QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

 
 

Exhibit 4.2    
    


 
 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT    
    


        This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of September 22, 2005, by
and between Stroud Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
("Raymond James") for the benefit of the purchasers of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share ("Common
Stock"), as participants ("Participants") in the offering by the Company and certain of its stockholders of shares of Common
Stock (the "Offering"), and the direct and indirect transferees of each of the Participants. 


        This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement (the "Placement Agreement"), dated as of September 15, 2005, by and
among the Company, the stockholders of the Company set forth on Schedule 1 thereto, and Raymond James, in its capacity as lead Placement Agent
and representative of the co-placement agents set forth on Schedule 2 thereto (the "Placement
Agents"), in connection with the placement of an aggregate of 9,400,000 shares of the Common Stock (plus an additional 1,410,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if
any) in connection with the Offering. In order to induce Raymond James to enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights provided for in this Agreement
to the Participants and their direct and indirect transferees. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement. 


        The
parties hereby agree as follows: 


	1.
	Definitions



        As
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 


        Agreement:    As defined in the preamble. 


        Affiliate:    As to any specified Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with
power to vote, ten (10) percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person, (ii) any Person ten (10) percent or more of whose outstanding voting securities
are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with power to vote, by such other Person, (iii) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with
such other Person, (iv) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such Person and (v) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director,
trustee or general partner. An indirect relationship shall include circumstances in which a Person's spouse, children, parents, siblings or mother-, father-, sister- or
brother-in-law is or has been associated with a Person. 


        Business Day:    With respect to any act to be performed hereunder, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is
not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or other applicable places where such act is to occur are authorized or obligated by applicable law, regulation or executive order to
close. 


        Closing Date:    The date of this Agreement or such other time or such other date as Raymond James and the Company may agree. 


        Commission:    The Securities and Exchange Commission. 



        Common Stock:    As defined in the preamble. 


        Company:    As defined in the preamble. 


        Controlling Person:    As defined in Section 6(a) hereof. 


        End of Suspension Notice:    As defined in Section 5(b) hereof. 







 



        Exchange Act:    The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission
pursuant thereto. 


        Existing Registration Rights Agreement:    The Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
September 19, 2005, by and among the Company and the stockholders of the Company party thereto. 


        Holder:    Each record owner of any Registrable Shares from time to time. 



        Indemnified Party:    As defined in Section 6(c) hereof. 


        Indemnifying Party:    As defined in Section 6(c) hereof. 


        IPO Registration Statement:    As defined in Section 2(b) hereof. 


        Liabilities:    As defined in Section 6(a) hereof. 



        NASD:    The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 


        No Objections Letter:    As defined in Section 4(t) hereof. 


        Participant:    As defined in the preamble. 


        Person:    An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated organization, government or agency or political
subdivision thereof, or any other legal entity. 


        Placement Agents:    As defined in the preamble. 


        Placement Agreement:    As defined in the preamble. 


        Proceeding:    An action, claim, suit or proceeding (including without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such
as a deposition), whether commenced or, to the knowledge of the Person subject thereto, threatened. 



        Prospectus:    The prospectus included in any Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and all other
amendments and supplements to any such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in
such prospectus. 


        Purchaser Indemnitee:    As defined in Section 6(a) hereof. 


        Raymond James:    As defined in the preamble. 



        Registrable Shares:    The Shares, upon original issuance thereof, and at all times subsequent thereto, including upon the
transfer thereof by the original holder or any subsequent holder and any shares or other securities issued in respect of such Registrable Shares by reason of or in connection with any stock dividend,
stock distribution, stock split, purchase in any rights offering or in connection with any exchange for or replacement of such Registrable Shares or any combination of shares, recapitalization, merger
or consolidation, or any other equity securities issued pursuant to any other pro rata distribution with respect to the Common Stock, until, in the case of any such Share, the earliest to occur of
(i) the date on which it has been registered effectively pursuant to the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement relating to it, (ii) the date on
which either it is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) or is eligible for sale without registration pursuant to Rule 144(k)
promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act or (iii) the date on which it is sold to the Company. 


2







 



        Registration Expenses:    Any and all expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including,
without limitation: (i) all Commission, securities exchange, NASD (if any) registration, listing, inclusion and filing fees; (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
compliance with international, federal or state securities or blue sky laws (including, without limitation, any registration, listing and filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Registrable Shares and the preparation of a blue sky memorandum and compliance with the rules of the NASD); (iii) all expenses in
preparing or assisting in
preparing, word processing, duplicating, printing, delivering and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements,
securities sales agreements, certificates and any other documents relating to the performance under and compliance with this Agreement; (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the listing or inclusion of any of the Registrable Shares on any securities exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market pursuant to Section 4(n) of this Agreement; (v) the fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company and of the independent public accountants of the Company (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance); and (vi) any fees and disbursements customarily paid in issues and sales of securities (including the fees and expenses of any experts retained by the Company in
connection with any Registration Statement); provided, however, that Registration Expenses shall exclude
brokers' or underwriters' discounts and commissions, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Shares by a Holder. 


        Registration Statement:    Any registration statement of the Company that covers the resale of Registrable Shares pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective
amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in such registration statement. 



        Rule 144:    Rule 144, and any of its referenced paragraphs, promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as
such rule. 


        Rule 144A:    Rule 144A promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended
from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule. 



        Rule 158:    Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended
from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule. 


        Rule 415:    Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended
from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule. 



        Rule 424:    Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended
from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule. 


        Rule 429:    Rule 429 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule maybe amended
from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule. 



        Securities Act:    The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission
thereunder. 


3







 



        Shares:    The shares of Common Stock being offered and sold in the Offering. 


        Shelf Registration Statement:    As defined in Section 2(a) hereof. 



        Suspension Event:    As defined in Section 5(b) hereof. 


        Suspension Notice:    As defined in Section 5(b) hereof. 


        Underwritten Offering: A sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public. 


	2.
	Registration Rights




        (a)   Mandatory Shelf Registration. As set forth in Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to file with the Commission as
soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement (but in no event later than the date that is 90 days after the Closing Date) a shelf Registration Statement on
Form S-1 or such other form under the Securities Act then available to the Company providing for the resale of any Registrable Shares pursuant to Rule 415 from time to time
by the Holders (a "Shelf Registration Statement"). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement
to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable. Any Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for the resale from time to time, and pursuant to any method or combination of methods
legally available (including, without limitation, an Underwritten Offering, a direct sale to purchasers or a sale through brokers or agents) by the Holders of any and all Registrable Shares. 


        (b)   IPO Registration. If the Company proposes to file a registration statement on Form S-1 or such
other form under the Securities Act providing for the initial public offering of shares of Common Stock (the "IPO Registration Statement"), the Company
will notify each Holder of the proposed filing and afford each Holder an opportunity to include in the IPO Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Shares then held by such Holder.
Each Holder desiring to include in the IPO Registration Statement all or part of the Registrable Shares held by such Holder shall, within twenty (20) days after receipt of the above-described
notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice shall inform the Company of the number of Registrable Shares such Holder wishes to include in the IPO Registration
Statement. Any election by any Holder to include any Registrable Shares in the IPO Registration Statement will not affect the inclusion of such Registrable Shares in the Shelf Registration Statement
until such Registrable Shares have been sold under the IPO Registration Statement. 



        (i)    Right to Terminate IPO Registration. The Company, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to terminate or withdraw
the IPO Registration Statement initiated by it referred to in this Section 2(b) prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable
Shares in such registration. 


        (ii)   Shelf Registration not Impacted by IPO Registration Statement. The Company's obligation to file the Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof shall not be affected by the filing or effectiveness of the IPO Registration Statement. 




        (c)   Underwriting. The Company shall advise all Holders of the managing underwriter(s) for the Underwritten Offering proposed
under the IPO Registration Statement. The right of any such Holder's Registrable Shares to be included in the IPO Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof shall be conditioned
upon such Holder's participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Shares in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their
Registrable Shares through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting and complete and execute any
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, securities escrow agreements 


4







 

and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting, and furnish to the Company such information as the Company may reasonably request in writing for inclusion in the
Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder shall 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 and such Holder's intended method of distribution and any
other representation required by law or reasonably requested by the underwriters. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the managing underwriter(s) determine(s) in good faith that
marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be included, then the managing underwriter(s) may exclude shares (including Registrable Shares) from the IPO Registration Statement
and Underwritten Offering, and any shares included in such IPO Registration Statement and Underwritten Offering shall be allocated first, to the Company, and second, to each of the Holders requesting
inclusion of their Registrable Shares in such IPO Registration Statement (on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Shares then held by each such Holder who is requesting
inclusion); provided, however, that after one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective
date of the Shelf Registration Statement, any shares included in such IPO Registration Statement and Underwritten Offering Shall be allocated first, to the Company, and second, to each of the Holders
requesting inclusion of their Registrable Shares in such IPO Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement and the holders of shares of Common Stock requesting inclusion of their shares in such
IPO Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to the Existing Registration Rights Agreement (on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate of (i) the total number of Registrable Shares then held by
each such Holder who is requesting inclusion under this Agreement and (ii) the total number of shares of Common Stock then held by each such holder who is requesting inclusion under the
Existing Registration Rights Agreement). 


        If
any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter, delivered at least ten
(10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement, provided that the Holder may agree to waive this right to withdraw with the Company, the underwriters or any
custodial agent in any custody agreement and/or power of attorney executed by such Holder in connection with the underwriting. Any Registrable Shares excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall
be excluded and withdrawn from the registration. 


        (d)   Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration of the Registrable Shares
pursuant to this Agreement. Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to this Section 2 shall bear such Holder's proportionate share (based on the total number of Registrable Shares
sold in such registration) of all discounts and commissions payable to underwriters or brokers in connection with a registration of Registrable Shares pursuant to this Agreement. 


        (e)   Executive Bonuses. If the Company does not file a Registration Statement registering the resale of the Shares
within 90 days after the Closing Date then Patrick J. Noyes, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or his successor, shall forfeit 1.0% of the $500,000 cash bonus to be paid
to Mr. Noyes by the Company upon the effectiveness of such Registration Statement for each Business Day the registration default continues. 


	3.
	Rules 144 and 144A Reporting



        With
a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may at any time permit the sale of the Registrable Shares to the public without
registration, the Company agrees to: 



        (a)   use
commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, at all
times after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public; 



5







 

        (b)   use
commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); 


        (c)   so
long as a Holder owns any Registrable Shares, if the Company is not required to file reports and other documents under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, it
will make available other information as required by, and so long as necessary to permit sales of Registrable Shares pursuant to, Rule 144 or Rule 144A; and 


        (d)   so
long as a Holder owns any Registrable Shares, to furnish to the Holder promptly upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with
the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the Company for an offering of its
securities to the general public), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act), (ii) a copy of the
most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company, and take such further actions, as a Holder may reasonably request in availing
itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such Registrable Shares without registration. 



	4.
	Registration Procedures




        In
connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to any registration pursuant to this Agreement, (i) the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
effect or cause to be effected the registration of the Registrable Shares under the Securities Act to permit the sale of such Registrable Shares by the Holder or Holders in accordance with the
Holder's or Holders' intended method or methods of distribution, and (ii) the Company shall: 


        (a)   notify
Raymond James, in writing, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to filing a Registration Statement, of its intention to file a Registration
Statement with the Commission and, at least five (5) Business Days prior to filing, provide a copy of the Registration Statement to Raymond James and its counsel for review and comment; prepare
and file with the Commission, as specified in this Agreement, a Registration Statement(s), which Registration Statement(s) (x) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the Commission to be filed therewith and (y) shall be acceptable to Raymond James and its counsel; notify
Raymond James, in writing, at least five (5) Business Days prior to filing of any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement and, at least three (3) Business Days prior to
filing, provide a copy of such amendment or supplement to Raymond James and its counsel for review and comment; promptly following receipt from the Commission, provide to Raymond James and its counsel
copies of any comments made by the staff of the Commission relating to such Registration Statement and of the Company's responses thereto for review and comment; and use its commercially reasonable
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after filing and to remain effective, subject to Section 5 hereof, until the earlier of (i) such
time as all Registrable Shares covered thereby have been sold in accordance with the intended distribution of such Registrable Shares, (ii) there are no Registrable Shares outstanding
(including as a result of such Shares having become eligible to be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k)) or (iii) the second anniversary of the effective date of such Registration Statement
(subject to extension as provided in Section 5(c) hereof); provided, further, that if the Company
has an effective Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act and becomes eligible to use Form S-3 or such other short-form
registration statement form under the Securities Act, the Company may, upon thirty (30) Business Days prior written notice to all Holders, register any Registrable Shares registered but not yet
distributed under the effective Shelf Registration Statement on such a short-form Shelf Registration Statement and, once the shortform Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective,
de-register such shares under the previous Registration Statement or transfer the filing fees from the previous Registration Statement (such 


6







 



transfer
pursuant to Rule 429, if applicable) unless any Holder registered under the initial Shelf Registration Statement notifies the Company within twenty (20) Business Days of receipt
of the Company notice that such a registration under a new Registration Statement and de-registration of the initial Shelf Registration Statement would interfere with its distribution of
Registrable Shares already in progress; 


        (b)   subject
to Section 4(i) hereof, (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to each such
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the period described in Section 4(a) hereof, (ii) cause each Prospectus contained therein to
be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 or any similar rule that may be adopted under the Securities Act,
(iii) amend or supplement each such Registration Statement to include the Company's quarterly and annual financial information and other material developments (until the Company is eligible to
incorporate such information by reference into the Registration Statement), during which time sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement will be suspended until such
amendment or supplement is filed and effective, and (iv) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by each Registration
Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof; 


        (c)   furnish
to the Holders, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other
documents as such Holder may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Shares; the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus, including
each preliminary Prospectus, by the Holders, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Shares covered by any such Prospectus; 


        (d)   use
its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, or obtain exemption from registration or qualification for, all Registrable Shares by the time the
applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as Raymond James or any Holder of Registrable
Shares covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing, keep each such registration or qualification or exemption effective during the period such Registration Statement is
required to be kept effective pursuant to Section 4(a) and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition
in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Shares owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction or to register as a broker or dealer in such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Section 4(d) and except as may be required by the Securities Act, (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (iii) submit to the general
service of process in any such jurisdiction; 


        (e)   use
its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement to be registered and approved by such other governmental
agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Shares; 


        (f)    notify
Raymond James and each Holder promptly and, if requested by Raymond James or any Holder, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement
has become effective and when any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto is filed, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission or any state securities authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal, state or foreign
governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the 


7







 



happening
of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective as a result of which such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference
therein contains any 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 (which notice may
be in the form of a Suspension Notice under Section 5(b) hereof) and (v) at the request of any such Holder, promptly to furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a
supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus prepared in accordance with Section 4(i); 


        (g)   except
as provided in Section 5, use its commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of, or if issued, as promptly as practicable to obtain the
withdrawal of, any order enjoining or suspending the use or effectiveness of a Registration Statement or suspending of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Shares for sale in any jurisdiction; 


        (h)   upon
written request, furnish to each requesting Holder of Registrable Shares, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post
effective amendment or supplement thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested); 


        (i)    except
as provided in Section 5, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 4(f)(iv) hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts
to promptly prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Shares, such Prospectus will not contain any 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; 


        (j)    if
requested by the representative of the underwriters, if any, or any Holders of Registrable Shares being sold in connection with such offering, (i) promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the representative of the underwriters, if any, or such Holders indicate relates to them or that they
reasonably request be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; 


        (k)   in
the case of an Underwritten Offering, use its commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to the underwriters, of: (i) an opinion of counsel for the Company,
dated the date of each closing under the underwriting agreement, reasonably satisfactory to the underwriters; and (ii) a "comfort" letter, dated the effective date of such Registration
Statement and the date of each closing under the underwriting agreement, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company's financial statements included in such
Registration Statement, covering substantially the same matters with respect to such Registration Statement (and the Prospectus included therein) and with respect to events subsequent to the date of
such financial statements, as are customarily covered in accountants' letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities; 


        (l)    enter
into customary agreements (including in the case of an Underwritten Offering, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all other action in connection
therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the distribution of the Registrable Shares included in such Registration Statement and, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, make representations and
warranties to the underwriters in such form and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in such underwritten offerings and confirm the same to the extent customary if and when
requested; 


        (m)  make
available for inspection by representatives of the Holders and the representative of any underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration
Statement and any special counsel or accountants retained by such Holders or underwriters, all financial and other records, 


8







 



pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
representatives, the representative of the underwriters, counsel thereto or accountants in connection with a Registration Statement; provided,  however,
that such records, documents or information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies such representatives,
representative of the underwriters, counsel thereto or accountants are confidential shall not be disclosed by the representatives, representative of the underwriters, counsel thereto or accountants
unless (i) the disclosure of such records, documents or information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the
release of such records, documents or information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) such records, documents or information have
been generally made available to the public; 


        (n)   use
its commercially reasonable efforts (including, without limitation, seeking to cure any deficiencies cited by the exchange or market in the Company's listing or
inclusion application) to list or include all Registrable Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market and thereafter maintain the listing on such
exchange or market; 


        (o)   prepare
and file in a timely manner all documents and reports required by the Exchange Act and, to the extent the Company's obligation to file such reports pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act expires prior to the expiration of the effectiveness period of the Registration Statement as required by Section 4(a) hereof, the Company shall register
the Registrable Shares under the Exchange Act and maintain such registration through the effectiveness period required by Section 4(a) hereof; 


        (p)   provide
a CUSIP number for all Registrable Shares, not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement; 



        (q)   (i) otherwise
use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) make generally
available to its stockholders, as soon as reasonably practicable, earnings statements covering at least twelve (12) months that satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act and Rule 158 (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) thereunder, but in no event later than the earlier of any filing date required for the filing of an annual report on
Form 10-K as applicable to the Company or forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company; 



        (r)   provide
and cause to be maintained a registrar and transfer agent for all Registrable Shares covered by any Registration Statement from and after a date not later than
the effective date of such Registration Statement; 


        (s)   in
connection with any sale or transfer of the Registrable Shares (whether or not pursuant to a Registration Statement) that will result in the security being delivered
no longer being Registrable Shares, cooperate with the Holders and the representative of the underwriters, if any, to the extent reasonably necessary to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of any certificates representing the Registrable Shares to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any transfer restrictive legends (other than as required by the Company's certificate of
incorporation or bylaws) and to enable such Registrable Shares to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the representative of the underwriters, if any, or the Holders may request at
least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of the Registrable Shares; 


        (t)    if
required under the rules of the NASD, in connection with the initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement and each amendment thereto with the Commission pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof, prepare and, within one Business Day of such filing with the Commission, file with the NASD all forms and information required or requested by the NASD in order to
obtain written confirmation from the NASD that the NASD does not object to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting 


9







 



terms
and arrangements (or any deemed underwriting terms and arrangements) (each such written confirmation, a "No Objections Letter") relating to the
resale of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, including, without limitation, information provided to the NASD through its COBRA Desk system, and pay all costs, fees and
expenses incident to the NASD's review of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related underwriting terms and arrangements, including, without limitation, all filing fees associated with any
filings or submissions to the NASD and the legal expenses, filing fees and other disbursements of Raymond James and any other NASD member that is the holder of, or is affiliated or associated with an
owner of, Registrable Shares included in the Shelf Registration Statement (including in connection with any initial or subsequent member filing); and 


        (u)   upon
effectiveness of the first Registration Statement filed under this Agreement, the Company will take such actions and make such filings as are necessary to effect
the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act simultaneously with or immediately following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. 



        The
Company may require the Holders to furnish to the Company such information regarding the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Shares as the Company may from time
to time reasonably request in writing or as shall be required to effect the registration of the Registrable Shares, and no Holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling stockholder in any
Registration Statement and no Holder shall be entitled to use the Prospectus forming a part thereof if such Holder does not provide such information to the Company. Each Holder further agrees to
furnish promptly to
the Company in writing all information required from time to time to make the information previously furnished by such Holder not misleading. 



        Each
Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(f)(iii) or 4(f)(iv) hereof,
such Holder will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus. If
so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of
the Prospectus covering such Registrable Shares current at the time of receipt of such notice. 


	5.
	Black-Out Period





        (a)   Subject
to the provisions of this Section 5 following the effectiveness of a Registration Statement (and the filings with any international, federal or state
securities commissions), the Company may direct the Holders, in accordance with Section 5(b), to suspend sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement for such times as
the Company reasonably may determine is necessary and advisable (but in no event for more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any consecutive twelve (12)-month period commencing on the
Closing Date or more than sixty (60) days in any consecutive ninety (90)-day period, except as a result of a request pursuant to Section 7 hereof or as a result of a review
of any post-effective amendment by the Commission prior to declaring any post effective amendment to the Registration Statement effective, provided the Company has used all commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared effective), if any of the following events shall occur: (i) the representative of the underwriters of an
Underwritten Offering of primary shares by the Company has advised the Company that the sale of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's initial public offering; (ii) the majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that (1) the offer or sale of any
Registrable Shares would materially impede, delay or interfere with any proposed financing, offer or sale of securities, acquisition, merger, tender offer, business combination, corporate
reorganization, consolidation or other significant transaction involving the Company, (2) after the advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement
would require disclosure of non-public material information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (3) either (x) the Company has a bona 


10







 

fide
business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction, (y) disclosure would have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company's ability to consummate such
transaction, or (z) the proposed transaction renders the Company unable to comply with Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it impractical or inadvisable to
cause the Registration Statement (or such filings) to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement on a post-effective basis, as applicable; or
(iii) the majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith, after the advice of counsel, that it is required by law, rule or regulation to
supplement the Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement in order to incorporate information into the Registration Statement for the
purpose of (1) including in the Registration Statement any prospectus required under Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (2) reflecting in the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or of the most-recent post-effective amendment) that, individually or
in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change in the information set forth therein; or (3) including in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information. Upon the occurrence of any such suspension, the Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement on a post-effective basis or to take
such action as is necessary to make resumed use of the Registration Statement compatible with the Company's best interests, as applicable, so as to permit the Holders to resume sales of the
Registrable Shares as soon as possible. 


        (b)   In
the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Registration Statement (a "Suspension Event"),
the Company shall give written notice (a "Suspension Notice") to Raymond James and the Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Shares and such
notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing and the Company is using its best
efforts and taking all reasonable steps to terminate suspension of the use of the Registration Statement as promptly as possible. No Holder shall effect any sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to
such Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as hereinafter defined). If so
directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all copies other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus covering
the Registrable Shares at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement (or such filings)
following further notice to such effect (an "End of Suspension Notice") from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company
to the Holders and Raymond James in the manner described above promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect. 


	6.
	Indemnification and Contribution




        (a)   The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder of Registrable Shares and any underwriter (as determined in the Securities Act) for such Holder,
(ii) each Placement Agent, (iii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act), any such
Person described in clauses (i) or (ii) (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (iii) being hereinafter referred to as a "Controlling
Person"), and (iv) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any such Person or any Controlling Person (any Person referred
to in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) may hereinafter be referred to as a "Purchaser Indemnitee"), to the fullest extent lawful,
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, actions, out-of-pocket expenses, and other liabilities (the
"Liabilities"), including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending
any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to 


11







 

any
Purchaser Indemnitee, joint or several, directly or indirectly related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished to such Purchaser Indemnitee any amendments or supplements thereto), or any
preliminary Prospectus or any other document used to sell the Shares, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such Liabilities arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Purchaser Indemnitee furnished to the Company or any underwriter in writing by such
Purchaser Indemnitee expressly for use therein. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any claim, proceeding (including any governmental
investigation), or litigation of which it shall have become aware in connection with the matters addressed by this Agreement which involves the Company or a Purchaser Indemnitee. The indemnity
provided for herein shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Purchaser Indemnitee. 


        (b)   In
connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Shares is participating, such Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) the Company and
(iii) the respective partners, directors, officers, members, representatives, employees and agents of such Person or Controlling Person to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Company to each Purchaser Indemnitee, but only with reference to untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with
information relating to such Purchaser Indemnitee furnished to the Company in writing by such Purchaser Indemnitee expressly for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or
supplement thereto or any preliminary Prospectus. The liability of any Purchaser Indemnitee pursuant to this paragraph shall in no event exceed the net proceeds received by such Purchaser Indemnitee
from sales of Registrable Shares giving rise to such obligations. 


        (c)   If
any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the "Indemnified Party"), shall promptly notify the
Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying Party"), in writing of the commencement thereof (but the failure to so notify an
Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 6, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by the failure to give
notice), and the Indemnifying Party, upon request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and any others the
Indemnifying Party may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party,
unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Party failed within a reasonable time after
notice of commencement of the action to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, (iii) the Indemnifying Party and its counsel do not actively and
vigorously pursue the defense of such action or (iv) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties), include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, or
any Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been reasonably advised by counsel that, either (x) there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which
are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party or such Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party or (y) a conflict may exist between such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party or such Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party (in which case the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume nor 


12







 



direct
the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Party, it being understood, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of
attorneys (in addition to any local counsel), for all such Indemnified Parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by those Indemnified Parties who sold a majority of the Registrable Shares
sold by all such Indemnified Parties and any such separate firm for the Company, the directors, the officers and such control Persons of the Company as shall be designated in writing by the Company).
The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent
or if there is a final, non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified
Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding. 


        (d)   If
the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6 is for any reason held to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party in
respect of any Liabilities referred to therein (other than by reason of the exceptions provided therein) or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified thereunder, then each Indemnifying
Party under such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Liabilities
(i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits of the Indemnified Party on the one hand and the Indemnifying Party(ies) on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions that resulted in such Liabilities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party(ies) and the Indemnified Party, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and any Purchaser Indemnitees on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by such Purchaser Indemnitees and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. 


        (e)   The
parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if such
Indemnified Parties were treated as one entity for such purpose), or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph 6(d)
above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any Liabilities referred to paragraph 6(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any
reasonable legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 6, in no event shall a Purchaser Indemnitee be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which proceeds received by such Purchaser Indemnitee from sales of
Registrable Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Purchaser Indemnitee has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. For purposes of this Section 6, each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) Raymond James or a
Holder of Registrable Shares shall have the same rights to contribution as Raymond James or such Holder, as the case may be, and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) the Company, and each officer, director, partner, 


13







 



employee,
representative, agent or manager of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of
commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom
contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have
under this Section 6 or otherwise, except to the extent that any party is materially prejudiced by the failure to give notice. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act), shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. 


        (f)    The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Parties may otherwise have to
the Indemnified Parties referred to above. The Purchaser Indemnitee's obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares sold by
each of the Purchaser Indemnitees hereunder and not joint. 


	7.
	Market Stand-off Agreement



        Each
Holder hereby agrees that it shall not, to the extent requested by the Company or an underwriter of securities of the Company, directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell (including
without limitation any short sale), grant any option or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Shares or other shares of Common Stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock of the Company then owned by such Holder (other than to donees or partners of the Holder who agree to be similarly bound) for a period of sixty
(60) days following the effective date of an IPO Registration Statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided,  however, that:



        (a)   the
restrictions above shall not apply to Registrable Shares sold pursuant to the IPO Registration Statement; 


        (b)   all
Persons (other than the Holders) then holding shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of
capital stock of the Company enter into similar agreements; and 


        (c)   the
Holders shall be allowed any concession or proportionate release allowed to any Person that entered into similar agreements (with such proportion being determined by
dividing the number of shares being released with respect to such Person by the total number of issued and outstanding shares held by such Person). 


        In
order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company shall have the right to place restrictive legends on the certificates representing the securities subject to this Section 7
and to impose stop transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Shares and such other securities of each Holder (and the securities of every other Person subject to the foregoing restriction)
until the end of such period. 


	8.
	Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights



        From
and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Holders beneficially owning not less than a majority of the then outstanding
Registrable Shares (provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8, Registrable Shares
that are owned, directly or indirectly, by an Affiliate or employee of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding), enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any Common
Stock of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder (a) to include such Common Stock in any Registration Statement filed pursuant to the terms hereof, unless under the terms
of such 


14







 



agreement,
such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of his securities will not reduce the amount of Registrable
Shares of the Holders that is included, or (b) to have its Common Stock registered on a registration statement that could be declared effective prior to, or within one hundred eighty
(180) days of, the effective date of any Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement. 


	9.
	Miscellaneous



        (a)   Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, each Holder, in
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or, in the case of Raymond James, in the Placement Agreement, or granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. Subject to Section 6, the Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a
breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agree that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a
remedy at law would be adequate. 


        (b)   Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, without the written consent of the Company and Holders beneficially owning not less than
a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Shares; provided, however, that for purposes of this
Section 9(b), Registrable Shares that are owned, directly or indirectly, by an Affiliate or employee of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding. No amendment shall be deemed effective
unless it applies uniformly to all Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to or departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of a Holder whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders may be
given by such Holder; provided that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. 


        (c)   Notices. All notices and other communications, provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and delivered
by facsimile (with receipt confirmed), overnight courier or registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by telegram 



        (i)    if
to a Holder, at the most current address given by the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares to the Company, or if such Holder's Registrable Shares are DTC
eligible, through the relevant DTC participant; 


        (ii)   if
to Raymond James: 




Raymond
James & Associates, Inc.

5847 San Felipe Road

Suite 720

Houston, TX 77057-3184

Attention: Howard W. House

(facsimile: (713) 266-4117) 


with
a copy to: 



Baker
Botts L.L.P.

1500 San Jacinto Center

98 San Jacinto

Austin, Texas 78701-4039590






15







 






Attention:
Mike Bengtson

(facsimile: (512) 322-8349); 




	(iii)
	if
to the Company at the offices of the Company at: 






Stroud
Energy, Inc.

210 West Sixth Street, Suite 500

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

(facsimile: (817) 882-8811) 


with
copies to: 


Patrick
Reardon

210 West Sixth Street, Suite 401

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

(facsimile: (817) 348-8804) 


and



Thompson &
Knight LLP

1700 Pacific Avenue

Suite 3300

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Joe Dannenmaier

(facsimile: (214) 969-1751) 






        (d)   Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties hereto, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment or assumption, subsequent Holders. The Company agrees that the Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder by Raymond James and the Company, and each Holder shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect its rights hereunder; provided, however, that such Holder fulfills all
of its obligations hereunder. 


        (e)   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 


        (f)    Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect
the meaning hereof 


        (g)   Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS
TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND
IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND
ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR  


16







 



 PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.


        (h)   Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no
way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same
result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties hereto that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable. 


        (i)    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Placement Agreement, is intended by the parties hereto as a final
expression of their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
therein. 


        (j)    Adjustment for Stock Splits, etc. Wherever in this Agreement there is a reference to a specific number of shares with
respect to any Registrable Shares, then upon the occurrence of any subdivision, combination, or stock dividend of such shares, the specific number of shares with respect to any Registrable Shares so
referenced in this Agreement shall automatically be proportionally adjusted to reflect the effect on the outstanding shares of such class or series of stock by such subdivision, combination, or stock
dividend. 


        (k)   Survival. This Agreement is intended to survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement
Agreement. The indemnification and contribution obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of the Company's obligations under Section 2 of this
Agreement. 


        (l)    Attorneys' Fees. In any action or proceeding brought to enforce any provision of this Agreement, or where any provision
hereof is validly asserted as a defense, the prevailing party, as determined by the court, shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to any other available remedy. 


[Signature Page Follows]


17










        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written. 



	 	 	STROUD ENERGY, INC.
	

 	
 	

BY:	

/S/  PATRICK J. NOYES      
 Name: Patrick J. Noyes

Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
	

 	
 	

RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  SCOTT MCNEILL      
 Name: Scott McNeill

Title: Vice President













QuickLinks



Exhibit 4.2


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT