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 interest rate is 14% at December 31, 2019.

The EBC Credit Agreement was to terminate on February 1, 2020, and has since been extended until February 1, 2021, as discussed below, 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, the ownership of 65% of which was transferred to Tensile in connection with the Heartland SPV (discussed below under “Note 19. Subsequent Events” - “Heartland Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement”), effective January 1, 2020, 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 borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Agreement (defined below) at any time. As of December 31, 2019, the borrowing availability was $3,835,997, 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 December 31, 2019, the maximum amount available to be borrowed was $3,835,997, 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 1.69% 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 was to terminate on February 1, 2020, but has since been extended until February 1, 2021, as discussed below, 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 December 31, 2019.

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, the ownership of 65% of which was transferred to Tensile in connection with the Heartland SPV (discussed below under “Note 19. Subsequent Events” - “Heartland Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement”), effective January 1, 2020, 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 borrowing availability (reduced to $2.0 million pursuant to the amendments described below) under the Revolving Credit Agreement in any 30 day period. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company was not in compliant with the capital expenditure limitation; however, a waiver was obtained.

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.

The balance of the EBC Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2019 are $13,333,000 and $3,276,230, respectively.

Credit Agreement Amendments

On July 25, 2019, (a) EBC, the EBC Lenders, and Vertex Operating, entered into a Third Amendment and Limited Waiver to Credit Agreement, effective on July 26, 2019, pursuant to which the EBC Lenders agreed to amend the EBC Credit Agreement; and (b) the EBC Lenders and Vertex Operating entered into a Third Amendment and Limited Waiver to ABL Credit Agreement, effective on July 26, 2019, pursuant to which the EBC Lenders agreed to amend the Revolving Credit Agreement (collectively, the “Waivers”). The Waivers amended the credit agreements to: extend the due date of amounts owed thereunder from February 1, 2020 to February 1, 2021; to increase the amount of permitted indebtedness allowable thereunder from $500,000 to $750,000; to increase the amount of capital expenditures we are authorized to make in fiscal 2019 from $3.0 million to $3.5 million, and to set the amount of capital expenditures we are authorized to make in fiscal 2020 and thereafter at $3.0 million; and to decrease the minimum amount of availability required under the credit agreements to $1.5 million at any time from July 26, 2019 to August 31, 2019, and $2.0 million at any time thereafter. The Waivers also provided for waivers by the lenders of certain restrictions in the credit agreements which would have prevented us from consummating the MG Share Purchase and Heartland Share Purchase Agreement (discussed below under “Note 19. Subsequent Events” - “Heartland Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement”), subject to certain conditions, including us paying at least $1.1 million to the lenders from the amount received pursuant to the MG Purchase Agreement (which amount has been paid to date) and at least $7.0 million (unless otherwise agreed by the lenders) of the amount to be received by us pursuant to terms of the Heartland Purchase Agreement (which amount has been paid to date), to the lenders.

Insurance Premiums

The Company financed insurance premiums through various financial institutions bearing interest rates from 4.00% to 4.90%. All such premium finance agreements have maturities of less than one year and have a balance of $1,165,172 at December 31, 2019 and $999,152 at December 31, 2018.

Finance Leases

On March 1, 2018, the Company obtained one finance lease. Payments are $908 per month for three years and the amount of the finance lease obligation has been reduced to $12,341 at December 31, 2019.

On May 29, 2018, the Company obtained one finance lease. Payments are $26,305 per quarter for four years and the amount of the finance lease obligation has been reduced to $264,014 at December 31, 2019.

During April and May 2019, the Company obtained five finance leases. Payments are approximately $11,710 per month for five years and the amount of the finance lease obligation has been reduced to $551,260 at December 31, 2019.

The Company's outstanding debt as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is summarized as follows:



Creditor	Loan Type	Origination Date	Maturity Date	Loan Amount		Balance on December 31, 2019			Balance on December 31, 2018
Encina Business Credit, LLC	Term Loan	February 1, 2017	February 1, 2021	$	20,000,000	$	13,333,000		$	15,350,000
Encina Business Credit SPV, LLC	Revolving Note	February 1, 2017	February 1, 2021	$	10,000,000	3,276,230			3,844,636
Tetra Capital Lease	Finance Lease	May, 2018	May, 2022	$	419,690	264,014			349,822
Wells Fargo Equipment Lease-VRM LA	Finance Lease	March, 2018	March, 2021	$	30,408	12,341			22,390
Wells Fargo Equipment Lease-Ohio	Finance Lease	April-May, 2019	April-May, 2024	$	621,000	551,260			—
Various institutions	Insurance premiums financed	Various	< 1 year	$	2,902,428	1,165,172			999,152
Total						18,602,017			20,566,000
Deferred finance costs						(47,826		)	(621,733		)
Total, net of deferred finance costs						$	18,554,191		$	19,944,267

Future maturities of debt are summarized as follows:



Creditor	2020			2021		2022		2023		2024		Thereafter
Encina Business Credit, LLC	$	900,000		$	12,433,000	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Encina Business Credit SPV, LLC	3,276,230			—		—		—		—		—
Tetra Capital Lease	91,779			98,167		74,068		—		—		—
Wells Fargo Equipment Lease-VRM LA	10,537			1,804		—		—		—		—
Wells Fargo Equipment Lease-Ohio	114,848			120,895		127,264		138,476		49,777		—
Various institutions	1,165,172			—		—		—		—		—
Totals	5,558,566			12,653,866		201,332		138,476		49,777		—
Deferred finance costs	(47,826		)	—		—		—		—		—
Totals, net of deferred finance costs	$	5,510,740		$	12,653,866	$	201,332	$	138,476	$	49,777	$	—