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Exhibit 4.1
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made and entered
into as of May 25, 2000, by and between Pure Resources, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Jack Hightower, an individual residing in
Midland, Texas ("Owner").
1. Background. On the date hereof, the Company is consummating a
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merger transaction (the "Merger") pursuant to which shares of common stock of
Titan Exploration, Inc. ("Titan Common Stock") have been converted into the
right to receive shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Company Common Stock"). Immediately prior to the Merger, the Owner was
the holder of 4,323,182 shares of Titan Common Stock. Upon consummation of the
Merger, the Owner now will be the holder of 1,859,968 shares of the Company
Common Stock. Immediately prior to the Merger, the Owner had demand and piggy-
back registration rights covering all of this shares of Titan Common Stock,
pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 30, 1996.
Although the issuance of shares of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the
Merger has been registered pursuant to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-4, the Owner's sale of his Company Common Stock is restricted pursuant to
the provisions of Rule 144 and Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act.
The parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant to the
Owner registration rights with respect to the Company Common Stock.
2. Registration under Securities Act, etc.
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2.1. Registration on Request.
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(a) Concurrently with or from time to time after the date hereof, upon the
written request of one or more holders of Registrable Securities, requesting
that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of all or a
portion of such holders' Registrable Securities and specifying the intended
method of disposition thereof and whether or not such requested registration is
to be an underwritten offering, the parties hereto agree as follows:
(i) The Company will promptly give written notice of such requested
registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities, if any;
(ii) Promptly after providing the notice required by clause (i) of
this Section 2.1(a), and subject to the limitations set forth in subsection
(e) of this Section 2.1, the Company will use its best efforts to effect
the registration under the Securities Act of:
(A) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
requested to register by such holders, and
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(B) all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been
requested to register by the holders thereof by written request given
to the Company within 30 days after the giving of such written notice
by the Company (which request shall specify the intended method of
disposition of such Registrable Securities), all to the extent
requisite to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended
methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to be
registered.
(b) Registration of Other Securities. Whenever the Company shall effect a
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registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 in connection with an underwritten
offering by one or more holders of Registrable Securities, no securities other
than Registrable Securities shall be included among the securities covered by
such registration unless (i) the managing underwriter of such offering shall
have advised each holder of Registrable Securities to be covered by such
registration in writing that the inclusion of such other securities would not
adversely affect such offering or (ii) the holders of all Registrable Securities
to be covered by such registration shall have consented in writing to the
inclusion of such other securities.
(c) Registration Statement Form. Registrations under this Section 2.1
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shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission (i) as shall be
selected by the Company and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Requisite
Holders, and (ii) as shall permit the disposition of such Registrable Securities
in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition specified in
their request for such registration. The Company agrees to include in any such
registration statement all information which holders of Registrable Securities
being registered shall reasonably request.
(d) Expenses. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in
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connection with any registration requested pursuant to this Section 2.1. Any
Selling Expenses in connection with any registration requested under this
Section 2.1 shall be allocated among all Persons on whose behalf securities of
the Company are included in such registration, on the basis of the respective
amounts of the securities then being registered on their behalf.
(e) Limitations on Requested Registrations. The Company's obligation to
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take or continue any action to effect a requested registration under this
Section 2.1 shall be subject to the following:
(i) The Company shall not be required to effect more than two
registrations requested pursuant to this section 2.1; provided that, a
registration requested pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall not be deemed to
have been effected (A) unless a registration statement with respect thereto
has been declared effective for a period of at least 90 days, (B) if after
a registration statement has become effective, such registration is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement
of the Commission or other governmental agency or court for any reason, or
(C) if the conditions to closing specified in the purchase agreement or
underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such registration
are
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not satisfied, other than as a result of the voluntary termination of such
offering by the Requisite Holders;
(ii) The Company shall not be required to effect a registration
pursuant to this Section 2.1 unless such registration has been requested by
the holders of Registrable Securities which have an estimated aggregate
offering price to the public of at least (A) $20,000,000, in the case of
the first registration effected pursuant to this Section 2.1, and (B)
$10,000,000 otherwise; and
(iii) The Company shall not be required to effect a registration
pursuant to this Section 2.1 during the 180 day period after a registration
statement shall have been filed and declared effective under the Securities
Act with respect to an underwritten public offering of any class of the
Company's equity securities (which shall exclude a registration of
securities with respect to an employee benefit, retirement or similar
plan).
(f) Selection of Underwriters. If a requested registration pursuant
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to this Section 2.1 involves an underwritten offering, the underwriter or
underwriters thereof shall be selected by the Company with the approval of the
Requisite Holders.
(g) Priority in Requested Registrations. If a requested registration
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pursuant to this Section 2.1 involves an underwritten offering, and the managing
underwriter shall advise the Company in writing (with a copy to each holder of
Registrable Securities requesting registration) that, in its opinion, the number
of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number
which can be sold in such offering within a price range acceptable to the
Requisite Holders, the Company will include in such registration to the extent
of the number which the Company is so advised can be sold in such offering,
Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration, pro rata
among the holders thereof requesting such registration on the basis of the
percentage of the Registrable Securities of the Company held by the holders of
Registrable Securities which have requested that such Securities be included.
In connection with any registration as to which the provisions of this clause
(g) apply, no securities other than Registrable Securities shall be covered by
such registration.
2.2. Incidental Registration.
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(a) Right to Include Registrable Securities. If the Company at any
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time proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other
than (i) in connection with a registration of any employee benefit, retirement
or similar plan, or (ii) with respect to a Rule 145 transaction, or (iii)
pursuant to Section 2.1), whether or not for sale for its own account, it will
each such time give prompt written notice to all holders of Registrable
Securities of its intention to do so and of such holders' rights under this
Section 2.2. Upon the written request of any such holder made within 30 days
after the receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the
Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such holder and the
intended method of disposition thereof), the Company will use its best efforts
to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable
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Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the holders
thereof, to the extent requisite to permit the disposition (in accordance with
the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to
be registered, provided that if, at any time after giving written notice of its
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intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the
registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company
shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such
securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such
determination to each holder of Registrable Securities and, thereupon, (i) in
the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation
to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but
not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection
therewith), without prejudice, however, to the rights of any holder or holders
of Registrable Securities entitled to do so to request that such registration be
effected as a registration under Section 2.1, and (ii) in the case of a
determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any
Registrable Securities, for the same period as the delay in registering such
other securities. No registration effected under this Section 2.2 shall be
deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2.1 or shall relieve the
Company of its obligation to effect any registration upon request under
Section 2.1. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with
each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section
2.2 and any Selling Expenses shall be allocated among all Persons on whose
behalf securities of the Company are included in such registration, on the basis
of the respective amounts of the securities then being registered on their
behalf. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, (x) no holder of
Registrable Securities, other than Owner, shall have any rights under this
section if such holder holds fewer than 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock that
are Registrable Securities (adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number
of issued shares of Common Stock from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock
dividend, combination or reclassification of the common stock, or any other
increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected
without consideration by the Company), such holder is not an "affiliate" of the
Company, and such shares may be sold freely by such Holder without restriction
under Rule 144(k) (or any successor provisions) without restriction and (y)
Owner shall have no such rights if he holds less than 250,000 shares of Common
Stock that are Registrable Securities (adjusted for any increase or decrease in
the number of issued shares of Common Stock from a stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the common stock, or
any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock
effected without consideration by the Company), he is not an affiliate of the
Company, and his Registrable Securities may be sold freely under Rule 144(k) (or
any successor provisions) without restriction.
(b) Priority in Incidental Registrations.
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(i) If (A) a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 involves an
underwritten offering of the securities so being registered for sale for
the account of a stockholder (other than the holders of Registrable
Securities) exercising a demand registration right pursuant to another
registration rights agreement to be distributed (on a firm commitment
basis) by or through one or more underwriters of recognized standing under
underwriting terms appropriate for such a transaction, and (B) the managing
underwriter of such underwritten
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offering informs the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in
writing of its belief that the number of securities requested to be
included in such registration exceeds the number that can be sold in (or
during the time of) such offering, then the Company will include in such
registration, to the extent of the number that the Company is so advised
can be sold in (or during the time of) such offering: first, such
securities proposed by the stockholder exercising the demand registration
right to be sold for its account; second, such securities requested to be
included pursuant to incidental registration rights in such registration by
the holder or holders, as the case may be, including the holders of
Registrable Securities, pro rata on the basis of the number of such
securities so proposed to be sold by all such security holders and so
requested to be included; and third, such securities proposed by the
Company to be sold for its own account
(ii) If (A) a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 involves an
underwritten offering of the securities so being registered for sale for
the account of the Company, to be distributed (on a firm commitment basis)
by or through one or more underwriters of recognized standing under
underwriting terms appropriate for such a transaction, and (B) the managing
underwriter of such underwritten offering shall inform the Company and the
holders of Registrable Securities in writing of its belief that the number
of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the
number that can be sold in (or during the time of) such offering, then the
Company will include in such registration, to the extent of the number that
the Company is so advised can be sold in (or during the time of) such
offering, securities proposed by the Company to be sold for its own
account, and, such securities requested to be included pursuant to
incidental registration rights in such registration by the holder or
holders, as the case may be, including the holders of Registrable
Securities, pro rata on the basis of the number of such securities so
proposed to be sold by all such security holders and so requested to be
included.
2.3. Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required
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to use its best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities
under the Securities Act as provided in Sections 2.1 and 2.2, the Company will
as expeditiously as possible:
(i) prepare and (as soon thereafter as possible or in any event no
later than 60 days after the end of the period within which requests for
registration may be given to the Company) file with the Commission the
requisite registration statement to effect such registration and thereafter
use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective, provided that the Company may discontinue any registration of
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its securities which are not Registrable Securities (and, under the
circumstances specified in Section 2.2(a), its securities which are
Registrable Securities) at any time prior to the effective date of the
registration statement relating thereto;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission 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 and to comply with the provisions of the
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Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by
such registration statement until such time as all of such securities have
been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;
(iii) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities covered by
such registration statement such number of conformed copies of such
registration statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto
(in each case including all exhibits), such number of copies of the
prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each
preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus
filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents, as such
seller may reasonably request;
(iv) use its best efforts to register or qualify all Registrable
Securities and other securities covered by such registration statement
under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each
seller thereof shall reasonably request, to keep such registration or
qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains
in effect, and take any other action which may be reasonably necessary or
advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the securities owned by such seller, except that the
Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to
do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would
not but for the requirements of this subdivision (iv) be obligated to be so
qualified or to consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction;
(v) use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such
other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable
the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities;
(vi) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities a signed
counterpart, addressed to such seller (and underwriters, if any) of:
(A) an opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the effective
date of such registration statement (and, if such registration
includes an underwritten public offering, dated the date of the
closing under the underwriting agreement), reasonably satisfactory in
form and substance to such seller, and
(B) a "comfort" letter, dated the effective date of such
registration statement (and, if such registration includes an
underwritten public offering, dated the date of the closing under the
underwriting agreement), signed by the independent public accountants
who have certified the Company's financial statements included in such
registration statement,
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covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration
statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of the
accountants' letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such
financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer's
counsel and in accountants' letters delivered to the underwriters in
underwritten public offerings of securities and, in the case of the
accountants' letter, such other financial matters, and, in the case of the
legal opinion, such other legal matters, as such seller may reasonably
request;
(vii) notify each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or
upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus
included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, and at the request of any such seller promptly prepare and furnish to
such seller a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an
amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not
include 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 in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made;
(viii) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security
holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering
the period of at least twelve months, but not more than eighteen months,
beginning with the first full calendar month after the effective date of
such registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, and will furnish to each
such seller at least five business days prior to the filing thereof a copy
of any amendment or supplement to such registration statement or prospectus
and shall not file any thereof to which any such seller shall have
reasonably objected on the grounds that such amendment or supplement does
not comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
Act or of the rules or regulations thereunder;
(ix) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and
registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such
registration statement;
(x) use its best efforts to list all Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement on any securities exchange on which any of
the Registrable Securities is then listed; and
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(xi) enter into such agreements and take such other actions as the
Requisite Holders shall reasonably request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish the Company such information regarding
such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time
to time reasonably request in writing.
Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such
Registrable Securities that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in the subdivision (vii) of this
Section 2.3, such holder will forthwith discontinue such holder's disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement relating to such
Registrable Securities until such holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subdivision (vii) of this
Section 2.3 and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at
the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in
such holder's possession of the prospectus relating to such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
2.4 Underwritten Offerings.
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(a) Requested Underwritten Offerings. If requested by the
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underwriters for any underwritten offering by holders of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a registration requested under Section 2.1, the Company will enter
into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters for such offering, such
agreement to be satisfactory in substance and form to each such holder and the
underwriters and to contain such representations and warranties by the Company
and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of this type,
including, without limitation, indemnities to the effect and to the extent
provided in Section 2.7. The holders of Registrable Securities to be
distributed by such underwriters shall be parties to such underwriting agreement
and may, at their option, require that any or all of the representations and
warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for
the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of
such holders of Registrable Securities and that any or all of the conditions
precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting
agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such holders of
Registrable Securities. Any such holder of Registrable Securities shall not be
required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the
Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements
regarding such holder, such holder's Registrable Securities and such holder's
intended method of distribution and any other representation required by law.
(b) Incidental Underwritten Offerings. If the Company at any time
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proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act as
contemplated by Section 2.2 and such securities are to be distributed by or
through one or more underwriters, the Company will, if requested by any holder
of Registrable Securities as provided in Section 2.2 and subject to the
provisions of Section 2.2(b), arrange for such underwriters to include all the
Registrable Securities
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to be offered and sold by such holder among the securities to be distributed by
such underwriters. The holders of Registrable Securities to be distributed by
such underwriters shall be parties to the underwriting agreement between the
Company and such underwriters and may, at their option, require that any or all
of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part
of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made
to and for the benefit of such holders of Registrable Securities and that any or
all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under
such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such
holders of Registrable Securities. Any such holder of Registrable Securities
shall not be required to made any representations or warranties to or agreements
with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or
agreements regarding such holder, such holder's Registrable Securities and such
holder's intended method of distribution and any other representation required
by law.
2.5. Preparation; Reasonable Investigation. In connection with the
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preparation and filing of each registration statement under the Securities Act
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will give the holders of Registrable
Securities registered under such registration statement, and their counsel and
accountants, the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such
registration statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the
Commission, and each amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and will give each
of them such access to its books and records and such opportunities to discuss
the business of the Company with its officers and the independent public
accountants who have certified its financial statements as shall be necessary,
in the opinion of such holders' counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation
within the meaning of the Securities Act.
2.6. Additional Rights of Owners. If any registration statement
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prepared under this Agreement refers to Owner by name or otherwise as the holder
of any securities of the Company, then Owner shall have the right to require (x)
the insertion therein of language, in form and substance satisfactory to Owner,
to the effect that the holding by Owner of such securities does not necessarily
make Owner a "controlling person" of the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act and is not to be construed as a recommendation by Owner of the
investment quality of the Company's debt or equity securities covered thereby
and that such holding does not imply that Owner will assist in meeting any
future financial requirements of the Company, or (y) in the event that such
reference to Owner by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or
any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the deletion of the reference
to Owner.
2.7. Indemnification.
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(a) Indemnification by the Company. In the event of any registration
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of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, the Company will, and
hereby does, in the case of any registration statement filed pursuant to Section
2.1 or 2.2, indemnify and hold harmless the seller of any Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement, its directors and officers, each other
Person who participates in the offering or sale of such securities and each
other Person, if any, who controls such seller within the meaning of the
Securities Act against any losses, claims,
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damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such seller or any such
director or officer or controlling person may become subject under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement
under which such securities were registered under the Securities Act, any
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained
therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or 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, and the Company will
reimburse such seller and each such director, officer, and controlling person
for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, liability, action or
proceeding; provided that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to
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the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding
in respect thereof) or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
such registration statement, any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus,
summary prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company through an instrument duly
executed by such seller specifically stating that it is for use in the
preparation thereof and, provided further that the Company shall not be liable
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to any Person who participates as an underwriter, in the offering or sale of
Registrable Securities or any other Person, if any, who controls such
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in
respect thereof) or expense arises out of such Person's failure to send or give
a copy of the final prospectus, as the same may be then supplemented or amended,
to the Person asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission was
corrected in such final prospectus. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such seller
or any such director, officer, underwriter or controlling person and shall
survive the transfer of such securities by such seller.
(b) Indemnification by the Sellers. The Company may require, as a
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condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement
filed pursuant to Section 2.3, that the Company shall have received an
undertaking satisfactory to it from the prospective seller of such securities,
to indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set
forth in subdivision (a) of this Section 2.7) the Company, each director of the
Company, each officer of the Company and each other Person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to any
statement or alleged statement in or omission or alleged omission from such
registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary
prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, if such
statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company through an instrument duly executed by such seller specifically stating
that it is for use in the preparation of such registration statement,
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or
supplement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company
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or any such director, officer or controlling Person and shall survive the
transfer of such securities by such seller.
(c) Notices of Claims, etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
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party of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding involving a
claim referred to in the preceding subdivisions of this Section 2.7, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an
indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of
such action, provided that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice
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as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations
under the preceding subdivisions of this Section 2.7, except to the extent that
the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice.
In case any such action is brought against an indemnified party, unless in such
indemnified party's reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such
indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claim, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense
thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified to the
extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying
party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or
litigation.
(d) Other Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that specified
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in the preceding subdivisions of this Section 2.7 (with appropriate
modifications) shall be given by the Company and each seller of Registrable
Securities with respect to any required registration or other qualification of
securities under any Federal or state law or regulation of any governmental
authority other than the Securities Act.
(e) Indemnification Payments. The indemnification required by this
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Section 2.7 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the
course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or
expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred.
2.8. Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The Company will
--------------------------------------------
not effect or permit to occur any combination or subdivision of Registrable
Securities which would adversely affect the ability of the holders of
Registrable Securities to include such Registrable Securities in any
registration of its securities contemplated by this Section 2, or the
marketability of such Registrable Securities under any such registration.
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<PAGE>
3. Definitions. As used herein, unless the context otherwise
-----------
requires, the following terms have the following respective meanings:
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
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Federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
Company: As defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
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For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Company shall be
deemed to include any successor entity or transferee.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any similar
------------
Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference
to a particular section of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall
include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such
similar Federal statute.
Majority Holders: At any time, the holder or holders of more than 50%
----------------
(by number of shares) of all Registrable Securities then outstanding.
Person: A corporation, an association, a partnership, a business, an
------
individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a
governmental agency.
Registrable Securities: any Company Common Stock owned by Owner that
----------------------
Owner has acquired from the Company in the Merger or pursuant to
exercise of stock options and rights under benefit plans or otherwise,
and any securities issued or issuable with respect to any such Company
Common Stock by way of distribution or in connection with any
reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or otherwise.
As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued such
securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities 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) they shall have been distributed to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A (or any successor provision)
under the Securities Act, (c) they shall have been otherwise
transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend
restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company
and subsequent disposition of them shall not require registration or
qualification of them under the Securities Act or any similar state
law then in force, or (d) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.
Registration Expenses: All expenses incident to the Company's
---------------------
performance of or compliance with Section 2.1, including, without
limitation, all registration, filing and National Association of
Securities Dealers fees, all fees and expenses of complying with
securities or blue sky laws, all word processing, duplicating and
printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and
disbursements of counsel
12
<PAGE>
for the Company and of its independent public accountants, including
the expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required
by or incident to such performance and compliance, the fees and
disbursements incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities to be
registered (including the fees and disbursements of not more than one
special counsel to the holders of such Registrable Securities),
premiums and other costs of policies of insurance against liabilities
arising out of the public offering of the Registrable Securities being
registered and any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily
paid by issuers or sellers of securities, but excluding Selling
Expenses, if any, provided that, in any case where Registration
Expenses are not to be borne by the Company, such expenses shall not
include salaries of Company personnel or general overhead expenses of
the Company, auditing fees, premiums or other expenses relating to
liability insurance required by underwriters of the Company or other
expenses for the preparation of financial statements or other data
normally prepared by the Company in the ordinary course of its
business or which the Company would have incurred in any event.
Requisite Holders: With respect to any registration of Registrable
-----------------
Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, any holder or holders of more than
50% (by number of shares) of the Registrable Securities to be so
registered.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, or any similar Federal
--------------
statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
all as of the same shall be in effect at the time. References to a
particular section of the Securities Act of 1933 shall include a
reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such similar
Federal Statute.
Selling Expenses: underwriting discounts and commissions and stock
----------------
transfer taxes relating to securities registered by the Company.
4. Rule 144 and Rule 144A: If the Company shall have filed a
----------------------
registration statement pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the
Exchange Act or a registration statement pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act, the Company will file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
adopted by the Commission thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file
such reports, will, upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities,
make publicly available other information) and will take such further action as
any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities
without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company will deliver to such holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements. After any sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to this Section 4, the Company will, to the extent allowed
by law, cause any restrictive legends to be removed and any
13
<PAGE>
transfer restrictions to be rescinded with respect to such Registrable
Securities. In order to permit the holders of Registrable Securities to sell the
same, if they so desire, pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated by the Commission (or
any successor to such rule), the Company will comply with all rules and
regulations of the Commission applicable in connection with use of Rule 144A (or
any successor thereto). Prospective transferees of Registrable Securities that
are Qualified Institutional Buyers (as defined in Rule 144A) which would be
purchasing such Registrable Securities in reliance upon Rule 144A may request
from the Company information regarding the business, operations and assets of
the Company. Within five business days of any such request, the Company shall
deliver to any such prospective transferee copies of annual audited and
quarterly unaudited financial statements of the Company and such other
information as may be required to be supplied by the Company for it to comply
with Rule 144A.
5. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended and the
----------------------
Company may take any action herein prohibited or omit to perform any act herein
required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the
written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Majority
Holders; provided, however, that no amendment to this Agreement that would
adversely affect the rights of a party hereto may be made without the prior
written consent of such party, with the exception that temporary waivers and
suspensions of the rights of all of the Owners pursuant to customary terms at
the request of the managing underwriter in connection with any underwritten
offering of the Company's securities, may be authorized by consent of the
Majority Holders. Each holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or
thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any consent authorized by this Section
5, whether or not such Registrable Securities shall have been marked to indicate
such consent.
6. Nominees for Beneficial Owners. In the event that any
------------------------------
Registrable Securities are held by a nominee for the beneficial owner thereof,
the beneficial owner thereof may, at its election, be treated as the holder of
such Registrable Securities for purposes of any request or other action by any
holder or holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement or any
determination of any number or percentage of shares of Registrable Securities
held by any holder or holders of Registrable Securities contemplated by this
Agreement. If the beneficial owner of any Registrable Securities so elects, the
Company may require assurances reasonably satisfactory to it of such owner's
beneficial ownership of such Registrable Securities.
7. Notices. All communications provided for hereunder shall be sent
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by first-class mail and (a) if addressed to a party other than the Company,
addressed to such party at the address set forth opposite such parties name on
the execution page hereof, or (b) if addressed to the Company, at 500 West
Texas, Suite 500, Midland, Texas 79701 or at such other address, or to the
attention of such other officer, as the Company shall have furnished to each
holder of Registrable Securities at the time outstanding; provided, however,
-------
that any such communication to the Company may also, at the option of any of the
parties hereunder, be either delivered to the Company at its address set forth
above or to any officer of the Company.
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<PAGE>
8. Assignment. Subject to the following sentence, this Agreement
----------
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. In addition, and
whether or not any express assignment shall have been made, the provisions of
this Agreement which are for the benefit of the parties hereto other than the
Company shall also be for the benefit of and enforceable by (subject to the
provisions respecting the minimum numbers or percentages of shares of
Registrable Securities required in order to be entitled to certain rights, or
take certain actions, contained herein) any subsequent holder of any Registrable
Securities, and only such a subsequent holder, who owns at least 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock that are Registrable Securities (adjusted for any
increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock from a stock
split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of
the common stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued
shares of Common Stock effected without consideration by the Company) and who is
(a) a direct assign or successor of Owner or (b) the direct assign or successor
of (i) a member of Owner's immediate family, (ii) Owner's estate, (iii) a trust
or private foundation created by Owner, (iv) a partnership or limited liability
company, of which a substantial part of the equity is owned by members of
Owner's family or trusts for the benefit of his family, or (v) is otherwise an
affiliate of Owner.
9. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate when no Registrable
-----------
Securities remain outstanding.
10. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of the several
--------------------
sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for reference only and
shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
11. Specific Performance. The parties hereto recognize and agree
--------------------
that money damages may be insufficient to compensate the holders of any
Registrable Securities for breaches by the Company of the terms hereof and,
consequently, that the equitable remedy of specific performance of the terms
hereof will be available in the event of any such breach.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
-------------
accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of
the State of Texas.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in
------------
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as
of the date first above written.
COMPANY:
PURE RESOURCES, INC.
By: /s/ Phillip Ballard
------------------------
Name: Phillip Ballard
Title: Vice President
OWNER:
Address: 500 West Texas, Suite 200 /s/ Jack Hightower
-------------------------- ----------------------------
Midland, Texas 79701 JACK HIGHTOWER
--------------------------
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