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Exhibit 10.9  


 
 

FORM OF SPONSOR WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT    
    


        THIS SPONSOR WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of                  , 2007 (as it may from
time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein,
this "Agreement"), is entered into by and between HH-HACI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Sponsor") and Hicks Acquisition Company I, Inc. (the "Company"). 


        The
Company intends to consummate a public offering of the Company's units (the "Public Offering"), each unit consisting of one share of
the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (a "Share"), and one warrant to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $7.50 per Share. The
Sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,000,000 warrants (the "Sponsor Warrants"), each Sponsor Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one
Share at an exercise price of $7.50 per Share. 


        NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows: 


 
 

AGREEMENT    
    


Section 1.    Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Sponsor Warrants.  


        A.    Authorization of the Sponsor Warrants.    The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Sponsor
Warrants to the Sponsor. 


        B.    Purchase and Sale of the Sponsor Warrants.    Immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering or on
such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Company (the "Closing Date"), the Company shall issue and sell to the
Sponsor, and the Sponsor shall purchase from the Company, the Sponsor Warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $7,000,000 (the "Purchase Price"),
which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company in accordance with the Company's wiring instructions. On the Closing Date, upon the payment by the Sponsor of the
Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company shall deliver a certificate evidencing the Sponsor Warrants duly registered in the Sponsor's name to the
Sponsor. 


        C.    Terms of the Sponsor Warrants.    



        (i)    Each
Sponsor Warrant shall have the terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company in connection with the Public Offering. 


        (ii)   Registration
Rights: At the time of the closing of the Public Offering, the Company and the Sponsor shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the
"Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Sponsor relating to the Sponsor Warrants
and the Shares underlying the Sponsor Warrants. 




Section 2.    Representations and Warranties of the Company.  


        As a material inducement to the Sponsor to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Sponsor Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Sponsor
(which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date) that: 



        A.    Organization and Corporate Power.    The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company 


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possesses
all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement. 



        B.    Authorization; No Breach.    



        (i)    The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Sponsor Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company as of the Closing Date. This Agreement
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and
this Agreement, the Sponsor Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of the Closing Date. 



        (ii)   The
execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the Sponsor Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Sponsor Warrants, the issuance of the Shares of
common stock upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants and the fulfillment of and compliance with the respective terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of the Closing Date
(a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest,
charge or encumbrance upon the Company's capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or
notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company or the bylaws of the Company, or any
material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date
hereof under federal or state securities laws. 




        C.    Title to Securities.    Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the
Warrant Agreement, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to,
the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Sponsor will have good title to the Sponsor Warrants and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Sponsor Warrants, free and clear of all liens, claims
and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state
securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Sponsor. 


        D.    Governmental Consents.    No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with,
any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions
contemplated hereby. 


Section 3.    Representations and Warranties of the Sponsor.  


        As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Sponsor Warrants to the Sponsor, the Sponsor hereby represents and
warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date) that: 



        A.    Organization and Requisite Authority.    The Sponsor is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Sponsor possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 


        B.    Authorization; No Breach.    



        (i)    This
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Sponsor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, 



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moratorium
and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). 



        (ii)   The
execution and delivery by the Sponsor of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Sponsor does not and shall not as of the
Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of the organizational documents of the Sponsor or any other agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to
which the Sponsor is subject. 




        C.    Investment Representations.    



        (i)    The
Sponsor is acquiring the Sponsor Warrants and, upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the
"Securities") for its own account, for investment
purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof. 


        (ii)   The
Sponsor is an "accredited investor" as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D. 


        (iii)  The
Sponsor understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the
United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Sponsor's compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Sponsor set
forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Sponsor to acquire such Securities. 


        (iv)  The
Sponsor did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). 


        (v)   The
Sponsor has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the
Securities which have been requested by the Sponsor. The Sponsor has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The Sponsor understands that
its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with
respect to the acquisition of the Securities. 


        (vi)  The
Sponsor understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or
endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Sponsor nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the
Securities. 


        (vii) The
Sponsor understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not
be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically
set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to
comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. In this regard, the Sponsor understands that the Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the position that promoters or
affiliates of a blank check company and their transferees, both before and after a Business Combination, are deemed to be "underwriters" under the Securities Act when reselling the securities of a
blank check company. Based on that position, Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act would not be available for resale transactions of the Securities despite technical compliance with
the 



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requirements
of such Rule, and the Securities can be resold only through a registered offering or in reliance upon another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. 



        (viii) The
Sponsor has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knows of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of
companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the
Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Sponsor has adequate means of providing for it or his/her current financial needs and contingencies and will have
no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The Sponsor can afford a complete loss of its or his investment in the Securities. 




Section 4.    Conditions of the Sponsor's Obligations.  


        The obligation of the Sponsor to purchase and pay for the Sponsor Warrants is subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following
conditions: 


        A.    Representations and Warranties.    The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date as though then made. 


        B.    Performance.    The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions
contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing Date. 


        C.    No Injunction.    No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall
have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the
matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement. 


Section 5.    Conditions of the Company's Obligations.  


        The obligations of the Company to the Sponsor under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following
conditions: 


        A.    Representations and Warranties.    The representations and warranties of the Sponsor contained in
Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date as though then made. 


        B.    Performance.    The Sponsor shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions
contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Sponsor on or before the Closing Date. 



        C.    Corporate Consents.    The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Sponsor Warrants hereunder. 


        D.    No Injunction.    No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall
have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the
matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement. 


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Section 6.    Termination.  



        This Agreement may be terminated at any time after [                  ], 2007 upon the mutual
written consent of the Company and the Sponsor
if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date. 


Section 7.    Survival of Representations and Warranties.  


        All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Date. 



Section 8.    Definitions.  


        Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement. 


Section 9.    Transfer and Redemption Restrictions.  


        A.    In
addition to the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 3, the Sponsor agrees that it shall not sell or transfer the Sponsor Warrants or any underlying
Shares until the expiration of 180 days from the date on which the Company consummates its initial business combination, meeting the requirements to be set forth in the Prospectus, and
acknowledges that the certificates for the Sponsor Warrants and the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants shall contain a legend, indicating, among other things, such restriction
on transferability. 


        B.    Each
of the Company and the Sponsor hereby acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding a call for redemption of the Sponsor Warrants by the Company in accordance with
the terms of the Warrant Agreement, no Sponsor Warrants held by the Sponsor or any of its affiliates at the time of such call for redemption shall be redeemable by the Company. 


Section 10.    Miscellaneous.  



        A.    Successors and Assigns.    Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained
in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the
foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Sponsor to affiliates thereof. 


        B.    Severability.    Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to
be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent
of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement. 


        C.    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need
contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 


        D.    Descriptive Headings; Interpretation.    The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word "including" in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. 


        E.    Governing Law.    This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware
and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware. 


        F.    Amendments.    This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision,
except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto. 


[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]


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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement. 



	 	 	COMPANY:
	

 	
 	

Hicks Acquisition Company I, Inc.
	

 	
 	

By:	

    
 Joseph B. Armes

Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer,

Executive Vice President and Secretary
	    	 	 	 
	

 	
 	
SPONSOR:
	

 	
 	

HH-HACI, L.P.,
	

 	
 	

By:	

HH-HACI GP, LLC, its general partner
	

 	
 	

By:	

    

	 	 	Name:	    

	 	 	Title:	    






   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   



Sponsor Warrants Purchase Agreement











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FORM OF SPONSOR WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT