LINE OF CREDIT AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Credit and Guaranty Agreement and Revolving Credit Facility with Encina Business Credit, LLC

Effective February 1, 2017, we, Vertex Operating, and substantially all of our other operating subsidiaries, other than E-Source Holdings, LLC ("E-Source"), entered into a Credit Agreement (the “EBC Credit Agreement”) with Encina Business Credit, LLC as agent (the “Agent” or “EBC”) and Encina Business Credit SPV, LLC and CrowdOut Capital LLC as lenders thereunder (the “EBC Lenders”). Pursuant to the EBC Credit Agreement, and the terms thereof, the EBC Lenders agreed to loan us up to $20 million, provided that the amount outstanding under the EBC Credit Agreement at any time cannot exceed 50% of the value of the operating plant facilities and related machinery and equipment owned by us (not including E-Source).

Amounts borrowed under the EBC Credit Agreement bear interest at 12%, 13% or 14% per annum, based on the ratio of (a) (i) consolidated EBITDA for such applicable period minus (ii) capital expenditures made during such period, minus (iii) the aggregate amount of income taxes paid in cash during such period (but not less than zero) to (b) the sum of (i) debt service charges plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all dividend or other distributions paid on capital stock in cash for the most recently completed 12 month period (which ratio falls into one of the three following tiers: less than 1 to 1; from 1 to 1 to less than 1.45 to 1; or equal to or greater than 1.45 to 1, which together with the value below, determines which interest rate is applicable) and average availability under the Revolving Credit Agreement (defined below) (which falls into two tiers: less than $2.5 million and greater than or equal to $2.5 million, which together with the calculation above, determines which interest rate is applicable), as described in greater detail in the EBC Credit Agreement (increasing by 2% per annum upon the occurrence of an event of default). Interest on amounts borrowed under the EBC Credit Agreement is payable by us in arrears, on the first business day of each month, beginning on the first business day of the first full month following the closing, together with required $75,000 monthly principal repayments. We also have the right to make voluntary repayments of the amount owed under the EBC Credit Agreement in amounts equal to or greater than $100,000, from time to time.

The EBC Credit Agreement terminates on February 1, 2020, on which date we are required to repay the outstanding balance owed thereunder and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

The amounts borrowed under the EBC Credit Agreement are guaranteed by us and our subsidiaries, other than E-Source, pursuant to a Guaranty and Security Agreement (the “Guaranty and Security Agreement”), whereby we also pledged substantially all of our assets and all of the securities of our subsidiaries (other than E-Source) as collateral securing the amount due under the terms of the EBC Credit Agreement. We also provided EBC mortgages on our Marrero, Louisiana, and Columbus, Ohio facilities to secure the repayment of outstanding amounts and agreed to provide mortgages on certain other real property to be delivered post-closing. The post-closing mortgage properties provided were in Baytown, Pflugerville and Corpus Christi, Texas.

The EBC Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and requirements for the Company to indemnify the EBC Lenders and their affiliates. The EBC Credit Agreement also includes various covenants (positive and negative) binding upon the Company, including, prohibiting us from undertaking acquisitions or dispositions unless they meet the criteria set forth in the EBC Credit Agreement, not incurring any capital expenditures in amount exceeding $3 million in any fiscal year that the EBC Credit Agreement is in place, and requiring us to maintain at least $2.5 million of average borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Agreement (defined below) in any 30 day period. As of September 30, 2017, the average borrowing availability was $3,118,937, and the Company was in compliance with all covenants thereunder.

The EBC Credit Agreement includes customary events of default for facilities of a similar nature and size as the EBC Credit Agreement, including if an event of default occurs under any agreement evidencing $500,000 or more of indebtedness of the Company; we fail to make any payment when due under any material agreement; subject to certain exceptions, any judgment is entered against the Company in an amount exceeding $500,000; and also provides that an event of default occurs if a change in control of the Company occurs, which includes if (a) Benjamin P. Cowart, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and largest shareholder and Chris Carlson, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, cease to own and control legally and beneficially, collectively, either directly or indirectly, equity securities in Vertex Energy, Inc., representing more than 15% of the combined voting power of all securities entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent on a fully-diluted basis, (b) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any person or group of securities representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding securities of Vertex Energy, Inc., or (c) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (collectively “Events of Default”). An event of default under the Revolving Credit Agreement (defined below), is also an event of default under the EBC Credit Agreement.

Effective February 1, 2017, we, Vertex Operating and substantially all of our operating subsidiaries, other than E-Source, entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) with Encina Business Credit SPV, LLC as lender (“Encina”) and EBC as the administrative agent. Pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement, and the terms thereof, Encina agreed to loan us, on a revolving basis, up to $10 million, subject to the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement and certain lending ratios set forth therein, which provide that the amount outstanding thereunder cannot exceed an amount equal to the total of (a) the lesser of (A) the value (as calculated in the Revolving Credit Agreement) of our inventory which are raw materials or finished goods that are merchantable and readily saleable to the public in the ordinary course of our business (“EBC Eligible Inventory”), net of certain inventory reserves, multiplied by 85% of the appraised value of EBC Eligible Inventory, or (B) the value (as calculated in the Revolving Credit Agreement) of EBC Eligible Inventory, net of certain inventory reserves, multiplied by 65%, subject to a ceiling of $4 million, plus (b) the face amount of certain accounts receivables (net of certain reserves applicable thereto) multiplied by 85% (subject to adjustment as provided in the Revolving Credit Agreement); minus (c) the then-current amount of certain reserves that the agent may determine necessary for the Company to maintain. At September 30, 2017, the maximum amount available to be borrowed was $3,011,038, based on the above borrowing base calculation.

Amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest, subject to the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, at the one month LIBOR interest rate then in effect, subject to a floor of 0.25% (which interest rate is currently approximately 1.23% per annum), plus an additional 6.50% per annum (increasing by 2% per annum upon the occurrence of an event of default), provided that under certain circumstances amounts borrowed bear interest at the higher of (a) the “prime rate”; (b) the Federal Funds Rate, plus 0.50%; and (c) the LIBOR Rate for a one month interest period, plus 1.00%. Interest on amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Agreement is payable by us in arrears, on the first business day of each month, beginning on the first business day of the first full month following the closing.

The Revolving Credit Agreement terminates on February 1, 2020, on which date we are required to repay the outstanding balance owed thereunder and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Borrowings under a revolving credit agreement that contain a subjective acceleration clause and also require a borrower to maintain a lockbox with the lender (whereby lockbox receipts may be applied to reduce the amount outstanding under the revolving credit agreement) are considered short-term obligations. As a result, the debt is classified as a current liability at September 30, 2017.

The amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Agreement are guaranteed by us and our subsidiaries, other than E-Source, pursuant to a separate Guaranty and Security Agreement, similar to the EBC Credit Agreement, described in greater detail above. We also provided Encina mortgages on our Marrero, Louisiana, and Columbus, Ohio facilities to secure the repayment of outstanding amounts.

The Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and requirements for the Company to indemnify Encina and its affiliates. The Revolving Credit Agreement also includes various covenants (positive and negative) binding upon the Company, including, prohibiting us from undertaking acquisitions or dispositions unless they meet the criteria set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement, not incurring any capital expenditures in amount exceeding $3 million in any fiscal year that the Revolving Credit Agreement is in place, and requiring us to maintain at least $2.5 million of average borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Agreement in any 30 day period.

The Revolving Credit Agreement includes customary events of default for facilities of a similar nature and size as the Revolving Credit Agreement, including the same Events of Default as are described above under the description of the EBC Credit Agreement.

A total of $11,282,537 of the amount initially borrowed under the EBC Credit Agreement and Revolving Credit Agreement was used to repay amounts owed under (a) the Restated Credit Agreement with Goldman Sachs Bank USA (defined below), (b) our loan agreement with MidCap (defined below); and (c) the Fox Note (defined below), all of which have been repaid in full as of the date of this filing. Additionally, in connection with the repayment of such obligations, the Restated Goldman Credit Agreement and Midcap Loan Agreement, and our right to borrow funds thereunder were terminated.

The balance of the EBC Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2017 are $13,975,000 and $3,738,483, respectively.

Credit and Guaranty Agreement with Goldman Sachs Bank

In May 2014, the Company entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement with Goldman Sachs Bank USA (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”). Pursuant to the agreement, Goldman Sachs Bank USA loaned the Company $40 million in the form of a term loan. As set forth in the Credit Agreement, the Company has the option to select whether loans made under the Credit Agreement bear interest at (a) the greater of (i) the prime rate in effect, (ii) the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System plus ½ of 1%, (iii) the sum of (A) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate and (B) 1%, and (iv) 4.5% per annum; or (b) the greater of (i) 1.50% and (ii) the applicable ICE Benchmark Administration Limited interest rate, divided by (x) one minus, (y) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate. Interest on the Credit Agreement is payable monthly in arrears.

The Credit Agreement was secured by all of the assets of the Company.

On March 26, 2015, the Company entered into a Second Amendment with Goldman Sachs Bank USA to amend the Credit Agreement to among other things, provide for the waiver of the prior defaults and to restructure certain covenants and other financial requirements of the Credit Agreement and to allow for our entry into the MidCap Loan Agreement.

The Credit Agreement contained customary representations, warranties, and covenants for facilities of similar nature and size as the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement also included various covenants binding the Company including limits on indebtedness the Company could incur and maintenance of certain financial ratios relating to consolidated EBITDA and debt leverage.

On January 29, 2016, we, Vertex Operating, certain of our other subsidiaries, Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Holdings, Inc., as lender (“Lender”) and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, a New York State-Chartered Bank, as Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger and Collateral Agent (“Agent”) entered into an Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Restated Credit Agreement”). The Restated Credit Agreement changed the Credit Agreement to an $8.9 million multi-draw term loan credit facility (of which approximately $6.4 million was outstanding and $2.5 million was available to be drawn pursuant to the terms of the Restated Credit Agreement on substantially similar terms as the then outstanding amounts owed to the Lender); modified the Credit Agreement to adjust certain EBITDA calculations in connection with the purchase of Bango Oil and the sale of the Bango Plant as described above; provided for approval for us to exercise the Purchase Option, enter into and effect the transactions contemplated by a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, Subscription Agreement, and the Sale Agreement, and allowed for the issuance of the Fox Note (defined below) and a Mortgage securing such obligation, confirmed that we were required to make payments of $800,000 per quarter from June 30, 2016 through maturity (May 2, 2019); provided us a moratorium on the prepayment of amounts owed under the Restated Credit Agreement as a result of various financial ratios we are required to meet through December 31, 2016; provided for us to retain any business interruption insurance proceeds received in connection with the Bango Plant; provided for us to pay $16 million received at closing from the sale of the Bango Assets, all amounts released from escrow and any other cash proceeds in excess of $500,000 received from the Sale Agreement after closing to the Lender as prepayment of amounts due under the Restated Credit Agreement; allowed us the right to make certain permitted acquisitions moving forward, without further consent of the Lender, provided that among other requirements, such acquisitions are in the same business or line of business as the Company, that such acquired businesses have generated consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the four fiscal quarters preceding such acquisition in excess of capital expenditures for such period (taking into account adjustments acceptable to the Agent for synergies expected to be achieved within the 90 days following the closing of such acquisition), and that the funding for such acquisition comes from certain limited sources set forth in greater detail in the Restated Credit Agreement; adjusted certain fixed charge coverage ratios and leverage ratios we were required to meet on a quarterly basis from September 30, 2016 to maturity; required us to maintain at least $2 million of liquidity at all times; provided that events of default under the Credit Agreement include events of default under the Fox Note (defined below); and made various other updates and changes to take into account transactions which had occurred through the date of such agreement, and to remove expired and non-material terms of the prior Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was terminated effective February 1, 2017.

MidCap Loan Agreement

Effective March 27, 2015, the Company, Vertex Operating and all of the Company’s other subsidiaries other than E-Source and Golden State Lubricant Works, LLC entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with MidCap Business Credit LLC (“MidCap” and the “MidCap Loan Agreement”). Pursuant to the MidCap Loan Agreement, MidCap agreed to loan us up to the lesser of (i) $7 million; and (ii) 85% of the amount of accounts receivable due to us which meet certain requirements set forth in the MidCap Loan Agreement (“Qualified Accounts”), plus the lesser of (y) $3 million and (z) 50% of the cost or market value, whichever is lower, of our raw material and finished goods which had not yet been sold, subject to the terms and conditions of the MidCap Loan Agreement (“Eligible Inventory”), minus any amount which MidCap may require from time to time in order to over secure amounts owed to MidCap under the MidCap Loan Agreement, as long as no event of default had occurred or was continuing under the terms of the MidCap Loan Agreement. The requirement of MidCap to make loans under the MidCap Loan Agreement was subject to certain standard conditions and requirements.

On November 9, 2015, we and certain of our subsidiaries entered into a First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement (the “Midcap First Amendment”). The Midcap First Amendment amended the Midcap Loan Agreement to add Vertex Refining OH, LLC ("Vertex OH") as a party thereto; remove Vertex OH’s requirement to enter into a negative pledge agreement with MidCap; created separate maximum borrowing base credit limits for Vertex OH’s accounts and customers ($100,000 maximum per customer, subject to certain exceptions); excluded customers who are based outside of the U.S. or Canada from the credit limits if backed by a bank letter of credit or covered by a foreign receivables insurance policy; removed inventory of Vertex OH from the definition of Eligible Inventory under the Midcap Loan Agreement; and provided that additional affiliates of the Company may become party to the Midcap Loan Agreement by executing an assumption agreement and revolving note in favor of Midcap. The MidCap Loan Agreement was terminated effective February 1, 2017.

Fox Note

On January 29, 2016, Vertex OH, borrowed $5.15 million from Fox Encore 05 LLC, the prior owner of Bango Oil ("Fox Encore") and provided a Promissory Note to Fox Encore to reflect such borrowed funds (the “Fox Note”). The Fox Note bears interest at 10% percent per annum (15% upon the occurrence of an event of default), payable monthly in arrears beginning on February 29, 2016. The principal and all accrued and unpaid interest on the Fox Note was due on the earlier of (a) July 31, 2016 (as may be extended by Vertex OH as discussed below, the “Maturity Date”), or (b) upon acceleration of the Fox Note during the existence of an event of default as discussed therein. Provided that no event of default was then existing on the Fox Note or under any other loan document associated therewith, and certain other requirements as described in the Fox Note are met, Vertex OH had the right to three (3) extension options (each, an “Extension Option”) pursuant to which Vertex OH could extend the Maturity Date for six (6) months each. The first extension extended the Maturity Date of the Fox Note until January 31, 2017 and Vertex OH exercised this Extension Option on June 16, 2016. The second extension would have extended the Maturity Date of the Fox Note until July 31, 2017, and the third extension would have extended the Maturity Date of the Fox Note until January 29, 2018. Upon exercising an Extension Option, Vertex OH was required to pay Fox Encore an extension fee equal to 3% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Fox Note, which amount was separate from, and is not applied toward, the outstanding indebtedness owed under the Fox Note; provided, however, upon exercise of the initial Extension Option, the 3% fee for such extension was not required to be paid in cash but instead only resulted in the termination of a prepayment discount described below. The Fox Note could be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without penalty, provided that if repaid in full by July 31, 2016, the amount to be repaid was to be decreased by $150,000. The Fox Note was secured by a Mortgage. The Fox Note included certain standard and customary financial reporting requirements, notice requirements, indemnification requirements, covenants and events of default. The Fox Note also included a provision allowing the Lender (or any other lender party to the Restated Credit Agreement) to purchase the Fox Note upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Restated Credit Agreement. In July 2016, we exercised the first Extension Option, extending the Maturity Date of the Fox Note to January 31, 2017. The Fox Note was repaid in full effective February 1, 2017.

Texas Citizens Bank Loan Agreement

The Company has notes payable to Texas Citizens Bank bearing interest at 5.50% per annum, maturing on January 7, 2020. The balances of the notes payable are $966,847 and $1,531,506 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Insurance Premiums

The Company financed insurance premiums through various financial institutions bearing interest rates from 4.00% to 4.52%. All such premium finance agreements have maturities of less than one year and have a balance of $1,489,881 at September 30, 2017 and $1,060,065 at December 31, 2016.

Capital Leases

On May 2, 2014, in connection with the closing of the Omega Refining acquisition, the Company assumed two capital leases. Payments made since 2014 have reduced the capital lease obligation to $0 and $133,153 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

The Company's outstanding debt facilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows:



Creditor	Loan Type	Origination Date	Maturity Date	Loan Amount		Balance on September 30, 2017			Balance on December 31, 2016
Encina Business Credit, LLC	Term Loan	February 1, 2017	February 1, 2020	$	20,000,000	$	13,975,000		$	—
Encina Business Credit SPV, LLC	Revolving Note	February 1, 2017	February 1, 2020	$	10,000,000	3,738,483			—
MidCap Revolving Line of Credit	Revolving Note	March, 2015	March, 2017 (1)	$	7,000,000	—			2,726,039
Goldman Sachs USA	Term Loan - Restated Credit Agreement	January 29, 2016	May 2, 2019 (1)	$	8,900,000	—			4,000,000
Fox Encore Promissory Note	Promissory Note	January 29, 2017	January 31, 2017 (1)	$	5,150,000	—			5,150,000
Pacific Western Bank	Capital Lease	September, 2012	August, 2017	$	3,154,860	—			133,153
Texas Citizens Bank	Term Note	January, 2015	January, 2020	$	2,045,500	966,847			1,531,506
Various institutions	Insurance premiums financed	Various	< 1 year	$	2,902,428	1,489,881			1,060,065
Total						$	20,170,211		$	14,600,763
Deferred finance cost, net						(1,384,944		)	(244,178		)
Total, net of deferred finance costs						$	18,785,267		$	14,356,585

(1) Paid in full and terminated on February 1, 2017.

Future contractual maturities of notes payable are summarized as follows:



Creditor	Year 1			Year 2			Year 3			Year 4		Year 5		Thereafter
Encina Business Credit, LLC	$	3,738,483		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
Encina Business Credit SPV, LLC	900,000			900,000			900,000			11,275,000		—		—
Texas Citizens Bank	488,194			478,653						—		—		—
Various institutions	1,489,881			—			—			—		—		—
Totals	6,616,558			1,378,653			900,000			11,275,000		—		—
Deferred finance costs, net	(581,479		)	(581,479		)	(221,986		)	—		—		—
Totals, net of deferred finance costs	$	6,035,079		$	797,174		$	678,014		$	11,275,000	$	—	$	—