicable Law or applicable Contract) will not (a) require any Governmental
Approval or any other consent (other a consent which has been obtained) or
approval, including any consent or approval of any Subsidiary of the Pledgor or
any consent or approval of the stockholders of the Pledgor or any of its
Subsidiaries, or (b) violate or conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute
a default under, or result in or require the creation of any Lien (other than
the Security Interest) upon any assets of the Pledgor under, (i) any Contract to
which the Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Pledgor
or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may be bound or
(ii) any Applicable Law.  The Pledgor is the owner of the Collateral free from
any right, title or interest of any third Person, other than the Senior Security
Interest.

          Section 2.03.  CORPORATE AND TRADE NAMES.  (a)  The Pledgor does not
do and has never done business under any name other than "S.A. Louis Dreyfus et
Cie", which is the corporate name of the Pledgor as it appears in its
certificate of incorporation.

          (b)  The Pledgor does not use and has never used any trade names or
trade styles.

          Section 2.04.  IDENTITY AND CORPORATE STRUCTURE.  The Pledgor has not
changed its identity or corporate structure within the four calendar months
immediately preceding the Agreement Date.

          Section 2.05.  LOCATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE BOOKS AND RECORDS. 
The books and records of the Pledgor with respect to the Collateral, and the
chief executive office and the principal place of business of the Pledgor, 


                                       4
<PAGE>

are maintained at the address set forth as the Pledgor's address for notices 
in Section 5.10(a)(ii), and the address where the books and records of the 
Pledgor with respect to the Collateral and the chief executive office and the 
principal place of business of the Pledgor are maintained has not changed 
within the four calendar months immediately preceding the Agreement Date.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                                CERTAIN COVENANTS

A. GENERAL.

          Section 3.01.  FINANCING STATEMENTS.  Except with respect to Permitted
Liens, the Pledgor shall not file or suffer to be on file, or authorize or
permit to be filed or to be on file, in any jurisdiction, any financing
statement or like instrument with respect to the Collateral in which the Agent
or the other Secured Parties are not named as the only secured parties.

          Section 3.02.  PRESERVATION OF EXISTENCE AND FRANCHISES, SCOPE OF
BUSINESS, COMPLIANCE WITH LAW, PRESERVATION OF ENFORCEABILITY.  The Pledgor
shall (a) preserve and maintain its corporate existence and all of its other
franchises, licenses, rights and privileges, (b) comply with all Applicable Law
and (c) take all action and obtain all consents and Government Approvals
required so that its obligations under the Collateral Documents will at all
times be legal, valid and binding and enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms.

          Section 3.03.  OWNERSHIP AND DEFENSE OF COLLATERAL.  The Pledgor shall
at all times (a) be the owner of the Collateral free from any right, title or
interest of any third Person (other than the Senior Security Interest) and (b)
defend the Collateral against the claims and demands of all third Persons (other
than claims and demands of the Senior Secured Parties with respect to their
Senior Security Interest).

          Section 3.04.  TAXES; COMPLIANCE.  The Pledgor shall (a) pay or cause
to be paid when due all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or
assessed or imposed upon or with respect to the Collateral or its sale or other
disposition and (b) comply with all Applicable Law relating to the Collateral.

          Section 3.05.  NOTICE OF MATERIALLY ADVERSE EFFECT.  The Pledgor shall
give prompt notice to the Agent and each other Secured Party of any matter or
event that has 

                                       5
<PAGE>

had, or may have, a Materially Adverse Effect upon the value of any of the 
Collateral.

          Section 3.06.  REQUESTED INFORMATION.  In addition to such other 
Information as shall be specifically provided for herein, the Pledgor shall 
furnish to the Agent and each other Secured Party such other Information with 
respect to the Collateral as the Agent or any other Secured Party may request 
from time to time, in each case in form and substance and certified in a 
manner satisfactory to the Person requesting such Information.

B. SECURITIES.

          Section 3.07.  STATUS OF SECURITIES.  The Pledgor represents and 
warrants that (i) so long as any Securities or any Collateral described in 
clauses (ii) or (iii) of the definition thereof are subject to the Security 
Interest, the Securities and any Collateral described in clauses (ii) and 
(iii) of the definition thereof shall be duly authorized, validly issued, 
fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) as of the Agreement Date, the 
Securities consist of 20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per 
share, of the Issuer, representing 72% of the issued and outstanding shares 
of common stock of the Issuer.

          Section 3.08.  CERTAIN RIGHTS OF AGENT AND PLEDGOR.  (a)  After the 
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent may, 
and is hereby authorized to, transfer into or register in its name or the 
name of its nominee any or all of the Securities which are Priority 
Collateral and any Collateral described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the 
definition thereof which is Priority Collateral.  The Pledgor shall promptly 
give the Agent and each other Secured Party copies of all notices and other 
communications received by the Pledgor with respect to any Securities and any 
Collateral described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the definition thereof 
registered in the name of the Pledgor.

          (b)  After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of 
Default, the Agent, after a notice to the Pledgor that it intends to exercise 
its rights under this Section 3.08(b), may, from time to time, by notice to 
the Pledgor, in its own or the Pledgor's name, exercise any and all rights, 
powers and privileges with respect to the Priority Collateral and with the 
same force and effect, as could the Pledgor.

          (c)  Except with respect to Priority Collateral with respect to 
which the Agent has exercised its rights under Section 3.08(b), the Pledgor 
may, with respect to any of the Securities and any Collateral described in 
clauses 

                                       6

<PAGE>
(ii) and (iii) of the definition thereof, if the Pledgor shall have given the 
Agent and each other Secured Party not less than five Business Days' written 
notice thereof, vote and give consents, ratification and waivers with respect 
thereto, except to the extent that any such would (A) be for a purpose that 
would constitute or result in a Default or (B) in the sole judgment of the 
Majority of the Banks, detract from the value thereof as Collateral.  Each 
such request from the Pledgor shall constitute a Representation and Warranty 
by the Pledgor hereunder that no Default exists or would result therefrom.

          Section 3.09.  DISTRIBUTIONS.  (a)  The Agent, on behalf of itself 
and the other Secured Parties, shall be entitled to receive and retain all 
Distributions on or with respect to Priority Collateral, except that the 
Pledgor may, unless an Event of Default is continuing, receive and retain all 
Ordinary Distributions.  Unless an Event of Default is continuing, the Agent, 
on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, upon request, shall 
deliver to the Pledgor all Ordinary Distributions received by it.  Each such 
request shall constitute a Representation and Warranty by the Pledgor that no 
Event of Default is continuing.

          (b)  The Pledgor shall (i) receive and hold in trust for the Agent, 
on behalf of the Agent and the other Secured Parties, (A) all Extraordinary 
Distributions on or with respect to Priority Collateral, (B) upon the 
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, all Ordinary 
Distributions on or with respect to Priority Collateral, and (C) all other 
Collateral described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the definition thereof 
which is Priority Collateral, (ii) not commingle any Collateral described in 
clauses (ii) and (iii) of the definition thereof which is Priority Collateral 
and that it is required to hold in trust with any of its other funds or 
property and (iii) immediately deliver to the Agent, on behalf of the Agent 
and the other Secured Parties, all Collateral described in clauses (ii) and 
(iii) of the definition thereof which is Priority Collateral and that it is 
required to hold in trust in the identical form received with any necessary 
endorsements or with appropriate stock or bond powers duly executed in blank.

          Section 3.10.  NO AMENDMENTS ETC. OF SECURITIES.  Subject to 
Section 3.08(c), the Pledgor shall not vote in favor of or consent to any 
modification of or amendment to the certificate or incorporation or by-laws 
of the Issuer that would affect the rights or obligations of holders of the 
Issuer's common stock.

                                       7

<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE 4

                                EVENT OF DEFAULT

          During an Event of Default, and in each such case:

A. PROCEEDS

          Section 4.01.  APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS.  (a)  All cash proceeds 
received by the Agent upon any sale of, collection of, or other realization 
upon, all or any part of the Priority Collateral and all cash held by the 
Agent as Priority Collateral shall, subject to the Agents right to continue 
to hold the same as cash Priority Collateral, be applied as follows:

          First: To the payment of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred
     in connection with the sale of or other realization upon the Priority
     Collateral, including attorneys' fees and disbursements;

          Second: To the payment of the Secured Obligations owing to the Agent
     in its capacity as Agent (but not in its capacity as a Secured Party)
     pursuant to Section 5.11(b) in such order as the Agent may elect (with the
     Pledgor remaining liable for any deficiency);

          Third: To the payment of the other Secured Obligations in such order
     as the Majority of the Banks  may elect (with the Pledgor remaining liable 
     for any deficiency); and

          Fourth: To the extent of the balance (if any) of  such proceeds, to 
     the payment to the Pledgor, subject to Applicable Law and to any duty to 
     pay such balance to the holder of any subordinate Lien in the Priority 
     Collateral.

          (b)  All Subordinate Collateral held by the Agent, all 
Distributions on or with respect to Subordinate Collateral received by the 
Agent, and all proceeds, cash or otherwise, received by the Agent upon any 
sale of, collection of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the 
Subordinate Collateral shall be immediately paid or delivered, as the case 
may be, to the 1994 Agent for the payment of the Senior Secured Obligations 
owing to the Senior Secured Parties.

     B.   REMEDIES

          Section 4.02. GENERAL. (a) POWER OF SALE.  The Agent, on behalf of 
itself and the other Secured Parties (i) may sell the Priority Collateral in 
one or more public or 

                                       8
<PAGE>
private sales, at any of its offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for 
future delivery, and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as it 
may deem commercially reasonable, (ii) shall not be obligated to make any 
sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given, and (iii) 
may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at 
the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, 
be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

          (b)  FORECLOSURE.  The Agent, on behalf of itself and the other 
Secured Parties, instead of exercising the power of sale conferred upon it by 
Section 4.02(a) and Applicable Law, may proceed by a suit or suits at law or 
in equity to foreclose the Security interest in and solely with respect to 
the Priority Collateral and sell the Priority Collateral, or any portion 
thereof, under a judgment or a decree of a court or courts of competent 
jurisdiction.

          Section 4.03. (a) AGENT'S RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO PROCEEDS AND OTHER 
COLLATERAL.  All payments and other deliveries received by or for the account 
of the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, from time to 
time pursuant to Section 3.09, together with the proceeds of all other 
Priority Collateral from time to time held by or for the account of the Agent 
on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties (whether as a result of the 
exercise by the Agent of its rights under Section 4.02(a) or (b) or Section 
4.04 or otherwise) may, at the election of the Agent, (i) be held by the 
Agent or any Person designated by the Agent to receive or hold the same, in 
either case on behalf of the Agent and the other Secured Parties, as Priority 
Collateral, (ii) be or continue to be applied as provided in Section 4.01(a) 
or (iii) be disposed of as provided in Section 4.02(a) and (b) and Section 
4.04.

          (b)  ENFORCEMENT BY AGENT.  The Agent, on behalf of itself and the 
other Secured Parties, may, without notice to the Pledgor and at such time or 
times as the Agent in its sole discretion may determine, exercise any or all 
of the Pledgor's rights in, to and under, or in any way connected with or 
related to, any or all of the Priority Collateral, including (i) demanding 
and enforcing payment and performance of, and exercising any or all of the 
Pledgor's rights and remedies with respect to the collection, enforcement or 
prosecution of, any or all of the Collateral Obligations which relate to any 
Priority Collateral, in each case by legal proceedings or otherwise, (ii) 
settling, adjusting, compromising, extending, renewing, discharging and 
releasing any or all of, and any legal proceedings brought to collect or 
enforce any or all of, the Collateral Obligations which relate to any 
Priority Collateral, and (iii) preparing, filing and signing the name of the 
Pledgor 

                                       9

<PAGE>

on (A) any proof of claim or similar document to be filed in any bankruptcy 
or similar proceeding involving any Collateral Obligation which relates to 
any Priority Collateral and (B) any notice of lien, assignment or 
satisfaction of lien, or similar document in connection with any Collateral 
Obligation which relates to any Priority Collateral.

          (c)  ADJUSTMENTS.  The Agent, on behalf of itself and the other
Secured Parties, may settle or adjust disputes and claims involving Collateral
Obligations which relate to any Priority Collateral for amounts and on terms
that the Agent considers advisable and in all such cases only the net amounts
received by the Agent in payment of such amounts, after deduction of out-of-
pocket costs and expenses of collection, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
shall be subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.

          Section 4.04.  DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES.  (d)  REGISTRATION AND
INDEMNIFICATION.  If the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured
Parties, elects to sell or otherwise dispose of any Securities which are
Priority Collateral, the Pledgor shall, if the Agent deems such registration to
be desirable, (i) take all actions that the Agent may, request in order to
permit it to exercise, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, the
rights assigned to the Secured Parties under the Subordinate Assignment and
Assumption Agreement, including complying with the "blue sky" or securities laws
of the several States and delivering to the Agent appropriate quantities of
prospectuses, necessary or appropriate so as to permit the public sale or other
disposition thereof by the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured
Parties, in such jurisdictions as the Agent may select, and (ii) indemnify, in
the form then customary, all Persons that are underwriters (whether statutory or
otherwise) and all Affiliates of all such Persons, in connection with such sale
or disposition, such indemnity, to the extent applicable to the Principals, to
be in addition to and supplementary of (and not to be construed as being in
derogation of) that afforded the Principals under Section 5.11 and any indemnity
afforded the Principals under the Credit Agreement.

          (e)  RESTRICTED OFFERING DISPOSITIONS.  Whether or not the Pledgor
controls the Issuer or otherwise has the right to effect the registrations and
compliances referred to in Section 4.04(a) and as an alternative to its rights
thereunder, in connection with any sale of any of the Securities which are
Priority Collateral, the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured
Parties, may at its election, comply with any limitation or restriction
(including any restriction on the number of prospective bidders and purchasers
or any requirement that they have 

                                       10
<PAGE>

certain qualifications or that they represent and agree that they are 
purchasing for their own account for investment and not with a view to the 
distribution or resale of such Securities) as it may be advised by counsel is 
necessary in order to avoid any violation of Applicable Law or to obtain any 
Governmental Approval, and such compliance shall not result in such sale 
being considered or deemed not to have been made in a commercially reasonable 
manner, nor shall any Principal be liable nor accountable to the Pledgor for 
any discount allowed by reason of the fact that such Securities are sold in 
compliance with any such limitation or restriction.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          Section 5.01.  EXPENSES OF PLEDGOR'S AGREEMENTS AND DUTIES.  The
terms, conditions, covenants and agreements to be observed or performed by the
Pledgor under the Collateral Documents shall be observed or performed by it at
its sole cost and expense.

          Section 5.02.  AGENT'S RIGHT TO PERFORM ON PLEDGOR'S BEHALF.  If the
Pledgor shall fail to observe or perform any of the terms, conditions, covenants
and agreements to be observed or performed by it under the Collateral Documents,
the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties may (but shall not
be obligated to), pursuant to Section 5.08, do the same or cause it to be done
or performed or observed, either in its name, or in the name and on behalf of
the Pledgor, and the Pledgor hereby authorizes the Agent so to do.

          Section 5.03.  AGENT'S RIGHT TO USE AGENTS AND TO ACT IN NAME OF
PLEDGOR.  The Agent may exercise its rights and remedies and the rights and
remedies of the other Secured Parties under the Collateral Documents through an
agent or other designee and, in the exercise thereof, the Agent or any such
other Person may act in its own name or in the name and on behalf of the
Pledgor.

          Section 5.04.  NO INTERFERENCE; COMPENSATION OR EXPENSE.  The Agent
may exercise its rights and remedies and the rights and remedies of the other
Secured Parties under any of the Collateral Documents (a) without resistance or
interference by the Pledgor, (b) without payment of any kind to the Pledgor
(except to the extent provided in clause "Fourth" of Section 4.01) and (c) for
the account, and at the expense, of the Pledgor.

          Section 5.05.  LIMITATION OF OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO COLLATERAL. 
(a)  Neither the Agent nor any other 

                                       11
<PAGE>

Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect or preserve any Collateral 
or to preserve rights pertaining thereto other than the obligation to use 
reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in their 
actual possession.  The Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable 
care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if 
such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the 
Agent accords its own property.  The Agent shall be relieved of all 
responsibility for any Collateral in its possession upon surrendering it, or 
tendering surrender of it, to the Pledgor.

          (b)  Nothing contained in the Collateral Documents shall be construed
as requiring or obligating the Agent or any other Secured Party, and neither the
Agent nor any other Secured Party shall be required or obligated, to (i) make
any demand, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any
payment received by it, or to present or file any claim or notice or take any
action, with respect to any Collateral Obligation or any other Collateral or the
monies due or to become due thereunder or in connection therewith, (ii)
ascertain or take action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges,
maturities, tenders, offers or other matters relating to any Collateral, whether
or not the Agent or any other Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge
or notice thereof, (iii) take any necessary steps to preserve rights against any
prior parties with respect to any Collateral or (iv) notify the Pledgor of any
decline in the value of any Collateral.

          Section 5.06.  RIGHTS OF AGENT UNDER UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE AND
APPLICABLE LAW.  The Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties,
shall, except as provided to the contrary herein, have, with respect to the
Collateral, in addition to all of its rights and remedies under the Loan
Documents, (a) the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform
Commercial Code, whether or not the Uniform Commercial Code would otherwise
apply to the Collateral in question, and (b) the rights and remedies of a
secured party under all other Applicable Law.

          Section 5.07.  WAIVERS OF RIGHTS INHIBITING ENFORCEMENT.  The Pledgor
waives (a) any claim that, as to any part of the Collateral, a public sale,
should the Agent elect so to proceed, is, in and of itself, not a commercially
reasonable method of sale for such Collateral, (b) the right to assert in any
action or proceeding among it and the Agent or any other Secured Party any
offsets or counterclaims that it may have, (c) except as otherwise provided in
any of the Collateral Documents, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
NOTICE OR JUDICIAL HEARING IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGENT'S TAKING POSSESSION OR
DISPOSITION 

                                       12
<PAGE>

OF ANY OF THE COLLATERAL INCLUDING ANY AND ALL PRIOR NOTICE AND HEARING FOR 
ANY PREJUDGMENT REMEDY OR REMEDIES AND ANY SUCH RIGHT THAT THE PLEDGOR WOULD 
OTHERWISE HAVE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OR ANY STATUTE OF THE UNITED STATES OR 
OF ANY STATE, AND ALL OTHER REQUIREMENTS AS TO THE TIME, PLACE AND TERMS OF 
SALE OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF 
THE AGENT AND THE OTHER SECURED PARTIES HEREUNDER, (d) all rights of 
redemption, appraisement, valuation, stay and extension or moratorium and (e) 
all other rights the exercise of which would, directly or indirectly, 
prevent, delay or inhibit the enforcement of any of the rights or remedies 
under the Loan Documents or the absolute sale of the Collateral, now or 
hereafter in force under any Applicable Law, and the Pledgor, for itself and 
all who may claim under it, insofar as it or they now or hereafter lawfully 
may, hereby waive the benefit of all such laws and rights.

          Section 5.08.  POWER OF ATTORNEY.  (a)  In addition to the other
powers granted the Agent or the other Secured Parties by the Pledgor under the
Collateral Documents, the Pledgor hereby appoints the Agent, and any other
Person that the Agent may designate, as the Pledgor's attorney-in-fact to act,
in the name, place and stead of the Pledgor in any way in which the Pledgor
itself could do, with respect to each of the following: (i) endorsing the
Pledgor's name on (A) any checks, notes, acceptances, money orders, drafts or
other forms of payment, (B) any documents, instruments, notices, or other
documents or agreements relating to the Priority Collateral, (C) any schedules
and assignments of Collateral Obligations which relate to Priority Collateral
and (D) any notices of assignment, financing statements and other public
records; (ii) taking any actions or exercising any rights, powers or privileges
that the Pledgor is entitled to take or exercise and that, under the terms of
any of the Collateral Documents, the Agent or any other Secured Party is
authorized to take or exercise; (iii) doing or causing to be done any or all
things necessary or, in the determination of the Agent, desirable to observe or
perform the terms, conditions, covenants and agreements to be observed or
performed by the Pledgor under the Collateral Documents and otherwise to carry
out the provisions of the Collateral Documents; and (iv) during an Event of
Default, notifying the post office authorities to change the address for
delivery of the Pledgor's mail to an address designated by the Agent, and
receiving, opening and disposing of all mail addressed to the Pledgor (with all
mail not constituting, evidencing or relating to the Priority Collateral to be
forwarded by the Agent to the Pledgor).  The Pledgor hereby ratifies and
approves all acts of the attorney.


                                       13


<PAGE>

          (b)  To induce any third Person to act under this Section 5.08, the
Pledgor hereby agrees that any third Person receiving a duly executed copy or
facsimile of this Agreement may act under this Section 5.08, and that the
termination of this Section 5.08 shall be ineffective as to such third Person
unless and until actual notice or knowledge of such termination shall have been
received by such third Person, and the Pledgor, on behalf of itself and its
successors and assigns, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any such
third Person from and against any and all claims that may arise against such
third Person by reason of such third Person having relied on the provisions of
this Section 5.08.

          Section 5.09.  TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.  The Security
Interest and all of the Pledgor's obligations under Articles 1, 3 and 4 shall
terminate upon (a) the occurrence of the Repayment Date and (b) (i) the
execution and delivery to the Agent of a release, in form and substance
satisfactory to it, of all Loan Document Related Claims that the Pledgor may
have against the Indemnified Persons under the facts existing at such time,
whether or not known or knowable, and (ii) the discharge, dismissal with
prejudice, settlement, release or other termination of any other Loan Document
Related Claims that may be pending or threatened against the Indemnified
Persons.

          Section 5.10.  NOTICES AND DELIVERIES.  (a)  NOTICES AND MATERIALS
OTHER THAN COLLATERAL.  Except as provided in Section 5.10(b):

            (i)     MANNER OF DELIVERY.  All notices, communications and
     materials (including all Information) to be given or delivered pursuant to
     the Collateral Documents shall be given or delivered in writing (which
     shall include telex or telecopy transmissions).

           (ii)     ADDRESSES.  All notices, communications and materials to be
     given or delivered pursuant to the Collateral Documents shall be given or
     delivered at the following respective addresses and telex, telecopier and
     telephone numbers and to the attention of the following individuals or
     departments:

     (A) IF to the Pledgor, to it at:

          87 Avenue de la Grande Armee
          75782 Paris
          Cedex 16
          France
          Telex No.: 645188 SESOS 
          Telecopier No.: 011-33-1-4501-7028 

                                    14
<PAGE>

          Telephone No.: 011-33-1-4066-1111

          Attention: Bernard Laferriere

          (B)  if to the Agent or any other Secured Party, to it at the notice
               address for the Agent or such other Secured Party in the Credit
               Agreement; or at such other address or telex, telecopier or
               telephone number or to the attention of such other individual or
               department as the party to which such information pertains may
               hereafter specify for the purpose in a notice specifically
               captioned "Notice of Change of Address" given to (x) if the party
               to which such information pertains is the Pledgor, the Agent and
               each other Secured Party, (y) if the party to which such
               information pertains is a Secured Party other than the Agent, the
               Pledgor and the Agent and (2) if the party to which such
               information pertains is the Agent, the Pledgor and each Secured
               Party other than the Agent.

          (iii)     EFFECTIVENESS.  Each notice, communication and any material
     to be given or delivered pursuant to the Collateral Documents shall be
     deemed given or delivered (A) if sent by registered or certified mail,
     postage prepaid, return receipt requested, on the third Business Day after
     such notice, communication or material, addressed as above provided, is
     delivered to a United States post office and a receipt therefore is issued
     thereby, (B) if sent by any other means of physical delivery, when such
     notice, communication or material is delivered to the appropriate address
     as above provided, (C) if sent by telex, when such notice, communication or
     material is transmitted to the appropriate number determined as above
     provided in this Section 5.10(a) and the appropriate answer-back is
     received and (D) if sent by telecopier, when such notice, communication or
     material is transmitted to the appropriate telecopier number as above
     provided and is received at such number, except that (x) notices of a
     change of address, telex, telecopier or telephone number or individual or
     department to whose attention notices, communications and materials are to
     be given or delivered shall not be deemed given until received and (y)
     notices, communications and materials to be given or delivered to the Agent
     pursuant to the Collateral Documents shall not be deemed given or delivered
     until received by the officers of the Agent responsible, at the time, for
     the administration of the Collateral Documents.

                                      15
<PAGE>

           (iv)     REASONABLE NOTICE.  Any requirement under Applicable Law of
     reasonable notice by the Agent or the other Secured Parties to the Pledgor
     of any event in connection with, or in any way related to, the Loan
     Documents or the exercise by the Agent or the other Secured Parties of any
     of their rights thereunder shall be met if notice of such event is given to
     the Pledgor in the manner prescribed above at least 10 days before (A) the
     date of such event or (B) the date after which such event will occur.

          (b)  COLLATERAL.  Until the Agent shall otherwise specify, all
Priority Collateral to be delivered to the Agent or to the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the Collateral Documents consisting of securities shall be delivered
by hand delivery at (x), in the case of the Agent, the Agent's Office, and (y),
in the case of the Collateral Agent, the office set forth in the Notice to
Collateral Agent in the form of Exhibit 1 to SCHEDULE 1.03 hereto.  All other
Priority Collateral to be delivered to the Agent or to Collateral Agent pursuant
to the Collateral Documents shall be delivered to the Agent or to the Collateral
Agent, as the case may be, at such addresses, by such means and in such manner
as the Agent may designate.

          Section 5.11.  EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION.  Whether or not any Loans
are made under the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor shall:

          (a)  pay or reimburse each Secured Party for all transfer,
documentary, stamp and similar taxes, and all recording and filing fees and
taxes, payable in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to, the
execution, delivery and performance of the Collateral Documents;

          (b)  pay or reimburse the Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs
and expenses (including fees and disbursements of legal counsel, appraisers,
accountants and other experts employed or retained by the Agent) incurred by the
Agent in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to (i) the
negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of (A) the Collateral Documents
and (B) whether or not executed, any waiver, amendment or consent thereunder or
thereto, (ii) the administration of and any operations under the Collateral
Documents, (iii) consulting with respect to any matter in any way arising out
of, related to, or connected with, the Collateral Documents, including (A) the
protection or preservation of the Collateral, (B) the protection, preservation,
exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the Secured Parties in, under or
related to the Collateral or the Collateral Documents or (C) the performance of
any of the obligations of the Secured Parties 

                                       16
<PAGE>

under or related to the Collateral Documents, (iv) protecting or preserving 
the Collateral or (v) protecting, preserving, exercising or enforcing any of 
the rights of the Secured Parties in, under or related to the Collateral or 
the Collateral Documents, including defending the Security Interest as a 
valid, perfected security interest in the Collateral subject only to 
Permitted Liens;

          (c)  pay or reimburse each Secured Party (other than Societe Generale
in its capacity as Agent) for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses
(including fees and disbursements of legal counsel and other experts employed or
retained by such Secured Party (other than Societe Generale in its capacity as
Agent)) incurred by such Secured Party (other than Societe Generale in its
capacity as Agent) in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to
(i) consulting with respect to (A) the protection, preservation, exercise or
enforcement of any of its rights in, under or related to the Collateral or the
Collateral Documents or (B) the performance of any of its obligations under or
related to the Collateral Documents or (ii) protecting, preserving, exercising
or enforcing any of its rights in, under or related to the Collateral or the
Collateral Documents; and

          (d)  indemnify and hold each Principal harmless from and against all
losses (including judgments, penalties and fines) suffered, and pay or reimburse
each Principal for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including
fees and disbursements of legal counsel and other experts employed or retained
by such Principal) incurred, by such Principal in connection with, arising out
of, or in any way related to (i) any Collateral Document Related Claim (whether
asserted by such Principal or the Pledgor or any other Person), including the
prosecution or defense thereof and any litigation or proceeding with respect
thereto (whether or not, in the case of any such litigation or proceeding, such
Principal is a party thereto), or (ii) any investigation, governmental or
otherwise, arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, the
Collateral Documents or the relationship established thereunder which would not
have arisen if the CollateraL Documents had not been entered into, except that
the foregoing indemnity shall not be applicable to any loss suffered by any
Principal to the extent such loss is determined by a judgment of a court that is
binding on the Pledgor and such Principal, as applicable, final and not subject
to review on appeal, to be the result of acts or omissions on the part of such
Principal constituting (x) willful misconduct, (y) knowing violations of law or
(z) in the case of claims by the Pledgor against such Principal, such Person's
failure to observe any other standard applicable to it under any of the 

                                       17
<PAGE>

other provisions of the Collateral Documents or, but only to the extent not 
waivable thereunder, Applicable Law.

          Section 5.12.  AMOUNTS PAYABLE DUE UPON REQUEST FOR PAYMENT.  All
amounts payable by the Pledgor under Section 5.11 and under the other provisions
of the Collateral Documents shall be immediately due upon request for the
payment thereof.

          Section 5.13.  INTEREST.  All amounts due and payable under the
Collateral Documents shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law,
bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate specified in the Credit
Agreement with respect to the Loans thereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing contained in the Collateral Documents shall require the Pledgor at any
time to pay interest at a rate exceeding the Maximum Permissible Rate.  If
interest payable by the Pledgor on any date would exceed the maximum amount
permitted by the Maximum Permissible Rate, such interest payment shall
automatically be reduced to such maximum permitted amount, and interest for any
subsequent period, to the extent less than the maximum amount permitted for such
period by the Maximum Permissible Rate, shall be increased by the unpaid amount
of such reduction.  Interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360
days and paid for the actual number of days elapsed.  Interest for any period
shall be calculated from and including the first day thereof to but excluding
the last day thereof.

          Section 5.14.  PAYMENTS BY THE PLEDGOR.  (a)  TIME, PLACE AND MANNER. 
All payments due to the Agent under the Collateral Documents shall be made to
the Agent, or to such other Person as the Agent may designate, at the Agent's
Office or such other address as the Agent may designate.  All payments due to
any other Principal under the Collateral Documents shall be made to such
Principal, or to such other Person as such Principal may designate, at such
address as such Principal may designate.  A payment shall not be deemed to have
been made on any day unless such payment has been received by the required
Person, at the required place of payment, in Dollars in funds immediately
available to such Person, no later than 12:00 noon (New York time) on such day.

          (b)  NO REDUCTIONS.  All payments due to any Principal under the
Collateral Documents, and all other terms, conditions, covenants and agreements
to be observed and performed by the Pledgor thereunder, shall be made, observed
or performed by the Pledgor without any reduction or deduction whatsoever,
including any reduction or deduction for any set-off, recoupment, counterclaim
(whether, in any case, in respect of an obligation owed by 

                                      18
<PAGE>

such Principal to the Pledgor, the Borrower or any guarantor and, in the case 
of a counterclaim, whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) or Tax, 
except for any withholding or deduction for Taxes required to be withheld or 
deducted under Applicable Law.

          (c)  TAXES.  (i)  If any Tax is required to be withheld or deducted
from, or is otherwise payable by the Pledgor in connection with, any payment to
any Principal under the Collateral Documents, the Pledgor (A) shall, if
required, withhold or deduct the amount of such Tax from such payment and, in
any case, pay such Tax to the appropriate taxing authority in accordance with
Applicable Law and (B) shall pay to such Principal such additional amounts as
may be necessary so that the net amount received by such Principal with respect
to such payment, after withholding or deducting all Taxes required to be
withheld or deducted, is equal to the full amount payable under the Collateral
Documents.  If any Tax is withheld or deducted from, or is otherwise payable by
the Pledgor in connection with, any payment payable to any Principal under the
Collateral Documents, the Pledgor shall, as soon as possible after the date of
such payment, furnish to such Principal the original or a certified copy of a
receipt for such Tax from the applicable taxing authority.  If any payment due
to any Principal under the Collateral Documents is or is expected to be made
without withholding or deducting therefrom, or otherwise paying in connection
therewith, any Tax payable to any taxing authority, the Pledgor shall, within 30
days after any request from any Principal, furnish to such Principal a
certificate from such taxing authority, or an opinion of counsel acceptable to
such Principal, in either case stating that no Tax payable to such taxing
authority was or is, as the case may be, required to be withheld or deducted
from, or otherwise paid by the Pledgor in connection with, such payment.

          (ii)  The Pledgor shall, promptly upon request by any Principal for
the payment thereof, pay to such Principal (A) all Taxes (other than Bank Taxes)
payable by such Principal with respect to any payment due to such Principal
under the Collateral Documents and (B) all Taxes (including Bank Taxes) payable
by such Principal as a result of payments made by the Pledgor (whether made to a
taxing authority or to such Principal but, in either case, without duplication)
pursuant to Section 5.14(c)(i) or (ii).

          (iii) (A) Each Secured Party that is not a "United States person" (as
such term is defined in Section 7701(a) (30) of the Code) shall submit to the
Pledgor (1) on or before the first date that interest or fees are payable to it
under the Collateral Documents, (2) two duly completed and signed copies of
Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 

                                       19
<PAGE>

4224 or any successor form, in each case entitling such Secured Party to a 
complete exemption from withholding of any United States federal income taxes 
on all amounts to be received by such Secured Party under the Collateral 
Documents, and (bb) a duly completed and signed copy of Internal Revenue 
Service Form W-8 or W-9 or any successor form, in each case entitling such 
Secured Party to a complete exemption from United States backup withholding 
tax on all amounts to be received by such Secured Party under the Collateral 
Documents, and (2) from time to time thereafter, prior to the expiration or 
obsolescence of any previously delivered form or upon any previously 
delivered form becoming inaccurate or inapplicable, such further duly 
completed and signed copies of such form or such other forms or certificates, 
in each case entitling such Secured Party to exemption from withholding of 
United States federal income taxes and from United States backup withholding 
tax to the maximum extent to which such Secured Party is then entitled under 
Applicable Law.  Each Secured Party shall promptly notify the Pledgor if (1) 
it is required to withdraw or cancel any form or certificate previously 
submitted by it or any such form or certificate has otherwise become 
ineffective or inaccurate or (2) payments to it are or will be subject to 
withholding of United States federal income taxes or United States backup 
withholding tax to a greater extent than the extent to which payments to it 
were previously subject.  Upon the request of the Pledgor or the Agent, each 
Secured Party that is a United States person (as defined above) shall from 
time to time submit to the Pledgor and the Agent a certificate to the effect 
that it is such a United States person.

          (B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
Pledgor shall not be required to pay any additional amount in respect of
withholding of United States income taxes or United States backup withholding
tax pursuant to Section 5.14(c)(i) or (ii) to any Principal (1) except to the
extent United States federal income taxes or United States backup withholding
tax, as the case may be, is required to be withheld as a result of a Regulatory
Change or (2) to the extent such withholding is required because such Principal
has failed to submit any form or certificate that it is entitled to so submit
under Applicable Law.

          (d)  AUTHORIZATION TO CHARGE BANK ACCOUNTS.  The Pledgor hereby
authorizes each Secured Party, if and to the extent any amount payable by the
Pledgor under the Collateral Documents (whether payable to such Secured Party or
to any other Secured Party) is not otherwise paid when due, to charge such
amount against any or all of the Bank Accounts of the Pledgor with such Secured
Party or any of its Affiliates, with the Pledgor remaining liable for any
deficiency.

                                       20
<PAGE>

          (e)  EXTENSION OF PAYMENT DATES.  Whenever any payment to any
Principal under the Collateral Documents would otherwise be due (except by
reason of acceleration) on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall
instead be due on the next succeeding Business Day.  If the date any payment
under the Collateral Documents is due is extended (whether by operation of any
Collateral Document, Applicable Law or otherwise), such payment shall bear
interest for such extended time at the rate of interest applicable hereunder.

          Section 5.15.  REMEDIES OF THE ESSENCE.  The various rights and
remedies of the Secured Parties under the Collateral Documents are of the
essence of those agreements, and the Secured Parties shall be entitled to obtain
a decree requiring specific performance of each such right and remedy.

          Section 5.16   RIGHTS CUMULATIVE.  Each of the rights and remedies of
the Secured Parties under the Loan Documents shall be in addition to all of
their other rights and remedies under the Loan Documents and Applicable Law, and
nothing in the Loan Documents shall be construed as limiting any such rights or
remedies.

          Section 5.17   AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.  Any term, covenant, agreement or
condition of the Collateral Documents may be amended, and any right under the
Collateral Documents may be waived, if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is
in writing and is signed by the Agent and, in the case of an amendment, by the
Pledgor.  No consent of any other Secured Party is necessary in connection with
any such amendment or waiver made pursuant to the provisions of the Credit
Agreement in connection with an event or circumstance contemplated by the Credit
Agreement.  Unless otherwise specified in such waiver, a waiver of any right
under the Collateral Documents shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which given.  No election not to exercise,
failure to exercise or delay in exercising any right, nor any course of dealing
or performance, shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Secured Parties
under the Collateral Documents or Applicable Law, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right of the Secured Parties under the
Collateral Documents or Applicable Law.

          Section 5.18   ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.  (a)  ASSIGNMENTS.  (i)
The Pledgor may not assign any of its rights or obligations under the Collateral
Documents without the prior written consent of the Majority of the Banks, and no
assignment of any such obligation shall release the Pledgor therefrom unless the
Majority of the Banks shall have consented to such release in a writing
specifically 

                                     21
<PAGE>

referring to the obligation from which the Pledgor is to be released.

          (ii) Each Secured Party may, in connection with any assignment
permitted under the Credit Agreement to any Person of any or all of the Secured
Obligations owing to it, assign to such Person any or all of its rights and
obligations under the Collateral Documents and with respect to the Collateral
without any consent of the Pledgor, the Agent or any other Secured Party, other
than one required by any of the other Loan Documents.  Upon such assignment,
such Person shall be deemed to be a Secured Party with the same rights and
obligations as if it had been a party to this Agreement.  Any such assignment of
any such obligation shall release such Secured Party from any obligations that
arise after such assignment.

          (b)  PARTICIPATIONS.  Each Secured Party may, in connection with any
grant to any Person pursuant to the Credit Agreement of a participation in any
or all of the Secured Obligations owing to it, grant to such Person a
participation in any or all of its rights and obligations under the Collateral
Documents and with respect to the Collateral without any consent of the Pledgor,
the Agent or any other Secured Party, other than one required by any of the
other Loan Documents.  Promptly after the grant of any such participation, the
Secured Party granting such participation shall notify the Pledgor and the Agent
of the name and address of the participant.

          (c)  RIGHTS OF ASSIGNEES AND PARTICIPANTS.  Each assignee of, and each
holder of a participation in, the rights of a Secured Party under the Collateral
Documents and with respect to the Collateral, if and to the extent the
applicable assignment or participation agreement so provides, (i) shall, with
respect to its assignment or participation, be entitled to all of the rights of
a Secured Party (as fully, in the case of a holder of a participation, as though
it were a Secured Party), subject to any conditions imposed on a Secured Party
hereunder with respect thereto, including delivery of the forms and certificates
required under Section 5.14(c)(iii), and (ii) may exercise any and all rights of
set-off or banker's lien with respect thereto (as fully, in the case of a holder
of a participation, as though the Pledgor were directly indebted to such holder
for amounts payable under the Collateral Documents to which such holder is
entitled under the applicable participation agreement); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
no assignee or holder of a participation shall be entitled to any amounts that
would otherwise be payable to it with respect to its assignment or participation
under Section 5.14(b) or (c) unless (x) such amounts are payable in respect of
Regulatory Changes that are enacted, adopted or 

                                       22
<PAGE>

issued after the date the applicable assignment or participation agreement 
was executed or (y) such amounts would have been payable to the Secured Party 
that made such assignment or granted such participation if such assignment 
had not been made or such participation granted.

          Section 5.19   RELATIONSHIP AMONG BANKS AND WITH AGENT. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the
relationship of the Banks among each other and with respect to the Agent shall
be governed by Article 9 of the Credit Agreement.

          Section 5.20.  GOVERNING LAW.  The Collateral Documents (other than
the Credit Agreement) shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to its choice of law
principles).

          Section 5.21.  JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  Any
judicial proceeding brought against the Pledgor, the Agent or any other Secured
Party with respect to any Collateral Document Related Claim may be brought in
any court of competent jurisdiction in the City of New York, and, by execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the Pledgor, the Agent and each other Secured
Party (a) accept, generally and unconditionally, the nonexclusive jurisdiction
of such courts and any related appellate court and irrevocably agree to be bound
by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with any Collateral Document
Related Claim and (b) irrevocably waive any objection they may now or hereafter
have as to the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court or that such
a court is an inconvenient forum.  The Pledgor, the Agent and each other Secured
Party hereby waive personal service of process and consent that service of
process upon any such Person may be made by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, at the address for such Person specified or determined in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.10(a)(ii), and service so made shall
be deemed completed on the third Business Day after such service is deposited in
the mail.  Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Pledgor, the Agent or
any other Secured Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or
shall limit the right of the Pledgor, the Agent or any other Secured Party to
bring proceedings against the Pledgor, the Agent or any other Secured Party in
the courts of any other jurisdiction.  THE PLEDGOR, THE AGENT AND EACH OTHER
SECURED PARTY HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING
ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT RELATED CLAIM.

          Section 5.22.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.  NONE OF THE AGENT, ANY OTHER
SECURED PARTY OR ANY OTHER PRINCIPAL 

                                       23
<PAGE>

SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO, AND THE PLEDGOR HEREBY WAIVES, 
RELEASES AND AGREES NOT TO SUE FOR:

          (a)  ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE PLEDGOR, OR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE,
DEPRECIATION OR OTHER DIMINUTION IN THE VALUE OF ANY COLLATERAL, THAT MAY OCCUR
AS A RESULT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR THAT IS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO, ANY
EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY UNDER THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS, EXCEPT FOR ANY
SUCH LOSS, DAMAGE, DEPRECIATION OR DIMINUTION TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SAME IS
DETERMINED BY A JUDGMENT OF A COURT THAT IS BINDING ON THE PLEDGOR AND SUCH
PRINCIPAL, FINAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO REVIEW ON APPEAL, TO BE THE RESULT OF ACTS
OR OMISSIONS ON THE PART OF SUCH PRINCIPAL CONSTITUTING (x) WILLFUL MISCONDUCT,
(y) KNOWING VIOLATIONS OF LAW OR (z) SUCH PERSON'S FAILURE TO OBSERVE ANY OTHER
STANDARD APPLICABLE TO IT UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE COLLATERAL
DOCUMENTS OR, BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT NOT WAIVABLE THEREUNDER, APPLICABLE LAW; OR

          (b)  ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SUFFERED BY THE
PLEDGOR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT RELATED CLAIM.

          Section 5.23.  SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.  Any provision of the
Collateral Documents that 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 thereof in
that jurisdiction or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision
in any other jurisdiction.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the
Pledgor hereby waives any provision of Applicable Law that renders any provision
of the Collateral Documents prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.

          Section 5.24.  COUNTERPARTS.  Each Collateral Document may be signed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto were upon the same instrument.

          Section 5.25   SURVIVAL OF OBLIGATIONS.  Except as otherwise expressly
provided therein, the rights and obligations of the Pledgor, the Agent, the
other Secured Parties and the other Indemnified Persons under the Loan Documents
shall survive the Repayment Date and the termination of the Security Interest.

          Section 5.26   ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement among the Pledgor, the Agent and the other Secured Parties relating to
the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, representations
and understandings, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof.

                                       24
<PAGE>

          Section 5.27   SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  All of the provisions of each
Collateral Document shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the Pledgor,
the Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and
assigns.

          Section 5.28.  REASONABLENESS.  Whenever the Pledgor, the Agent or any
other Secured Party has the right under this Agreement to request, approve, be
satisfied or exercise its judgment, it will (unless, in the case of the Agent or
the other Secured Parties, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing)
do so reasonably in light of the purpose for which such right is granted.

          Section 5.29.  INCONSISTENCY.  In the event that there should be any
inconsistency among the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Credit
Agreement, the terms of the Credit Agreement shall be controlling.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                                 INTERPRETATION

          Section 6.01.  DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.  (a)  CERTAIN TERMS DEFINED BY
REFERENCE.  (i)  Except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning,
all terms defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in
effect on the date of this Agreement, are used herein with the meanings therein
ascribed to them.  In addition, the terms "collateral" and "security interest",
when capitalized, have the meanings specified in subsection (b) below and the
term "deposit account" includes an account evidenced by a certificate of
deposit.

          (ii) Except for terms specifically defined in this Agreement, terms
defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the meanings therein
ascribed to them.

          (b)  OTHER DEFINED TERMS.  For purposes of this Agreement:

          "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that,
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person; unless
otherwise specified, "Affiliate" means an Affiliate of the Borrower.

          "AGENT" means Societe Generale, as agent for and representative
(within the meaning of Section 9-105(m) of the Uniform Commercial Code) of the
Banks under the Loan Documents, and any successor Agent appointed pursuant to
the Credit Agreement.

                                        25
<PAGE>

          "1994 AGENT" means the Agent as such term is defined the Senior Pledge
Agreement.

          "AGENT'S OFFICE" means the address of the Agent specified in or
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.10(a) (ii).

          "AGREEMENT" means this Agreement, including all schedules, annexes and
exhibits hereto.

          "AGREEMENT DATE" means the date set forth as such on the last
signature page hereof.

          "APPLICABLE LAW" means, anything herein or in the Credit Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, (i) all applicable common law and principles of
equity and (ii) all applicable provisions of all (A) constitutions, statutes,
rules, regulations and orders of governmental bodies, (B) Governmental Approvals
and (C) orders, decisions, judgments and decrees of all courts (whether at law
or in equity or admiralty) and arbitrators.

          "BANK" means (i) any bank listed on the signature pages of the Credit
Agreement, in its capacity as a lender thereunder, (ii) any Person that becomes
a bank party to the Credit Agreement, and (iii) any Person that has been
assigned any or all of the rights or obligations of a Bank pursuant to the
Credit Agreement.

          "BANK ACCOUNT" means (i), a deposit, custody, or other account
(whether, in any case, time or demand or interest or noninterest bearing and
whether maintained at a branch or office located within or without the United
States) of the Pledgor with the Agent, any other Secured Party or any Affiliate
of the Agent or any other Secured Party, (ii) all amounts from time to time
credited to such account, (iii) all cash, securities, instruments, documents,
chattel paper, general intangibles, accounts and other property from time to
time credited to such account or representing investments and reinvestment of
amounts from time to time credited to such account and (iv) all interest,
principal payments, dividends and other distributions payable on or with respect
to, and all proceeds of, (A) all property so credited or representing such
investments and reinvestment and (B) such account.

          "BANK TAX" means any income or franchise tax imposed upon any Bank by
any jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) in which such Bank (or any
of its branches or offices designated by such Bank from time to time as the
branch or office at which its Loans are to be made or maintained) is located.

                                         26
<PAGE>

          "BORROWER" means S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, a French corporation.

          "BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which banks in New York City and Paris are authorized to close.

          "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

          "COLLATERAL" means the Pledgor's interest (WHATEVER IT MAY BE) in each
of the following, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW OR HEREAFTER EXISTING OR NOW OWNED OR
HEREAFTER ACQUIRED BY THE PLEDGOR AND WHETHER OR NOT THE SAME IS NOW
CONTEMPLATED, ANTICIPATED OR FORESEEABLE, is subject to Article 8 or 9 of the
Uniform Commercial Code or constitutes Collateral by reason of one or more than
one of the following clauses:

            (i)     the Securities and the certificates, if any, representing
     them;

           (ii)     all dividends and other Distributions in respect of the
     Securities, any instruments, securities or other property issued in
     substitution therefor or replacement thereof or with respect thereto and
     any Distributions with respect thereto;

          (iii)     all other instruments, securities and other property issued
     with respect to or in exchange for the Securities or any instruments,
     securities or other property issued in substitution therefor or replacement
     thereof or with respect thereto (whether, in either case, upon conversion
     of convertible securities included therein or through stock split,
     spin-off, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale of assets,
     combination of shares or otherwise);

           (iv)     all rights (contractual and otherwise and whether
     constituting accounts, contract rights or general intangibles) arising
     under, connected with or in any way related to the Securities or any
     Collateral described in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this definition;

            (v)     all books, records, ledgercards, files, correspondence,
     computer programs, tapes, disks and redated data processing software (owned
     by the Debtor or in which it has an interest) that at any time evidence or
     contain information relating to any Collateral or are otherwise necessary
     or helpful in the collection thereof or realization thereupon;

           (vi)     all claims (including the right to sue or otherwise recover
     on such claims) (A) to items 

                                         27
<PAGE>

     referred to in the definition of Collateral and (B) against third parties
     that in any way arise under or out of or are related to or connected 
     with any or all of the Collateral; and

          (vii)     all products and proceeds of Collateral in whatever form. 
     The inclusion of "proceeds" of Collateral in the definition of "Collateral"
     shall not be deemed a consent by the Secured Parties to any sale or other
     disposition of any Collateral not otherwise specifically permitted by the
     terms hereof.

          "COLLATERAL AGENT" means Citibank, N.A., as the holder of Collateral
on behalf of (i) the Senior Secured Parties pursuant to the Senior Pledge
Agreement and (ii) the Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement and to the
Notice to Collateral Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to SCHEDULE
1.03 hereto and executed by the parties thereto on the Agreement Date.

          "COLLATERAL DOCUMENT RELATED CLAIM" means any claim (whether civil,
criminal or administrative and whether arising under any Applicable Law, or
sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) in any way arising out of, related to,
or connected with, (i) the Collateral Documents, (ii) the relationships
established thereunder, (iii) the exercise of any right or remedy available
thereunder or under Applicable Law or (iv) the Collateral, whether such claim
arises or is asserted before or after the Agreement Date or before or after the
release of the Security Interest.

          "COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS" means (i) this Agreement and (ii) all other
agreements, documents and instruments related to, arising out of, or in any way
connected with, (A) this Agreement, (B) any other agreement, document or
instrument referred to in this clause (ii), or (C) any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any such other agreement, document or
instrument, in each case whether now or hereafter executed.

          "COLLATERAL OBLIGATION" means a Liability constituting part of the
Collateral and includes any such constituting or arising under any Securities or
any other Collateral.

          "COMMITMENT" of any Bank means (i) the amount set forth opposite the
name of such Bank in Article 1.1 of the Credit Agreement as the maximum amount
to be lent by such Bank under the Credit Agreement or, in the case of a Bank
that becomes a Bank pursuant to an assignment permitted by the Credit Agreement,
the amount of the assignor's Commitment assigned to such Bank, in either case as
the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to the Credit 

                                      28
<PAGE>
Agreement or increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to assignments 
in accordance with the Credit Agreement, or (ii) as the context may require, 
the obligation of such Bank to make Loans in an aggregate unpaid principal 
amount not exceeding such amount.

          "CONTRACT" means (i) any agreement (whether bi-lateral or 
unilateral or executory or non-executory and whether a Person entitled to 
rights thereunder is so entitled directly or as a third-party beneficiary), 
including an indenture, lease or license, (ii) any deed or other instrument 
of conveyance, (iii) any certificate of incorporation or charter and (iv) any 
bylaw.

          "CREDIT AGREEMENT" means the Convention de Pret en Devises, dated 
December 27, 1995, among S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, Societe Generale, as 
Agent, and the banks listed on the signature pages thereof, as the same may 
be amended from time to time.

          "1994 CREDIT AGREEMENT" means the Convention de Pret en Devises, 
dated December 23, 1994, among S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, Societe Generale, 
as Agent, and the banks listed on the signature pages thereof, as the same 
may be amended from time to time.

          "DEFAULT" means any condition or event that constitutes an Event of 
Default or that with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would, 
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

          "DISTRIBUTIONS" means Ordinary Distributions and Extraordinary 
Distributions; "ORDINARY DISTRIBUTIONS" means cash dividends to the extent 
paid out of retained earnings, and interest paid in cash, in each case with 
respect to the Securities or the Collateral described in clauses (ii) or 
(iii) of the definition thereof, except to the extent that any such dividend 
is made in connection with partial or total liquidation or a reduction of 
capital, or any such interest is penalty interest, or, in each case, to the 
extent the same is not in the ordinary course; and "EXTRAORDINARY 
DISTRIBUTIONS" means (in each case whether or not in cash) all dividends, 
interest, principal payments and other distributions (including cash and 
securities payable in connection with calls, conversions, redemptions and the 
like) on or in respect of, and all proceeds (including cash and securities 
receivable in connection with tender or other offers) of, the Securities or 
the Collateral described in clauses (ii) or (iii) of the definition thereof, 
other than Ordinary Distributions.

          "DOLLARS" and the sign "$" mean lawful money of the United States 
of America.


                                       29

<PAGE>

          "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means any of the events specified in the Credit 
Agreement as an Event of Default, including but not limited to any of the 
events, circumstances or situations set forth in Article 8 of the Credit 
Agreement.

          "GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL  means any authorization, consent, approval, 
license or exemption of, registration or filing with, or report or notice to, 
any governmental unit.

          "INDEMNIFIED PERSON" means any Person that is, or at any time was, 
the Agent, a Bank, an Affiliate of the Agent or a Bank or a director, 
officer, employee or agent of any such Person.

          "INFORMATION" means data, certificates, reports, statements 
(including financial statements), opinions of counsel, documents and other 
information.

          "ISSUER" means Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp., an Oklahoma 
corporation.

          "LIABILITY" of any Person means (in each case, whether with full or 
limited recourse) any indebtedness, liability, obligation, covenant or duty 
of or binding upon, or any term or condition to be observed by or binding 
upon, such Person or any of its assets, of any kind, nature or description, 
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or not due, contractual or 
tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, whether arising under Contract, 
Applicable Law, or otherwise, whether now existing or hereafter arising, and 
whether for the payment of money or the performance or non-performance of any 
act.

          "LIEN" means, with respect to any property or asset (or any income 
or profits therefrom) of any Person (in each case whether the same is 
consensual or nonconsensual or arises by Contract, operation of law, legal 
process or otherwise) (i) any mortgage, lien, pledge, attachment, levy or 
other security interest of any kind thereupon or in respect thereof or (ii) 
any other arrangement, express or implied, under which the same is 
subordinated, transferred, sequestered or otherwise identified so as to 
subject the same to, or make the same available for, the payment or 
performance of any Liability in priority to the payment of the ordinary, 
unsecured Liabilities of such Person. For the purposes of this Agreement, a 
Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset that it has 
acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any 
conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement 
relating to such asset.


                                       30

<PAGE>

          "LOAN" means any amount advanced by a Bank pursuant to the Credit 
Agreement.

          "LOAN DOCUMENT RELATED CLAIM" means any claim or dispute (whether 
arising under Applicable Law, under Contract or otherwise and, in the case of 
any proceeding relating to any such claim or dispute, whether civil, 
criminal, administrative or otherwise) in any way arising out of, related to, 
or connected with, the Loan Documents, the relationships established 
thereunder or any actions or conduct thereunder or with respect thereto, 
whether such claim or dispute arises or is asserted before or after the 
Agreement Date or before or after the Repayment Date.

          "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means (i) the Credit Agreement and this Agreement 
and (ii) all other agreements, documents and instruments relating to, arising 
out of, or in any way connected with (A) any agreement, document or 
instrument referred to in clause (i), (B) any other agreement, document or 
instrument referred to in this clause (ii) or (C) any of the transactions 
contemplated by any agreement, document or instrument referred to in clause 
(i) or in this clause (ii), in each case whether now or hereafter executed.

          "MAJORITY OF THE BANKS" means, at any time, Banks holding more than 
50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding under the 
Credit Agreement at that time.

          "MATERIALLY ADVERSE EFFECT" means, (i) with respect to any Person, 
any materially adverse effect on such Person's business, assets, Liabilities, 
financial condition, results of operations or business prospects, (ii) with 
respect to a group of Persons "taken as a whole", any materially adverse 
effect on such Persons' business, assets, Liabilities, financial conditions, 
results of operations or business prospects taken as a whole on, where 
appropriate, a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles, (iii) with respect to any Loan Document, any adverse 
effect, WHETHER OR NOT MATERIAL, on the binding nature, validity or 
enforceability thereof as an obligation of the Borrower and (iv) with respect 
to any Collateral, or any category of Collateral, pledged by the Borrower, a 
materially adverse effect on its value as Collateral or its utility in the 
Borrower's business or an adverse effect, WHETHER OR NOT MATERIAL, on the 
validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Security Interest 
therein.

          "MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE RATE" means, with respect to interest payable 
on any amount, the rate of interest on such amount that, if exceeded, could, 
under Applicable Law, result in (i) civil or criminal penalties being imposed 
on 

                                       31
<PAGE>
the payee or (ii) the payee's being unable to enforce payment of (or, if 
collected, to retain) all or any part of such amount or the interest payable 
thereon.

          "PERMITTED LIENS" means (i) (A) a Lien consented to in writing by 
the Agent and (B) a Lien for Taxes not yet due, but only, in the case of a 
Lien referred to in either clause (A) or (B), if the Agent shall not have 
requested the discharge thereof, (ii) a Lien created in favor of the Agent 
and the other Secured Parties under the Collateral Documents and (iii) the 
Senior Security Interest in the Collateral.

          "PERSON" means any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, 
partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, mutual company, joint stock 
company, estate, union, employee organization, government or any agency or 
political subdivision thereof.

          "PLEDGOR means S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, a French corporation.

          "PRINCIPALS" means all Persons that are, or at any time were, the 
Agent, a Bank or any other Indemnified Person.

          "PRIORITY COLLATERAL" means (i) Collateral that has been released 
from the Senior Security Interest either (A) pursuant to the provisions of 
the Senior Pledge Agreement in connection with actions by the 1994 Agent 
pursuant to Section 6 of the 1994 Credit Agreement or (B) upon the 
termination of Senior Security Interest as provided in the Senior Pledge 
Agreement, and (ii), to the extent not covered by clause (i) above, 
Collateral and any products or proceeds thereof realized upon the exercise by 
the 1994 Agent or the Senior Secured Parties of any of its or their rights 
and remedies (whether upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under the 
Senior Pledge Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Collateral pursuant 
to the Senior Pledge Agreement (the "Realized Collateral") to the extent of 
the excess, if any, of (A) the value of such Realized Collateral over (B) the 
sum of all Senior Secured Obligations owing or payable to the Senior Secured 
Parties under the Senior Pledge Agreement.

          "REGULATORY CHANGE" means any Applicable Law, interpretation, 
directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law), or 
any change therein or in the administration or enforcement thereof, that 
becomes effective or is implemented or first required or expected to be 
complied with after the Agreement Date, whether the same is (i) the result of 
an enactment by a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, 
a determination of a court or regulatory authority, or otherwise or (ii) 


                                       32

<PAGE>

enacted, adopted, issued or proposed before or after the Agreement Date, 
including any such that imposes, increases or modifies any Tax, reserve 
requirement, insurance charge, special deposit requirement, assessment or 
capital adequacy requirement, but excluding any such that imposes, increases 
or modifies any Bank Tax.

          "REPAYMENT DATE" means the later of (i) the final maturity date of 
the Loans under the Credit Agreement as such date may be amended from time to 
time, and (ii) the date on which all Loans and all other amounts payable or 
accrued hereunder are paid in full and no further Loans may be made hereunder.

          "REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTY" means each representation or warranty 
made pursuant to or under (i) Article 2, Article 3 or any other provision of 
this Agreement, (ii) any of the other Loan Documents or (iii) any amendment 
to, or waiver of rights under, this Agreement or under any of the other Loan 
Documents, WHETHER OR NOT, IN THE CASE OF ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY 
REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (i), (ii) OR (iii) OF THIS DEFINITION (EXCEPT, IN EACH 
CASE, TO THE EXTENT OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED), THE INFORMATION THAT IS 
THE SUBJECT MATTER THEREOF IS WITHIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PLEDGOR.

     "SECURED OBLIGATIONS" means all Liabilities of the Pledgor owing to, or 
in favor or for the benefit of, or purporting to be owing to, or in favor or 
for the benefit of, the Principals under the Loan Documents to which the 
Pledgor is a party, in each case (i) WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER 
ARISING OR ACQUIRED, and (ii) whether owing to, or in favor or for the 
benefit of, or purporting to be owing to, or in favor or for the benefit of, 
Persons that are Principals as of the Agreement Date or that become 
Principals by reasons of any succession or assignment at any time thereafter.

          "SECURED PARTY" means each of Societe Generale, in its  capacity as 
the Agent and in its capacity as a Bank, Banque Nationale de Paris in its 
capacity as a Bank, and any other Bank, and their respective successors and 
assigns.

          "SECURITIES" means 20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value 
$0.01 per share, of the Issuer.

          "SECURITY INTEREST" means the mortgages, pledges and assignments to 
the Secured Parties of, the continuing security interest of the Secured 
Parties in, and the continuing lien of the Secured Parties upon, the 
Collateral intended to be effected by the terms of this Agreement or any of 
the other Loan Documents.


                                       33

<PAGE>

          "SENIOR PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means the Pledge Agreement dated as of
December 23, 1994, among the Pledgor and the banks listed on the signature pages
thereof.

          "SENIOR SECURED OBLIGATIONS" means the Secured Obligations as such
term is defined in the Senior Pledge Agreement.

          "SENIOR SECURED PARTIES" means the Secured Parties as such term is
defined in the Senior Pledge Agreement.

          "SENIOR SECURITY INTEREST" means the Security Interest as defined in
and provided for by the Senior Pledge Agreement.

          "SUBORDINATE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT" means the
Subordinate Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of December 27, 1995,
among the Borrower and the Secured Parties, consented and agreed to by Louis
Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp.

          "SUBORDINATE COLLATERAL" means any and all Collateral that is not
Priority Collateral.

          "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (i)
securities of which having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the
board of directors (or other persons having similar functions) or (ii) other
ownership interests of which ordinarily constituting a majority voting interest,
are at the time, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by such first
Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such first Person and one
or more of its Subsidiaries; unless otherwise specified, "Subsidiary" means a
Subsidiary of the Borrower.

          "TAX" means any Federal, State or foreign tax, assessment or other
governmental charge or levy (including any withholding tax) upon a Person or
upon its assets, revenues, income or profits.

          "UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect from time to time in the State of New York.

          Section 6.02.  OTHER INTERPRETATIVE PROVISIONS.   (a)  Except as
otherwise specified herein, all references herein (i) to any Person shall be
deemed to include such Person's successors and assigns, (ii) to any Applicable
Law defined or referred to herein shall be deemed references to such Applicable
Law as the same may have been or may be amended or supplemented from time to
time and (iii) to any Loan Document or Contract defined or referred to herein
shall be deemed references to such Loan Document or Contract 

                                     34
<PAGE>

(and, in the case of any instrument, any other instrument issued in 
substitution therefor) as the terms thereof may have been or may be amended, 
supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time.

          (b)  When used in this Agreement, the words "herein", "hereof" and
"hereunder" and words of similar import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any provision of this Agreement, and the words "Article", "Section",
"Schedule" and "Exhibit" shall refer to Articles of, Sections of, and Schedules
and Exhibits to, this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

          (c)  Whenever the context so requires, the neuter gender includes the
masculine or feminine, the masculine gender includes the feminine, and the
singular number includes the plural, and vice versa.

          (d)  Any item or list of items set forth following the word
"including", "include" or "includes" is set forth only for the purpose of
indicating that, regardless of whatever other items are in the category in which
such item or items are included", such item or items are in such category, and
shall not be construed as indicating that the items in the category in which
such item or items are included" are limited to such items or to items similar
to such items.

          (e)  Each power of attorney, license and other authorization in favor
of the Agent, the other Secured Parties or any other Person granted by or
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be irrevocable and coupled with an
interest.

          (f)  Except as otherwise indicated, any reference herein to the 
"Collateral", the "Priority Collateral", the "Subordinate Collateral", the 
"Secured Obligations", the "Senior Secured Obligations", the "Secured 
Parties", the "Senior Secured Parties", the "Loan Documents", the "Collateral 
Documents", the "Principals" or any other collective or plural term shall be 
deemed a reference to each and every item included within the category 
described by such collective or plural term, so that (i) a reference to the 
"Collateral", the "Priority Collateral", the "Subordinate Collateral", the 
"Secured Obligations", the "Senior Secured Obligations", the "Secured 
Parties", the "Senior Secured Parties" or the "Principals" shall be deemed a 
reference to any or all of the Collateral, the Priority Collateral, the 
Subordinate Collateral, the Secured Obligations, the Senior Secured 
Obligations, the Secured Parties, the Senior Secured Parties or the 
Principals, as the case may be, and (ii) a reference to the "obligations" of 
the Pledgor under the "Loan Documents" or the "Collateral

                                       35
<PAGE>

Documents" shall be deemed a reference to each and every obligation under 
each and every Loan Document or Collateral Document, as the case may be, 
whether any such obligation is incurred under one, some or all of the Loan 
Documents or the Collateral Documents, as the case may be.

          (g)  Except as otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this
Agreement shall have the meanings herein ascribed to them when used in the other
Collateral Documents or any certificate, opinion or other document delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto.

          Section 6.03.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  All Representations
and Warranties shall be deemed made (a) in the case of any Representation and
Warranty contained in this Agreement at the time of its initial execution and
delivery, at and as of the Agreement Date, (b) in the case of any Representation
and Warranty contained in this Agreement or any other document at the time any
Loan is made, at and as of such time and (c) in the case of any particular
Representation and Warranty, wherever contained, at such other time or times as
such Representation and Warranty is made or deemed made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement or the document pursuant to, under or in connection
with which such Representation and Warranty is made or deemed made.

          Section 6.04.  CAPTIONS.  Captions to Articles, Sections and
subsections of, and Annexes, Schedules and Exhibits to, the Collateral Documents
are included for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part
of the Collateral Documents for any other purpose or in any way affect the
meaning or construction of any provision of the Collateral Documents.


                                    36
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed by their duly authorized officers all as of the Agreement Date.

                                   S.A. LOUIS DREYFUS ET CIE


                                   By /s/ J.H. Pietra
                                      -----------------------------------
                                      Name: J.H. Pietra
                                      Title: Directeur General


                                   SOCIETE GENERALE
                                     as Agent and as a Bank


                                   By /s/ J. Naime
                                      -----------------------------------
                                      Name: J. Naime
                                      Title: Adjoint Au Directeur de la Divison
                                             Negoce Inernational

                                   BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS
                                     as a Bank


                                   By /s/ Robert Abraham
                                      -----------------------------------
                                      Name: Robert Abraham
                                      Title: Chance de Mission


                                   Agreement Date:  December 27, 1995 


                                     37
<PAGE>
                                       
                                                                   SCHEDULE 1.03
                                       
                          SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED ACTION

          Pursuant to, and without thereby limiting, its obligations under 
Section 1.03, the Pledgor hereby agrees that it will:

          (a) file UCC-1 financing statements in the form of SCHEDULE 
1.03(A); 

          (b) (i) on the Agreement Date, execute and deliver to the 
Collateral Agent and the other parties thereto for their execution a Notice 
to Collateral Agent in substantially the form of Exhibit 1 hereto, and 
thereafter, within five Business Days (or, during an Event of Default such 
shorter period as the Agent may specify) after receipt by the Pledgor or any 
of its agents, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent or to the 
Collateral Agent all certificated securities (other than the Securities) 
evidencing or forming a part of the Collateral (which after the occurrence 
and during the continuation of an Event of Default, shall be endorsed or 
accompanied by such instruments of assignment as the Agent may specify) and 
all dividends and other Distributions on or with respect to the Priority 
Collateral; PROVIDED that the Pledgor shall be required to deliver Ordinary 
Distributions with respect to the Priority Collateral to the Agent only if an 
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

          (ii) hold all money, checks, notes, drafts and other payments 
received by the Pledgor or any of its agents that constitute Priority 
Collateral, in trust for the Secured Parties, not commingle the same with any 
other property of the Pledgor and, within five Business Days (or, during an 
Event of Default, such shorter period as the Agent may specify) after 
receipt, cause the same to be delivered to the Agent or to the Collateral 
Agent; PROVIDED that the Pledgor shall be required to deliver Ordinary 
Distributions on or with respect to the Priority Collateral to the Agent only 
if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 1 TO
                                                                   SCHEDULE 1.03
                                       
                           NOTICE TO COLLATERAL AGENT

                                                December 27, 1995

Citibank, N.A.
International Custody Department
111 Wall Street, 14th Floor
Zone 22
New York, New York 10043
Attention: Pearline Bloomfield

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          Reference is made to (i) the Pledge Agreement dated as of December 
27, 1995 (the "Subordinate Pledge Agreement"), among S.A. Louis Dreyfus et 
cie ("SALD"), Societe Generale, as agent (the "Agent"), and the banks listed 
on the signature pages thereof, and (ii) the Pledge Agreement dated as of 
December 23, 1994 (the "Senior Pledge Agreement"), among SALD, Societe 
Generale, as agent (the "1994 Agent"), and the banks listed on the signature 
pages thereof.

          The undersigned hereby give you (acting in your role described 
herein, the "Collateral Agent") notice that the Collateral (as defined below) 
which is now or in the future held by you on behalf of the 1994 Agent and the 
other secured parties under the Senior Pledge Agreement (the "Senior Secured 
Parties"), and which is currently subject to the senior security interest of 
the Senior Secured Parties pursuant to the Senior Pledge Agreement, is also 
subject to the security interest of the Agent and the other secured parties 
pursuant to the Subordinate Pledge Agreement (the "Secured Parties").   The 
undersigned, with the acknowledgement, agreement and consent of the 1994 
Agent as evidenced below, hereby instruct you to hold the Collateral for the 
additional benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Subordinate Pledge 
Agreement.

          The undersigned, with the acknowledgement, agreement and consent of 
the 1994 Agent as evidenced below, hereby further instruct you (i) not to, 
and you hereby agree that you will not, release any Priority Collateral (as 
defined below) or any proceeds or products thereof to any Person except upon 
the sole instructions of the Agent and (ii) to keep all Priority Collateral 
separately identified from all other Collateral held by you.

     For the purposes of this Notice to Collateral Agent (this "Notice"), (i) 
"Collateral" shall consist of the 20 
<PAGE>

million shares of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. currently held by you, and 
all other property of whatever type received by you from the 1994 Agent and 
designated as "Collateral which you are to hold, pursuant to the Custodial 
services Agreement between Societe Generale and Citibank, H.A. dated as of 
November 24, 1982 (the "Custody Agreement ), which property is currently (or 
will become) subject to the senior security interest of the Senior Secured 
Parties pursuant to the Senior Pledge Agreement, and (ii) Priority 
Collateral" shall consist solely of Collateral which you shall have been 
instructed to hold for the sole benefit of the Secured Parties under the 
Subordinate Pledge Agreement in a notice from the 1994 Agent to the 
Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Consent Letter dated as of 
December 27, 1995 among the 1994 Agent, the banks party thereto, SALD and the 
Agent (the "Consent Letter").

     It is understood and agreed that (i) you as Collateral Agent shall not 
be charged with knowledge of the Subordinate Pledge Agreement, the Senior 
Pledge Agreement, the Consent Letter (other than receipt of notices of the 
1994 Agent pursuant thereto but solely as specified herein) or any other 
document other than the Custody Agreement, (ii) your duties as Collateral 
Agent shall consist solely of (A) receiving notices from the 1994 Agent 
pursuant to the Consent Letter as referred to above, (B) keeping all Priority 
Collateral separately identified from all other Collateral held by you, (C) 
releasing Collateral that is not Priority Collateral upon the sole 
instructions or the 1994 Agent, (D) releasing Priority Collateral upon the 
sole instructions of the Agent, and (E) receiving property from the 1994 
Agent to be held as collateral, (iii) you shall be fully entitled to rely on 
notices of the 1994 Agent in recharacterizing amounts held as Collateral to 
amounts held as Priority Collateral and holding such amounts accordingly and 
in holding as Collateral property received from the 1994 Agent and designated 
as such, (iv) you shall be fully indemnified and held harmless for any and 
all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees)-- incurred in 
carrying out instructions in accordance with this Notice, and (v), except as 
otherwise provided herein, the Collateral and the Priority Collateral shall 
be held by you as Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms and 
conditions of the Custody Agreement and, except for the duties enumerated 
herein, nothing herein shall modify your duties or obligations under the 
Custody Agreement.

          This Notice may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of 
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such separate counterparts 
shall together constitute but one and the same Notice. 



                                       2
<PAGE>

          Please indicate your acknowledgment of and agreement and consent to 
the terms of this Notice by signing below where provided and returning this 
Notice to the undersigned.

                                            S.A. LOUIS DREYFUS ET CIE


                                            By:
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                            SOCIETE GENERALE, as Agent
                                              under the Subordinate Pledge
                                              Agreement


                                            By:
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


ACKNOWLEDGED, AGREED AND
CONSENTED TO:

CITIBANK, N. A .,
  as Collateral Agent



By:
   --------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:


SOCIETE GENERALE, as Agent
  under the Senior Pledge Agreement


By:
   --------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:



                                       3

<PAGE>

                                                                SCHEDULE 1.03(a)


                               STANDARD FORM UCC-1

                               FINANCING STATEMENT

1. Debtor:     S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie
               87 Avenue de la Grande Armee
               75782 Paris
               Cedex 16
               France

2. Secured Party:   Societe Generale, as Agent (as defined in Annex A hereto)
                    Tour Societe Generale 17, Cours Valmy Paris, La Defense 7
                    Valmy France

3. "Collateral" as defined in Annex A hereto, whether now or hereafter
   existing or now owned or hereafter acquired, including the securities
   referred to in clause (a) of Annex A hereto, and all payments and
   distributions on or with respect thereto (whether constituting principal,
   interest or dividends) and all proceeds of the foregoing.

Signature Lines:

   Debtor:   S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie

   Secured Party: Societe Generale, as Agent
<PAGE>

                      ANNEX A TO UCC-1 FINANCING STATEMENT


DEBTOR: S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie

SECURED PARTY: Societe Generale, as Agent for Societe Generale and Banque
Nationale de Paris

                             COLLATERAL DESCRIPTION

          "Collateral" means the Debtor's interest (whatever it may be) in each
of the following, in each case whether now or hereafter existing or now owned or
hereafter acquired by the Debtor and whether or not the same is now
contemplated, anticipated or foreseeable, or constitutes Collateral by reason of
one or more than one of the following clauses, and wherever the same may be
located:

     (a) 20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Louis
Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp., an Oklahoma corporation, and the certificates
representing such shares;

     (b) all dividends and other distributions in respect of the securities
referred to in clause (a) hereof, any instruments, securities or other property
issued in substitution therefor or replacement thereof or with respect thereto
and any distributions with respect thereto;

     (c) all other instruments, securities and other property issued with
respect to or in exchange for the securities referred to in clause (a) hereof or
any instruments, securities or other property issued in substitution therefor or
replacement thereof or with respect thereto (whether, in either case, upon
conversion of convertible securities included therein or through stock split,
spin-off, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale of assets, combination
of shares or otherwise);

     (d) all books, records, ledgercards, files, correspondence, computer
programs, tapes, disks and related data processing software (owned by the Debtor
or in which it has an interest) that at any time evidence or contain information
relating to any Collateral or are otherwise necessary or helpful in the
collection thereof or realization thereupon;

     (e) all rights (contractual and otherwise and whether constituting
accounts, contract rights or general intangibles) arising under, connected with
or in any way related to the Securities or any Collateral described in clauses
(ii) or (iii) of this definition;

<PAGE>

     (f) all claims (including the right to sue or otherwise recover on such
claims) (i) to items referred to in the definition of Collateral and (ii)
against third parties that in any way arise under or out of or are related to or
connected with any or all of the Collateral; and

     (g) all products and proceeds of Collateral in whatever form.

                              ADDITIONAL DEFINITION

          For purposes of this Annex A:

          "Agent" means Societe Generale, as agent for and representative
(within the meaning of Section 9-105(m) of the Uniform Commercial Code) of
Societe Generale and Banque Nationale de Paris (the "Banks"), listed on the
signature pages of the Convention de Pret en Devises, dated December 27, 1995,
among S.A. Louis Dreyfus, the Banks and Societe Generale, as Agent, as amended
(the "Credit Agreement") and the respective successors and assigns of such
Banks, and any successor Agent appointed pursuant to the provisions of the
Credit Agreement.





                                     2


<PAGE>
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

          THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as of
November 9, 1993 but effective as set forth in Section 1 below, is entered into
by and between LOUIS DREYFUS NATURAL GAS CORP., an Oklahoma corporation (the
"Company"), and the undersigned stockholder (the "Holder").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

          WHEREAS, the Holder owns a substantial number of shares of Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company; and

          WHEREAS, following the initial public offering referred to below, the
Company Stock will be registered under Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"); and

          WHEREAS, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities Act") and the General Rules and Regulations promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder, the Holder is or may
be limited in the manner of selling the shares of Common Stock owned by the
Holder, absent registration under the Securities Act of the sale of such Common
Stock or the availability of another exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act; and

          WHEREAS, the Company and the Holder desire to establish certain
registration rights with respect to shares of Common Stock owned by the Holder;

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

          1.   EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement shall become
effective commencing on the effective date of the registration statement
relating to the initial public offering of Common Stock by the Company ("IPO").

          2.   DEMAND REGISTRATION.

               (A)  REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION.  As used in this Agreement,
"Restricted Stock" shall mean all shares of Common Stock owned by the Holder on
the effective date of this Agreement (excluding any shares which are sold by the
Holder in the IPO), together with any securities issued or issuable with respect
to any such Common Stock by way of stock dividend or stock split or in
connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation
or other reorganization or otherwise.  As to any particular Restricted 

<PAGE>

Stock, once issued such securities shall ceased to be Restricted Stock 
when (a) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such securities 
shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities 
shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, 
(b) such securities shall have been distributed to the public pursuant to 
Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act, (c) such 
securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates 
representing such securities not bearing a legend restricting further 
transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent disposition 
of such securities shall not require registration or qualification of such 
securities under the Securities Act or any similar state law then in force, 
(d) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding or (e) the Holder or 
Holders thereof shall agree in writing that such Restricted Stock shall no 
longer be subject to this agreement.  The Holder and any permitted assignee 
of the Holder's rights and duties hereunder as provided in Section 10 are 
referred to herein as the "Holders."  Subject to the conditions and 
limitations set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement, at any time following 
the date one year after the effective date of this Agreement set forth in 
Section 1, the Holder or Holders of Restricted Stock holding in the aggregate 
5% in Restricted Stock then outstanding may make a written request for 
registration under the Securities Act of all or part of its or their 
Restricted Stock pursuant to this Section 2 ("Demand Registration"), provided 
that the Restricted Stock proposed to be sold (a) shall be at least 5% of the 
aggregate number of shares of Restricted Stock then outstanding, but in no 
event less than 500,000 shares of Restricted Stock (subject to appropriate 
adjustment for any stock dividend, stock split, combination, 
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other occurrence 
affecting the number of shares of Restricted Stock then outstanding) and 
(b) shall have an aggregate Market Value of at least $5,000,000 on the date 
immediately preceding the date of the Holder's written request for 
registration under this Section 2.  For purposes of this Section 2, "Market 
Value" shall be determined by using the last reported sales price on the New 
York Stock Exchange, or such other national securities exchange on which the 
Common Stock is listed.  On the day on which such value is to be determined, 
or if the Common Stock is not then listed on a national securities exchange, 
the last sales prices reported in the National Market System of the National 
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System 
("NASDAQ"), or if the Common Stock is not included in the National Market 
System, then the average of the closing bid and asked prices in the 
over-the-counter market as reported by the NASDAQ or other national quotation 
service.  If at any time the Common Stock is not listed on a national 
exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the Market Value shall be 
the value determined by the Board of Directors of the 



                                       2
<PAGE>

Company, taking into consideration those factors affecting value which they 
deem appropriate.  The Holder's written request will specify the aggregate 
number of shares of Restricted Stock proposed to be sold and will also 
specify the intended method of disposition thereof.  Within ten days after 
receipt of such request, the Company will give written notice of such 
registration request to all other Holders of Restricted Stock and include in 
such registration all Restricted Stock with respect to which the Company has 
received written requests for inclusion therein within fifteen business days 
after the receipt by the applicable Holder of the Company's notice.  Each 
such request will also specify the aggregate number of shares of Restricted 
Stock to be registered and the intended method of disposition thereof.  No 
other party, including the Company (but excluding another Holder of 
Restricted Stock), shall be permitted to offer securities under any such 
Demand registration unless the Holder or Holders requesting the Demand 
Registration shall consent in writing.

               (B)  PRIORITY ON DEMAND REGISTRATIONS.  If the Holders of a
majority in number of shares of the Restricted Stock to be registered in a
Demand Registration so elect, the offering of such Restricted Stock pursuant to
such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering.  In
such event, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of such offering advise
the Company and the Holders in writing that in their opinion the aggregate
amount of Restricted Stock requested to be included in such offering is so large
that it will materially and adversely affect the success of such offering, the
Company will include in such registration the aggregate number of shares of
Restricted Stock which in the opinion of such managing underwriter or
underwriters can be sold without any such material adverse effect, and such
number of shares shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders of Restricted
Stock on the basis of the number of shares of Restricted Stock requested to be
included in such registration by their Holders.  To the extent Restricted Stock
so requested to be registered is excluded from the offering, then the Holders of
such Restricted Stock shall have the right to one additional Demand Registration
under this Section with respect to such Restricted Stock, PROVIDED that the
failure of such Restricted Stock to be registered is through no fault of such
Holder.

               (C)  SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS AND COUNSEL.  If any Demand
Registration is in the form of an underwritten offering, the Holders of a
majority in number of shares of Restricted Stock to be registered will select
and obtain the services of the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers that will administer the offering and the  counsel to such
investment bankers and managers; PROVIDED that such investment bankers, managers
and counsel must be approved 



                                       3
<PAGE>

by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

          3.   PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION.  If the Company proposes to file a
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering for
its own account of any class of its equity securities (other than a registration
statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form) or any other registration
statement relating solely to employee benefit plans or filed in connection with
an exchange offer, a transaction to which Rule 145 under the Securities Act
applies or an offering of securities solely to the Company's existing
stockholders), then the Company shall in each case give written notice of such
proposed filing to the Holders of Restricted Stock as soon as practicable (but
no later than five business days) before the anticipated filing date, and such
notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to register such number of
shares of Restricted Stock as each such Holder may request.  Each Holder of
Restricted Stock desiring to have such Holder's Restricted Stock included in
such registration statement shall so advise the Company in writing within five
business days after the date of Company's notice, setting forth the amount of
such Holder's Restricted Stock for which registration is requested.  If the
Company's offering is to be an underwritten offering, the Company shall, subject
to the further provisions of this Agreement, use its reasonable efforts to cause
the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to
permit the Holders of the Restricted Stock, requested to be included in the
registration for such offering, to include such securities in such offering on
the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included
therein.  Moreover, if the registration of which the Company gives notice does
involve an underwriting, the right of each Holder to registration pursuant to
this Section 3 shall, unless the Company otherwise assents, be conditioned upon
such Holder's participation as a seller in such underwriting and its execution
of an underwriting agreement with the managing underwriter or underwriters
selected by the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the managing
underwriter or underwriters of such offering deliver a written opinion to the
Holders of Restricted Stock that either because of (A) the kind of securities
which the Holders, the Company and any other person or entities intend to
include in such offering or (B) the size of the offering which the Holders, the
Company and other persons intend to make, the success of the offering would be
materially and adversely affected by inclusion of the Restricted Stock requested
to be included, then (i) in the event that the size of the offering is the basis
of such managing underwriter's opinion, the number of shares to be offered for
the accounts of Holders of Restricted Stock shall be reduced pro rata to the
extent necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included in such
offering to 



                                       4
<PAGE>

the amount recommended by such managing underwriter or underwriters; PROVIDED 
that if securities are being offered for the account of other persons or 
entities as well as the Company, such reduction shall not represent a greater 
fraction of the number or kind of securities intended to be offered by 
Holders of Restricted Stock than the fraction of similar reductions imposed 
on such other persons or entities over the amount of securities of such kind 
they intended to offer; and (ii) in the event that the combination of 
securities to be offered is the basis of such managing underwriter's opinion, 
(x) the Restricted Stock to be included in such offering shall be reduced as 
described in clause (i) above (subject to the proviso in clause (i)) or, (y) 
if the actions described in clause (x) would, in the judgment of the managing 
underwriter, be insufficient to substantially eliminate the adverse effect 
that inclusion of the Restricted Stock requested to be included would have on 
such offering, such Restricted Stock will be excluded from such offering.  
Any Restricted Stock excluded from an underwriting shall be withdrawn from 
registration and shall not, without the consent of the Company and the 
manager of the underwriting, be transferred in a public distribution prior to 
the earlier of 90 days (or such other shorter period of time as the Company 
and the manager of the underwriting may require) after the effective date of 
the registration statement or 150 days after the date the Holders of such 
Restricted Stock are notified of such exclusion.

          4.   REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.  Whenever, pursuant to Section 2 or 3,
the Holders of Restricted Stock have requested that any Restricted Stock be
registered, the Company will, subject to the provisions of Section 5, use all
reasonable efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Restricted
Stock in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof as promptly
as practicable, and in connection with any such request, the Company will:

               (A)  In connection with a request pursuant to Section 2, prepare
and file with the SEC, not later than 60 days after receipt of such request to
file a registration statement with respect to Restricted Stock, a registration
statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies and which counsel for
the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the
sale of such Restricted Stock in accordance with the intended method of
distribution thereof, and use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration
statement to become effective; PROVIDED that if the Company shall furnish to the
Holders making such a request a certificate signed by either the chief financial
officer or the chief accounting officer of the Company stating that in his good
faith judgment it would be significantly disadvantageous to the Company for such
a registration statement to be filed on or before the date filing would be
required, the Company shall have an additional period of not 



                                       5

<PAGE>

more than 90 days within which to file such registration statement; and 
provided further (i) that before filing a registration statement or 
prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will furnish 
to one counsel selected by the Holders of a majority in number of shares of 
the Restricted Stock covered by such registration statement copies of all 
such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the 
review of such counsel, and (ii) that after the filing of the registration 
statement, the Company will promptly notify each selling Holder of Restricted 
Stock of any stop order issued or, to the knowledge of the Company, 
threatened by the SEC and take all reasonable actions to prevent the entry of 
such stop order or to remove it if entered;

               (B)  in connection with a registration pursuant to Section 2, 
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such 
registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may 
be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period of 
not less than 270 days or such shorter period as shall terminate when all 
Restricted Stock covered by such registration statement have been sold (but 
not before the expiration of the 90-day period referred to in Section 4(3), 
of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder, if applicable), and comply 
with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of 
all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in 
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the selling Holders 
thereof set forth in such registration statement;

               (C)  as soon as reasonably practicable, furnish to each 
selling Holder, prior to filing a registration statement, copies of such 
registration statement as proposed to be filed, and thereafter furnish to 
such selling Holder such number of copies of such registration statement, 
each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case, if specified by such 
Holder, including all exhibits thereto), the prospectus included in such 
registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and such other 
documents as such selling Holder may reasonably request in order to 
facilitate the disposition of the Restricted Stock owned by such selling 
Holder;

               (D)  with reasonable promptness, use its reasonable efforts to 
register or qualify such Restricted Stock under such other securities or blue 
sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder 
reasonably (in light of such selling Holder's intended plan of distribution) 
requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably 
necessary or advisable to enable such selling Holder to consummate the 
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Restricted Stock owned by such 

                                      6
<PAGE>

selling Holder; PROVIDED, that the Company will not be required to (i) 
qualify generally or do business in any jurisdiction where it would not 
otherwise be required to qualify but for this subsection (D), (ii) subject 
itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (iii) consent to general 
service of process in any such jurisdiction;

               (E)  with reasonable promptness, use reasonable efforts to cause
the Restricted Stock covered by such registration statement to be registered
with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be
necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company to enable the
selling Holder or Holders thereof to consummate the disposition of such
Restricted Stock;

               (F)  promptly notify each selling Holder of such Restricted
Stock, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act, or the occurrence of any event known to the
Company requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such
prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Restricted
Stock, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading and promptly make available to each
selling Holder any such supplement or amendment;

               (G)  in connection with a request pursuant to Section 2, enter
into an underwriting agreement in customary form, the form and substance of such
underwriting agreement being subject to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Company;

               (H)  with reasonable promptness make available for inspection by
any selling Holder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
such registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by any such selling Holder or underwriter (collectively, the
"Inspectors"), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents
and properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records") as shall be
reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence
responsibility, and cause the Company's officers and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested for such purpose by any such Inspector in
connection with such registration statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
selection of any Inspector other than a selling Holder shall be subject to the
consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.  Each
inspector that actually reviews Records supplied by the Company that include
information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential
("Confidential Information") shall be required, prior to any such review, to
execute an agreement with the Company 

                                       7
<PAGE>

providing that such Inspector shall not disclose any Confidential Information 
unless such disclosure is required by applicable law or legal process.  Each 
selling Holder of Restricted Stock agrees that Confidential Information 
obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall not be used by it as the 
basis for any transactions in securities of the Company unless and until such 
information is made generally available to the public.  Each selling Holder 
of Restricted Stock further agrees that it will, upon learning that 
disclosure of Confidential Information is sought in a court of competent 
jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its 
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the 
Confidential Information.  Each selling Holder also agrees that the due 
diligence investigation made by the Inspectors shall be conducted in a manner 
which shall not unreasonably disrupt the operations of the Company or the 
work performed by the Company's officers and employees;

               (I)  in the event such sale is pursuant to an underwritten
offering, use its reasonable efforts to obtain a comfort letter or letters from
the Company's independent public accountants in customary form and covering such
matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing
underwriter reasonably requests;

               (J)  otherwise use its reasonable efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the GEC, and make available to its security
holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering a
period of twelve months, beginning within three months after the effective date
of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act; and

               (K)  with reasonable promptness, use its reasonable efforts to
cause all such Restricted Stock to be listed on each securities exchange on
which the Common Stock of the Company is then listed, PROVIDED that the
applicable listing requirements are satisfied.

          Each selling Holder of Restricted Stock agrees that, upon receipt of
any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in subsection (F) hereof, such selling Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of Restricted Stock pursuant to the registration statement covering
such Restricted Stock until such selling Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (F) hereof, and,
if so directed by the Company, such selling Holder will deliver to the Company
(at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in
such selling Holder's possession, of the prospectus covering such Restricted
Stock 

                                         8
<PAGE>

current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the Company 
shall give any such notice, the Company shall extend the period during which 
such registration statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this 
Agreement (including the period referred to in subsection (D)) by the number 
of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such 
notice pursuant to subsection (F) hereof to and including the date when each 
selling Holder of Restricted Stock covered by such registration statement 
shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus 
contemplated by subsection (F) hereof.  Each selling Holder also agrees to 
notify the Company if any event relating to such selling Holder occurs which 
would require the preparation of a supplement or amendment to the prospectus 
so that such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material 
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or 
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

          5.   CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS.

               (A)  The Company's obligations under Section 2 shall be subject
to the following limitations:

                 (i)  the Company need not file a registration statement either
          (x) during the period starting with the date 60 days prior to the
          Company's estimated date of filing of, and ending 90 days after the
          effective date of, any registration statement pertaining to securities
          of the Company (other than a registration of securities in a Rule 145
          transaction or exchange offer or with respect to an employee benefit
          plan or dividend reinvestment plan), provided that if such Company
          registration statement is not filed within 90 days after the first
          date on which the Company notifies the Holder of Restricted Stock that
          it will delay a Demand Registration pursuant to this clause (x), the
          Company may not further postpone such Demand Registration pursuant to
          this clause; or (y) during the period specified in the first proviso
          of subparagraph (A) of Section 4;

                (ii)  the Company shall not be required to furnish any audited
          financial statements other than those audited statements customarily
          prepared at the end of its fiscal year, or to furnish any unaudited
          financial information with respect to any period other than its
          regularly reported interim quarterly periods unless in the absence of
          such other unaudited financial information the registration statement
          would contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a

                                          9
<PAGE>

          material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
          statements therein not misleading;

               (iii)  except as provided in Section 2(B), the Company shall not
          be required to file more than four Demand Registrations.  A
          registration statement will not count as a Demand Registration until
          it has become effective; and

                (iv)  the Company shall have received the information and
          documents specified in Section 6 and each selling Holder shall have
          observed or performed its other covenants and conditions contained in
          such section and Section 8.

               (B)  The Company's obligation under Section 3 shall be subject to
the limitations and conditions specified in such section and in clauses (i),
(ii), and (iv) of subsection (A) of this Section 5, and to the condition that
the Company may at any time terminate its proposal to register its shares and
discontinue its efforts to cause a registration statement to become or remain
effective.

          6.   INFORMATION FROM AND CERTAIN COVENANTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED
STOCK.  Notices and requests delivered to the Company by Holders for whom
Restricted Stock is to be registered pursuant to this Agreement shall contain
such information regarding the Restricted Stock to be so registered, the Holder
and the intended method of disposition of such Restricted Stock as shall
reasonably be required in connection with the action to be taken.  Any Holder
whose Restricted Stock is included in a registration statement pursuant to this
Agreement shall execute all consents, powers of attorney, registration
statements and other documents reasonably required to be signed by it in order
to cause such registration statement to become effective.  Each selling Holder
covenants that, in disposing of such Holder's shares , such Holder will comply
with Rules 10b-2, 10b-6 and 10b-7 of the SEC adopted pursuant to the Exchange
Act.

          7.   REGISTRATION EXPENSES.  All Registration Expenses (as defined
herein) will be borne by the Company.  Underwriting discounts and commissions
applicable to the sale of Restricted Stock shall be borne by the Holder of the
Restricted Stock to which such discount or commission relates, and each selling
Holder shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of any legal counsel,
accountants or other agents retained by such selling Holder and all other out-
of-pocket expenses incurred by such selling Holder in connection with any
registration under this Agreement.

                                      10
<PAGE>

          As used herein, the term Registration Expenses means all expenses 
incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement 
(whether or not the registration in connection with such expenses are 
incurred ultimately becomes effective), including, without limitation, all 
registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities 
or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in 
connection with blue sky qualifications of the Restricted Stock), rating 
agency fees, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses incurred by 
the Company, internal expenses incurred by the Company (including, without 
limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees 
performing legal or accounting duties), the fees and expenses incurred in 
connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on each 
securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are 
then listed, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and its 
independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any 
special audit or comfort letters required by or incident to such 
performance), securities acts liability insurance (if the Company elects to 
obtain such insurance), the reasonable fees and expenses of any special 
experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration and the 
fees and expenses of other persons retained by the Company.

          8.   INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

               (A)  INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY.  The Company agrees to 
indemnify and hold harmless each selling Holder of Restricted Stock, its 
officers, directors and agents and each person, if any, who controls such 
selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act 
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, 
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of 
investigation) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged 
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement 
or prospectus relating to the Restricted Stock or in any amendment or 
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to the 
Restricted Stock, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged 
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or 
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as 
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of, or are 
based upon, any such untrue statement or omission or allegation thereof which 
is based upon information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling 
Holder or on such selling Holder's behalf expressly for use therein; and 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, that with respect to any untrue statement or omission or 
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus, the 
indemnity agreement contained in this subsection shall not apply to the 



                                      11
<PAGE>

extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense results from 
the fact that a copy of the final prospectus was not sent or given to the 
person asserting any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses at 
or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Restricted Stock 
concerned to such person.  The Company also agrees to include in any 
underwriting agreement with any underwriters of the Restricted Stock 
provisions indemnifying and providing for contribution to such underwriters, 
their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters 
on substantially the same basis as the provisions of this Section 8 
indemnifying and providing for contribution to the selling Holders.

               (B)  INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED STOCK.  Each 
selling Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its 
officers, directors and agents and each person, if any, who controls the 
Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or 
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, 
damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of 
investigation) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged 
untrue statement or a material fact contained in any registration statement 
or prospectus relating to the Restricted Stock or in any amendment or 
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to the 
Restricted Stock, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged 
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or 
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided (i) that 
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of, or are 
based upon, any such untrue statement or omission or allegation thereof which 
is based upon information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling 
Holder or on such selling Holder's behalf expressly for use therein, (ii) 
that with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue 
statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus, the indemnity 
agreement contained in this subsection shall not apply to the extent that any 
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense results from the fact that a 
copy of the final prospectus was not sent or given to the person asserting 
any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses at or prior to the 
written confirmation of the sale of the Restricted Stock concerned to such 
person, and (iii) that no selling Holder shall be liable for any 
indemnification under this Section 8 in an aggregate amount which exceeds the 
total net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by such selling 
Holder from the offering.  Each selling Holder also agrees to include in any 
underwriting agreement with underwriters of the Restricted Stock provisions 
indemnifying and providing for contribution to such underwriters, their 
officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters on 



                                      12
<PAGE>

substantially the same basis as the provisions of this Section 8 indemnifying 
and providing for contribution to the Company.

               (C)  CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS.  If any action or 
proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be brought or 
asserted against any indemnified party in respect of which indemnity may be 
sought from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall assume the 
defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory 
to such indemnified party, and shall assume the payment of all expenses.  
Such indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any 
such action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and 
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party 
unless (i) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees and expenses, 
or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of 
such action or proceeding and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such 
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action or proceeding 
(including any impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and 
such indemnifying party, and such indemnified party shall have been advised 
by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to such 
indemnified party which are different from or additional to those available 
to the indemnifying party (in which case, if such indemnified party notifies 
the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel 
at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not 
have the right to assume the defense of such action or proceeding on behalf 
of such indemnified party, it being understood, however, that the 
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or 
proceeding for separate but substantially similar or related actions or 
proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general 
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more 
than one separate firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) 
at any time for such indemnified party, which firm shall be designated in 
writing by such indemnified party).  The indemnifying party shall not be 
liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected without 
its written consent, but if settled with its written consent, or if there is 
a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action or proceeding, the 
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless such indemnified 
party from and against any loss or liability (to the extent stated above) by 
reason of such settlement or judgment.

               (D)  CONTRIBUTION.  If the indemnification provided for in 
this Section 8 is unavailable to the Company or the selling Holders in 
respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to 
therein, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such 
indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or 



                                      13
<PAGE>

payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, 
damages, liabilities and judgments, in such proportions as is appropriate to 
reflect the relative fault of each such party in connection with such 
statements or omissions, as well as any other relevant equitable 
considerations.  The relative fault of each such party shall be determined by 
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue 
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a 
material fact relates to information supplied by such party, and the parties' 
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct 
or prevent such statement or omission.

     The Company and the selling Holders agree that it would not be just and 
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(D) were determined by 
pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take 
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately 
preceding paragraph.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a 
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to 
in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to 
the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably 
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigation or 
defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this 
Section 8(D), no selling Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in 
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Restricted Stock 
of such selling Holder were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any 
damages which such selling Holder has otherwise been required to pay by 
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged 
omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the 
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to 
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent 
misrepresentation.

          9.   AMENDMENTS.  This Agreement may be amended or modified upon 
the written consent thereto of the Company and the Holders of not less than 
66 2/3% of the Restricted Stock.

          10.  PERMITTED ASSIGNMENTS.  In the event any Holder or Holders 
transfer or assign Restricted Stock to any corporation or entity that is 
directly or indirectly at least 80% owned by S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, the 
rights and obligations of such Holder or Holders under this Agreement with 
respect to such Restricted Stock may be assigned to such transferee or 
assignee, without the consent of the Company.  Except as provided in the 
preceding sentence, this Agreement and the rights and obligations of the 
Holder or Holders hereunder shall not be assignable except with the prior 
written consent of the Company, and any attempted assignment without such 
consent shall be null and void AB INITIO.



                                      14
<PAGE>

Subject to this limitation, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and 
be binding upon and enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of 
the parties hereto.

          11.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement constitutes 
the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof:  
all prior or contemporaneous written or oral agreements are merged herein; 
this agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oklahoma.

          12.  NOTICES.  Any notice, request, instruction, correspondence or 
other document to be given hereunder by either party to the other (herein 
collectively called "Notice") shall be in writing and delivered personally or 
mailed, postage prepaid, or by telegram or telecopier, as follows:

          If to Holder:

          Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp.
          Ten Westport Road
          Wilton, Connecticut  06897

          Attention:  JEFFREY R. GILMAN

          Telephone:  (203) 761-2000
          Facsimile:  (203) 761-8257

          If to the Company:

          Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp.
          14000 Quail Springs Parkway, Suite 600
          Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  73134

          Attention:  Mark E. Monroe

          Telephone:  (405) 749-1300
          Facsimile:  (405) 749-9385

Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual
receipt.  Notice given by telegram or telecopier shall be effective upon actual
receipt if received during the recipient's normal business hours, or at the
beginning of the recipient's next business day after receipt of not received
during the recipient's normal business hours.  Any party may change any address
to which Notice is to be given to it by giving Notice as provided above of such
change of address. 



                                      15
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Holder have caused this Agreement
to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

                                       LOUIS DREYFUS NATURAL GAS CORP.



                                       By: /s/ Simon B. Rich, Jr.
                                          --------------------------------
                                          Name: Simon B. Rich, Jr.
                                          Title: President and CEO



                                       LOUIS DREYFUS NATURAL GAS HOLDINGS
                                       CORP.



                                       By: /s/ Jeffrey R. Gilman
                                          --------------------------------
                                          Name: Jeffrey R. Gilman
                                          Title:  Vice President










                                      16


<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 5
                                       
                      ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

          This Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated 
as of December 23, 1994, among S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, a French 
corporation ("SALD") and Societe Generale, as Agent under a Convention de 
Pret en Devises (the "Credit Agreement"), dated December 23, 1994, among 
SALD, Societe Generale, Banque Nationale de Paris, Credit Lyonnais, Caisse 
Centrale des Banques Populaires, Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur, 
Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole, Credit Industriel et Commercial, Banque 
Indosuez and Credit National (the "Banks") and Societe Generale, as Agent.
                                       
                              W I T N E S S E T H :

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Banks have agreed to 
make loans to SALD in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 
$250,000,000, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

          WHEREAS, in order to secure its obligations under the Credit 
Agreement and the other Secured Obligations (as such term is defined in the 
Pledge Agreement referred to below), SALD pledged all of its right, title and 
interest in and to the shares of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp., an Oklahoma 
corporation ("LDNG"), owned by it on December 23, 1994 to the Banks pursuant 
to a Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 23, 1994, between SALD, on the 
one hand, and the Agent and the Banks, on the other hand (the "Pledge 
Agreement") (terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings 
ascribed thereto in the Pledge Agreement);

          WHEREAS, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp. ("LDNGHC") has 
assigned to SALD all of its rights and obligations (insofar as they relate to 
the Securities) under the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 
9, 1993, between LDNGHC and LDNG, as amended by a letter agreement dated 
December 22, 1993 from LDNG to SALD and LDNGHC and by a letter agreement 
dated December 23, 1994 from LDNG to SALD and LDNGHC (the "Registration 
Rights Agreement");

          WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Banks 
to make loans under the Credit Agreement that SALD shall have executed and 
delivered this Agreement;

          NOW, THEREFORE, with intent to be legally bound hereby and for 
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which 
are hereby acknowledged, SALD hereby assigns and transfers as additional 
collateral to secure the loans under the Credit Agreement all of its 
<PAGE>

right, title and interest in and to the Registration Rights Agreement to the 
Secured Parties and their successors and assigns.

          TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same unto the Secured Parties and their 
successors and assigns.

          SALD further agrees that upon the occurrence and during the 
continuance of an Event of Default the Agent, on behalf of itself and the 
other Secured Parties, may exercise all of the rights of SALD in and under 
the Registration Rights Agreement as fully as if it and the other Secured 
Parties were named therein as paries thereto and that SALD will take such 
further actions (including but not limited to executing and delivering such 
further instruments, documents and agreements) as may be necessary or 
desirable to evidence the assignment and assumption referred to herein or to 
enable the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, to 
exercise its rights and the rights of the other Secured Parties under the 
Registration Rights Agreement.

          This Agreement is binding on all parties who lawfully succeed to 
the rights or take the place of the Secured Parties or SALD.

          This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of 
which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto 
were upon the same instrument.

          This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed 
by the laws of the State of New York.



                                       2
<PAGE>

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement 
to be executed by their duly authorized officers all as of the Agreement Date.

                                       S.A. LOUIS DREYFUS ET CIE


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       SOCIETE GENERALE,
                                         as Agent and as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       CREDIT LYONNAIS,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       CAISSE CENTRALE DES BANQUES POPULAIRES,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:



                                      3
<PAGE>


                                       BANQUE FRANCAISE DU COMMERCE EXTERIEUR,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       CAISSE NATIONALE DE CREDIT AGRICOLE,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       CREDIT INDUSTRIEL ET COMMERCIAL,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       BANQUE INDOSUEZ,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       CREDIT NATIONAL,
                                         as a Bank


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:



                                      4


<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT 6

               SUBORDINATE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

          This Subordinate Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the 
"Agreement"), dated as of December 27, 1995, among S.A. Louis Dreyfus et Cie, 
a French corporation ("SALD") and Societe Generale, as Agent under a 
Convention de Pret en Devises dated December 27, 1995 (the "Credit Agreement"),
among SALD, Societe Generale and Banque Nationale de Paris (the 
"Banks") and Societe Generale, as Agent.

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Banks have agreed to 
make loans to SALD in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 
$250,000,000, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

          WHEREAS, pursuant to a Convention de Pret en Devises, dated 
December 23, 1994 (the "1994 Credit Agreement"), among SALD Societe Generale, 
Banque Nationale de Paris, Credit Lyonnais, Caisse Centrale des Banques 
Populaires, Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur, Caisse Nationale de 
Credit Agricole, Credit Industriel et Commercial, Banque Indosuez and Credit 
National (the "1994 Banks") and Societe Generale, as agent (the "1994 
Agent"), the 1994 Banks have agreed to make loans to SALD in an aggregate 
principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000, on the terms and subject to the 
conditions set forth therein;

          WHEREAS, in order to secure its obligations under the 1994 Credit 
Agreement and the other Secured Obligations (as such term is defined in the 
1994 Pledge Agreement referred to below), SALD has pledged on a senior basis 
all of its right, title and interest in and to the twenty million shares of 
Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp., an Oklahoma corporation ("LDNG"), owned by 
it to the 1994 Banks pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 23,
1994, between SALD, on the one hand, and the 1994 Agent and the 1994 Banks, 
on the other hand (the "1994 Pledge Agreement");

          WHEREAS, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Holdings Corp. ("LDNGHC") has 
assigned to SALD all of its rights and obligations (insofar as they relate to 
the Securities) under the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 
9, 1993, between LDNGHC and LDNG, as amended by a letter agreement dated 
December 22, 1993 from LDNG to SALD and LDNGHC by a letter agreement dated 
December 20, 1994 from LDNG to SALD and LDNGHC and by a letter agreement 
dated December 27, 1995 from LDNG to SALD and LDNGHC (as amended, the 
"Registration Rights Agreement");

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated 
as of December 23, 1994 (the "Senior Assignment and Assumption Agreement"), 
SALD assigned and transferred to the Secured Parties (as defined in the 1994 
Pledge Agreement, the "1994 Secured Parties") and their successors and 
assigns all of its right, title and interest in and to the Registration 
Rights Agreement as additional collateral to secure the loans under the 1994 
Credit Agreement;

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1995 Credit Agreement, the Banks have 
agreed to make loans to SALD in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 
$75,000,000, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

          WHEREAS, in order to secure its obligations under the 1995 Credit 
Agreement and the other Secured Obligations (as such term is defined in the 
1995 Pledge Agreement referred to below), SALD has pledged, subject to the 
terms and conditions thereof, all of its right, title and interest in and to 
the twenty million shares of LDNG, owned by it to the Banks pursuant to the 
Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 27, 1995, between SALD, on the one 
hand, and the Agent and the Banks, on the other hand (the "1995 Pledge 
Agreement") (terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings 
ascribed thereto in the 1995 Plege Agreement);

          WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Banks 
to make loans under the 1995 Credit Agreement that SALD shall have executed 
and delivered this Agreement;

          NOW, THEREFORE, with intent to be legally bound hereby and for 
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which 
are hereby acknowledged, SALD hereby assigns and transfers as additional 
collateral to secure the loans under the 1995 Credit Agreement all of its 


<PAGE>

right, title and interest in and to the Registration Rights Agreement to the 
Secured Parties and their successors and assigns, insofar as such right, 
title and interest relate to such of the securities as are or become priority 
collateral.

          TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same unto the Secured Parties and their 
successors and assigns.

          SALD further agrees that upon the occurrence and during the 
continuance of an Event of Default the Agent, on behalf of itself and the 
other Secured Parties, may exercise all of the rights of SALD assigned and 
transferred hereby in and under the Registration Rights Agreement as fully as 
if it and the other Secured Parties were named therein as parties thereto and 
that SALD will take such further actions (including but not limited to
executing and delivering such further instruments, documents and agreements) 
as may be necessary or desirable to evidence the assignment and assumption 
referred to herein or to enable the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other 
Secured Parties, to exercise its rights and the rights of the other Secured 
Parties under the Registration Rights Agreement; PROVIDED that the parties 
hereto acknowledge and agree that the rights of SALD assigned and transferred 
hereby may be exercised by the Agent, on behalf of itself and the other 
secured Parties, only with respect to such of the Securities as are or become 
Priority Collateral.

          This Agreement is binding on all parties who lawfully succeed to 
the rights or take the place of the Secured Parties or SALD.

          This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of 
which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto 
were upon the same instrument.

          This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed 
by the laws of the State of New York.

                                       2

<PAGE>

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

                                       S.A. LOUIS DREYFUS ET CIE


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                       SOCIETE GENERALE,
                                         as Agent 


                                       By: /s/
                                          -------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


Agreed and Acknowledged:

Societe Generale,
as 1994 Agent 

                                      3



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