Document:

Exhibit
        4.03

      

      

      CITIGROUP
        INC.

       

       

      AND

      

       

      THE
        BANK
        OF NEW YORK 

      (as
        successor-in-interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) 

       

      Trustee

       

      FIRST
        SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

       

      Dated
        as
        of November 15, 2006

      

      Supplemental
        to Indenture dated as of September 15, 2006

      providing
        for the issuance of

      Junior
        Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures

       

       

      
        
           

        

        
           

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      FIRST
        SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of November 15, 2006 (the "First Supplemental
        Indenture"), between CITIGROUP INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
        and
        THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a national banking association (as successor-in-interest
        to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee (the "Trustee"), under the Indenture
        dated as of September 15, 2006 (as supplemented, the "Indenture"). Capitalized
        terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto
        under
        the Indenture.

       

      WHEREAS,
        pursuant to Section 9.01(7) of the Indenture, the Company and the Trustee
        may
        enter into a supplemental indenture to cure any ambiguity, to correct or
        supplement any provision in the Indenture which may be inconsistent with
        any
        other provision in the Indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect
        to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided
        such
        action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities
        of
        any series in any material respect;

       

      WHEREAS,
        the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this First Supplemental
        Indenture;

       

      NOW,
        THEREFORE, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee as
        follows:

       

      ARTICLE
        ONE

       

      The
        modifications in this Article One shall have no effect upon any series of
        Securities Outstanding on the date hereof but shall be applicable only to
        Securities issued after the date hereof.

      

      Section
        1.01 Section
        13.5 shall be amended by deleting paragraph (c) in its entirety and substituting
        therefor the following:

       

      "(c) The
        Company is not permitted to sell shares of common stock in excess of a number
        of
        shares of common stock to be specified pursuant to a Board Resolution, and
        set
        forth in an Officers’ Certificate for each series of Securities (in each case,
        the "Share Cap Amount"), for the purpose of satisfying Section 13.5(a) or
        otherwise paying Deferred Interest on the Securities of the relevant series
        then
        outstanding. If the issued and outstanding shares of common stock shall have
        been changed into a different number of shares or a different class by reason
        of
        any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reclassification,
        recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar
        transaction, then each affected Share Cap Amount shall be correspondingly
        adjusted. The Company shall increase a Share Cap Amount (including through
        the
        increase of its authorized share capital, if necessary) to an amount that
        would
        allow the Company to raise sufficient proceeds to satisfy its obligations
        to pay
        Deferred Interest in full at the end of the first year of an Extended Interest
        Payment Period (and on each subsequent anniversary of the end of the first
        year
        of an Extended Interest Payment Period to the extent that an Extended Interest
        Payment Period would last more than one year), if a then-current Share Cap
        Amount would not allow the Company to raise sufficient proceeds to satisfy
        its
        obligations to pay Deferred Interest (including Compounded Interest to that
        date) assuming a price per share equal to the average trading price of the
        Company’s common shares over the ten-trading-day period preceding such date;
provided
        that the
        Company will not be obligated to increase a Share Cap Amount above the maximum
        number of shares specified in the relevant Officers’ Certificate. Until the
        Tenth Deferral Anniversary, a Default will occur if the Company does not
        increase the relevant Share Cap Amount to an amount that is greater than
        the
        minimum number of shares specified in the relevant Officers’ Certificate when
        required to do so as described above; provided that no Default will occur
        if the
        Company has increased the relevant Share Cap Amount to the maximum number
        of
        shares specified in the relevant Officers’ Certificate."

       

      
        
           

        

        
          2

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      ARTICLE
        TWO

       

      Miscellaneous

       

      Section
        2.01 The
        Trustee accepts the modifications to Section 13.5 of the Indenture set forth
        in
        this First Supplemental Indenture upon the terms and conditions set forth
        in the
        Indenture. The Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any manner
        whatsoever for or in respect of, and makes no representation with respect
        to,
        the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or the due
        execution hereof by the Company and shall not be responsible in any manner
        whatsoever for or in respect of the correctness of the recitals and statements
        contained herein, all of which recitals and statements are made solely by
        the
        Company.

       

      Section
        2.02 Except
        as
        hereby expressly modified, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and
        confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain
        in
        full force and effect. This First Supplemental Indenture shall take effect
        on
        the date hereof. 

       

      Section
        2.03 This
        First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts,
        each
        of which shall be deemed to be an original for all purposes; but such
        counterparts shall together be deemed to constitute but one and the same
        instrument.

       

      
        
           

        

        
          3

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      IN
        WITNESS WHEREOF, each of CITIGROUP INC. and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee,
        has caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be signed and acknowledged
        by
        one of its officers thereunto duly authorized, and its corporate seal to
        be
        affixed hereto, and the same to be attested by the signature of its Secretary
        or
        one of its Assistant Secretaries, all as of November 15, 2006.

       

      
        	 	 	 
	 	CITIGROUP INC.
	 
 	 
 	 
 
	 	By:  	/s/ Martin
                A.
                Waters
	 	
                
Name:
                Martin A. Waters
	 	Title:
                Assistant Treasurer

      

       

      

      
        	Attest:	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Michael
                J. Tarpley	 	 	 
	 	
                

              	 	 	
              
	Corporate Seal	 	 	 

      

       

      
         

        
          	 	 	 
	 	THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
	 
 	 
 	 
 
	 	By:  	/s/ Van
                  K.
                  Brown
	 	
                  
Name:
                  Van K. Brown
	 	Title: Vice
                  President

        

      

      
         

        

          
            	Attest:	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	By:	/s/
                    Robert A.
                    Massimillo	 	 	 
	 	
                    

                  	 	 	
                  
	Corporate Seal	 	 	 

          

        

      

       

      
        
           

        

        
          4PURCHASE
      AND SALE AGREEMENT

     

    

     

    by
      and among

     

    

     

    AMERICAN
      REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.,

     

    AMERICAN
      REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,

     

    AREP
      OIL & GAS HOLDINGS LLC,

     

    AREP
      O & G HOLDINGS LLC,

     

    NEG
      OIL & GAS LLC

     

    

    and

     

    

    SANDRIDGE
      HOLDINGS, INC.

     

    and

     

    solely
      for purposes of Article
      V,
      Article
      XII,
      Section
      9.5
      and Section
      10.2,

     

    RIATA
      ENERGY, INC.

     

    

     

    Dated
      November 21, 2006

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    TABLE
      OF CONTENTS

     

     

     

    
      	 	Page 
	 	 
	
              ARTICLE
                I

            	 
	
              TERMS
                OF THE TRANSACTION

            	 
	 	 	 
	
              Section
                1.1.

            	
              Agreement
                to Purchase and Sell Interests

            	
              1

            
	
              Section
                1.2.

            	
              Consideration

            	
              1

            
	
              Section
                1.3.

            	
              Adjustments
                to Base Cash Purchase Price

            	
              1

            
	
              ARTICLE
                II

            	 
	
              CLOSING

            	 
	 	 	 
	
              Section
                2.1.

            	
              Closing

            	
              3

            
	
              Section
                2.2.

            	
              Deliveries
                by Seller Parties

            	
              3

            
	
              Section
                2.3.

            	
              Deliveries
                by Buyer

            	
              4

            
	
              ARTICLE
                III

            	 
	
              REPRESENTATIONS
                AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO SELLER PARTIES

            	 
	 	 	 
	
              Section
                3.1.

            	
              Organization

            	
              5

            
	
              Section
                3.2.

            	
              Title
                to Interests

            	
              5

            
	
              Section
                3.3.

            	
              Authority

            	
              5

            
	
              Section
                3.4.

            	
              Non-Contravention

            	
              5

            
	
              Section
                3.5.

            	
              Proceedings

            	
              6

            
	
              Section
                3.6.

            	
              Investment
                Experience

            	
              6

            
	
              Section
                3.7.

            	
              Restricted
                Securities

            	
              6

            
	
              Section
                3.8.

            	
              Accredited
                Investor; Investment Intent

            	
              6

            
	
              Section
                3.9.

            	
              Acknowledgement
                by Seller Parties

            	
              6

            
	
              ARTICLE
                IV

            	 
	
              REPRESENTATIONS
                AND WARRANTIES

            	 
	
              RELATING
                TO THE COMPANY

            	 
	 	 	 
	
              Section
                4.1.

            	
              Organization.

            	
              7

            
	
              Section
                4.2.

            	
              Authority

            	
              7

            
	
              Section
                4.3.

            	
              Governing
                Documents

            	
              7

            
	
              Section
                4.4.

            	
              Capital
                Structure

            	
              8

            
	
              Section
                4.5.

            	
              Non-Contravention.

            	
              8

            
	
              Section
                4.6.

            	
              Ownership;
                Capitalization of Subsidiaries

            	
              9

            
	
              Section
                4.7.

            	
              SEC
                Reports; Financial Statements

            	
              10

            
	
              Section
                4.8.

            	
              Absence
                of Certain Changes or Events

            	
              11

            
	
              Section
                4.9.

            	
              Pending
                Litigation.

            	
              11

            
	
              Section
                4.10.

            	
              Compliance
                with Laws; Permits

            	
              11

            
	
              Section
                4.11.

            	
              Investment
                Company Act

            	
              12

            
	
              Section
                4.12.

            	
              Taxes

            	
              12

            
	
              Section
                4.13.

            	
              Contracts

            	
              13

            
	
              Section
                4.14.

            	
              Real
                Property

            	
              15

            
	
              Section
                4.15.

            	
              Oil
                and Gas Properties

            	
              15

            

    

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        i

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    
      	
              Section
                4.16.

            	
              Gas
                Regulatory Matters

            	
              16

            
	
              Section
                4.17.

            	
              Reserve
                Reports

            	
              16

            
	
              Section
                4.18.

            	
              Environmental
                Matters

            	
              16

            
	
              Section
                4.19.

            	
              Intellectual
                Property

            	
              17

            
	
              Section
                4.20.

            	
              Insurance

            	
              18

            
	
              Section
                4.21.

            	
              Employee
                Related Matters

            	
              18

            
	
              Section
                4.22.

            	
              Brokers

            	
              18

            
	
              Section
                4.23.

            	
              Affiliate
                Transactions

            	
              18

            
	
              Section
                4.24.

            	
              NEGI
                Restructuring

            	
              19

            
	
              Section
                4.25.

            	
              No
                Additional Representations

            	
              19

            
	
              ARTICLE
                V

            	
               

            
	
              REPRESENTATIONS
                AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER AND RIATA

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                5.1.

            	
              Organization

            	
              19

            
	
              Section
                5.2.

            	
              Authority

            	
              20

            
	
              Section
                5.3.

            	
              Non-Contravention

            	
              20

            
	
              Section
                5.4.

            	
              Capital
                Structure

            	
              21

            
	
              Section
                5.5.

            	
              Private
                Placement Memorandum; Financial Statements.

            	
              22

            
	
              Section
                5.6.

            	
              Absence
                of Certain Changes or Events

            	
              22

            
	
              Section
                5.7.

            	
              Proceedings

            	
              22

            
	
              Section
                5.8.

            	
              Investment
                Experience

            	
              22

            
	
              Section
                5.9.

            	
              Restricted
                Securities

            	
              22

            
	
              Section
                5.10.

            	
              Accredited
                Investor; Investment Intent

            	
              23

            
	
              Section
                5.11.

            	
              Brokers

            	
              23

            
	
              Section
                5.12.

            	
              Investment
                Company Act

            	
              23

            
	
              Section
                5.13.

            	
              No
                Additional Representations

            	
              23

            
	
              Section
                5.14.

            	
              Acknowledgement
                by Buyer

            	
              23

            
	
              ARTICLE
                VI

            	
               

            
	
              CONDUCT
                OF COMPANY AND THE SUBSIDIARIES PENDING CLOSING

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                6.1.

            	
              Conduct
                and Preservation of Business

            	
              23

            
	
              ARTICLE
                VII

            	
               

            
	
              ADDITIONAL
                AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                7.1.

            	
              Access.

            	
              26

            
	
              Section
                7.2.

            	
              Cooperation
                and Governmental Consents

            	
              27

            
	
              Section
                7.3.

            	
              Notice
                of Litigation

            	
              27

            
	
              Section
                7.4.

            	
              Notification
                of Certain Matters

            	
              27

            
	
              Section
                7.5.

            	
              Resignation
                of Directors

            	
              27

            
	
              Section
                7.6.

            	
              Cooperation
                with Financing

            	
              28

            
	
              Section
                7.7.

            	
              Taxes

            	
              28

            
	
              Section
                7.8.

            	
              Fees
                and Expenses

            	
              31

            
	
              Section
                7.9.

            	
              Publicity

            	
              31

            
	
              Section
                7.10.

            	
              Books
                and Records

            	
              32

            
	
              Section
                7.11.

            	
              Restructuring;
                Seismic Data Licenses

            	
              32

            
	
              Section
                7.12.

            	
              Credit
                Facility

            	
              33

            
	
              Section
                7.13.

            	
              Third
                Party Consents

            	
              33

            
	
              Section
                7.14.

            	
              Exclusivity

            	
              34

            
	
              Section
                7.15.

            	
              Affiliate
                Transactions

            	
              35

            

    

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        ii

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    
      	
              Section
                7.16.

            	
              Indebtedness

            	
              35

            
	
              Section
                7.17.

            	
              Hedge
                Transactions

            	
              35

            
	
              Section
                7.18.

            	
              Insurance

            	
              35

            
	
              Section
                7.19.

            	
              Employees

            	
              36

            
	
              Section
                7.20.

            	
              NEG
                Operating Agreement

            	
              36

            
	
              ARTICLE
                VIII

            	
               

            
	
              CONDITIONS
                TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES; TERMINATION

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                8.1.

            	
              Conditions
                to Obligations of the Seller Parties and the Company

            	
              36

            
	
              Section
                8.2.

            	
              Conditions
                to Obligations of Buyer

            	
              37

            
	
              Section
                8.3.

            	
              Termination

            	
              38

            
	
              Section
                8.4.

            	
              Effect
                of Termination

            	
              40

            
	
              ARTICLE
                IX

            	
               

            
	
              SURVIVAL
                OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES

            	
               

            
	
              AND
                COVENANTS; INDEMNIFICATION

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                9.1.

            	
              Survival.

            	
              42

            
	
              Section
                9.2.

            	
              Indemnification
                by Seller Parties

            	
              43

            
	
              Section
                9.3.

            	
              Indemnification
                by Buyer

            	
              44

            
	
              Section
                9.4.

            	
              Indemnification
                Proceedings.

            	
              44

            
	
              Section
                9.5.

            	
              Exclusivity.

            	
              46

            
	
              Section
                9.6.

            	
              Limitations
                on Indemnities.

            	
              46

            
	
              Section
                9.7.

            	
              Indemnification
                Despite Negligence

            	
              47

            
	
              Section
                9.8.

            	
              Treatment
                of Indemnification Payments

            	
              47

            
	
              ARTICLE
                X

            	
               

            
	
              MISCELLANEOUS

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                10.1.

            	
              Notices

            	
              47

            
	
              Section
                10.2.

            	
              Entire
                Agreement

            	
              48

            
	
              Section
                10.3.

            	
              Binding
                Effect; Assignment; No Third Party Benefit

            	
              48

            
	
              Section
                10.4.

            	
              Severability

            	
              49

            
	
              Section
                10.5.

            	
              Governing
                Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue

            	
              49

            
	
              Section
                10.6.

            	
              Further
                Assurances

            	
              49

            
	
              Section
                10.7.

            	
              Counterparts

            	
              49

            
	
              Section
                10.8.

            	
              Injunctive
                Relief

            	
              49

            
	
              Section
                10.9.

            	
              Schedules

            	
              50

            
	
              Section
                10.10.

            	
              Time
                of Essence

            	
              50

            
	
              Section
                10.11.

            	
              Confidentiality

            	
              50

            
	
              Section
                10.12.

            	
              Amendment

            	
              51

            
	
              Section
                10.13.

            	
              Waiver

            	
               

            
	
              ARTICLE
                XI

            	
               

            
	
              DEFINITIONS
                AND REFERENCES

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                11.1.

            	
              Certain
                Defined Terms

            	
              51

            
	
              Section
                11.2.

            	
              References
                and Construction

            	
              63

            

    

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        iii

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    
      	
              ARTICLE
                XII

            	
               

            
	
              GUARANTEE;
                LETTER OF INTENT; MANAGEMENT

            	
               

            
	 	 	
               

            
	
              Section
                12.1.

            	
              Guarantee

            	
              64

            
	
              Section
                12.2.

            	
              Letter
                of Intent

            	
              64

            
	
              Section
                12.3.

            	
              Management

            	
              64

            

    

    

     

    

     

    EXHIBITS

     

    
      	
              Exhibit
                A 

            	
              --

            	 	
              Form
                of Assignment

            
	
              Exhibit
                B

            	
              --

            	 	
              Form
                of Stockholders Agreement

            
	
              Exhibit
                C

            	
              --

            	 	
              Form
                of Release

            
	
              Exhibit
                D

            	
              --

            	 	
              Example
                of Cash calculation

            
	
              Exhibit
                E

            	
              --

            	 	
              Description
                of Interests

            
	
              Exhibit
                F

            	
              --

            	 	
              Form
                of Affidavit

            
	
              Exhibit
                G

            	
              --

            	 	
              Example
                of Net Working Capital calculation

            

    

    

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        iv

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    PURCHASE
      AND SALE AGREEMENT

     

    THIS
      PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT dated as of November 21, 2006, is by and among
      American Real Estate Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
      (“AREP”),
      American Real Estate Holdings Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited
      partnership (“AREH”),
      AREP
      Oil & Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Oil
      & Gas Holdings”;
      together with AREP and AREH, the “Parents”),
      AREP
      O & G Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”;
      together with the Parents, the “Seller
      Parties”),
      NEG
      Oil & Gas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”),
      and
      SandRidge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”),
      and
      solely for purposes of Article
      V,
      Article
      XII,
      Section
      9.5
      and
Section
      10.2
      hereof,
      Riata Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Riata”).

     

    RECITALS:

     

    WHEREAS,
      Seller
      is the owner of 100% of the Interests.

     

    WHEREAS,
      Seller
      desires
      to sell the Interests to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase the Interests
      from
      Seller, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

     

    WHEREAS,
      on September 7, 2006, the Parents and Riata entered into the Exclusivity
      Agreement and Letter of Intent (the “Letter
      of Intent”)
      which
      contemplates that the parties hereto may enter into this Agreement.

     

    WHEREAS,
      pursuant to the Letter of Intent, (i) Riata paid to Seller $10 million on
      September 7, 2006 and (ii) the parties hereto obtained the approval of the
      transactions contemplated hereby under the HSR Act on September 26,
      2006.

     

    WHEREAS,
      Buyer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Riata.

     

    NOW,
      THEREFORE, in consideration
      of the
      mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree
      as
      follows:

     

    ARTICLE
      I  

     

    TERMS
      OF THE TRANSACTION

     

    Section
      1.1.  Agreement
      to Purchase and Sell Interests.
       Seller
      agrees to sell and Buyer agrees to purchase, for the consideration hereinafter
      set forth and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions herein, the
      Interests.

     

    Section
      1.2.  Consideration. In
      consideration of the sale of the Interests to Buyer, Buyer shall, based on
      and
      subject to the conditions in Section
      8.2
      herein
      being fulfilled, (i) pay Seller an aggregate cash purchase price of one billion
      twenty five million dollars ($1,025,000,000) in immediately available funds
      (the
“Base
      Cash Purchase Price”)
      (the
      parties acknowledge that Riata delivered ten million dollars ($10,000,000)
      to
      Seller on September 7, 2006 pursuant to the Letter of Intent, and for the
      avoidance of doubt, such $10 million amount shall be applied as a credit
      pursuant to Section
      2.3(a)
      against
      the cash amount required to be paid by Buyer hereunder (the “$10
      Million Credit”))
      and
      (ii) deliver to Seller 12,842,000 shares of common stock of Riata (the
“Consideration
      Shares”). 

     

    Section
      1.3.  Adjustments
      to Base Cash Purchase Price. The
      Base
      Cash Purchase Price shall be adjusted as follows: 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        1

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (a)  Estimated
      Amounts.
      Based
      on the parties’ discussions and preliminary review of the books and records of
      the Company prior to the execution of this Agreement, $30,084,461 is a good
      faith estimate of the Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date (the
“Estimated
      Net Working Capital”)
      and
      $28,050,309 is a good faith estimate of the Cash Amount as of the Closing Date
      (the “Estimated
      Cash Amount”).
      If
      the Estimated Net Working Capital is less than $0, then the Base Cash Purchase
      Price shall be decreased at Closing by the amount of such deficit. If the
      Estimated Net Working Capital is greater than $0, then the Buyer shall cause
      the
      payment of the amount of such excess (including, at Buyer’s election, by
      distributing cash from the Company) into an escrow account (the “Escrow
      Account”)
      to be
      maintained by JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. If the Estimated Cash Amount is less
      than $50 million, then the Base Cash Purchase Price shall be decreased at
      Closing by the amount of such deficit. If the Estimated Cash Amount is greater
      than $50 million, then the Buyer shall cause the payment of the amount of such
      excess (including, at Buyer’s election, by distributing cash from the Company)
      into the Escrow Account. Based on the Estimated Net Working Capital, Estimated
      Cash Amount and the foregoing, the Base Cash Purchase Price shall not be
      decreased pursuant to this Section
      1.3(a)
      and
      $8,134,770 shall be the aggregate amount to be paid to the Escrow Account by
      Buyer. In determining the amount of Cash and Net Working Capital, the
      distributions of cash contemplated in this Section
      1.3
      shall
      not be taken into account. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the
      Seller Parties are required to cause the Company to pay down any amounts of
      interest, commitment fees, breakage costs and other fees under the Credit
      Facility prior to or contemporaneously with Closing, Cash will be reduced by
      such amounts and Net Working Capital will not include as a current liability
      such amounts, nor will such amounts be treated as Indebtedness.

     

    (b)  Final
      Amounts.
      Within
      sixty (60) days after the Closing Date, Buyer shall submit to Seller its written
      calculations of the Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date (subject to
      the
      procedures set forth in Sections
      1.3(b)
      and
1.3(c),
      the
“Final
      Net Working Capital”)
      and
      the Cash Amount as of the Closing Date (subject to the procedures set forth
      in
Sections
      1.3(b)
      and
1.3(c),
      the
“Final
      Cash Amount”),
      together with the work papers used in the preparation thereof. Buyer shall
      cause
      the Company to provide Seller and its designees access to all materials, records
      and personnel of the Company necessary for Seller to verify the amount of the
      Final Net Working Capital and the Final Cash Amount. The calculations of the
      Final Net Working Capital and the Final Cash Amount submitted by Buyer to Seller
      shall become final and binding upon the Seller thirty (30) days after they
      are
      delivered to Seller (the “Purchase
      Price Review Period”),
      unless Seller, within the Purchase Price Review Period, provides written notice
      to Buyer disputing the amount of the Final Net Working Capital or the Final
      Cash
      Amount (the “Protest
      Letter”),
      in
      which case the Final Net Working Capital and the Final Cash Amount shall not
      be
      binding upon the Seller and Buyer and such dispute shall be resolved pursuant
      to
Section
      1.3(c).
      

     

    (c)  Dispute.
      After
      the receipt of the Protest Letter by Buyer, Seller and Buyer shall meet by
      telephone, or at a mutually agreeable location, to discuss and attempt to
      reconcile their differences with respect to the amount of the Final Net Working
      Capital or Final Cash Amount (the “Challenged
      Amounts”).
      If
      the parties are unable to mutually resolve the dispute within fifteen (15)
      days
      after receipt of the Protest Letter by Buyer, then an independent auditing
      firm
      mutually selected by Seller’s independent accounting firm and Buyer’s
      independent accounting firm (the “Arbiter”)
      will
      be engaged to determine the Challenged Amounts. The Arbiter: (i) will be jointly
      engaged by Buyer and Seller; (ii) will be provided, within three (3) Business
      Days of accepting the engagement, with a definitive written statement from
      Seller and Buyer of their respective positions; (iii) will be advised in the
      engagement letter that the parties accept the Arbiter as the appropriate Person
      to interpret this Agreement for all purposes relevant to the resolution of
      the
      Challenged Amounts; (iv) will be granted access to all books, records and
      personnel of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (v) will have thirty (30)
      days
      to carry out a review and prepare a written statement of its decision regarding
      the Challenged Amounts, which shall be binding and final upon the Seller and
      Buyer. Each party will be afforded the opportunity to present to the Arbiter
      any
      material such party deems relevant to the determination. The decision of the
      Arbiter shall not exceed the Challenged Amounts submitted by Seller nor be
      less
      than the Challenged Amounts submitted by Buyer. The decision of the Arbiter
      shall be final and binding upon the parties and shall be in substitution for
      and
      precludes the bringing of any Proceedings in any court in connection with any
      dispute under Section
      1.3(b)
      or this
Section
      1.3(c).
      The
      fees and expenses of the Arbiter incurred in resolving the disputed matter
      shall
      be shared equally by Buyer and Seller.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        2

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (d)  Final
      Adjustment.
      Not
      later than five (5) Business Days after the determination of the Final Net
      Working Capital and the Final Cash Amount pursuant to Section
      1.3(b)
      or
Section
      1.3(c),
      as the
      case may be (the “Adjustment
      Payment Date”),
      (i)
      if the Final Net Working Capital is less than the Estimated Net Working Capital,
      then the Seller shall pay to Buyer in immediately available funds the amount
      of
      the difference, plus interest thereon at the Applicable Rate from (and
      including) the Closing Date to (but excluding) the date paid and (ii) if the
      amount of the Final Net Working Capital is greater than the Estimated Net
      Working Capital, then Buyer shall pay to the Seller, by wire transfer of
      immediately available funds to the account designated in writing by Seller,
      the
      amount of the difference, plus interest thereon at the Applicable Rate from
      (and
      including) the Closing Date to (but excluding) the date paid. In addition,
      not
      later than the Adjustment Payment Date, (i) if the Final Cash Amount is less
      than the Estimated Cash Amount, then the Seller shall pay to Buyer in
      immediately available funds the amount of the difference, plus interest thereon
      at the Applicable Rate per annum from (and including) the Closing Date to (but
      excluding) the date paid and (ii) if the amount of the Final Cash Amount is
      greater than the Estimated Cash Amount, then Buyer shall pay to the Seller,
      by
      wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated in
      writing by Seller, the amount of the difference, plus interest thereon at the
      Applicable Rate from (and including) the Closing Date to (but excluding) the
      date paid. In the event a party that is obligated to make a payment pursuant
      to
      this Section
      1.3(d)
      fails to
      make such payment in full on or before the Adjustment Payment Date, the unpaid
      amount shall bear interest at the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum from (and
      including) the Adjustment Payment Date to (but excluding) the date on which
      such
      unpaid amount is paid. Any amount which is due from Seller to Buyer pursuant
      to
      this Section
      1.3(d)
      may be
      paid by releasing funds from the Escrow Account to Buyer (and any amounts in
      the
      Escrow Account remaining after Seller’s obligations to Buyer under this
Section
      1.3(d)
      have
      been fully satisfied shall be released to Seller). If no amount is due from
      Seller to Buyer pursuant to this Section
      1.3(d),
      all
      amounts in the Escrow Account shall be released to Seller. 

     

    ARTICLE
      II

    CLOSING

     

    Section
      2.1.  Closing. The
      closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”)
      shall
      take place (i) at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York
      City as promptly as practicable after the satisfaction (or waiver by the party
      or parties entitled to benefit thereof) of each of the conditions set forth
      in
Sections
      8.1
      and
8.2
      (other
      than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing,
      but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions at the
      Closing) or
      (ii)
      at such other time or place as the parties hereto shall agree. The date on
      which
      the Closing is required to take place is herein referred to as the “Closing
      Date.”
All
      Closing transactions shall be deemed to have occurred
      simultaneously.

     

    Section
      2.2.  Deliveries
      by Seller Parties.
      At the
      Closing, the Seller Parties shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Buyer
      the
      following:

     

    (a)  an
      assignment of the Interests in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
      A,
      duly
      executed by Seller; 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        3

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (b)  if
      Buyer
      has caused the payoff of the Credit Facility, the Pay-Off Letters for the Credit
      Facility and evidence reasonably satisfactory to Buyer of the release of all
      Liens under the Credit Facility; 

     

    (c)  evidence
      reasonably satisfactory to Buyer of the full payment, discharge, settlement
      or
      satisfaction of all Indebtedness and any other obligations owed by the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries to Seller or any Affiliate of Seller (including
      NEGI)
      (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and elimination of all
      guarantees or other similar obligations by the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries to Seller or any Affiliate of Seller (including NEGI) or for the
      benefit of Seller or any Affiliate of Seller (including NEGI) (other than the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries); 

     

    (d)  evidence
      reasonably satisfactory to Buyer of the completion of the Restructuring (to
      be
      completed prior to or contemporaneously with, but not after, the Closing) in
      accordance with Section
      7.11;

     

    (e)  a
      certificate of non-foreign status of Seller (or Tax owner of Seller) which
      meets
      the requirements of the Department of Treasury (“Treasury”)
      Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2), duly executed by Seller (or Tax owner of
      Seller); 

     

    (f)  the
      certificate described in Section
      8.2(c);
      

     

    (g)  all
      documentation evidencing the termination or assumption by the Seller Parties
      of
      the Hedges as required by Section
      7.17;

     

    (h)  the
      Stockholders Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
      B,
      duly
      executed by the Seller Parties;

     

    (i)  the
      Release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
      C,
      duly
      executed by each Seller Party; and

     

    (j)  an
      escrow
      agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and Seller
      pursuant to which the Escrow Account shall be established (the “Escrow
      Agreement”).

     

    Section
      2.3.  Deliveries
      by Buyer.
      At the
      Closing, Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Seller the
      following:

     

    (a)  immediately
      available funds in an amount equal to $1,025,000,000 (minus
      the $10
      Million Credit previously delivered to Seller on September 7, 2006 pursuant
      to
      the Letter of Intent);

     

    (b)  the
      Escrow Agreement and evidence that immediately available funds in an amount
      equal to $8,134,770 have been deposited into the Escrow Account pursuant to
      Section
      1.3(a);

     

    (c)  stock
      certificates representing the Consideration Shares bearing legends required
      under the terms of the Stockholders Agreement;

     

    (d)  the
      certificate described in Section
      8.1(c);
      and

     

    (e)  the
      Stockholders Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
      B,
      duly
      executed by Riata and the stockholders of Riata signatories
      thereto.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    ARTICLE
      III  

    REPRESENTATIONS
      AND WARRANTIES
      RELATING TO SELLER PARTIES 

     

    Except
      as
      set forth in the Company Schedules, the Seller Parties jointly and severally
      represent and warrant to Buyer as follows:

     

    Section
      3.1.  Organization

     

    (a)  Seller
      is
      duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability
      company under the laws of the State of Delaware.

     

    (b)  Seller
      has full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
      conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own the
      Interests.

     

    (c)  Seller
      is
      duly qualified to do business as a limited liability company and is in good
      standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary under
      applicable Law as a result of the conduct of its business, the ownership or
      lease of its properties or the ownership of the Interests,
      except
      where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing, individually
      or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be likely to have,
      a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company.

     

    Section
      3.2.  Title
      to Interests. Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 3.2,
      Seller
      is
      (and
      at the Closing will be) the record and beneficial owner of, and upon
      consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby Seller will transfer good,
      valid, and marketable title to the Interests, free and clear of all Liens other
      than (A) liens that may arise by virtue of any actions taken by or on behalf
      of
      Buyer or its Affiliates, (B) restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by
      federal or state securities Laws.

     

    Section
      3.3.  Authority

     

    (a)  Each
      Seller Party has all requisite corporate, limited liability company or
      partnership power and authority, as the case may be, to execute, deliver, and
      perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
      The execution and delivery by each Seller Party of this Agreement and the
      consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
      authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership
      action, as the case may be, on the part of each Seller Party, and no other
      proceedings on the part of any Seller Party are necessary to authorize the
      execution or delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions
      contemplated hereby.

     

    (b)  This
      Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each Seller Party
      and constitutes each Seller Party’s valid and legally binding obligation,
      enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
      enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency,
      moratorium or other similar Laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of
      creditors’ rights generally and the application of general principles of equity
      (regardless of whether that enforceability is considered in a proceeding at
      Law
      or in equity). 

     

    Section
      3.4.  Non-Contravention

     

    Assuming
      that the Credit Facility has been paid off by Buyer at the Closing or amended
      in
      accordance with Section
      7.12:

    

    
      
        
        

      

      
        5

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (a)  Neither
      the execution, delivery and performance by the Seller Parties of this Agreement
      nor the consummation by them of the transactions contemplated hereby will (with
      or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both) (A) conflict
      with or result in a violation of any provision of, or constitute a breach of
      or
      default under, or give rise to a right to impose any fine or penalty, a right
      to
      purchase or foreclose upon any Interests, any right of termination,
      cancellation, amendment, modification, payment or acceleration, the loss of
      a
      material benefit, or result in the creation of any Lien on any Interests, under
      any provision of any bond, debenture, note, mortgage, lease, license, franchise,
      indenture, or any other Contract or other instrument or obligation to which
      any
      Seller Party is a party or by which any Seller Party or any of its properties
      may be bound or subject, (B) conflict with or result in a violation of any
      provision of the Governing Documents of any Seller Party or (C) violate any
      applicable Law binding upon any Seller Party or any of its properties, including
      the Interests,
      other
      than,
      in the
      case of clauses (A) or (C) above, any such event or matter, which individually
      or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be likely to have
      a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company.

     

    (b)  Except
      in
      connection with any filings required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
      as amended (the “1934
      Act”),
      or as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 3.4(b),
      no
      consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or declaration, filing, or
      registration with, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made
      by
      any Seller Party in connection with the execution, delivery, or performance
      by
      the Seller Parties of this Agreement or the consummation by the Seller Parties
      of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     

    Section
      3.5.  Proceedings.
      Except
      as set forth on Company
      Schedule 3.5(i),
      there
      are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of any Seller Party, threatened
      in writing, or to the Knowledge of the persons set forth on Company
      Schedule 3.5(ii),
      threatened orally, in which any Seller Party or any Affiliate thereof is a
      party, affecting the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Seller
      Parties or the consummation by the Seller Parties of the transactions
      contemplated hereby.

     

    Section
      3.6.  Investment
      Experience. Seller
      acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk of its investment in the
      Consideration Shares, and has such knowledge and experience in financial and
      business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an
      investment in the Buyer.

     

    Section
      3.7.  Restricted
      Securities. Seller
      understands that the Consideration Shares will not have been registered pursuant
      to the Securities Act or any applicable state securities Laws, that the
      Consideration Shares will be characterized as “restricted securities” under
      federal securities Laws, and that under such Laws and applicable regulations
      the
      Consideration Shares cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of without
      registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.

     

    Section
      3.8.  Accredited
      Investor; Investment Intent. Seller
      is
      an accredited investor as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act.
      Seller is acquiring the Consideration Shares for its own account for investment
      and not with a view to, or for sale or other disposition in connection with,
      any
      distribution of all or any part thereof within the meaning of the Securities
      Act, except in compliance with applicable federal and state securities
      Laws.

     

    Section
      3.9.  Acknowledgement
      by Seller Parties.
      Each
      Seller Party acknowledges and agrees that: (a) it has conducted its own
      independent review and analysis of the business, assets, condition, operations
      and prospects of the Buyer and its Subsidiaries; and (b) it is not relying
      on
      any statement or representation made by or on behalf of the Buyer except as
      set
      forth in this Agreement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        6

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    ARTICLE
      IV  

    REPRESENTATIONS
      AND WARRANTIES

    RELATING
      TO THE COMPANY 

     

    Except
      as
      set forth in the Company Schedules, the Seller Parties jointly and severally
      represent and warrant to Buyer as follows:

     

    Section
      4.1.  Organization. 

     

    (a)  The
      Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and
      in
      good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
      limited liability company power and authority to carry on its business as now
      being conducted.

     

    (b)  The
      Company is duly qualified or licensed to do business and in good standing in
      each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership or
      leasing of its properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary,
      and
      all such jurisdictions are set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.1(b),
      except
      where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing, individually
      or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be likely to have,
      a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company.

     

    (c)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.1(c),
      the
      Company does not have any Proceedings pending, or to the Knowledge of the Seller
      Parties and the Company, threatened in writing, or to the Knowledge of the
      persons set forth on Company
      Schedule 3.5(ii),
      threatened orally, against it to dissolve or liquidate the Company.

     

    Section
      4.2.  Authority

     

    (a)  The
      Company has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to
      execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
      contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement
      and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
      and
      validly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on the
      part
      of the Company and no other proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary
      to authorize the execution or delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the
      transactions contemplated hereby. 

     

    (b)  This
      Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes
      a
      valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
      Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be
      limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting
      or
      relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and the application
      of general principles of equity (regardless of whether that enforceability
      is
      considered in a proceeding at Law or in equity).

     

    Section
      4.3.  Governing
      Documents. Accurate
      and complete copies of (A) the Governing Documents of the Company and each
      of
      its Subsidiaries, as amended through the date hereof, and (B) the minutes of
      all
      meetings of the respective board of managers (or other similar governing body)
      of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any committees of such boards or other
      bodies, and the members, shareholders or other equity holders of the Company
      and
      its Subsidiaries (and all consents in lieu of such meetings) have heretofore
      been delivered, or have been made available, to Buyer. Such Governing Documents,
      minutes, and consents, taken as a whole, accurately reflect, in all material
      respects, the equity ownership of the Company and its Subsidiaries and all
      actions taken by the board of managers, other governing body, committees,
      shareholders and other equity owners.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        7

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      4.4.  Capital
      Structure

     

    (a)  No
      membership interests or other Equity Interests of the Company are subject to,
      nor have any been issued in violation of, preemptive rights, preferential rights
      of subscription or purchase or similar rights.

     

    (b)  Except
      for the Interests and the rights created by this Agreement, there are (and
      as of
      the Closing Date there will be) outstanding or in existence:

     

    (1)  no
      membership interests or other Equity Interests of the Company; and

     

    (2)  no
      Equity
      Interest Equivalents of the Company.

     

    (c)  No
      Equity
      Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents of the Company, other than the Equity
      Interests contemplated to be issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement (which
      will
      terminate simultaneously with the Closing), are reserved for issuance or for
      any
      other purpose, and there are no agreements or arrangements providing for the
      issuance of Equity Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents of the
      Company.

     

    (d)  There
      are
      no issued or outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having
      the right to vote on any matters pertaining to the Company.

     

    (e)  There
      are
      (and as of the Closing Date there will be) no outstanding obligations of the
      Company to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any Interests or other
      Equity Interests of the Company.

     

    Section
      4.5.  Non-Contravention. 

     

    Assuming
      that the Credit Facility has been paid off by Buyer at the Closing or amended
      in
      accordance with Section
      7.12:

    

    (a)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.5(a),
      neither
      the execution, delivery and performance by the Seller Parties and the Company
      of
      this Agreement, nor the consummation by them of the transactions contemplated
      hereby will (with
      or
      without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both):

     

    (1)  conflict
      with or result in a violation of any provision of the Governing Documents of
      the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

     

    (2)  result
      in
      the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the properties or other assets
      of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

     

    (3)  (with
      or
      without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both) conflict with
      or
      result in a violation of any provision of, or constitute a breach of or default
      under, or give rise to a right to impose any fine or penalty, a right to
      purchase or foreclose upon any Properties, any right of termination,
      cancellation, amendment, modification, payment or acceleration, the loss of
      a
      material benefit, or result in the creation of any Lien on any Interests under
      any provision of any bond, debenture, note, mortgage, lease, license, franchise,
      indenture, or any other Contract or other instrument or obligation to which
      the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, any
      of
      its Subsidiaries or any of their properties may be bound or subject; or

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        8

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (4)  violate
      in any material respect any applicable Law binding upon the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties,
      including the Properties; 

     

    other
      than,
      in the
      case of clauses (2), (3) or (4) above, any such event or matter, which,
      individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be likely
      to have a Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company.

     

    (b)  Except
      for any filings required under the
      1934
      Act and except as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.5(b),
      no
      consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or declaration, filing, or
      registration with, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made
      by
      the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,
      delivery, or performance by the Seller Parties and the Company of this Agreement
      or the consummation by them of the transactions contemplated hereby.
      

     

    Section
      4.6.  Ownership;
      Capitalization of Subsidiaries

     

    (a)  Except
      for the Company’s direct or indirect ownership in its Subsidiaries, and the
      redemption/call right in section 5.4 of the Operating Agreement of NEG Holding,
      the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, or have the right to acquire,
      by Contract or otherwise, any capital stock of, or other Equity Interest in,
      any
      Person.

     

    (b)  Company
      Schedule 4.6(b)
      sets
      forth a true and complete list of each Subsidiary of the Company, the
      jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each such Subsidiary and the
      number and percentage of each such Subsidiary’s outstanding Equity Interests
      owned by the Company or another Subsidiary of the Company.

     

    (c)  Each
      Subsidiary of the Company:

     

    (1)  is
      duly
      formed, validly existing and, if applicable, in good standing under the laws
      of
      the jurisdiction of its formation;

     

    (2)  except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.6(c),
      is duly
      qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign entity and in good standing
      in
      each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership or
      leasing of its properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary,
      except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, individually
      or
      in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be likely to have, a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company; and

     

    (3)  has
      all
      requisite corporate, limited liability company or partnership power and
      authority, as the case may be, to carry on its business as now being
      conducted.

     

    (d)  No
      Subsidiary of the Company has any Proceedings pending, or to the Knowledge
      of
      the persons set forth on Company
      Schedule 3.5(ii),
      threatened, against it to dissolve or liquidate such Subsidiary.

     

    (e)  No
      Equity
      Interests of any Subsidiary of the Company are subject to, nor have any been
      issued in violation of, preemptive rights, preferential rights of subscription
      or purchase of any Person or similar rights.

     

    (f)  Except
      for liens securing the Credit Facility or as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.6(f),
      all the
      outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary of the Company, except for
      the
      membership interest in NEG Holding held by NEGI, are owned directly or
      indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all Liens. 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        9

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (g)  There
      are
      no outstanding Equity Interest Equivalents, interests in the ownership or
      earnings, or other similar rights of or with respect to any Subsidiary of the
      Company, except for the membership interest in NEG Holding held by
      NEGI.

     

    (h)  No
      Equity
      Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents of any Subsidiary of the Company are
      reserved for issuance or for any other purpose, and there are no agreements
      or
      arrangements providing for the issuance of Equity Interests or Equity Interest
      Equivalents of any Subsidiary of the Company.

     

    (i)  There
      are
      no issued or outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having
      the right to vote on any matters pertaining to any Subsidiary of the
      Company.

     

    (j)  There
      are
      (and as of the Closing Date there will be) no outstanding obligations of the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire
      any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of the Company, except the purchase
      or
      redemption of the membership interests in NEG Holding pursuant to the
Restructuring.

     

    Section
      4.7.  SEC
      Reports; Financial Statements

     

    (a)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.7(a),
      the
      Most Recent SEC Reports filed with the SEC prior to September 7, 2006 (as of
      September 7, 2006), the Most Recent SEC Reports filed with the SEC prior to
      the
      date hereof (as of the date hereof) and the Most Recent Reports filed with
      the
      SEC prior to the Closing Date (as of the Closing Date) are not (or will not
      be)
      materially untrue or incomplete and do not (or will not) include a materially
      untrue statement of material fact nor omit to state a material fact required
      to
      be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
      materially misleading; provided,
      that no
      representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this Section
      4.7(a)
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September 7, 2006. As used
      in this Agreement, the term “Most
      Recent SEC Reports”
means,
      as of any date, the Company’s most recent Form S-1 registration statement, NEG,
      Inc.’s most recent Form S-1 registration statement and Form S-4 registration
      statement, or the most recent public filing by AREP on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q
      to the extent regarding segment information of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
      in each case filed with the SEC prior to such date, taken as a whole, excluding
      the financial statements contained therein (which are addressed in Section
      4.7(b)
      below)
      (and excluding the effect of any general disclaimers, risk factors or
      forward-looking statements, but after taking into account any disclosure in
      such
      provisions that are matters of fact) (and provided that the failure to update
      financial and accounting information since the date of filing of such report
      or
      to respond to SEC comments shall not in and of itself be conclusive of such
      Most
      Recent SEC Reports being materially untrue or incomplete or be deemed to be
      a
      material omission).

     

    (b)  The
      financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries contained in the Most
      Recent SEC Reports filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof (the
“SEC
      Financial Statements”)
      (provided that the failure to update financial and accounting information since
      the date of filing of such report or to respond to SEC comments shall not in
      and
      of itself be conclusive of such financial statements being materially untrue
      or
      incomplete or be deemed to be a material omission) or the Company’s June 30,
      2006 and September 30, 2006 financial statements that have been provided to
      Buyer (the “Interim
      Financial Statements”;
      together with the SEC Financial Statements, the “Financial
      Statements”)
      are
      not materially untrue or incomplete and do not include a materially untrue
      statement of material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be
      stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
      materially misleading (and have been prepared in all material respects in
      compliance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and present fairly in all
      material respects the consolidated financial position and the consolidated
      results of operations and cash flows for the Company and its Subsidiaries),
      in
      each case as of the date of such financial statements;
      other
      than liabilities adequately reflected or reserved against in the Financial
      Statements and liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since
      September 30, 2006, there are no liabilities or obligations of any kind, whether
      accrued, absolute, secured, unsecured, fixed, contingent, or otherwise, of
      the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries which, individually or in aggregate have
      had,
      and are reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Change on the Seller
      or
      the Company.
      No
      representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this Section
      4.7(b)
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September 7, 2006.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        10

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      4.8.  Absence
      of Certain Changes or Events.
      (a)
      Since September 30, 2006, there has not been any Material Adverse Change with
      respect to the Seller or the Company; provided,
      that no
      representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this Section
      4.8(a)
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September 7, 2006.

     

    (b)
      Except as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.8(b),
      since
      September 30, 2006, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has conducted
      their
      respective businesses in all material respects in the Ordinary Course of
      Business.

     

    Section
      4.9.  Pending
      Litigation. All
      environmental representations and warranties are covered exclusively by
Section
      4.18
      and not
      by this Section
      4.9
      or any
      other representation or warranty contained herein other than in Section
      4.18,
      and no
      representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this Section
      4.9
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September 7,
      2006:

    

    (a)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.9(a),
      (i) no
      Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the
      Company, threatened against the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of the assets
      or properties owned, used by or licensed to the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, other than those which individually
      or in the aggregate have not had, and would not reasonably be likely to have,
      a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company, and (ii) neither the
      Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any (x) outstanding
      injunction, judgment, order or decree or (y) compliance or settlement agreement,
      conciliation agreement, memorandum of understanding, writ, letter of commitment,
      deficiency letter or ruling (other than routine oil and gas field regulatory
      orders), in each case, other than those which individually or in the aggregate
      have not had, and would not reasonably be likely to have, a Material Adverse
      Change on the Seller or the Company,.

     

    (b)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.1(c),
      there
      are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the
      Company, threatened in writing, in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      is a party affecting the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Seller
      Parties and the Company or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
      hereby. 

     

    Section
      4.10.  Compliance
      with Laws;
      Permits

     

    All
      environmental representations and warranties are covered exclusively by
Section
      4.18
      and not
      by this Section
      4.10
      or any
      other representation or warranty contained herein other than in Section
      4.18,
      and no
      representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this Section
      4.10
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September 7, 2006:

    

    
      
        
        

      

      
        11

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.10,
      or
      would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company: (i) the Company and its
      Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Laws, and none of the
      Company, the Seller Parties or any Subsidiary of the Company has received any
      written notice from any Governmental Entity or any other Person, and to the
      Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the Company, any oral notice from any
      Governmental Entity, that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation
      of, or has violated, any applicable Laws; and (ii) each of the Company and
      its
      Subsidiaries has obtained and holds all federal, state and local governmental
      Permits reasonably necessary for the lawful conduct of their business and the
      lawful ownership, lease, use and operation of the Properties, and each of the
      Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all such
      Permits.

     

    Section
      4.11.  Investment
      Company Act.
      Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” or a company
“controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment
      Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
      thereunder.

     

    Section
      4.12.  Taxes.
      Except
      as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.12:

     

    (a)  Except
      for Galveston Bay Pipeline Company and Galveston Bay Processing Corporation
      (collectively, the “Galveston
      Subsidiaries”),
      each
      of which is taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, each
      of
      the Company and its Subsidiaries is a partnership or a disregarded entity for
      federal income tax purposes. 

     

    (b)  Each
      of
      the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely filed (taking into account all
      properly granted extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed
      by it
      with respect to all material Taxes, and all such material Tax Returns are true,
      correct and complete in all material respects.

     

    (c)  All
      material Taxes of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, and all material
      Taxes of any other Person for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      could
      be liable (whether or not shown on any Tax Return), have been paid in full
      when
      due or have been accrued for on the Closing Balance Sheet. All material Tax
      withholding and deposit requirements imposed on or with respect to the Company
      and its Subsidiaries, or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries could
      be liable, have been satisfied in full in all material respects.

     

    (d)  There
      are
      no material Liens for Taxes upon the assets or properties of any of the Company
      and its Subsidiaries other than Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, and
      those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
      proceedings.

     

    (e)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has granted (or is subject to) any
      waiver or extension that is currently in effect for the period of limitations
      for the assessment or payment of any material Tax or the filing of any material
      Tax Return. No unpaid material Tax assessment, deficiency or adjustment has
      been
      assessed or asserted against or with respect to the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries, by any Governmental Entity; there are no currently pending audits,
      administrative or judicial proceedings, or any deficiency or refund litigation,
      with respect to material Taxes owed by the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        12

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (f)  No
      written claim has ever been made by any Governmental Entity in any jurisdiction
      in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that
      any such Person is or may be subject to Taxation by that
      jurisdiction.

     

    (g)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any amount
      in, or exclude any item of deduction from, income for any Taxable period (or
      portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of (i) a change
      in
      accounting method for any Taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date,
      (ii) pursuant to any agreement with any Governmental Entity executed on or
      prior
      to the Closing Date or (iii) the installment method of accounting, the completed
      contract method of accounting, the long-term contract method of accounting,
      the
      cash method of accounting, or otherwise. 

     

    (h)  To
      the
      Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the Company, neither the Company nor any
      of
      its Subsidiaries is party to or has any obligation under any Tax-sharing, Tax
      indemnity or Tax allocation agreement or similar arrangement, nor does the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries have any liability or potential liability
      to
      another party under any such agreement or arrangement, other than the $2.7
      million payable of National Onshore, L.P. referenced in Section
      7.11(a).

     

    (i)  Neither
      of the Galveston Subsidiaries have consummated, have participated in, or are
      currently participating in any transaction that was or is a “tax shelter,”
“listed transaction” or to the Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the Company,
      a “reportable transaction” as defined in Sections 6662, 6662A, 6011, 6012, 6111
      or 6707A of the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder,
      including, but not limited to, transactions identified by the IRS by notice,
      regulation or other form of published guidance as set forth in Treasury
      Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

     

    (j)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any safe harbor lease
      within the meaning of Section 168(f)(8) of the Code, as in effect prior to
      amendment by The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. None of
      the
      assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (directly or indirectly)
      secures any debt the interest on which is exempt from Tax under Section 103(a)
      of the Code, and none of the property owned by the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries is “tax-exempt use property” within the meaning of Section 168(h)
      of the Code. 

     

    (k)  To
      the
      Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the Company, neither the Company nor any
      of
      its Subsidiaries (1) is or has been a member of an affiliated group or (2)
      has
      any liability for the Taxes of any Person under Treasury Regulation Section
      1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a
      transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.

     

    (l)  The
      Company has previously made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies
      of (1) all income and other material Tax Returns filed by the Company or any
      of
      its Subsidiaries for all completed Tax years of the Company and its Subsidiaries
      that remain open for audit or review by the relevant Taxing authority and (2)
      all ruling requests, private letter rulings, notices of proposed deficiencies,
      closing agreements, settlement agreements and any similar documents or
      communications sent or received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      relating to Taxes.

     

    Section
      4.13.  Contracts

     

    (a)  Except
      (i) for
      Oil
      and Gas Contracts and (ii) for those Contracts that will be terminated or
      rendered inapplicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries and their assets
      at or
      prior to the Closing, Company
      Schedule 4.13(a)
      sets
      forth all of the following Contracts to which the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their assets are subject (excluding
      the Contracts described as exceptions above, collectively, the “Company
      Contracts”):

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        13

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (1)  any
      Contract covering the employment or service of any director, officer or
      employee, or relating to any loan from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      to
      any director, officer or employee;

     

    (2)  other
      than the Credit Facility and any intercompany indebtedness (which for the
      avoidance of doubt means, indebtedness between the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries and any other Subsidiary of the Company), any indenture, loan,
      credit or similar Contract pursuant to which the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries has borrowed any money or issued any note or other evidence of
      Indebtedness, sold and leased back assets or guaranteed Indebtedness for others
      and any Hedge or other similar Contracts;

     

    (3)  any
      Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has granted any
      Person any registration rights (including demand and piggyback registration
      rights);

     

    (4)  any
      Contract respecting any partnership, joint venture, or, with respect to the
      Interests or any Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Company, any option,
      put or call, or right of first refusal;

     

    (5)  any
      Contract that would reasonably be expected to result in aggregate expenditures
      by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or aggregate revenues to the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries of an amount in excess of $100,000 after the date
      of
      this Agreement;

     

    (6)  any
      non-competition Contract or any other Contract or obligation that restricts,
      limits or prohibits the manner in which, or the localities in which, the
      business of the Company or any of its Affiliates is conducted;

     

    (7)  any
      Contract with NEGI, Seller or any Affiliate of Seller (other than the Company
      or
      any Subsidiary);

     

    (8)  any
      Contract that constitutes a lease (other than any Lease) under which the Company
      or any Subsidiary of the Company is the lessor or the lessee of real or personal
      property which lease (A) cannot be terminated by Seller without penalty upon
      thirty (30) days or less notice and (B) involves an annual base rental of more
      than $50,000; and

     

    (9)  any
      plan,
      Contract or arrangement providing for bonuses, pensions, deferred compensation,
      retirement plan payments, profit sharing, incentive pay or any other employee
      right or benefit.

     

    (b)  Except
      for (i) any Lease and (ii) any Contract that is terminable by the Company on
      thirty (30) days or less notice, Company
      Schedule 4.13(b)
      sets
      forth all of the following Contracts to which the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their assets are subject (excluding
      the Contracts described as exceptions above, collectively, the “Oil
      and Gas Contracts”): 

     

    (1)  Hydrocarbon
      purchase and sale Contracts, processing or treatment Contracts, transportation
      or gathering Contracts and all other similar Contracts;

     

    (2)  farmin
      or
      farmout Contracts, exploration contracts, participation Contracts and all other
      similar Contracts; and

     

    (3)  Contracts
      for geological or geophysical data relating to the Leases held by the Company
      or
      any of its Subsidiaries.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        14

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (c)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.13(c),
      (i)
      each Company Contract and each Oil and Gas Contract is in full force and effect,
      (ii) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in material breach or
      default under any Company Contract or Oil and Gas Contract and, to the Knowledge
      of the Seller Parties and the Company, no other party to any Company Contract
      or
      Oil and Gas Contract is in material breach thereunder,
      and
      (iii) none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received from any other party
      to a Company Contract or any Oil and Gas Contract any written notice of the
      termination or intention to terminate such Contract; provided,
      however,
      that no
      representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this Section
      4.13(c)
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September 7,
      2006.

     

    Section
      4.14.  Real
      Property. Company
      Schedule 4.14
      contains
      a complete and correct list, in all material respects, as of the date of this
      Agreement, of all real property and interests in real property owned by the
      Company and its Subsidiaries, other than the Properties. To the extent not
      constituting leased property, except as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.14,
      the
      Company and its Subsidiaries have good, valid fee simple title to such real
      property, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Encumbrances. Each
      of
      the Company and its Subsidiaries has good and valid title to the leasehold
      estate or other interest created under its respective leases (other than the
      Leases), free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted
      Encumbrances.

     

    Section
      4.15.  Oil
      and Gas Properties

     

    (a)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.15(a):

     

    (1)  neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any payment for
      Hydrocarbons that is subject to refund or recoupment out of future
      production;

     

    (2)  neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice regarding
      any change proposed in the production allowables for any Wells;

     

    (3)  neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under any Lease, except
      for any defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had, and
      would
      not reasonably be likely to have, a Material Adverse Change on the Seller or
      the
      Company;

     

    (4)  there
      is
      no material Imbalance associated with the Company and its Subsidiaries or their
      interests in the Properties;

     

    (5)  proceeds
      from the sale of Hydrocarbons produced from and attributable to the Properties
      are being received by the Company or its Subsidiaries in a timely manner and
      are
      not being held in suspense for any reason (except for amounts, individually
      or
      in the aggregate, of less than $100,000 and held in suspense in the Ordinary
      Course of Business); and

     

    (6)  to
      the
      Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the Company, all royalties, overriding
      royalties, compensatory royalties and other payments due from or in respect
      of
      production with respect to the Properties have been properly and correctly
      paid
      or provided for in all material respects, except for those for which the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries has a right to suspend.

     

    (b)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.15(b),
      the
      Company and its Subsidiaries have Defensible Title to each of the
      Properties.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        15

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (c)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.15(c),
      the
      Company or its Subsidiaries has paid all material expenses that are due and
      owing relating to the ownership or operation of the Properties in the Ordinary
      Course of Business, except such expenses and Taxes as are disputed in good
      faith
      by the Company or its Subsidiaries and for which a reserve has been
      established
      to the
      extent required by GAAP.

     

    (d)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.15(d) and
      subject to normal wear and tear and to scheduled or necessary repairs in the
      Ordinary Course of Business, all material Fixtures, Facilities and Equipment
      are
      in serviceable condition except where the failure to be in such condition,
      individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be likely to have a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company. 

     

    (e)  Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.15(e),
      to the
      Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the Company, there are no Wells located
      on
      the Leases that:
      (i) the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently obligated by applicable Law
      or
      Contract to plug and abandon; or (ii) are subject to exceptions to a requirement
      to plug and abandon issued by Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
      the Properties.

     

    Section
      4.16.  Gas
      Regulatory Matters.
      Except
      as set forth on
      Company Schedule 4.16,
      none of
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a gas utility under Section 121.001 and
      Section 101.003(7) of the Texas Utilities Code.

     

    Section
      4.17.  Reserve
      Reports.
      Except
      as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.17,
      the
December
      31, 2005 and June 30, 2006 reserve reports (the “Reserve
      Reports”)
      that
      have been previously provided to Buyer reflect in all material respects the
      oil
      and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, at the
      dates indicated therein and are in accordance, in all material respects, with
      SEC guidelines applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved;
      provided,
      however,
      that no
      representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this Section
      4.17
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September 7,
      2006.

     

    Section
      4.18.  Environmental
      Matters

     

    (a)   For
      purposes of determining liability hereunder, whether as a result of an
      indemnity, certificate or otherwise, the representations and warranties set
      forth in this Section
      4.18
      are
      being made solely to the Knowledge of the Seller Parties and the Company. In
      addition, no representation or warranty is being made pursuant to this
Section
      4.18
      regarding matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which Riata is
      the
      operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of the Closing Date.

     

    Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.18
      or as
      would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company:

     

    (a)  Each
      of
      the Company and its Subsidiaries has conducted its business and has operated
      its
      assets, and is conducting its business and operating its assets, in compliance
      with all applicable Environmental Laws. Without limitation to the foregoing,
      each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has obtained and holds all Permits
      required under applicable Environmental Laws and reasonably necessary for the
      lawful conduct of their business and the lawful ownership, lease, use and
      operation of the Properties, and each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is
      in
      compliance with all such Permits.

     

    (b)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice from any
      Governmental Entity or any other Person, and to the Knowledge of the Seller
      Parties and the Company, oral notice from any Governmental Entity, that any
      of
      the operations or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are the
      subject of any investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Entity or other
      Person, in each case evaluating whether any material remedial action or
      investigation is needed to respond to a release or threatened release of any
      Hazardous Material or to the improper handling, transportation, storage or
      disposal (including storage or disposal at offsite locations) of any Hazardous
      Material that violates Environmental Law or would reasonably be likely to result
      in liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (c)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is responsible for the improper release
      into the environment, or the improper storage or disposal, of any Hazardous
      Material that violates Environmental Law or would reasonably be likely to result
      in liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No Hazardous Material
      is
      improperly stored or disposed of upon any property of the Company or any of
      its
      Subsidiaries or any property formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries during the period of time the Company or any of
      its
      Subsidiaries owned, leased or operated it which violates Environmental Law
      or
      would reasonably be likely to result in liability to the Company or any of
      its
      Subsidiaries. No Hazardous Material has been otherwise used or managed by the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries in such a way as to pose a substantial
      endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment. Neither the Company
      nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice from any Governmental
      Entity or any other Person or oral notice from any Governmental Entity under
      any
      federal, state or local law indicating the existence of any of the foregoing
      described in this Section
      4.18(c).
      

     

    (d)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any (i) written claim,
      complaint, notice, inquiry or request for information from any Governmental
      Entity or any other Person, or (ii) to the Knowledge of the Seller Parties
      and
      the Company, oral claim, complaint, notice, inquiry or request for information
      from any Governmental Entity, regarding any Proceeding or any other matter
      which
      remains unresolved as of the date hereof with respect to any alleged violation
      of any Environmental Law or regarding potential liability under any
      Environmental Law relating to or in connection with the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries or operations or conditions of any facilities or property
      (including off-site storage or disposal of any Hazardous Material from such
      facilities or property) currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by
      the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor are there any facts or circumstances
      existing which could reasonably give rise to any such claims, complaints,
      notices, inquiries or requests.

     

    (e)  No
      property now or previously owned, leased or operated by the Company or any
      of
      its Subsidiaries is listed on the National Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA
      or
      on the CERCLIS or on any other federal or state list as sites requiring
      investigation or cleanup.

     

    (f)  Except
      for ministerial notification and administrative filings relating to certain
      Permits, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
      consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not affect the
      validity or require the transfer of any permits, licenses or approvals held
      by
      the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law, and will
      not
      require any notification, disclosure, registration, reporting, filing,
      investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law. 

     

    (g)  The
      Company has made available to Buyer copies of all material environmental
      reports, audits, studies and assessments within its custody or
      control.

     

    Section
      4.19.  Intellectual
      Property.
      Except
      as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.19
      or as
      would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a
      Material Adverse Change on the Seller or the Company: (i) the Company and its
      Subsidiaries either own or have valid licenses or other rights to use all
      patents, copyrights, service marks, brand names, computer programs, trademarks,
      trade names, domain names, software, databases, geological data, geophysical
      data, engineering data, maps, interpretations, other technical information
      or
      data, tools, methods, processes, devices, prototypes, schematics, trade secrets
      or other intangible property used in their businesses as presently conducted,
      or
      that are necessary for the operation of the business of the Company or any
      of
      its Subsidiaries, or for the ownership and operation of any assets of the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company
      Intellectual Property”),
      free
      and clear of any Liens except those express limitations contained in the
      agreements governing the use of the same; (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, the
      use of the Company Intellectual Property by the Company and its Subsidiaries
      does not conflict with, infringe upon, violate or interfere with or constitute
      an appropriation of any right, title, interest or goodwill, including any
      intellectual property right, trademark, trade name, patent, service mark, brand
      mark, brand name, computer program, database, domain name, copyright or any
      pending application therefore, of any other Person; and (iii) neither the
      Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any
      claim
      that the Company Intellectual Property is invalid or conflicts with the asserted
      rights of any other Person.

     

    Section
      4.20.  Insurance.  Set
      forth
      on Company
      Schedule 4.20(i)
      is a
      list of all policies of insurance owned or held by the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries. Such
      policies are in full force and effect. Company
      Schedule 4.20(ii)
      lists
      all surety bonds, performance bonds, parental guarantees or letters of credit
      posted with Governmental Entities or any other Person to secure the Company’s
      and its Subsidiaries’ performance obligations under applicable Laws. Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.20(iii),
      there
      are no outstanding claims under any such policies and no written notice of
      cancellation or non-renewal of any such policies has been received.
      Except
      as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.20(iv),
      there
      are no policies of insurance owned or held by NEGI or any Seller Party for
      the
      benefit of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and there are no policies
      of insurance owned or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the
      benefit of NEGI or any Seller Party.

     

    Section
      4.21.  Employee
      Related Matters.
      Except
      as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.21:

     

    (a)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Persons with the right or legal
      status of an employee (whether as an employee or an independent contractor)
      or
      any obligations or liabilities to or based upon the service of any Person who
      currently or formerly had the legal status of an employee of the Company, its
      Subsidiaries, NEGI or any Seller Party.

     

    (b)  Neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations or liabilities
      (secondary, contingent or otherwise) under ERISA,
      the Code or any other applicable Laws with
      respect to, or based upon, any “employee benefit plan”, as defined in Section
      3(3) of ERISA, or any other compensation or benefit plan, contract, program,
      policy, agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, those
      maintained by NEGI or by any Seller Party).

     

    Section
      4.22.  Brokers
      No
      broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to
      any
      broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in
      connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
      arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Seller
      Party. 

     

    Section
      4.23.  Affiliate
      Transactions. Except
      as
      set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.23(i),
      neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has purchased, acquired, used or leased
      any property or services from, or sold, transferred or leased any property
      or
      services to, or loaned or advanced money to, or borrowed any money from or
      entered into or been subject to any management, consulting or similar agreement
      with, or entered into any other transaction or arrangement with, any officer,
      director, shareholder or Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
      Except as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.23(ii),
      (A) no
      Affiliate of the Company is indebted to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      for
      money
      borrowed or other loans or advances, and neither the Company nor any of its
      Subsidiaries is indebted to any such Affiliate, (B) no such Affiliate’s
      liabilities or obligations has been guaranteed by the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries, and none of the Company’s nor any of its Subsidiaries’ obligations
      or liabilities has been guaranteed by any such Affiliate, and (C) if any
      indebtedness for money borrowed or other loans or advances referred to in clause
      (A) or guaranteed liabilities or obligations referred to in clause (B) exists,
      the Seller Parties and the Company will eliminate, terminate or settle all
      such
      arrangements prior to or contemporaneously with, but not after, the Closing,
      without any liability of any kind, including tax liabilities, to the Company
      or
      any of its Subsidiaries following the Closing. For purposes of this Section
      4.23,
      the
      term “Affiliate” shall be deemed to include NEGI, but shall not include the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      4.24.  NEGI
      Restructuring.
      The
      Restructuring shall be completed prior to or contemporaneously with, but not
      after, the Closing in accordance with Section
      7.11
      and
      shall not result in any liabilities or obligations to the Company and its
      Subsidiaries that continue after the Closing. NEGI’s assets, other than its
      membership interest in NEG Holding, consist solely of: (i) cash and cash
      equivalents; (ii) accounts receivable from the Company and its Subsidiaries
      under operating and management contracts (all of which will be terminated as
      of
      the Closing); (iii) a deferred tax asset; and (iv) other assets unrelated to
      oil
      and gas operations (including, furniture, computers, leases for office space
      and
      office equipment and similar items, but do not include any information
      technology, software and data relevant to the oil and gas operations of the
      Company or its Subsidiaries, including NEG Holding, whether or not on such
      computers, which will be transferred to Buyer).

     

    Section
      4.25.  No
      Additional Representations.
      EXCEPT
      AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ARTICLE
      IV
      OF THIS
      AGREEMENT, THE SELLER PARTIES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR
      WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING AS TO THE
      CONDITION, VALUE OR QUALITY OF THE BUSINESS OR THE ASSETS OF THE BUSINESS,
      AND
      THE SELLER PARTIES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF
      MERCHANTABILITY, USAGE, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH
      RESPECT TO THE ASSETS OF THE BUSINESS, OR ANY PART THEREOF, OR AS TO THE
      WORKMANSHIP THEREOF, OR THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFECTS THEREIN, WHETHER LATENT
      OR
      PATENT.

     

    

    ARTICLE
      V  

    REPRESENTATIONS
      AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER AND
      RIATA

     

    Except
      as
      set forth in the Buyer Schedule, Buyer and Riata jointly and severally represent
      and warrant to Seller as follows:

     

    Section
      5.1.  Organization. Each
      of
      Riata and Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
      standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation. Each of Riata and
      Buyer has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its
      properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. Each of
      Riata and Buyer is duly qualified or licensed to do business and in good
      standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary under
      applicable Law as a result of the conduct of its business or the ownership
      or
      lease of its properties, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed
      or in good standing would not prevent or materially delay the consummation
      of
      the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      5.2.  Authority

     

    (a)  Each
      of
      Riata and Buyer has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute,
      deliver, and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
      contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by each of Riata and Buyer
      of
      this Agreement and the consummation by them of the transactions contemplated
      hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the
      part
      of each of Riata and Buyer and no other proceedings on the part of Riata or
      Buyer are necessary to authorize the execution or delivery of this Agreement
      or
      to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. 

     

    (b)  This
      Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Riata and Buyer and
      constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of each of Riata and Buyer,
      enforceable against each of Riata and Buyer in accordance with its terms, except
      as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium
      or
      other similar Laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights
      generally and the application of general principles of equity (regardless of
      whether that enforceability is considered in a proceeding at Law or in
      equity).

     

    Section
      5.3.  Non-Contravention

     

    (a)  Neither
      the execution, delivery and performance by each of Riata and Buyer of this
      Agreement, nor the consummation by them of the transactions contemplated hereby
      will (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or
      both):

     

    (1)  conflict
      with or result in a violation of any provision of the Governing Documents of
      Riata or Buyer or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

     

    (2)  result
      in
      the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the properties or other assets
      of Riata or Buyer or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

     

    (3)  (with
      or
      without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both) conflict with
      or
      result in a violation of any provision of, or constitute a breach of or default
      under, or give rise to a right to impose any fine or penalty, any right of
      termination, cancellation, amendment, modification, payment or acceleration,
      the
      loss of a material benefit, under any provision of any bond, debenture, note,
      mortgage, lease, license, franchise, indenture, or any other contract or other
      instrument or obligation to which Riata or Buyer or any of their respective
      Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of their respective properties
      may
      be bound or subject; or 

     

    (4)  violate
      in any material respect any applicable Law binding upon Riata or Buyer or any
      of
      their respective Subsidiaries; 

     

    other
      than,
      in the
      case of clauses (2), (3) or (4) above, any such event or matter, which,
      individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be likely
      to have a Material Adverse Change on Riata.

     

    (b)  Except
      for any filings required under the
      1934
      Act or as set forth on Buyer
      Schedule 5.3(b),
      no
      consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or declaration, filing, or
      registration with, any Governmental Entity or of any third party is required
      to
      be obtained or made by Riata or Buyer in connection with the execution,
      delivery, or performance by Riata or Buyer of this Agreement or the consummation
      by Riata or Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby. 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      5.4.  Capital
      Structure

     

    (a)  Riata
      has
      an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Private Placement Memorandum,
      and all of the issued and outstanding shares of Riata common stock are fully
      paid and non-assessable and have been duly and validly authorized and issued,
      in
      compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and
      not in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that entitles
      any person to acquire from Riata any Riata common stock or other Equity Interest
      of Riata or any security convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for,
      Riata common stock or any other such Equity Interest, except for such rights
      as
      may have been fully satisfied or waived prior to the effectiveness of this
      Agreement.

     

    (b)  No
      Equity
      Interests of Riata are subject to, nor have any been issued in violation of,
      preemptive rights, preferential rights of subscription or purchase or similar
      rights.

     

    (c)  Except
      for 73,559,664 outstanding shares of Riata common stock (including restricted
      stock) and the rights created by this Agreement and except for the Equity
      Interests of Riata contemplated to be issued by Riata pursuant to the financing
      of the transactions contemplated hereby as described in the Private Placement
      Memorandum (with any changes thereto pursuant to such financing which are made
      after the date hereof), there are outstanding or in existence:

     

    (1)  no
      other
      Equity Interests of Riata; and

     

    (2)  no
      Equity
      Interest Equivalents of Riata.

     

    (d)  Except
      for 5,429,739 Equity Interests and Equity Interest Equivalents reserved for
      issuance pursuant to Riata’s 2005 stock plan and except for the Equity Interests
      of Riata contemplated to be issued by Riata pursuant to the financing of the
      transactions contemplated hereby as described in the Private Placement
      Memorandum (with any changes thereto pursuant to such financing which are made
      after the date hereof), no Equity Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents
      of
      Riata are reserved for issuance or for any other purpose, and there are no
      agreements or arrangements providing for the issuance of Equity Interests or
      Equity Interest Equivalents of Riata.

     

    (e)  There
      are
      no issued or outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having
      the right to vote on any matters pertaining to Riata.

     

    (f)  Except
      for the Equity Interests contemplated to be issued pursuant to the financing
      of
      the transactions contemplated hereby as described in the Private Placement
      Memorandum (with any changes thereto pursuant to such financing which are made
      after the date hereof), there are no outstanding obligations of Riata to
      repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of Riata.

     

    (g)  The
      Consideration Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date, (i) have been duly
      and
      validly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with this
      Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,
      (ii)
      assuming the accuracy of the Seller Parties’ representations and warranties in
Article
      III,
      will
      have been issued in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign
      securities laws, and (iii) will not have been issued in violation of or subject
      to any preemptive or similar right that entitles any person to acquire any
      Riata
      common stock or other Equity Interest from Riata. The Consideration Shares
      conform to the description of the Riata common stock contained in the Private
      Placement Memorandum.

     

    (h)  The
      name
      of Riata is currently contemplated to be changed to SandRidge Energy, Inc.
      Riata
      is the entity referred to as the issuer in the Private Placement Memorandum.
      Riata will be the issuer of the common stock to be delivered to Seller
      hereunder, is the issuer of the common stock referred to on Schedule A to the
      Shareholders Agreement, and will be the issuer of the securities to be issued
      pursuant to the Private Placement Memorandum. 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        20

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      5.5.  Private
      Placement Memorandum; Financial Statements. 

     

    (a)  Riata’s
      private placement memorandum for the equity financing of the transactions
      contemplated hereby (a true, correct and final version of which has been
      delivered to Seller), excluding the financial statements contained therein
      (which are addressed in Section
      5.5(b)
      below)
      and excluding any information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      (the “Private
      Placement Memorandum”)
      (excluding the effect of any general disclaimers, risk factors or
      forward-looking statements, but after taking into account any disclosure in
      such
      provisions that are matters of fact), are not materially untrue or incomplete
      and do not include a materially untrue statement of material fact nor omit
      to
      state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
      make the statements therein not materially misleading, in each case as of the
      date hereof (provided that the failure to update financial and accounting
      information since June 30, 2006 shall not in and of itself be conclusive of
      the
      Private Placement Memorandum being materially untrue or incomplete or be deemed
      to be a material omission). 

     

    (b)  The
      financial statements of Riata contained in the Private Placement Memorandum
      (excluding any pro forma information) (the “Riata
      Financial Statements”)
      (provided that the failure to update financial and accounting information since
      June 30, 2006 shall not in and of itself be conclusive of such financial
      statements being materially untrue or incomplete or be deemed to be a material
      omission) are not materially untrue or incomplete and do not include a
      materially untrue statement of material fact nor omit to state a material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
      therein not materially misleading (and have been prepared in all material
      respects in compliance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and present
      fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the
      consolidated results of operations and cash flows for Riata and its
      Subsidiaries), in each case as of the date of such financial statements; other
      than liabilities adequately reflected or reserved against in the Riata Financial
      Statements and liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since
      June 30, 2006, there are no liabilities or obligations of any kind, whether
      accrued, absolute, secured, unsecured, fixed, contingent, or otherwise, of
      Riata
      or any of its Subsidiaries which, individually or in aggregate have had, and
      are
      reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Change on Riata.

     

    Section
      5.6.  Absence
      of Certain Changes or Events.
      Since
      June 30, 2006, there has not been a Material Adverse Change with respect to
      Riata. 

     

    Section
      5.7.  Proceedings. There
      are
      no Proceedings pending or, to Riata’s or Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened, in which
      Riata or Buyer is a party affecting the execution and delivery of this Agreement
      by Riata or Buyer or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
      by
      Riata or Buyer.

     

    Section
      5.8.  Investment
      Experience. Buyer
      acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk of its investment in the
      Interests, and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business
      matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment
      in the Interest.

     

    Section
      5.9.  Restricted
      Securities. Buyer
      understands that the Interests will not have been registered pursuant to the
      Securities Act or any applicable state securities Laws, that the Interests
      will
      be characterized as “restricted securities” under federal securities laws, and
      that under such Laws and applicable regulations the Interests cannot be sold
      or
      otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act or an
      exemption therefrom.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        21

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      5.10.  Accredited
      Investor; Investment Intent. Buyer
      is
      an accredited investor as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act.
      Buyer is acquiring the Interests for its own account for investment and not
      with
      a view to, or for sale or other disposition in connection with, any distribution
      of all or any part thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, except
      in
      compliance with applicable federal and state securities Laws.

     

    Section
      5.11.  Brokers. No
      broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to
      any
      broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in
      connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
      arrangements made by or on behalf of Riata or Buyer which the Seller Parties
      may
      be obligated to pay.

     

    Section
      5.12.  Investment
      Company Act.
      Neither
      Riata nor Buyer is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an
“investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
      as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 

     

    Section
      5.13.  No
      Additional Representations.
      EXCEPT
      AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ARTICLE
      V
      OF THIS
      AGREEMENT, EACH OF RIATA AND BUYER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATIONS
      OR
      WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING AS TO THE
      CONDITION, VALUE OR QUALITY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES OR ASSETS, AND EACH
      OF RIATA AND BUYER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF
      MERCHANTABILITY, USAGE, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH
      RESPECT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSETS, OR ANY PART THEREOF, OR AS TO THE
      WORKMANSHIP THEREOF, OR THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFECTS THEREIN, WHETHER LATENT
      OR
      PATENT.

     

    Section
      5.14.  Acknowledgement
      by Buyer.
      Each of
      Riata and Buyer acknowledges and agrees that: (a) it has conducted its own
      independent review and analysis of the business, assets, condition, operations
      and prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (b) it is not relying
      on
      any statement or representation made by or on behalf of the Seller Parties
      except as set forth in this Agreement.

     

    ARTICLE
      VI  

    CONDUCT
      OF COMPANY AND THE SUBSIDIARIES PENDING CLOSING

     

    Section
      6.1.  Conduct
      and Preservation of Business

     

    (a)  Except
      as
      expressly provided in this Agreement or except as contemplated by and in
      furtherance of the Restructuring as described in Section
      7.11
      or to
      the extent that Buyer shall otherwise consent in writing, during the period
      from
      the date hereof to the Closing, the Company shall, the Seller Parties shall
      cause the Company to, and the Seller Parties and the Company shall cause each
      Subsidiary of the Company to: 

     

    (1)  (a)
      conduct its operations in the Ordinary Course of Business and (b) take (or
      refrain to take) actions affecting Cash and/or Net Working Capital in each
      case
      in the Ordinary Course of Business, including, without limitation, collecting
      accounts receivable and paying accounts payable and satisfying other liabilities
      and obligations in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business;

     

    (2)  use
      commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practice to maintain and
      to
      keep their properties and assets in good repair and condition, ordinary wear
      and
      tear excepted, in the Ordinary Course of Business; if there is any casualty
      loss
      or damage to any properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary in excess
      of $100,000 prior to Closing, to consult with Buyer regarding the replacement
      or
      repair of such property or asset;

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        22

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (3)  use
      commercially reasonable efforts to keep in full force and effect insurance
      applicable to it comparable in amount and scope of coverage to that currently
      maintained;

     

    (4)  use
      commercially reasonable efforts to (a) keep and maintain accurate books, records
      and accounts; (b) pay or accrue Taxes, assessments and other governmental
      charges imposed upon any of its franchises, businesses, income or assets in
      the
      Ordinary Course of Business; (c) pay Indebtedness, payables, rentals, royalties,
      expenses and other liabilities in the Ordinary Course of Business;
      and

     

    (5)  use
      commercially reasonable effort to preserve and keep in full force and effect
      their corporate or other legal existence and rights and franchises.

     

    (b)  Without
      limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as contemplated by and in
      furtherance of the Restructuring as described in Section
      7.11,
      and
      except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, during the period
      from
      the date hereof to the Closing, the Company shall not (and the Seller Parties
      shall cause the Company not to, and the Seller Parties and the Company shall
      cause each Subsidiary of the Company, not to) take, consent to or allow any
      of
      the following actions without the prior written consent of Buyer:

     

    (1)  (i)
      acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise)
      or organize, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint
      venture, trust or other entity or person or any business organization or
      division thereof or (ii) acquire any rights, assets or properties other than
      in
      the Ordinary Course of Business;

     

    (2)  amend
      or
      otherwise change the Governance Documents or alter through merger, liquidation,
      reorganization, restructuring or in any other fashion the corporate structure
      or
      ownership of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

     

    (3)  sell,
      divest, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, except regular sales of
      oil
      and gas sold from out of the ground or storage tanks or other inventories and
      supplies in the Ordinary Course of Business; provided,
      that
      the Company may (but shall not be required to) also sell, divest, transfer
      or
      otherwise dispose of other assets in the Ordinary Course of Business not in
      excess in the aggregate of $100,000, or such other assets in the Ordinary Course
      of Business with the consent of Buyer not to be unreasonably withheld;
provided,
      further,
      that
      the proceeds to be received from any such sale, divesture, transfer or
      disposition referred to in the immediately preceding proviso, shall be retained
      for the benefit of Buyer at Closing and shall not be counted towards the
      calculation of Net Working Capital or the Cash Amount);

     

    (4)  lease,
      license, sublicense, mortgage, pledge, encumber or create, incur, assume or
      cause to be subjected to any Lien (other than Liens securing the Credit Facility
      and Permitted Encumbrances) on, any of the assets of the Company or its
      Subsidiaries, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;

     

    (5)  other
      than to borrow against its existing credit lines for ordinary course working
      capital purposes (i) incur or modify any Indebtedness or issue any debt
      securities or any warrants or rights to acquire any debt security, (ii) assume,
      guarantee or endorse or otherwise become responsible for, the obligations of
      any
      Person, (iii) enter into any off-balance sheet financing arrangement or any
      accounts receivable or payable financing arrangement, or (iv) make any loans,
      advances or enter into any other financing commitments, including, without
      limitation, any financing commitments or obligations to Seller or any of its
      Affiliates (including NEGI) (other than the Company or its
      Subsidiaries);

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (6)  pay,
      make
      or declare any dividends or distributions (other than cash tax
      distributions and
      cash
      distributions pursuant to the Operating Agreement of NEG Holding dated May
      1,
      2001) in respect of any of its Equity Interests;

     

    (7)  issue,
      grant, sell, transfer, deliver, pledge, promise, dispose of or encumber, or
      authorize the issuance, grant, sale, transfer, deliverance, pledge, promise,
      disposition or encumbrance of, or alter or modify the terms of rights or
      obligations under, any Equity Interests, or any options, warrants, convertible
      or exchangeable securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any Equity
      Interest or any other ownership interest of the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries;

     

    (8)  (A)
      repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any of its Equity Interests or any
      Equity Interests of any Subsidiary; (B) effect any reorganization or
      recapitalization; (C) split, combine or reclassify any Equity Interests of
      the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (D) adopt a plan of complete or partial
      liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing a liquidation,
      dissolution, merger, consolidation, conversion, restructuring, recapitalization,
      or other reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; 

     

    (9)  (A)
      take
      any action with respect to the grant of or increase in any severance or
      termination pay to any current or former director, executive officer or employee
      of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) execute any employment, deferred
      compensation or other similar agreement (or any amendment to any such existing
      agreement) with any such director, executive officer or employee of the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) adopt or establish any new employee benefit
      plan
      or amend in any material respect any existing employee benefit plan, (D) provide
      any material benefit to a current or former director, executive officer or
      employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not required by any existing
      agreement or employee benefit plan, or (E) take any action that would result
      in
      any plan, program or agreement violating Section 409A of the Code or provide
      any
      employee entitlement to a tax gross−up or similar payment for any excise tax
      that may be due under Section 409A of the Code;

     

    (10)  amend,
      modify, or change in any material respect any Company Contract or Oil and Gas
      Contract, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

     

    (11)  change
      any of the accounting principles or practices used by it, except for any change
      required by reason of a concurrent change in GAAP and notice of which is given
      in writing by the Company to Buyer;

     

    (12)  except
      as
      required by Law, make or change any Tax election, change an annual accounting
      period, adopt or change any accounting method with respect to Taxes, file any
      amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle or compromise
      any
      proceeding with respect to any Tax claim or assessment relating to the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries, surrender any right to claim a refund of Taxes,
      consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any
      Tax claim or assessment relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
      or
      take any other similar action relating to the filing of any Tax Return or the
      payment of any Tax without the consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be
      unreasonably withheld or delayed; or

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (13)  agree
      in
      writing or otherwise to take any of the actions described in this Section
      6.1(b).

     

    ARTICLE
      VII  

    ADDITIONAL
      AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

     

    Section
      7.1.  Access. 

     

    (a)  In
      order
      for Buyer and Seller to conduct their respective business, accounting and legal
      due diligence review of each other (the “Due
      Diligence”),
      Seller and Buyer agree to provide each other with reasonable cooperation and
      access, for a period from the date hereof until the termination of this
      Agreement, to all of their and their Subsidiaries’ respective, and in the case
      of Seller, to the Company’s and the Company’s Subsidiaries’ respective,
      properties, offices, books and records (including bankruptcy records), abstracts
      of title, title opinions, title files, ownership maps, lease files, assignments,
      division orders, production, drilling and imbalance reports, operating records
      and agreements, well files, financial and accounting records (including SEC
      correspondence), geological, geophysical and engineering records, contracts,
      commitments and such financial information (including work papers), operating
      data, and all other information concerning their businesses, properties,
      personnel, representatives, landlords/sublandlords, tenants, licensees and
      franchisees as Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, may request. Buyer and
      Seller and their respective Subsidiaries will (and Seller will cause the Company
      and its Subsidiaries to) provide each other with reasonable access and
      cooperation as necessary to facilitate their respective ongoing Due Diligence,
      including access to, among other persons, management, Representatives and
      customers; provided,
      however,
      that
      only management of Buyer or Seller (or the Company and its Subsidiaries) may
      be
      contacted and any contact of such other persons will be coordinated through
      a
      member of management of Buyer or Seller or the Company, as applicable,
provided,
      that
      the Representatives, personnel and customers of Buyer or Seller (or the Company
      and its Subsidiaries), as the case may be, may be contacted by the other party
      in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice.
      Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer and Seller will cooperate to limit their
      respective reviews so as to avoid (i) issues under applicable antitrust rules,
      regulations and interpretations and (ii) any conflicts with the provisions
      of
      any confidentiality agreements, license agreements or other restrictive
      agreements with third parties; provided,
      that
      the disclosing party will take such specific actions as are reasonably requested
      by the recipient and, at the recipient’s expense if such additional fees to such
      third parties are required, seek to enter into arrangements or obtain waivers
      or
      consents that would permit the provision of information without any such
      limitations.
      It is a
      condition of the obligations set forth in this Section
      7.1
      (with
      respect to both Buyer and Seller) that in requesting information and assistance
      under this Section
      7.1,
      the
      requesting party shall act in a commercially reasonable manner, including,
      without limitation, with respect to the amount of data and timing of responses
      requested by the requesting party, and in determining whether the obligations
      set forth in this Section
      7.1
      have
      been satisfied, and in determining whether such parties acted reasonably or
      in a
      commercially reasonable manner, such parties shall not be required to “drop
      everything” or ignore their existing responsibilities to conduct their business
      and comply with their SEC or other reporting obligations.

     

    (b)  The
      Confidentiality Agreement will remain in full force and effect (it being
      understood and agreed that the obligations of the Seller Parties under the
      Confidentiality Agreement only apply to confidential information concerning
      Riata and its Subsidiaries (excluding the Company and its Subsidiaries) and
      not
      to confidential information with respect to the Company, NEGI, the Seller
      Parties or their respective Subsidiaries).

     

    Section
      7.2.  Cooperation
      and Governmental Consents

     

    (a)  Each
      party hereto agrees to cooperate with each other and to use commercially
      reasonable efforts to cause all of the conditions precedent to Closing (other
      than the condition specified in Sections
      8.2(k)
      and
8.2(l),
      the
      satisfaction of which shall be in Buyer’s sole and absolute discretion) to be
      satisfied as promptly as practicable; provided,
      that no
      party shall be obligated to pay any amounts to obtain any Consents as
      contemplated in Section
      7.13.
      In
      addition, promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the parties shall
      proceed to prepare and file with the appropriate Governmental Entities such
      applications for Consents as are necessary in order to consummate the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall diligently and
      expeditiously prosecute, and shall cooperate fully with each other in the
      prosecution of, such matters.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (b)  The
      parties acknowledge that, the Seller Parties and Riata have each filed with
      the
      U.S. Federal Trade Commission the pre-merger notification form required pursuant
      to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, as amended (the
      “HSR
      Act”)
      with
      respect to the transaction contemplated hereby, together with a request for
      early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, which request was
      granted on September 26, 2006.

     

    Section
      7.3.  Notice
      of Litigation.
      Until
      the
      Closing, (A) Buyer, upon learning of the same, shall promptly notify the
      Seller of any Proceeding which is commenced or threatened against Buyer or
      any
      Affiliate thereof and which affects this Agreement or the transactions
      contemplated hereby and (B) the Seller Parties and the Company, upon learning
      of
      the same, shall promptly notify Buyer of any Proceeding which is commenced
      or
      threatened against any Seller Party, the Company or any Affiliate (including
      NEGI) thereof and which affects this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
      hereby and any Proceeding which is commenced or threatened against the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries and which would have been listed on Company
      Schedule 4.9(a)
      if such
      Proceeding had arisen prior to the date hereof.

     

    Section
      7.4.  Notification
      of Certain Matters.
      Between
      the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Seller will promptly notify
      Buyer in writing if any Seller Party, the Company or any Subsidiary becomes
      aware of any fact or condition that causes or constitutes a breach of any of
      the
      Seller Parties’ or the Company’s representations and warranties, or if any
      Seller Party, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company becomes aware of
      the
      occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any fact or condition that would
      (except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement) cause or constitute a
      breach of any such representation or warranty. Seller will give prompt written
      notice to Buyer of the failure of any Seller Party or the Company to comply
      with
      or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition, or Contract to
      be
      complied with or satisfied by such hereunder. The Seller Parties shall, and
      the
      Seller Parties shall cause the Company to, and the Seller Parties and the
      Company shall cause each Subsidiary of the Company to, use its commercially
      reasonable efforts to cure, before Closing, any such breach or failure described
      in this Section
      7.4;
      provided,
      that no
      party shall be obligated to pay any amounts to obtain any Consents as
      contemplated in Section
      7.13.
      No such
      notification shall affect the representations or warranties of the Seller
      Parties or the Company, or the conditions to Buyer’s obligations
      hereunder.

     

    Section
      7.5.  Resignation
      of Directors. Each
      of
      the Seller Parties and the Company shall, and the Seller Parties shall cause
      the
      Company to, and the Seller Parties and the Company shall cause each Subsidiary
      of the Company to, cause the directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries
      to
      deliver their written resignations to Buyer, which resignations shall be
      effective at the Closing and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to
      Buyer.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      7.6.  Cooperation
      with Financing.
      The
      Seller Parties shall, and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries and
      its
      and their respective Representatives to use their commercially reasonable
      efforts to provide (subject to customary confidentiality agreements) and will
      request that the Company’s auditors and reserve engineers provide (at Buyer’s
      expense), reasonably necessary cooperation on a timely basis in connection
      with
      the arrangement of the Buyer’s equity and debt financing for the transactions
      contemplated hereby, including furnishing Buyer and its financing sources with
      timely financial information regarding the Company and the Company’s
      Subsidiaries as shall be requested by Buyer (and including, with respect to
      any
      audited financial statements and engineering reserve reports, any consents
      to
      use the reports of the Company’s auditors and engineers thereon). In addition,
      the Seller Parties shall request, and shall cause the Company and its
      Subsidiaries to request the management of the Company to use their commercially
      reasonable efforts (i) to meet with investors in presentations, meetings, road
      shows and due diligence sessions, (ii) to provide timely assistance by providing
      information in connection with Buyer’s preparation of pro forma business
      projections, offering memorandum and similar materials (each of which shall
      be
      the sole responsibility of Buyer to prepare and approve) (provided that, it
      is
      intended that any such forward-looking financial information, if included in
      materials provided to potential financing parties, will either be subject to
      a
      confidentiality agreement or be a part of consolidated information of Buyer
      (but
      without identifying the components thereof attributable to the Company or
      identifying the Company as the source thereof), and in any case, will not be
      included in the offering memorandum prepared in connection with the financing),
      and (iii) otherwise cooperate with the marketing efforts of Buyer for any of
      Buyer’s equity and debt financing for the transactions contemplated hereby. It
      is a condition of the obligations set forth in this Section
      7.6
      that in
      requesting information and assistance under this Section
      7.6,
      Buyer
      shall act in a commercially reasonable manner, including, without limitation,
      with respect to the amount of data and timing of responses requested by Buyer,
      and in determining whether the obligations set forth in this Section
      7.6
      have
      been satisfied, and in determining whether such parties acted reasonably or
      in a
      commercially reasonable manner, such parties shall not be required to “drop
      everything” or ignore their existing responsibilities to conduct their business
      and comply with their SEC or other reporting obligations. In addition, neither
      the Seller Parties, the Company, nor their Affiliates will have any liability
      to
      Buyer, its financing sources or otherwise should Buyer fail to secure adequate
      financing to close the transactions contemplated hereby.

     

    Buyer
      shall indemnify the Seller Parties, Seller’s Subsidiaries and the directors and
      officers of the Seller Parties and Seller’s Subsidiaries for any claims,
      liabilities and related expenses relating to Buyer’s equity and debt offerings
      pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any such claims,
      liabilities and related expenses arising solely from information provided by
      such parties in writing and expressly approved by such parties in writing for
      use in a prospectus or offering memorandum). None of the Seller Parties will
      be
      obligated to execute agreements with underwriters or purchasers in the Buyer’s
      equity and debt offerings pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby
      or be
      responsible for any representations or indemnification thereto. 

     

    Section
      7.7.  Taxes

     

    (a)  Responsibility
      for Taxes.

     

    (1)  The
      Seller Parties shall jointly and severally be responsible for: 

     

    (i)  any
      and
      all liability for Taxes with respect to any taxable period of the Company or
      any
      of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessors) ending
      on
      or before the effective time of the Closing and the portion through the end
      of
      the effective time of the Closing for any Straddle Period (as defined below)
      that includes (but does not end at) the effective time of the Closing (each
      such
      taxable period or partial period, a “Pre-Closing
      Tax Period”)
      except
      to
      the extent such Taxes are reflected as an accrued Tax liability in the
      calculation of Final Net Working Capital and have been taken into account in
      determining the Base Cash Purchase Price adjustments pursuant to Section
      1.3;

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (ii)  any
      and
      all liability for Taxes (as a result of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6
      or
      otherwise) of the Seller Parties or any other person (other than Company or
      any
      of its Subsidiaries) with whom Company or any of its Subsidiaries otherwise
      joins or has ever joined (or is or has ever been required to join) in filing
      any
      consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return prior to the effective time of
      the
      Closing, other than any and all liabilities for income Taxes and franchise
      or
      other Taxes based on income for which the Company and its Subsidiaries are
      liable for periods prior to the effective time of the Closing to the extent
      resulting from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries joining (or ever being
      required to join) in filing any consolidated, combined or unitary tax returns,
      with any of the Seller Parties or their Affiliates (including NEGI, but
      excluding the Company and its Subsidiaries) all of which are addressed solely
      in
Section
      9.2(i)(B);

     

    (iii)  any
      and
      all liability for Taxes with respect to either the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries (except for the Galveston Subsidiaries) being taxed as a
      corporation for federal income tax purposes; and

     

    (iv)  any
      and
      all liability for Taxes as a result of either the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries being party to or having any obligation under any Tax-sharing,
      Tax
      indemnity or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement.

     

    (2)  (2)Buyer
      shall be responsible for (without any right to be reimbursed by the Seller
      Parties whether under Article
      IX
      or
      otherwise): (i) all Taxes imposed on Buyer or the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries, or for which Buyer or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      may
      otherwise be liable, for any taxable year or period or portion thereof that
      begins after the effective time of the Closing; (ii) the portion of all Taxes
      imposed on Buyer or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or for which Buyer
      or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may otherwise be liable, for the
      Straddle Period, to the extent that such Taxes are attributable to the year
      or
      period or portion thereof beginning after the effective time of the Closing
      as
      provided in Section
      7.7(a)(3);
      and
      (iii) any Taxes imposed on the Seller Parties or the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries or their successors resulting from any transaction or action
      engaged in (or election made) by Buyer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      occurring after the effective time of the Closing.

     

    (3)  For
      purposes of Section
      7.7(a)(1)
      and
Section
      7.7(a)(2),
      whenever it is necessary to determine the responsibility for Taxes of the Seller
      Parties or Buyer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of the
      operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for a
      taxable
      period that begins before and ends after the effective time of the Closing
      (a
“Straddle
      Period”),
      the
      determination of such Taxes including, without limitation Texas franchise
      Tax for
      the
      portion of the Straddle Period ending on and including the effective time of
      the
      Closing, and the portion of the Straddle Period beginning after, the effective
      time of the Closing will be determined by assuming that the Straddle Period
      consisted of two (2) taxable years or periods, one which ended at the effective
      time of the Closing and the other which began immediately after the effective
      time of the Closing using a “closing of the books method”; provided,
      however,
      that
      real and personal property Taxes and similar Taxes will be apportioned between
      such taxable periods on a daily basis.
      For the
      purposes of this paragraph, Buyer and the Seller Parties acknowledge that any
      and all liability for Texas franchise Tax will be determined using a “closing of
      the books” method and any Texas franchise Tax on earned surplus will be treated
      as an income tax attributable to the period the income is earned and not
      allocated to the privilege period to which it relates. Any Texas franchise
      Tax
      on taxable capital will be attributable to the period the capital is determined
      if it exceeds the earned surplus portion of the Texas franchise Tax allocated
      to
      the Straddle Period. 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (4)  If
      the
      Seller Parties are liable pursuant to this Section
      7.7(a)
      for any
      Taxes due and to be paid by Buyer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
      any
      of the Buyer Indemnified Persons, the Seller Parties shall pay to Buyer, or
      if
      Buyer is liable pursuant to this Section
      7.7(a)
      for any
      Taxes due and to be paid by the Seller Parties or any of its Affiliates, Buyer
      shall pay to the Seller Parties, as applicable, at least five (5) days prior
      to
      the date on which such Taxes are due and payable an amount equal to the Taxes
      for which the Seller Parties are liable, or the Taxes for which Buyer is liable,
      as applicable. In the event that any refund of Taxes is received by Buyer or
      the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of the Pre-Closing Tax Period,
      the
      Buyer or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall pay or cause to be paid
      to
      the Seller Parties an amount equal to such refund plus any interest earned
      on
      such refund, less any expenses incurred by Buyer or the Company, within fifteen
      (15) days after receipt of such refund by the Buyer or the Company or any of
      its
      Subsidiaries; provided,
      that
      Buyer shall not be required to pay over to the Seller Parties any such refund
      to
      the extent such refund is properly reflected in the calculation of Final Net
      Working Capital and has been taken into account in determining the Purchase
      Price adjustments pursuant to Section
      1.3.

     

    (b)  Responsibility
      for Filing Tax Returns

     

    (c)  .
      Buyer
      shall prepare or cause to be prepared, and file or cause to be filed (in a
      manner consistent with past practices) with the appropriate Tax authority all
      Tax Returns required to be filed after the Closing, and shall pay all Taxes
      due
      with respect to such Tax Returns; provided,
      that
      the Seller Parties shall reimburse Buyer (in accordance with the procedures
      set
      forth in Sections
      7.7(a)(4))
      for any
      amount owed by the Seller Parties pursuant to Sections
      7.7(a)(1) and 7.7(a)(3)
      with
      respect to the taxable periods covered by such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding
      the
      foregoing, the Seller Parties shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file
      or
      cause to be filed with the appropriate Tax authority all federal, state, and
      local partnership Tax Returns of NEG Holding with respect to Tax periods ending
      on or before the effective time of the Closing. At least thirty (30) days prior
      to the due date for the filing of any such Tax Return, the Buyer shall provide
      a
      copy of such Tax Return to the Seller Parties for their review. The
      Seller Parties shall have the right to review such Tax Returns prior to the
      filing of such Tax Returns and, within ten days after the date of receipt by
      the
      Seller Parties of any such Tax Returns, to request in writing any reasonable
      changes to such Tax Returns. The Seller Parties and Buyer agree to consult
      and
      resolve in good faith any issue arising as a result of the review of such Tax
      Returns and mutually to consent to the filing as promptly as possible of such
      Tax Returns. In the event the parties are unable to resolve any dispute within
      ten days after Buyer has received the Seller Parties’ written request for
      changes, then any disputed issues shall be immediately submitted to an Arbiter
      selected pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section
      1.3(c) to
      resolve in a final binding matter prior to the due date for such Tax Returns.
      The fees and expenses of the Arbiter shall be shared equally between the Sellers
      Parties and Buyer.
      Fees
      for preparation of Tax Returns described in this paragraph Section
      7.7(b)(1)
      shall be
      borne by the Buyer. 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (c)  Cooperation.
      The
      Buyer and the Seller Parties shall, and the Buyer shall cause the Company to,
      cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other party,
      in connection with the filing of all Tax Returns and any audit, litigation,
      or
      other proceeding with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include prompt
      notices to each party to this Agreement of any audit, investigation, or inquiry
      by any Governmental Entity as to any such Tax Return reflecting activity of
      the
      Company on or before the date of this Agreement. Such cooperation also shall
      include the retention and (upon the request of any other party) the provision
      of
      records and information that are reasonably relevant to any Tax Return of the
      Company, audit, litigation, or other proceeding and making employees available
      on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation
      of any material provided hereunder. The Buyer agrees (i) to retain all books
      and
      records with respect to Taxes or Tax matters pertinent to the Company relating
      to any taxable period beginning before the date of this Agreement until the
      expiration of the statute of limitations (and any extension thereof) of the
      respective taxable periods, and (ii) to give the Seller Parties reasonable
      written notice before transferring, destroying, or discarding any such books
      and
      records.
      

     

    (d)  Purchase
      Price Allocation.
      Within
      thirty (30) days following the receipt by Seller of the Final Net Working
      Capital and the Final Cash Amount from Buyer, or such later time as mutually
      agreed by Seller and Buyer, Seller shall prepare and provide to Buyer for review
      and comment a draft schedule for income Tax purposes allocating the Base Cash
      Purchase Price, the applicable liabilities of the Company and the Subsidiaries
      (other than the Galveston Subsidiaries), and any other relevant items including
      the Consideration Shares (collectively, the “Purchase
      Price”)
      among
      (i) the interests in the Subsidiaries and (ii) the assets of the Subsidiaries
      (other than the Galveston Subsidiaries) (the “Purchase
      Price Allocation”).
      Buyer
      shall provide Seller with written comments, if any, to the draft Purchase Price
      Allocation within thirty (30) days of receipt by Buyer. Seller and Buyer shall
      cooperate in good faith to resolve any differences and agree upon the final
      Purchase Price Allocation. The parties hereto shall use the Purchase Price
      Allocation for all reporting purposes with respect to federal, state and local
      Taxes. The parties shall cooperate in connection with the preparation of, and
      shall timely file, any forms required to be filed under Section 1060 of the
      Code
      and any corresponding provision of state or local Tax law. Each of the parties
      agrees to prepare and file all Tax Returns (including, without limitation,
      for
      purposes of Section 1060 of the Code) in accordance with and based upon the
      Purchase Price Allocation. Buyer and Seller shall promptly inform one another
      of
      any challenge by any Governmental Entity to the Purchase Price Allocation and
      shall consult and keep one another informed with respect to the status of,
      and
      any discussion, proposal or submission with respect to, such challenge.

     

    (e)  Termination
      of Tax-Sharing Agreement

     

    (f)  After
      the
      Closing, this Section
      7.7
      shall
      supersede any and all Tax-sharing or similar agreements to which any of the
      Company and its Subsidiaries are parties. Neither the Company nor its
      Subsidiaries shall have any obligation or right with respect to any such prior
      agreement after the Closing.

     

    (f)  Tax
      Elections

     

    (g) 
At
      the
      request of Buyer, and to the extent possible, the Seller will make, and will
      cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to make, Tax elections under Section
      754
      of the Code with respect to the Tax period ending on the effective time of
      the
      Closing.

     

    Section
      7.8.  Fees
      and Expenses

     

    (a)  All
      fees
      and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement by the Company and
      its
      Subsidiaries and the Seller Parties, including professional expenses such as
      financial advisor, legal, accounting and engineering, in connection with the
      negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement prior to
      the
      Closing Date and the consummation of the transactions on or before the Closing
      will be borne by and paid by the Seller Parties. 

     

    (b)  All
      expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement by Buyer will be borne
      by
      and paid by Buyer, regardless of whether or not the transactions contemplated
      hereby are consummated.

     

    (c)  Notwithstanding
      Sections
      7.8(a)
      and
7.8(b),
      any
      transfer taxes resulting from Seller’s transfer of the Interests to Buyer shall
      be split equally by Buyer and Seller.

     

    Section
      7.9.  Publicity.
      Except
      as
      may be required by law, regulation or legal process and disclosures necessary
      in
      connection with financing transactions by Buyer or any of its related entities,
      neither Buyer nor any Seller Party, nor any of their respective Affiliates,
      will
      issue any press release or make any public statement regarding the transactions
      contemplated hereby before the Closing. 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      7.10.  Books
      and Records. Buyer
      will be entitled to (and the Seller Parties and their Affiliates (including
      NEGI) shall not retain nor make copies of) the originals of all books and
      records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including those books and records
      identified as Tax records, other than books and records relating or relevant
      to
      federal, state or local partnership income and franchise Tax Returns of NEG
      Holding, the originals of which will be retained by Seller. The Seller Parties
      will be entitled, at the Seller Parties’ expense, to copies of all of Tax
      records transferred to Buyer, for a period of six years following the Closing.
      Buyer will preserve the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries
      for a period of six years following the Closing and will allow the Seller
      Parties (or their representatives, consultants and advisors) reasonable access
      at reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to unreasonably interfere with
      the normal business operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to such
      records for purposes reasonably related to Seller’s ownership of the Interests
      or the performance by Seller of its obligations, and the enforcement by it
      of
      its rights, hereunder or the SEC reporting, tax, litigation, legal or regulatory
      obligations and/or financial disclosure obligations of the Seller Parties.
      If
      Buyer desires to dispose of any such records prior to the expiration of the
      six-year period referenced above, Buyer shall provide notice of same to Seller,
      and Seller shall have a period of 10 Business Days to deliver written notice
      to
      Buyer that Seller elects to have such records delivered to it (at Seller’s
      expense). If Seller fails to deliver such notice within the 10-day period
      referenced above, Buyer shall have the right to dispose of the subject
      records
      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Seller Parties
      shall not be given access to any competitively sensitive information; provided,
      however, it being understood that financial statements and information and
      records necessary for the preparation of financial statements are deemed not
      to
      be competitively sensitive information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
      parties acknowledge and agree that each of NEGI, AREP, the Seller Parties and
      their affiliates (the “Covered
      Parties”)
      will
      continue following the Closing to be a public company and will continue to
      make
      SEC statements and filings and will need to prepare financial statements and
      have such financial statements audited and that the Buyer will therefore be
      required to either provide or allow the Covered Parties to make (at their
      expense) copies of such documents that will reasonably permit those activities
      to occur or the kind of reasonable access at the offices of Buyer (or wherever
      such documents are located) that would be necessary to reasonably permit those
      statements or filings to be made and audited in a professional manner and that
      this may require employees or agents of the Covered Parties sitting in the
      Buyer’s offices for reasonably extended periods of time to reasonably conduct
      such activities. In addition, to the extent that independent accounting firms
      typically copy records in connection with an audit, then the Covered Parties’
independent accounting firm will be permitted to make such copies as is
      consistent with their normal practice.

     

    Section
      7.11.  Restructuring;
      Seismic Data Licenses.
      (a)
      Prior to or contemporaneously with the Closing, Seller will, or will cause
      the
      Company to (or will cause NEG Holding to), at Seller’s expense (subject to
Section
      7.11(b)
      and
Section
      7.11(c)),
      (i)
      exercise its redemption/call right provided in section 5.4 of the Operating
      Agreement of NEG Holding, dated May 1, 2001 (or achieve the same result through
      another mechanism); (ii) distribute (A) the Company’s 50.01% common stock
      interest of NEGI (the “Stock”)
      to
      Seller or its other Affiliates and (B) the $148.6 million NEGI 10.75% senior
      notes due 2006 (extended maturity to October 31, 2007) held by the Company
      (the
“Note”)
      to
      Seller or its other Affiliates, such that the Company will own 100% of the
      membership interests in NEG Holding and all of NEGI’s rights, title and
      interests in all information technology, software and data relevant to the
      oil
      and gas operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including NEG Holding);
      (iii) fully pay, discharge, settle or satisfy all Indebtedness and any other
      obligations owed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to NEGI or any
      Affiliate of NEGI (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and
      elimination of all guarantees or other similar obligations by the Company or
      any
      of its Subsidiaries to NEGI or any Affiliate of NEGI (other than the Company
      or
      any of its Subsidiaries) or for the benefit of NEGI or any Affiliate of NEGI
      (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), including without
      limitation any obligation to make distributions to NEGI pursuant to the
      Operating Agreement of NEG Holding; (iv) terminate the Management Agreements
      with NEGI without any further obligation of the Company or any of the
      Subsidiaries after the Closing; (v) provide an assignment to the Company, or
      acknowledgement of the redemption, of all of the Equity Interest in NEG Holding
      owned by NEGI; (vi) cause the Merger Agreement to terminate prior to or
      simultaneously with the Closing without any liability to the Company or any
      of
      its Subsidiaries following the Closing; and (vii) cause
      the
      Seller Parties to pay or assume the
      $2.7
      million payable due under the tax sharing arrangement between National Onshore
      L.P. and Starfire Holding Corp.; and (viii) (A) have contributed the $132.3
      million note and accrued interest (the “Mizuho
      Note”)
      due
      from NEG Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NEG
      Operating”)
      to a
      newly-formed entity NEG Oil & Gas Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability
      company ("NEG
      Sub")
      in
      exchange for a 99% interest in NEG Sub, (B) cause the Company to distribute
      its
      99% interest in NEG Sub to Seller; (C) cause NEG Holding to assume the Mizuho
      Note from NEG Operating; (D) consummate the Company’s assumption of the Mizuho
      Note from NEG Holding; and (E) consummate the Seller’s assumption of the Mizuho
      Note from the Company (clauses (i) through (viii), collectively, the
“Restructuring”).
      

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (b)
      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including
Section
      7.13),
      (i)
      the seismic data licenses which are not identified on Buyer
      Schedule 7.11(b)
      (the
“Excluded
      Licenses”)
      shall
      not be renewed pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Seller
      Parties shall indemnify the Buyer, the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries
      against any liabilities arising out of the Excluded Licenses (other than those
      liabilities arising from Buyer’s use of any data covered by such licenses
      following the Closing), (ii) the Seller Parties shall pay for and indemnify
      the
      Buyer, the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries against all transfer and
      renewal fees existing in the period prior to the Closing with respect to the
      seismic data licenses which are identified on Buyer
      Schedule 7.11(b)
      (the
“Included
      Licenses”)
      which
      remain unpaid as of the Closing and (iii) the Buyer shall pay for all transfer
      and renewal fees with respect to the Included Licenses arising out of (x)
      transferring the same from NEGI to the Company or (y) the change of control
      of
      the Company pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided,
      however,
      that
      the parties shall cooperate to reduce the fees referred to in clauses (ii)
      and
      (iii) and, if the parties are successful in reducing such fees, the benefits
      of
      any such reduction shall be shared equally between the Seller and the
      Buyer.

     

    (c)
      With
      respect to the transfer of NEGI's right, title and interest in the information
      technology, software and data to the Company contemplated in clause (ii) of
      Section
      7.11(a):
      (i) the
      Seller Parties shall only be required to cause the transfer of such information
      technology, software and data as requested from time to time by Buyer to be
      transferred, (ii) such transfers may be effected after the Closing and the
      parties hereto shall cooperate to effect such transfers in a manner reasonably
      satisfactory to Buyer, and (iii) Buyer shall pay the costs of such
      transfer.

    

    Section
      7.12.  Credit
      Facility.
      Unless
      the Credit Facility is paid off by Buyer at the Closing, Buyer shall obtain
      consents, waivers and/or amendments from the lenders under the Credit Facility
      in order to permit the following: (i) the waiver of the change of control
      provision arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the
      termination or assumption by the Seller Parties of any outstanding Hedges,
      (iii)
      the release of the Stock and the Note from pledges for distribution to Seller;
      and (iv) the distribution of the Stock and the Note and any excess cash to
      Seller contemplated herein. Buyer will either obtain such required consents,
      together with any other consents under the Credit Facility required in order
      to
      consummate the Restructuring and the other transactions contemplated herein,
      or
      pay off all amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility at
      Closing.

     

    Section
      7.13.  Third
      Party Consents.
      Other
      than as provided pursuant to Section
      7.12,
      after
      the date hereof and prior to the Closing, each of the Seller Parties and the
      Company shall, and the Seller Parties shall cause the Company to, and each
      of
      the Seller Parties and the Company shall cause each Subsidiary of the Company
      to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly obtain the Consent
      from
      any party to a Company Contract or Oil and Gas Contract identified on
Company
      Schedule 4.5(b)
      as
      requiring the Consent of another party thereto; provided,
      however,
      that no
      such party shall be obligated to pay any amounts to obtain any such
      Consents.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      7.14.  Exclusivity.
      From
      the
      date hereof until the termination of this Agreement (such period, the
“Exclusivity
      Period”):

     

    (a)  none
      of
      the Parents, Seller, the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries (including for
      purposes of this Agreement, NEG Holding, of which the Company is the managing
      member), or any of their respective (i) directors, officers or Affiliates or
      (ii) advisors, investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants,
      consultants, agents or employees, but only in the case of clause (ii) if and
      to
      the extent authorized to act on the behalf of the foregoing for the following
      purposes (collectively, “Representatives”)
      shall
      directly or indirectly, (A) initiate, solicit, invite or facilitate any inquiry,
      proposal or offer concerning the merger or sale of any of the assets of or
      equity interests in (whether by way of a single or series of direct purchases,
      mergers, or consolidations or otherwise) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
      other than the sale of assets in the Ordinary Course of Business (any such
      inquires, or alternative offer or proposal, a “Competing
      Proposal”)
      or (B)
      engage or participate in any negotiations or discussions concerning (it being
      understood that a discussion consisting of a rejection of negotiations or
      discussions or a referral to someone else who provides such a rejection shall
      not be a violation of this Section
      7.14(a)),
      or
      provide access to its properties, books and records or any nonpublic information
      or data to, any person in connection with, any Competing Proposal, or execute
      or
      enter into any agreement, understanding or letter of intent with respect to,
      or
      accept, any Competing Proposal, in each case other than the transactions
      expressly contemplated or permitted herein;

     

    (b)  the
      Parents, Seller, the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries and their respective
      Representatives shall cease and terminate any and all discussions, negotiations
      and any provision of access to their properties, books and records, nonpublic
      information or data, with any person regarding any Competing Proposal (and
      shall
      promptly provide written notice to Buyer of receipt of any bona fide written
      Competing Proposal of which any of Carl Icahn, Keith Meister, Vincent Intrieri,
      Bob Alexander, Randy Cooley or Phil Devlin is aware, and the material terms
      and
      conditions thereof); 

     

    (c)  the
      Parents, Seller, the Company and their Subsidiaries and Representatives shall
      instruct NEGI and NEGI’s employees, in their capacity as managers of the Company
      or its Subsidiaries (and only to the extent that NEGI and such NEGI employees
      possess or have access to confidential or non-public information of, or
      participate in the management of, the Company or its Subsidiaries (“NEGI’s
      Relevant Employees”),
      and
      the Parents, Seller, the Company and their Subsidiaries shall use their
      commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with applicable Laws, to cause
      NEGI
      and NEGI’s Relevant Employees: (i) not to provide access to any such
      confidential or nonpublic information or data to, any person in connection
      with
      any Competing Proposal; and (ii) to cease and terminate any and all provision
      of
      access to such confidential or nonpublic information or data, with any person
      regarding any Competing Proposal; and

     

    (d)  the
      Parents and Seller shall, and shall cause the Company, the Company’s
      Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives (i) to take affirmative action
      to prevent any registration statements of NEG, Inc., the Company or any of
      the
      Company’s Subsidiaries filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof that are not
      yet effective, from being amended or becoming effective (provided, however,
      that
      Seller shall not be required to withdraw any such registration statements and
      shall not be prohibited from making any amendments thereto required by the
      SEC
      in order to avoid the forced involuntary withdrawal of such registration
      statements by the SEC); (ii) not to file any such registration statements or
      similar forms or register any securities with respect to NEG, Inc. the Company
      or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries with the SEC; provided,
      that
      the foregoing shall not apply to NEGI; and (iii) to cease all actions in
      furtherance of marketing or completing the initial public offering of NEG,
      Inc.,
      the Company or any of the Company’ Subsidiaries or making effective any
      registration statements, provided,
      that
      nothing in this clause (iii) will limit Seller’s right to continue internal
      preparation and discussions with its Representatives with respect to such
      registration statements so long as such actions are kept
      confidential.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      7.15.  Affiliate
      Transactions.
      The
      Seller
      Parties and the Company shall terminate all Indebtedness, guarantees,
      obligations and liabilities of the Company or its Subsidiaries to, or on behalf
      of, the Seller Parties or their Affiliates (other than the Company and its
      Subsidiaries) (and prior to the Closing Seller
      shall deliver to Buyer legally binding documentation evidencing the completion
      of such termination),
      and
      there shall not exist any such remaining Indebtedness, guarantee, obligation
      or
      liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the Closing to, or
      on
      behalf of, the Seller Parties or their Affiliates (other than obligations of
      the
      Company and its Subsidiaries solely to or among one another). In addition,
      the
      Seller Parties and the Company shall comply with this Section
      7.15
      in a
      manner that does not result in any Tax obligations or liabilities to the Company
      or its Subsidiaries following the Closing.
      For
      purposes of this Section
      7.15,
      “Affiliate” shall be deemed to include NEGI. 

     

    Section
      7.16.  Indebtedness.
      The
      Seller Parties shall ensure that the aggregate Indebtedness of the Company
      and
      its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date shall not exceed $300 million (and shall
      consist only of Indebtedness under the Credit Facility). If such aggregate
      Indebtedness on the Closing Date exceeds $300 million, prior to the Closing,
      the
      Seller Parties shall cause the Company to use Cash to reduce the amount of
      such
      aggregate Indebtedness to $300 million (and, if the Company does not have
      sufficient Cash to do so, the Seller Parties shall contribute to the Company
      such sufficient Cash). For the avoidance of doubt, the letters of credit issued
      under the Credit Facility shall constitute Indebtedness.

     

    Section
      7.17.  Hedge
      Transactions.
      At or
      before Closing, the
      Seller Parties shall cause the termination or assumption by Seller of all
      outstanding Hedges at no cost to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      following the Closing and the Seller Parties shall retain all liabilities and
      obligations (or positive benefits and value) relating to all outstanding
      Hedges. 

     

    Section
      7.18.  Insurance.
      From
      and after the Closing Date, the Seller Parties shall take such actions as are
      reasonably requested by Buyer in writing,, subject to the terms of the Seller
      Insurance Policies (as hereinafter defined), to retain the right to make claims
      and receive recoveries for the benefit of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
      as
      well as for the benefit of the Seller Parties and their Affiliates (including
      NEGI), under any insurance policies maintained at any time prior to the Closing
      Date by the Seller Parties and their Affiliates (including NEGI) and their
      predecessors (collectively, the “Seller
      Insurance Policies”),
      covering any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense relating to the assets,
      business, operations, conduct, products and employees (including former
      employees) of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors
      that relates to or arises out of occurrences prior to the Closing. The Seller
      Parties shall take such actions as are reasonably requested by Buyer in writing
      so that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right, power and
      authority in their own name or in the name of the Seller Parties and their
      Affiliates (including NEGI) to make directly any claims under the Seller
      Insurance Policies and to receive directly recoveries thereunder.

     

    Section
      7.19. (a)  Employees.
      The
      parties hereto acknowledge that Buyer shall have the right, but not the
      obligation, to offer employment to any or all employees of NEGI. Buyer shall
      not
      be responsible for any obligations to NEGI’s employees, and NEGI shall retain
      all liabilities and obligations to such employees, including all employee
      severance obligations.

     

    (b)
      If
      Randy Cooley and Phil Devlin become employees of Buyer, Buyer will permit each
      such individual to spend up to 5 hours per week until March 31, 2007 to consult
      AREP and NEGI on the preparation of financial information and SEC disclosure,
      including AREP’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. AREP shall
      compensate Buyer for any such consultation at the rate of $200 per hour per
      individual.

    

    (c)
      Prior
      to the Closing, the Seller Parties shall cause the termination of the Panaco
      ESOP and shall cause Panaco to indemnify the trustee of the Panaco ESOP.
      Following the Closing, the Seller Parties will work with the trustee to cause
      distributions to be made from the Panaco ESOP and to make all filings necessary
      in connection with the termination of the Panaco ESOP and Riata will reasonably
      cooperate with the Seller Parties in connection therewith.

    

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Section
      7.20.  NEG
      Operating Agreement.
      The
      Company agrees that it shall not amend, modify or otherwise repeal section
      4.5
      of the Operating Agreement of NEG Holding, or any similar provision in any
      Governing Document of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, for a period
      of
      six years after the Closing in any manner that would adversely affect the rights
      thereunder of the individuals referred to in such section 4.5. 

     

    ARTICLE
      VIII  

    CONDITIONS
      TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES;
      TERMINATION

     

    Section
      8.1.  Conditions
      to Obligations of the Seller Parties and the Company. The
      obligations of the Seller Parties and the Company to consummate the transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment on or prior
      to the Closing of each of the following conditions:

     

    (a)  (i)(A)
      Each of the Fundamental Buyer Representations (as defined in Section
      9.1)
      shall
      be true and correct in all material respects and (B) the representations and
      warranties of Buyer contained in Section
      5.6
      (Absence
      of Certain Changes or Events) shall be true and correct in all respects, in
      each
      case with respect to clauses (A) and (B), as of the date of this Agreement
      and
      as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent
      such representations and warranties expressly relate to a specified date, in
      which case as of such specified date) and (ii) all other representations and
      warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct
      (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality
      or
      Material Adverse Change set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement
      and
      as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent
      such representations and warranties expressly relate to a specified date, in
      which case as of such specified date) and except, in the case of this clause
      (ii), for such failures to be true and correct that have not had and would
      not
      reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
      Adverse Change with respect to Buyer;

     

    (b)  Buyer
      shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants
      and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with
      by
      Buyer on or prior to the Closing;

     

    (c)  Seller
      and the Company shall have received a certificate executed by the Chief
      Executive Officer of Buyer dated the Closing Date, representing and certifying
      that the conditions set forth in Sections
      8.1(a)
      and
(b)
      have
      been satisfied;
      provided,
      that
      Buyer may include in such certificate such exceptions and qualifications as
      it
      may deem to be appropriate, it being understood and agreed that if such
      certificate contains any exceptions or qualifications not contemplated by
Sections
      8.1(a)
      and
(b),
      such
      certificate shall cause the condition set forth in this Section
      8.1(c)
      to be
      not satisfied; provided,
      further,
      that
      any such exceptions or qualifications (so long as accurate and complete) in
      such
      certificate which reflect developments after the date hereof shall not
      constitute a breach of this Agreement (including for purposes of Article
      IX)
      but any
      other such exceptions or qualifications shall constitute a breach of this
      Agreement (including for purposes of Article
      IX);

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (d)  No
      order,
      writ, injunction or decree shall have been entered and be in effect by any
      court
      or any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction, and no statute, rule,
      regulation or other requirement shall have been promulgated or enacted and
      be in
      effect, that on a temporary or permanent basis restrains, enjoins or invalidates
      the transactions contemplated hereby;

     

    (e)  All
      documents, instruments, certificates or other items required to be delivered
      by
      Buyer pursuant to Section
      2.3
      shall
      have been delivered; and

     

    (f)  Since
      June 30, 2006, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Change with
      respect to Buyer.

     

    Section
      8.2.  Conditions
      to Obligations of Buyer.
      The
      obligations of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
      Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date
      of
      each of the following conditions:

     

    (a)  (i)(A)
      Each of the Fundamental Seller Representations (as defined in Section
      9.1)
      shall
      be true and correct in all material respects and (B) the representations and
      warranties of the Seller Parties contained in Section
      4.8(a)
      (Absence
      of Certain Changes or Events) shall be true and correct in all respects, in
      each
      case with respect to clauses (A) and (B), as of the date of this Agreement
      and
      as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent
      such representations and warranties expressly relate to a specified date, in
      which case as of such specified date) and (ii) all other representations and
      warranties of the Seller Parties contained in this Agreement shall be true
      and
      correct (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to
      materiality or Material Adverse Change set forth therein) as of the date of
      this
      Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except
      to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to a
      specified date, in which case as of such specified date) and except, in the
      case
      of this clause (ii), for such failures to be true and correct that have not
      had
      and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
      a Material Adverse Change with respect to the Seller or the
      Company.

     

    (b)  Each
      of
      the Seller Parties and the Company shall have performed and complied with in
      all
      material respects all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement (and
      the Letter of Intent) to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to
      the
      Closing;

     

    (c)  Buyer
      shall have received a certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officers
      of
      each of the Seller Parties and the Company dated the Closing Date, representing
      and certifying that the conditions described in Sections
      8.2(a)
      and
(b)
      have
      been satisfied; provided,
      that
      Seller Parties and the Company may include in such certificate such exceptions
      and qualifications as they may deem to be appropriate, it being understood
      and
      agreed that if such certificate contains any exceptions or qualifications not
      contemplated by Sections
      8.2(a)
      and
(b),
      such
      certificate shall cause the condition set forth in this Section
      8.2(c)
      to be
      not satisfied; provided,
      further,
      that
      any such exceptions or qualifications (so long as accurate and complete) in
      such
      certificate which reflect developments after the date hereof shall not
      constitute a breach of this Agreement (including for purposes of Article
      IX)
      but any
      other such exceptions or qualifications shall constitute a breach of this
      Agreement (including for purposes of Article
      IX);

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        36

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (d)  No
      Proceeding shall, on the Closing Date, be pending or threatened seeking to
      restrain, prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with this
      Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
      hereby;

     

    (e)  No
      order,
      writ, injunction or decree shall have been entered and be in effect by any
      court
      or any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction, and no statute, rule,
      regulation or other requirement shall have been promulgated or enacted and
      be in
      effect, that on a temporary or permanent basis restrains, enjoins or invalidates
      the transactions contemplated hereby;

     

    (f)  All
      documents, instruments, certificates or other items required to be delivered
      by
      the Seller Parties, the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries pursuant to
Section
      2.2
      shall
      have been delivered;

     

    (g)  All
      Consents of or imposed by any Governmental Entity necessary for the consummation
      of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained,
      occurred or have been made (and the required waiting period, if any, has
      expired);

     

    (h)  The
      Seller Parties, the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries shall have obtained
      all Consents from the other parties to the Contracts identified on Buyer
      Schedule 8.2(h),
      other
      than consents required under the Credit Facility (each, a “Required
      Third Party Consent”),
      and
      each Required Third Party Consent shall be in full force and effect, shall
      not
      have been revoked, shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
      Buyer, and a copy thereof shall have been delivered to the Buyer;

     

    (i)  Since
      September 30, 2006, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Change
      with
      respect to the Seller or the Company;

     

    (j)  The
      Restructuring shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms hereof;
      

     

    (k)  Buyer
      shall be satisfied in its sole discretion with its due diligence investigation
      of the Company and shall have delivered a written notice to Seller that Buyer
      has determined to effect the Closing; and

     

    (l)  Buyer
      shall have received the proceeds of the debt and equity financing necessary
      to
      consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on terms and conditions
      satisfactory to Buyer.

     

    Section
      8.3.  Termination. This
      Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned
      at any time prior to the Closing in the following manner:

     

    (a)  by
      either
      Buyer or Seller if the Closing has not occurred prior to the close of business
      on November 21, 2006 (the “End
      Date”),
      provided,
      that,
      if the Seller Parties and the Company shall be ready willing and able to comply
      in all material respects with their obligations under Section
      7.11
      above
      substantially contemporaneously with, but not after, the Closing but there
      is in
      effect an injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction preventing
      the
      consummation of the Restructuring, the End Date shall be extended to the close
      of business on January 16, 2007 (the “Extended
      End Date”)
      to
      allow the Seller Parties to remove such injunction; or 

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        37

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (b)  by
      mutual
      written consent of Buyer and Seller; 

     

    (c)  by
      Buyer
      upon written notice to Seller, if: 

     

    (1)  the
      Seller Parties breach in any material respect: (x) their obligations under
      Section
      7.14
      (provided that such obligations shall be deemed to be have been in effect since
      September 7, 2006); or (y) their obligations under Sections
      6.1(a)(1),
      6.1(b)(1)
      through
6.1(b)(7),
      7.1,
      or
7.6
      (provided that such obligations shall be deemed to have been in effect since
      September 7, 2006) (provided that if Seller shall cure such breach prior to
      the
      end of three (3) full Business Days following the date of Seller’s receipt of
      written notice (which notice must be given on a Business Day), this Agreement
      shall not be terminated and which cure period if invoked, shall extend the
      End
      Date referenced in Section
      8.3(a)
      by such
      number of days); 

     

    (2)  the
      Company’s most recent Form S-1 registration statement, NEG, Inc.’s most recent
      Form S-1 registration statement and Form S-4 registration statement, or the
      most
      recent public filing by AREP on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q to the extent regarding
      segment information of the Company, in each case filed with the SEC prior to
      September 7, 2006, taken as a whole, excluding the financial statements
      contained therein (which are addressed in clause (3) below) (the “Section
      8.3 SEC Reports”)
      (excluding the effect of any general disclaimers, risk factors or
      forward-looking statements, but after taking into account any disclosure in
      such
      provisions that are matters of fact), are materially untrue or incomplete or
      include a materially untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a
      material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
      statements therein not materially misleading, in each case as of September
      7,
      2006 (provided that the failure to update financial and accounting information
      to September 30, 2006 or to respond to SEC comments shall not in and of itself
      be conclusive of such Section 8.3 SEC Reports being materially untrue or
      incomplete or be deemed to be a material omission); provided,
      that to
      the extent that any items described in this Section
      8.3(c)(2)
      are
      based upon or include matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which
      Riata is the operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September
      7,
      2006, such items shall not give rise to any right of Buyer to terminate this
      Agreement pursuant to this Section
      8.3(c)(2);

     

    (3)  (a)
      the
      financial statements contained in the Section 8.3 SEC Reports (provided that
      the
      failure to update financial and accounting information to September 30, 2006
      or
      to respond to SEC comments shall not in and of itself be conclusive of such
      financial statements being materially untrue or incomplete or be deemed to
      be a
      material omission) or the NEG Oil & Gas LLC June 30, 2006 financial
      statements (the “June
      30 Financials”)
      that
      have been provided to Buyer are materially untrue or incomplete or include
      a
      materially untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
      therein not materially misleading, in each case as of the date of the financial
      statements contained in such Section 8.3 SEC Reports or such June 30 Financials,
      or (b) the December 31, 2005 reserve report that has been provided to Buyer
      is
      materially untrue or incomplete or includes a materially untrue statement of
      material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
      or
      necessary in order to make the statements therein not materially misleading,
      in
      each case as of the date of the December 31, 2005 reserve report, or (c) there
      shall have been a Material Adverse Change with respect to the Seller or the
      Company between June 30, 2006 and September 7, 2006; provided,
      that to
      the extent that any items described in this Section
      8.3(c)(3)
      are
      based upon or include matters relating to acreage on Longfellow Ranch for which
      Riata is the operator of which matters Riata had Knowledge as of September
      7,
      2006, such items shall not give rise to any right of Buyer to terminate this
      Agreement pursuant to this Section
      8.3(c)(3);

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        38

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (4)  as
      of any
      date no earlier than 5 days prior to the End Date (or, if applicable, 5 days
      prior to the Extended End Date), Buyer is ready and willing to effect the
      Closing and able to obtain the financing but, (A) Seller does not have board
      approval to enter into this Agreement, (B) Seller, the Company or any material
      Subsidiary of the Company is not duly formed, or (C) Seller does not possess
      unencumbered title to all of the Equity Interests of the Company (other than
      Liens securing the Credit Facility and immaterial Liens); provided,
      that,
      the phrase “able to obtain the financing”, means that Buyer shall be in a
      position to receive, within 48 hours, the proceeds of the financing necessary
      to
      effect the Closing (including, if necessary as a result of required consents
      contemplated in Section
      7.12
      not
      being obtained, the proceeds necessary to pay off the Credit Facility) by
      delivering a borrowing or drawdown or similar notice, or take similar action
      that may be applicable to a 144A equity or debt drawdown (and that Buyer has
      entered into binding definitive financing documentation for such financing)
      but
      shall not mean that Buyer shall have obtained or irrevocably bound itself to
      obtain the proceeds of such financing;

     

    (5)  as
      of any
      date no earlier than 5 days prior to the End Date (or, if applicable, 5 days
      prior to the Extended End Date), Buyer is ready and willing to effect the
      Closing and able to obtain the financing but, Seller and the Company are unable
      to complete the Restructuring prior to or on such date (provided that, if such
      inability is the result of an injunction issued by a court of competent
      jurisdiction, Buyer will not be entitled to terminate this Agreement under
      this
      clause (5) unless Buyer shall have agreed to extend and has extended the End
      Date to the Extended End Date to allow Seller to remove such injunction, in
      which event the End Date shall be extended to the Extended End Date);
provided,
      that
      the phrase “able to obtain the financing”, means that Buyer shall be in a
      position to receive, within 48 hours, the proceeds of the financing necessary
      to
      effect the Closing (including, if necessary as a result of required consents
      contemplated in Section
      7.12
      not
      being obtained, the proceeds necessary to pay off the Credit Facility) by
      delivering a borrowing or drawdown or similar notice, or take similar action
      that may be applicable to a 144A equity or debt drawdown (and that Buyer has
      entered into binding definitive financing documentation for such financing)
      but
      shall not mean that Buyer shall have obtained or irrevocably bound itself to
      obtain the proceeds of such financing; provided,
      further, that
      the
      phrase “Seller and the Company are unable to complete the Restructuring” shall
      not include any obligation or ability on the part of such parties to obtain
      any
      consents or amendments, or pay any amounts outstanding, under the Credit
      Facility, as contemplated in Section
      7.12,
      it
      being the sole obligation of Buyer to obtain or pay the same; or

     

    (6)  the
      Company and its Subsidiaries do not hold Defensible Title to a material portion
      of their respective properties (other than Liens securing the Credit Facility
      and Permitted Encumbrances) such that the SEC Reports or the June 30 Financials
      are materially untrue or incomplete or include a materially untrue statement
      of
      material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
      or
      necessary in order to make the statements therein not materially misleading.
      

     

    Section
      8.4.  Effect
      of Termination.
      In
      the
      event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
      8.3
      by
      Seller or Buyer, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other
      party or parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such
      termination is made, and this Agreement shall become void and have no effect
      and
      no party shall have any liability or obligation hereunder, except that the
      agreements contained in this Article
      VIII,
      in
Sections
      7.8,
      7.9,
      and in
Articles
      X
      and
XI shall
      survive the termination hereof. Except
      as
      set forth in the second, third and fourth paragraphs of this Section
      8.4,
      nothing
      contained in this Section
      8.4
      shall
      relieve any party from liability for Damages actually incurred as a result
      of
      any willful breach of this Agreement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        39

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    The
      parties hereto agree that, in the event of termination of this Agreement by
      Buyer as set forth in Section
      8.3(c)
      above,
      then Riata shall be entitled to the return of the $10 million paid to Seller
      on
      September 7, 2006. In the event of termination of this Agreement by Buyer as
      set
      forth in Section
      8.3(c)
      above,
      Buyer agrees that, except with respect to breaches of Section
      7.14
      (which
      shall be subject to the following paragraph), (i) it shall not seek to recover
      any losses or damages under this Agreement or for any breach of the terms of
      this Agreement beyond the return of such $10 million, (ii) the return of such
      $10 million payment is Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedy under this Agreement or
      for any breach of the terms of this Agreement and (iii) Buyer shall in no event
      seek or be entitled to an injunction or specific performance of any kind. The
      Parents, Seller, the Company and their Affiliates agree that the retention
      of
      the $10 million paid to Seller on September 7, 2006 shall be their sole and
      exclusive remedy under this Agreement or for any breach of the terms of this
      Agreement and that they shall not seek to recover any losses or damages, and
      shall in no event, seek or be entitled to an injunction or specific performance
      of any kind. The Parents and Seller agree to return to Riata the $10 million
      amount paid on September 7, 2006, in immediately available funds to an account
      designated by Riata, immediately if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
      Section
      8.3(c).
      Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Buyer provides
      Seller with a good faith written notice of termination pursuant to Section
      8.3(c)
      prior to
      the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
      8.3(a),
      then
      Buyer’s right to make a claim for the return of the $10 million paid to Seller
      shall survive until final resolution of such claim (notwithstanding an
      intervening termination pursuant to Section
      8.3(a)).
      Buyer
      agrees that neither (a) the declaration of a “Default” or an “Event of Default”
by the agent or the lenders under the Credit Facility as a result of the
      consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the Restructuring or
      the
      unwinding of Hedges or the distribution of the Stock and the Note pursuant
      to
      the Restructuring or the distribution of cash pursuant to adjustments set forth
      in Section
      1.3
      nor (b)
      the failure of the lenders under the Credit Facility to consent to any
      assignment, waiver, amendment, modification, forbearance or change under the
      Credit Facility necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
      hereby, shall in any event give rise to a right of Riata to receive a refund
      or
      return of the $10 million paid to Seller on September 7, 2006. Notwithstanding
      the foregoing, none of the foregoing limitations shall apply with respect to
      any
      breaches of the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall continue on its own
      terms
      as a fully enforceable agreement separate and apart from this Agreement.

     

    The
      parties hereto agree that, in the event of termination of this Agreement by
      Buyer as set forth in Section
      8.3(c)(1)(x)
      above
      (i.e., breach of Section
      7.14),
      then:
      (i) Riata shall be entitled to the return of the $10 million paid to Seller
      on
      September 7, 2006; (ii) if the Parents, Seller, the Company or any of their
      Affiliates shall, within three (3) months following such termination of this
      Agreement, enter into a written agreement with a third party (as to which any
      of
      the parties bound by Section
      7.14
      herein
      violated their obligations under Section
      7.14)
      with
      respect to a Competing Proposal, Riata shall be entitled to an additional
      payment of $10 million from the Parents; (iii) Buyer shall not seek to recover
      any losses or damages beyond such amounts; (iv) the payment of such amounts
      is
      Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedy under this Agreement or for any breach of the
      terms of this Agreement; and (v) Buyer shall in no event seek or be entitled
      to
      an injunction or specific performance of any kind. The Parents and Seller agree
      to make such payments to Riata, in immediately available funds to an account
      designated by Riata, immediately if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
      Section
      8.3(c)(1)(x).

     

    For
      the
      avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge that the termination of
      the
      Letter of Intent as the result of the execution of this Agreement shall not
      limit Buyer’s right to seek the return of the $10 million paid by Riata to
      Seller on September 7, 2006 in accordance with this Agreement.

     

    
       

      
        
          
          

        

        
          40

          
            

          

        

        
          
          

        

      

    

    ARTICLE
      IX  

    SURVIVAL
      OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES

    AND
      COVENANTS; INDEMNIFICATION

     

    Section
      9.1.  Survival.

     

    (a)  Representations
      and Warranties.
      Each of
      the representations and warranties that are covered by the indemnification
      agreements herein shall survive the Closing for (and therefore the obligation
      to
      indemnify for breaches thereof shall continue to exist only for Claim Notices
      (as defined below) received through) the time periods expressly set forth below
      (each such time period and the time period during which covenants and other
      agreements survive pursuant to Section
      9.1(b),
      a
“Survival
      Period”):

     

    (1)  (w)
      the
      representations and warranties of the Seller Parties and the Company set forth
      in Section
      3.1
      (Organization), Section
      3.2
      (Title
      to Interests), Section
      3.3
      (Authority), Sections
      4.1
      (Organization), Section
      4.2
      (Authority), Section
      4.4
      (Capital
      Structure), Section
      4.6
      (Ownership; Capitalization of Subsidiaries) and Section
      4.22
      (Brokers) (such representations and warranties, the “Fundamental
      Seller Representations”)
      shall
      survive the Closing indefinitely, (x) the representations and warranties of
      the
      Seller Parties and the Company set forth in Section
      4.12
      (Taxes)
      shall survive the Closing until fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the
      applicable statute of limitations period, (y) the representations and warranties
      of the Seller Parties and the Company set forth in Section
      4.18
      (Environmental Matters) shall survive the Closing until the second anniversary
      of the Closing Date, and (z) the representations and warranties of the Seller
      Parties and the Company set forth in Section
      4.7
      (SEC
      Reports; Financial Statements), Section
      4.8
      (Absence
      of Certain Changes or Events), Section
      4.14
      (Real
      Property), Section
      4.15(b)
      (Oil
& Gas Properties), Section
      4.17
      (Reserve
      Reports), Section
      4.23
      (Affiliate Transactions) and Section
      4.24
      (NEGI
      Restructuring) shall survive the Closing until the 15-month anniversary of
      the
      Closing Date (the representations and warranties referred to in clauses (x),
      (y)
      and (z), the “Seller
      Business Representations”);
      

     

    (2)  (x)
      the
      representations and warranties of Riata and Buyer set forth in Section
      5.1
      (Organization), Section
      5.2
      (Authority), Section
      5.4
      (Capital
      Structure) and Section
      5.12
      (Brokers) (such representations and warranties, the “Fundamental
      Buyer Representations”)
      shall
      survive the Closing indefinitely, and (y) the representations and warranties
      of
      Buyer set forth in Section
      5.5
      (Offering Document; Financial Statements) and Section
      5.6
      (Absence
      of Certain Changes or Events) shall survive the Closing until the 15-month
      anniversary of the Closing Date (such representations and warranties, the
“Buyer
      Business Representations”);
      and

     

    (3)  all
      of
      the other representations and warranties of the Seller Parties, the Company
      and
      the Buyer shall not survive the Closing.

     

    (b)  Covenants.
      The
      covenants and other agreements of the Seller Parties, the Company, Riata and
      Buyer set forth in this Agreement shall survive the Closing (and therefore
      the
      obligation to indemnify for breaches thereof shall continue to exist)
      indefinitely; provided,
      that
      the covenants and obligations set forth in Section
      7.7
      shall
      survive only until, and any claim for indemnification with respect to
Section
      7.7
      must be
      made by fifteen (15) days following the expiration of, the applicable statute
      of
      limitations with respect to the underlying Tax claim (including any valid
      extensions).

     

    (c)  No
      party
      hereto shall have any indemnification obligation pursuant to this Article
      IX or
      otherwise in respect of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
      unless it shall have received from the party seeking indemnification written
      notice (a “Claim
      Notice”)
      of the
      existence of the claim for or in respect of which indemnification in respect
      of
      such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement is being sought on or
      before the expiration of the applicable Survival Period. If an Indemnified
      Party
      delivers a Claim Notice to an Indemnifying Party before the expiration of the
      applicable Survival Period, then the applicable representation, warranty,
      covenant or agreement shall survive until, but only for purposes of, the
      resolution of the matter covered by such Claim Notice. A Claim Notice shall
      set
      forth with reasonable specificity (1) the basis for such claim under this
      Agreement, and the facts that otherwise form the basis of such claim and
      (2) to the extent reasonably estimable, an estimate of the amount of such
      claim (which estimate shall not be conclusive of the final amount of such claim)
      and an explanation of the calculation of such estimate.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        41

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      9.2.  Indemnification
      by Seller Parties

     

    . From
      and
      after the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions of this Article
      IX,
      the
      Seller Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless
      Buyer, Riata, the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries and their directors and
      officers (collectively, the “Buyer
      Indemnified Persons”)
      from
      and against any and all Damages asserted against, resulting, imposed upon,
      or
      incurred or suffered by any Buyer Indemnified Person, directly or indirectly, by
      reason of, resulting from, arising out of, relating to or in connection
      with:

     

    (a)  any
      inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty of the Seller Parties
      or
      the Company set forth herein or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto,
      which survives the Closing pursuant to Section
      9.1;

     

    (b)  any
      breach or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement
      of
      any Seller Party contained in this Agreement (other than Section
      7.6
      and
7.14
      (excluding the provisions relating to access to non-public or confidential
      information));

     

    (c)  any
      breach or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement
      prior to the date hereof of any Seller Party contained in sections 5 (solely
      with respect to the provisions relating to access to non-public or confidential
      information), 6 or 9 of the Letter of Intent;

     

    (d)  any
      breach or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement
      of
      the Company contained in this Agreement that is required to be performed by
      the
      Company prior to or at the Closing;

     

    (e)  all
      liabilities, obligations, Taxes, costs and expenses related to or arising out
      of
      the Restructuring (including without limitation, any Restructuring Liabilities,
      if any, as defined in the Letter of Intent);

     

    (f)  all
      liabilities of or related to NEGI (including severance and other costs related
      to employees);

     

    (g)  all
      Transaction Costs and Extraordinary Payments;

     

    (h)  Taxes
      for
      which any of the Seller Parties are responsible under Sections
      7.7
      and
7.8
      of this
      Agreement;

     

    (i)  (A)
      all
      liabilities (including Taxes but excluding income Taxes and franchise or other
      Taxes based on income) to the extent based on the Company and its Subsidiaries'
      status prior to the effective time of the Closing as a subsidiary of the Seller
      Parties or member of a consolidated entity with any of the Seller Parties or
      their Affiliates (including NEGI, but excluding the Company and its
      Subsidiaries), and (B) any and all liabilities for income Taxes and franchise
      or
      other Taxes based on income for which the Company and its Subsidiaries are
      liable for periods prior to the effective time of the Closing, to the extent
      resulting from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries joining (or ever being
      required to join) in filing any consolidated, combined or unitary tax returns,
      with any of the Seller Parties or their Affiliates (including NEGI, but
      excluding the Company and its Subsidiaries);

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        42

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (j)  liabilities
      arising out of any transactions between the Company and its Subsidiaries on
      the
      one hand and the Company’s Affiliates (including NEGI) (other than the Company
      and its Subsidiaries) on the other hand (including any guarantees provided
      by
      the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of such
      Affiliates);

     

    (k)  liabilities
      which the Seller Parties are responsible under Section 7.11(b);
      and

     

    (l)  the
      Panaco ESOP (and the termination thereof), including, without limitation, any
      claims made by the Panaco ESOP’s trustee or beneficiaries, including claims by
      the trustee for indemnification under that certain written consent for
      indemnification of the trustee by National Offshore LP, dated November 14,
      2006.

     

    Section
      9.3.  Indemnification
      by Buyer

     

    . From
      and
      after the Closing, in addition to the indemnification provided in Section
      7.6,
      subject
      to the terms and conditions of this Article
      IX,
      Buyer
      shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller Parties and American
      Property Investors, Inc. and their directors and officers (collectively, the
      “Seller
      Indemnified Persons”)
      from
      and against any and all Damages, asserted against, resulting from, imposed
      upon,
      or incurred or suffered by any Seller Indemnified Person, directly or
      indirectly, by reason of, resulting from, arising out of, relating to or in
      connection with:

     

    (a)  any
      inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty of Riata and Buyer set
      forth herein or in a certificate delivered pursuant hereto, which survives
      the
      Closing pursuant to Section
      9.1;
      

     

    (b)  any
      breach or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement
      of
      Buyer contained in this Agreement; and

     

    (c)  Taxes
      for
      which Buyer is responsible under Sections
      7.7
      and
7.8
      of this
      Agreement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        43

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      9.4.  Indemnification
      Proceedings. 

     

    (a)  Third
      Party Claims.
      In the
      event that any claim or demand for which Seller or Buyer (such Person, an
“Indemnifying
      Party”)
      may be
      liable to a Buyer Indemnified Person under Section
      9.2
      or a
      Seller Indemnified Person under Section
      9.3
      (an
“Indemnified
      Party”)
      is
      asserted against or sought to be collected from an Indemnified Party by a third
      party (a “Third-Party
      Claim”),
      the
      Indemnified Party shall with reasonable promptness notify the Indemnifying
      Party
      of such Third-Party Claim by delivery of a Claim Notice, provided that the
      failure or delay to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the
      Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article
      IX,
      except
      (and solely) to the extent that the Indemnifying Party demonstrates that the
      defense of such Third-Party Claim is materially prejudiced thereby. The
      Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of the Claim Notice
      from the Indemnified Party (in this Section
      9.4,
      the
“Notice
      Period”)
      to
      notify the Indemnified Party whether or not the Indemnifying Party desires,
      at
      the Indemnifying Party’s sole cost and expense, to defend the Indemnified Party
      against such claim or demand; provided, that the Indemnified Party is hereby
      authorized (upon reasonable prior written notice to the Indemnifying Party)
      prior to and during the Notice Period, and at the cost and expense of the
      Indemnifying Party, to file any motion, answer or other pleading that it shall
      reasonably deem necessary to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying
      Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense of
      such
      Third-Party Claim only if and for so long as (A) the Indemnifying Party notifies
      the Indemnified Party during the Notice Period that the Indemnifying Party
      is
      assuming the defense of such Third-Party Claim and agrees that the Indemnified
      Party will be indemnified against such Third-Party Claim in accordance with
      the
      terms and limitations of this Article
      IX,
      (B) the
      Indemnifying Party uses counsel of its own choosing that is reasonably
      satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, and (C) conducts the defense of such
      Third-Party Claim in an active and diligent manner. If the Indemnifying Party
      is
      entitled to, and does, assume the defense of any such Third-Party Claim, the
      Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at its own
      expense and to participate in the defense thereof; provided,
      however,
      that
      notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying Party shall pay the reasonable
      attorneys’ fees of the Indemnified Party if (x) the Indemnified Party’s counsel
      shall have reasonably concluded and advised that there are defenses available
      to
      such Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available
      to the Indemnifying Party, or (y) the Indemnified Party’s counsel shall have
      advised the Indemnified Party that there is a conflict of interest that could
      make it inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct to
      have
      common counsel for the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party (provided
      that the Indemnifying Party shall not be responsible for paying for more than
      one separate firm of attorneys and one local counsel to represent all of the
      Indemnified Parties subject to such Third-Party Claim). If the Indemnifying
      Party elects not to assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim (or fails
      to
      give notice to the Indemnified Party during the Notice Period or otherwise
      is
      not entitled to assume such defense), the Indemnified Party shall be entitled
      to
      assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim with counsel of its own choice,
      at
      the expense and for the account of the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying
      Party elects (and is entitled) to assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim,
      (i) no compromise or settlement thereof or consent to any admission or the
      entry of any judgment with respect to such Third-Party Claim may be effected
      by
      the Indemnifying Party without the Indemnified Party’s written consent (which
      shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless the sole
      relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the Indemnifying
      Party (and no injunctive or other equitable relief is imposed upon the
      Indemnified Party) and there is an unconditional provision whereby the plaintiff
      or claimant in such Third-Party Claim releases the Indemnified Party from all
      liability with respect thereto and (ii) the Indemnified Party shall have no
      liability with respect to any compromise or settlement thereof effected without
      its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned
      or
      delayed).

     

    (b)  Notwithstanding
      the foregoing provisions of this Section
      9.4
      (and
      subject to Sections
      9.4(c)
      and
9.4(d)),
      the
      Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to control (but shall be entitled
      to
      participate at its own expense in the defense of), and the Indemnified Party,
      at
      the expense of the Indemnifying Party, shall be entitled to have sole control
      over, the defense or settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment of
      (x)
      any Third-Party Claim as to which the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the
      defense during the Notice Period after the Indemnified Party gives notice
      thereof to the Indemnifying Party and (y) any Third-Party Claim which seeks
      an
      order, injunction, or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party
      which, if successful, could materially adversely affect the business, condition
      (financial or other), capitalization, assets, liabilities, results of operations
      or prospects of the Indemnified Party (a “Potential
      MAC Claim”).

     

    (c)  Notwithstanding
      the foregoing provisions of this Section
      9.4,
      if the
      Indemnified Party has elected to assume control over any Potential MAC Claim
      pursuant to Section
      9.4(b),
      the
      Indemnifying Party shall, at its own expense, be entitled to have joint control
      with the Indemnified Party over the defense or settlement, compromise,
      admission, or acknowledgment of such Potential MAC Claim; provided,
      that
      the Indemnifying Party confirms in writing to the Indemnified Party that the
      Indemnified Party will be indemnified by the Indemnifying Party against such
      Potential MAC Claim in accordance with the terms and limitations of this
Article
      IX;
      provided,
      further,
      that
      neither party shall make any settlement, compromise, admission, or
      acknowledgment of such claim that would give rise to liability on the part
      of
      the other such party without the prior written consent of the other such party
      (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
      delayed).

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        44

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (d)  Notwithstanding
      the foregoing provisions of this Section
      9.4,
      the
      Indemnified Party shall make no settlement, compromise, admission, or
      acknowledgement that would give rise to any liability on the part of the
      Indemnifying Party without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying party
      (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
      delayed).

     

    (e)  Direct
      Claims.
      In any
      case in which an Indemnified Party seeks indemnification hereunder and no
      Third-Party Claim is involved, the Indemnified Party shall deliver a Claim
      Notice to the Indemnifying Party. The failure or delay to so notify the
      Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations
      under this Article IX.

     

    Section
      9.5.  Exclusivity. 

     

    The
      parties hereto agree that, after Closing, in regard to any inaccuracy, breach,
      default, or nonperformance of any representation, warranty, covenant, or
      agreement made or entered into by a party hereto and contained in this
      Agreement, or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto, or otherwise arising
      under this Agreement or any such certificate, the sole and exclusive relief
      and
      remedy available to an Indemnified Party in respect of said inaccuracy, breach,
      default, or nonperformance shall be the rights of Indemnified Parties pursuant
      to this Article
      IX
      and the
      rights of the parties hereto pursuant to Section
      10.8.

     

    Section
      9.6.  Limitations
      on Indemnities.

     

    (a)  Notwithstanding
      the foregoing, (1) the Seller Parties shall not be obligated to indemnify Buyer
      for Damages pursuant to Section
      9.2(a)
      with
      respect to the Seller Business Representations, and Buyer shall not be obligated
      to indemnify Seller for Damages pursuant to Section
      9.3(a)
      with
      respect to the Buyer Business Representations, in each case, pursuant to this
      Article
      IX unless
      and until the amount of all Damages incurred by Buyer with respect to the Seller
      Business Representations, or by Seller with respect to the Buyer Business
      Representations, as the case may be, exceeds, in the aggregate, five million
      dollars ($5,000,000) (the “Basket”),
      in
      which event the party seeking indemnity may recover all Damages in excess of
      the
      Basket; (2) the Seller Parties’ maximum aggregate liability for Damages
      pursuant to Section
      9.2(a)
      in
      respect of the Seller Business Representations and Taxes pursuant to Sections
      7.7
      and
7.8
      (including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections
      9.2(b),
      9.2(d)
      and
9.2(h),
      to the
      extent such Sections relate to Section
      7.7
      or
7.8),
      in the
      aggregate, shall be three hundred four million seven hundred fifty thousand
      dollars ($304,750,000) (the “Seller
      Cap”);
      and (3)
      the Buyer’s maximum aggregate liability for Damages pursuant to Section
      9.3(a)
      in
      respect of the Buyer Business Representations and Taxes pursuant to Sections
      7.7
      and
7.8
      (including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections
      9.3(b)
      and
9.3(c),
      to the
      extent such Sections relate to Section
      7.7
      or
7.8),
      in the
      aggregate, shall be three hundred four million seven hundred fifty thousand
      dollars ($304,750,000) (the “Buyer
      Cap”)
      (for
      the avoidance of doubt, the Seller Cap and the Buyer Cap shall not apply to
      Taxes which are indemnified pursuant to any other provisions of this Agreement,
      including, without limitation, Sections
      9.2(e)
      and
9.2(i)).

     

    (b)  The
      indemnification obligations of the parties pursuant to this Article
      IX
      shall
      not include punitive Damages, provided that any punitive Damages recovered
      by a
      third party (including a Governmental Entity, but excluding any Affiliate of
      any
      party) against an Indemnified Party shall be included in the Damages recoverable
      by such Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article
      IX.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        45

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (c)  The
      amount of any Damages for which indemnification is provided under this
Article
      IX
      shall be
      net of (i) any amounts actually recovered by the Indemnified Party, if any,
      pursuant to any insurance policies attributable to such Damages and (ii) any
      Tax
      benefit actually realized, if any, attributable to such Damages; provided,
      that
      the Indemnified Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to seek and
      claim any recovery under any such insurance policies. If the amount to be netted
      under this Section
      9.6(c)
      from any
      payment required under Article
      IX
      is
      determined after payment by the Indemnifying Party of any amount otherwise
      required to be paid to an Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article
      IX,
      the
      Indemnified Party shall repay to the Indemnifying Party, promptly after such
      determination, any amount that the Indemnifying Party would not have had to
      pay
      pursuant to this Article
      IX
      had such
      determination been made at the time of such payment.

     

    Section
      9.7.  Indemnification
      Despite Negligence.
      It is
      the express intention of the parties hereto that each Indemnified Party shall
      be
      indemnified and held harmless from and against all Damages as to which indemnity
      is provided for under this Article
      IX,
      notwithstanding that any such Damages arise out of or result from the ordinary,
      strict, sole, or contributory negligence of such Person and regardless of
      whether any other Person (including the other parties to this Agreement) is
      or
      is not also negligent. The parties hereto acknowledge that the foregoing
      complies with the express negligence rule and is conspicuous.

     

    Section
      9.8.  Treatment
      of Indemnification Payments.
      All
      indemnification payments made pursuant to this Article
      IX
      shall be
      treated by the parties for income Tax purposes as adjustments to the Purchase
      Price, unless otherwise required by applicable Law. 

     

    ARTICLE
      X 

    MISCELLANEOUS

     

    Section
      10.1.  Notices

     

    .
      All
      notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and delivered
      (i)
      personally, (ii) by overnight courier or (iii) facsimile (with a PDF or other
      copy by electronic mail), and shall be deemed duly given on the date of
      delivery. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or
      pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the
      party
      to receive such notice.

     

    (a)
       if
      to
      Buyer or Riata, to:

    Riata
      Energy, Inc.

    1601
      Northwest Expressway, Suite 1600

    Oklahoma
      City, OK 73118

    Attention:
      General Counsel

    Facsimile
      No.: (405) 753- 5975

    Email:
      mmccann@sdrge.com

     

    with
      a
      copy to:

     

    Simpson
      Thacher & Bartlett LLP

    425
      Lexington Avenue

    New
      York,
      New York 10017

    Attention:
      Robert E. Spatt, Esq. 

      
      Edward
      J. Chung, Esq.

    Facsimile
      No.: (212) 455-2502

    Email:
      rspatt@stblaw.com

    Email:
      echung@stblaw.com

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        46

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    and

    

    Vinson
      & Elkins L.L.P.

    1001
      Fannin Street, Suite 2300

    Houston,
      Texas 77002

    Attention:
      T. Mark Kelly, Esq. 

    Facsimile
      No.: (713) 615-5962

    Email:
      mkelly@velaw.com

    

    (b)
       if
      to any
      Seller Party, to:

     

    White
      Plains Plaza

    445
      Hamilton Avenue - Suite 1210

    White
      Plains, NY 10601

    Attention:
      Felicia Buebel, Esq.

    Facsimile
      No.: (914) 614-7001

    Email:
      fbuebel@arep.net

     

    with
      a
      copy to:

     

    DLA
      Piper
      US LLP

    1251
      Avenue of the Americas

    New
      York,
      New York 10020

    Attention:
      Steven L. Wasserman, Esq.

    Facsimile
      No.: (212) 835-6001

    Email:
      steven.wasserman@dlapiper.com

     

    Section
      10.2.  Entire
      Agreement. This
      Agreement, together with the Schedules, Exhibits, and the other certificates,
      documents, instruments and writings referred to herein or delivered pursuant
      hereto and the Confidentiality Agreement, constitute the entire agreement
      between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
      supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
      between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof (including,
      without limitation, the Letter of Intent, except as set forth herein). Each
      of
      the parties acknowledges that no other party, nor any agent or attorney of
      any
      other party, has made any promise, representation or warranty whatsoever not
      contained herein, and that such party has not executed or authorized the
      execution of this Agreement in reliance upon any such promise, representation
      or
      warranty not contained herein.

     

    Section
      10.3.  Binding
      Effect; Assignment; No Third Party Benefit. This
      Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
      and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and permitted
      assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, neither
      this
      Agreement nor any of the rights, interests, or obligations hereunder shall
      be
      assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of
      the
      other parties, which consent may be withheld in such party’s sole judgment;
provided,
      however,
      that
      Buyer may collaterally assign this Agreement to any sources of financing solely
      to secure Buyer’s obligations under any credit arrangements entered into in
      connection with this Agreement (and any refinancing or substitutions thereof).
      Any assignment in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void; and
provided,
      further,
      that
      after the Closing, any party hereto may assign its right to receive any benefit
      hereunder to any of its Affiliates without the consent of the other parties
      but,
      for the avoidance of doubt, no such assignment shall relieve the duties and
      obligations of the assigning party. Except as provided in Article
      IX,
      nothing
      in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon
      any
      Person other than the parties hereto, and their respective heirs, legal
      representatives, successors, and permitted assigns, any rights, benefits, or
      remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
      Agreement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        47

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      10.4.  Severability. If
      any
      provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
      by
      any applicable Law or public policy, this Agreement shall be considered
      divisible and such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent it is
      deemed unenforceable so long as the legal substance of the transactions
      contemplated herein is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any
      party hereto, and in all other respects this Agreement shall remain in full
      force and effect; provided, however, that if any such provision may be made
      enforceable by limitation thereof, then such provision shall be deemed to be
      so
      limited and shall be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable
      Law.

     

    Section
      10.5.  Governing
      Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue.
      This
      Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of
      the
      State of New York. Each party hereto agrees that it will bring any action or
      proceeding in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement
      or the transactions contemplated hereby, whether in tort or contract or at
      law
      or in equity, exclusively in the federal or state courts located in New York,
      New York (the “Chosen
      Courts”).
      In
      addition, each party hereby (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive
      jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (b) waives, to the fullest extent permitted
      by applicable Law, any objection to laying venue in the Chosen Court and agrees
      that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion
      or other request for leave from any such court, and (c) waives any objection
      or
      defense that the Chosen Court is an inconvenient forum or does not have personal
      jurisdiction over any party hereto. Each party hereto further agrees that,
      to
      the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any final judgment in any such
      action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other
      jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the judgment.
      Further, each party hereto hereby waives all right to trial by jury in any
      claim, action, proceeding or counterclaim by either party against the other
      on
      any matters arising out of or in any way connected with this
      Agreement.

     

    Section
      10.6.  Further
      Assurances.
      From
      time to time following the Closing, at the request of any party hereto and
      without further consideration, the other party or parties hereto shall execute
      and deliver to such requesting party such instruments and documents and take
      such other action (but without incurring any material financial obligation)
      as
      such requesting party may reasonably request (and which is not specifically
      required hereby in another provision) in order to consummate more fully and
      effectively the transactions contemplated hereby.

     

    Section
      10.7.  Counterparts. This
      instrument may be executed in any number of identical counterparts, each of
      which for all purposes shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall
      constitute collectively, one instrument. It is not necessary that each party
      hereto execute the same counterpart so long as identical counterparts are
      executed by each such party hereto. This instrument may be validly executed
      and
      delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission.

     

    Section
      10.8.  Injunctive
      Relief. The
      parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the failure of any party to this
      Agreement to perform its obligations hereunder in accordance with their specific
      terms or to otherwise comply with such obligations, including its failure to
      take all actions as are necessary on its part to consummate the transactions
      contemplated hereby, will cause irreparable injury to the other parties to
      this
      Agreement for which damages, even if available, will not be an adequate remedy.
      Accordingly, each of the parties hereto hereby consents to the issuance of
      injunctive relief by any court of competent jurisdiction to compel performance
      of any party’s obligations, including an injunction to prevent breaches, and to
      the granting by any such court of the remedy of specific performance of the
      terms and conditions hereof.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        48

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      10.9.  Schedules.
      The
      disclosures in the Schedules must relate only to the representations and
      warranties in the Section of this Agreement to which they expressly relate
      and
      not to any other representation or warranty in this Agreement, provided,
      however,
      any
      matters disclosed in any section or subsection of the Schedules shall be deemed
      to be disclosed and incorporated into any other section or subsection of the
      Schedules to which its reference is readily apparent on its face without further
      inquiry. Inclusion of any item in the Schedules (a) does not represent a
      determination that such item is material nor expected to result in a Material
      Adverse Change nor shall it be deemed to establish a standard of materiality;
      (b) does not represent a determination that such item did not arise in the
      Ordinary Course of Business; (c) does not represent a determination that the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement require the consent of third parties
      unless so indicated and (d) shall not constitute, or be deemed to be, an
      admission to any third party concerning such item. 

     

    Section
      10.10.  Time
      of Essence.
      With
      regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement,
      time is of the essence.

     

    Section
      10.11.  Confidentiality.
      From
      and after the Closing: 

     

    (a)  in
      respect of all confidential information that relates to the Company and its
      Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any such information provided
      pursuant to Section
      7.10),
      the
      Seller Parties shall, and shall cause each Affiliate thereof (including NEGI)
      (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) to, treat all such confidential
      information as confidential, preserve the confidentiality thereof and not
      disclose any confidential information. If such confidential information is
      disclosed in violation of this Section
      10.11,
      the
      Seller Parties shall immediately notify Buyer in writing and, as applicable,
      take all reasonable steps required to prevent further disclosure;

     

    (b)  in
      addition to all other remedies available to the Buyer at Law or in equity,
      the
      parties agree that the Buyer shall be entitled to equitable relief, including
      injunctive relief and specific performance, in the event of any breach of this
      Section
      10.11;
       

     

    (c)  if
      any
      Seller Party or any of its Affiliates (including NEGI) (other than the Company
      and its Subsidiaries) is requested or required (by oral questions,
      interrogatories, requests for information or documents in legal proceedings,
      subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process) or, upon the
      advice of its counsel, is required by applicable Law (including, but not limited
      to, under SEC reporting obligations or in its financial statements in accordance
      with GAAP) to disclose any confidential information, the Seller Parties shall
      provide Buyer with prompt written notice of such request or requirement, which
      notice shall, if practicable, be at least 48 hours prior to making such
      disclosure, so that Buyer may seek a protective order or other appropriate
      remedy and/or waive compliance with the provisions of this Section
      10.11.
      If, in
      the absence of a protective order or other remedy or the receipt of such a
      waiver, such Seller Party or its Affiliates (including NEGI) (other than the
      Company and its Subsidiaries) is nonetheless, in the opinion of its counsel,
      legally compelled to disclose confidential information, then such Person may
      disclose that portion of the confidential information which such counsel advises
      is legally required to be disclosed; and

     

    (d)  the
      parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the confidential information relating
      to the Company and its Subsidiaries referred to in this Section
      10.11
      does not
      constitute “Evaluation Material” (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement)
      furnished by Riata to the Seller Parties and their Affiliates (including NEGI)
      pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement (it being understood and agreed that
      the obligations of the Seller Parties under the Confidentiality Agreement only
      apply to confidential information concerning Riata and its Subsidiaries
      (excluding the Company and its Subsidiaries) and not to confidential information
      with respect to the Company, NEGI, the Seller Parties or their respective
      Subsidiaries).

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        49

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
      10.12.  Amendment. This
      Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing
      signed by or on behalf of all the parties hereto.

     

    Section
      10.13.  Waiver. The
      Seller Parties and the Company on the one hand, or Buyer, on the other, may:
      (A) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the
      other contained herein or in any document, certificate, or writing delivered
      pursuant hereto, or (B) waive compliance by the other with any of the
      other’s agreements or fulfillment of any conditions to its own obligations
      contained herein, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance
      with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as
      a
      waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other failure. Any agreement on
      the
      part of a party hereto to any such waiver shall be valid only if set forth
      in an
      instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of such party. No failure or delay
      by a party hereto in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall
      operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof
      preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
      right, power, or privilege.

     

    ARTICLE
      XI  

    DEFINITIONS
      AND REFERENCES

     

    Section
      11.1.  Certain
      Defined Terms. When
      used
      in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings
      assigned to them in this Section
      11.1 or
      in the
      sections, subsections or other subdivisions referred to below:

     

    “$10
      Million Credit”
is
      defined in Section
      1.2.

     

    “1934
      Act”
is
      defined in Section
      3.4(b).

     

    “Adjustment
      Payment Date”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3(d).

     

    “Affiliate”
      means,
      with respect to any Person, each other Person that directly or indirectly
      (through one or more intermediaries or otherwise) controls, is controlled by,
      or
      is under common control with such Person. The term “control” (including the
      terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession,
      directly or indirectly, of the actual power to direct or cause the direction
      of
      the management policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of stock,
      by
      contract, credit arrangement or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the
      contrary in this Agreement, NEGI shall not be deemed an Affiliate of the
      Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries or a Seller Party for purposes of this
      Agreement, except where explicitly indicated.

     

    “Agreement”
means
      this Purchase and Sale Agreement, as hereafter amended or modified in accordance
      with the terms hereof.

     

    “Applicable
      Rate”
means
      the per annum rate of interest and investment income earned pursuant to the
      Escrow Agreement.

     

    “Arbiter”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3(c).

     

    “AREH”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    “AREP”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    “Base
      Cash Purchase Price”
is
      defined in Section
      1.2.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        50

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Basket”
is
      defined in Section
      9.6(a).

     

    “Business
      Day”
      means
      any
      day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a day on which commercial banks
      in New York, New York are authorized or required to be closed.

     

    “Buyer”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    “Buyer
      Business Representations”
is
      defined in Section
      9.1(a).

     

    “Buyer
      Cap”
is
      defined in Section
      9.6(a).

     

    “Buyer
      Indemnified Persons”
is
      defined in Section
      9.2. 

     

    “Buyer
      Schedule”
means
      the
      disclosure letter of even date with this Agreement from Buyer to Seller
      delivered concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
      Agreement.

     

    “Cash”
shall
      mean all cash and cash equivalents calculated
      in accordance with GAAP (and consistent, with respect to presentation, with
      the
      June 30 Financials and September 30 Financials)
      (other
      than cash and cash equivalents which are restricted in use in connection with
      securing bonding requirements for plugging and abandonment obligations or other
      similar items, and other than any insurance proceeds after June 30, 2006, and
      refunds of prepaid insurance premiums after June 30, 2006); provided,
      that
      (i) $2,000,000 of the amount paid by the Company on September 13, 2006 for
      the
      oil and gas properties located in Iberville Parish, Louisiana and (ii) the
      $80,000 paid by the Company prior to the Closing Date in November 2006 for
      the
      services of Grant Thornton in connection with Buyer’s acquisition financing
      shall be deemed to be “Cash”. Set forth on Exhibit
      D
      is an
      example of the calculation of Cash based on the June 30 Financials and September
      30 Financials, as well as an estimate as of October 31, 2006. 

     

    “Cash
      Amount”
means
      the Cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries. 

     

    “Challenged
      Amounts”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3(c).

     

    “Chosen
      Courts”
is
      defined in Section
      10.5.

     

    “Claim
      Notice”
is
      defined in Section
      9.1(c).

     

    “Closing”
is
      defined in Section
      2.1.

     

    “Closing
      Date”
is
      defined in Section
      2.1.
      

     

    “Code”
means
      the Internal
      Revenue
      Code of 1986, or any successor statute thereto, as amended. 

     

    “Company”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    “Company
      Contracts”
is
      defined
      in
Section
      4.13(a).

     

    “Company
      Intellectual Property”
is
      defined in Section
      4.19.

     

    “Company
      Schedule”
means
      the disclosure letter of even date with this Agreement from the Seller Parties
      and the Company to Buyer delivered concurrently
      with the
      execution and delivery of this Agreement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        51

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Competing
      Proposal”
is
      defined in Section
      7.14(a).

     

    “Confidentiality
      Agreement”
means
      that
      certain
      letter agreement dated as of July 18, 2006 among Riata, AREP and
      NEGI.

     

    “Consents”
means
      all authorizations, consents, orders or approvals of, or registrations,
      declarations, exemptions, licenses, permits or filings with, or expiration
      of
      waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental Entity, in each case that are
      necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
      and all consents and approvals of third parties necessary to prevent any
      conflict with, violation or breach of, or default under, any
      Contract.

     

    “Consideration
      Shares”
is
      defined in Section
      1.2.

     

    “Contracts”
means
      all legally binding: agreements, contracts, leases, commitments, consensual
      obligations, arrangements, promises or understandings. 

     

    “Covered
      Parties”
is
      defined in Section
      7.10.

     

    “Credit
      Facility”
means
      that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2005, by and among
      NEG
      Oil & Gas LLC, Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent, Bear Stearns
      Corporate Lending Inc., as syndication agent, and certain financial
      institutions, as lenders.

     

    “Damages”
means
      any and all debts, obligations and other liabilities (whether absolute, accrued,
      contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether known or unknown, or due or to become
      due or otherwise), diminution in value, monetary damages of any type, fines,
      fees, Taxes, penalties, interest obligations, deficiencies, losses and expenses
      (including amounts paid in settlement, interest, court costs, costs of
      investigators, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, financial
      advisors and other experts, and other actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred
      in
      investigating and preparing for or in connection with any claim, demand, charge,
      suit, litigation or proceeding), but not lost profits; provided,
      that
      notwithstanding the foregoing, future income streams, future earnings, future
      revenues, future cash flows, terminal values and other similar items and metrics
      may be considered with respect to determining a valuation or calculating a
      diminution in value.

     

    “Defensible
      Title”
      means,
      

     

    (a) with
      respect to those Reserve Report Wells to which the Reserve Reports attribute
      proved reserves and with respect to any real property (including Easements)
      included in the Properties, such title and ownership by the Company or a
      Subsidiary of the Company that:

     

    (i) entitles
      the Company and/or a Subsidiary of the Company to receive and retain from such
      Reserve Report Well, without reduction, suspension or termination, not less
      than
      the percentage set forth in the Reserve Reports as the Net Revenue Interest
      of
      all Hydrocarbons produced, saved and marketed from such Reserve Report
      Well, subject
      in all cases to (and limited in all respects by) Permitted
      Encumbrances;

     

    (ii) obligates
      the Company and/or a Subsidiary of the Company to bear a percentage of the
      costs
      and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operation of such
      Reserve Report Well that is not more than the Working Interest set forth for
      such Reserve Report Well in the Reserve Reports (unless such increase is
      accompanied by a proportionate increase in the Net Revenue Interest applicable
      to such Reserve Report Well or is the result of the contribution requirements
      with respect to defaulting co-owners), subject in all cases to (and limited
      in
      all respects by) Permitted Encumbrances; and

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        52

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (iii) except
      with respect to the Reserve Report Wells, is defensible, subject in all cases
      to
      (and limited in all respects by) Permitted Encumbrances; and

     

    (iv) is
      free
      and clear of all Liens, subject in all cases to (and limited in all respects
      by)
      Permitted Encumbrances.

     

    (b) except
      for the Reserve Report Wells, with respect to any personal property or fixtures
      included in the Properties, such title and ownership by the Company or any
      of
      its Subsidiaries that is defensible and is free and clear of all Liens, subject
      in all cases to (and limited in all respects by) Permitted
      Encumbrances.

     

    “Dollars”
or
      “$”
means
      U.S. Dollars.

     

    “Due
      Diligence”
is
      defined in Section
      7.1(a).

     

    “Easements”
means
      the rights-of-way,
      easements, leases, servitudes, Permits, and licenses of the Company and its
      Subsidiaries that are necessary or useful for the location, operation,
      maintenance, repair, replacement, use or ownership of the Oil and Gas
      Properties, Pipeline and Processing Facilities, and related
      operations.

     

    “End
      Date”
is
      defined in Section
      8.3(a).

     

    “Environmental
      Laws”
means
      any and all Laws, regulations or other requirements relating to pollution or
      protection of the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
      surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) including,
      without limitation, the Clean Air Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response
      Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”),
      the
      Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”),
      the
      Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”),
      the
      Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Hazardous Materials
      Transportation Act (“HMTA”),
      all
      as amended, and any state Laws implementing or analogous to the foregoing
      federal laws, and all other Laws relating to or regulating emissions,
      discharges, releases, or cleanup of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals,
      polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”),
      oil
      and gas exploration and production wastes, brine, solid wastes, or toxic
      wastes.

     

    “Equity
      Interest”
means
      (i) the equity ownership rights in a business entity, whether a corporation,
      company, joint stock company, limited liability company, general or limited
      partnership, joint venture, bank, association, trust, trust company, land trust,
      business trust, sole proprietorship or other business entity or organization,
      and whether in the form of capital stock, ownership unit, limited liability
      company interest, membership interest, limited or general partnership interest
      or any other form of ownership, and (ii) also includes all Equity Interest
      Equivalents.

     

    “Equity
      Interest Equivalents”
means
      all rights, warrants, options, convertible securities or indebtedness,
      exchangeable securities or other instruments, or other rights that are
      outstanding and exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into, directly
      or
      indirectly, any Equity Interest at the time of issuance or upon the passage
      of
      time or occurrence of some future event.

     

    “ERISA”
means
      the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        53

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Estimated
      Cash Amount”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3.

     

    “Estimated
      Net Working Capital”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3.

     

    “Excluded
      Licenses”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(b).

     

    “Exclusivity
      Period”
is
      defined in Section
      7.14.

     

    “Extended
      End Date”
is
      defined in Section
      8.3(a).

     

    “Extraordinary
      Payments”
means
      all payments or other distributions required to be made by the Company or any
      of
      its Subsidiaries, pursuant to any Contracts, to any directors, managers,
      officers or employees of the Company
      or any
      of its Subsidiaries as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
      Agreement, including all severance payments, termination payments or other
      amounts payable (including the estimated costs of benefits required to be
      provided) under the terms of any employment agreement determined as if the
      employee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries was terminated
      after the occurrence of a “change of control” or other similar event (whether
      such payments or other distributions are paid on or before the Closing Date
      or
      are payable after the Closing Date). 

     

    “Final
      Cash Amount”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3(b).

     

    “Final
      Net Working Capital”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3(b).

     

    “Financial
      Statements”
is
      defined in Section
      4.7(b).

     

    “Fixtures,
      Facilities and Equipment”
means
      Wells, tubing, casing, downhole equipment, wellhead equipment, pumping units,
      flowlines, tanks, buildings, injection facilities, saltwater disposal
      facilities, compression
      facilities, gathering systems, fixtures, machinery and equipment and all other
      personal property and fixtures used on or in connection with the operation
      of
      the Oil and Gas Properties, Easements, and Pipeline and Processing
      Facilities.

     

    “Fundamental
      Buyer Representations”
is
      defined in Section
      9.1(a).

     

    “Fundamental
      Seller Representations”
is
      defined in Section
      9.1(a).

     

    “GAAP”
means
      generally
      accepted
      accounting principles in the United States of America from time to time in
      effect applied on a consistent basis.

     

    “Galveston
      Subsidiaries”
is
      defined in Section
      4.12(a).

     

    “Governing
      Documents”
      means,
      as
      applicable, the certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation, bylaws,
      certificate of limited partnership, partnership or limited partnership
      agreement, certificate of formation, regulations, operating agreement, joint
      venture agreement and each other Contract or instrument (i) pursuant to which
      a
      Person is established and organized, or (ii) which establishes the
      governance of such Person, and in each such case, as amended, modified or
      restated.

     

    “Governmental
      Entity”
means
      any court or tribunal in any jurisdiction (domestic or foreign) or any federal,
      state, county, municipal, or other governmental or quasi-governmental body,
      agency, authority, department, commission, board, bureau, or instrumentality
      (domestic or foreign).

     

    “Hazardous
      Material”
means
      (i) any “hazardous substance,” as defined by CERCLA, (ii) any “hazardous waste”
or “solid waste,” in either case as defined by the Resource Conservation and
      Recovery Act, as amended, and any analogous state statutes, and any regulations
      promulgated thereunder that are applicable to the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries, (iii) any solid, hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material,
      waste or substance, within the meaning of and regulated by any applicable
      Environmental Law, (iv) any radioactive material, including any naturally
      occurring radioactive material, and any source, special or byproduct material
      as
      defined in 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. and any amendments or authorizations thereof,
      (v) any regulated asbestos-containing materials in any form or condition, (vi)
      any regulated polychlorinated biphenyls in any form or condition and (vii)
      petroleum, petroleum hydrocarbons or any fraction or byproducts thereof.
      Notwithstanding the foregoing, no change in Law or regulation that is adopted
      or
      becomes effective after the Closing Date shall alter the definition of Hazardous
      Material as defined or used in this Agreement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        54

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Hedge”
means
      any future derivative, swap, collar, put, call, cap, option or similar Contract
      that is intended to benefit from, or reduce or eliminate, the risk of
      fluctuations in interest rates, basis risk or the price of commodities,
      including Hydrocarbons or securities, to which the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries is bound or subject.

     

    “HSR
      Act”
is
      defined
      in
Section
      7.2(b).

     

    “Hydrocarbons”
means
      oil,
      condensate, gas, casinghead gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons, or
      any
      of them or any combination thereof, and all products and substances produced
      therewith, extracted, separated, processed and produced therefrom.

     

    “Imbalances”
means
      the quantity of natural gas owed to, or owed by, the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries, but not paid for, as set forth on Company
      Schedule 4.15(a),
      by
      reason of well, pipeline or processing imbalances.

     

    “Included
      Licenses”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(b).

     

    “Indebtedness”
means,
      with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such
      Person for borrowed money (including any accrued and unpaid interest and any
      prepayment penalties or premiums, in each case, to the extent not otherwise
      included in Net Working Capital), (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced
      by bonds, debentures, notes or similar debt instruments (including all accrued
      and unpaid interest and all prepayment penalties or premiums) or reimbursement
      agreements in respect thereof, (iii) all obligations of such Person under
      capitalized leases, (iv) all obligations of others secured by any Lien on
      property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations
      secured thereby have been assumed, (v) all letters of credit issued for the
      account of such Person, (vi) obligations of such Person under conditional sale,
      title retention or similar arrangements or other obligations to pay in respect
      of the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, (vii)
      all obligations in respect of currency, commodity or interest rate swap, hedge
      or similar protection device, and (viii) all guarantees of or by such Person
      of
      any of the matters described in clauses (i)-(vii) hereof. For the avoidance
      of
      doubt, no items included in Indebtedness shall be included in Net Working
      Capital.

     

    “Indemnified
      Party”
is
      defined in Section
      9.4(a).

     

    “Indemnifying
      Party”
is
      defined in Section
      9.4(a).

     

    “Interests”
means
      100% of the membership or other Equity Interests issued by the Company (which
      is
      described in the operating agreement of the Company attached as Exhibit
      E).

     

    “Interim
      Financial Statements”
is
      defined in Section
      4.7(c).

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        55

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “IRS”
means
      the Internal Revenue
      Service.

     

    “June
      30 Financials”
is
      defined in Section
      8.3(c).

     

    “Knowledge”
of
      a
      specified Person (or similar references to a Person’s knowledge) means
      (i) in the case of a Person who is an individual, the information actually
      known by such Person, (ii) in the case of the Seller Parties or the Company,
      the
      information actually known by Carl
      Icahn, Keith Meister, Vincent Intrieri, Bob Alexander, Randy Cooley, Philip
      D.
      Devlin or Don Butler (each a “Primary
      Knowledge Person”)
      after
      receiving an affidavit in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
      F
      from
      each of F. Wayne Campbell, Rick Kirby, R. Kent Leuders, Lori Mauk, David Rigsby
      and Jenny Robins (each a “Secondary
      Knowledge Person”),
      or
      (iii) in the case of Buyer or Riata, the information actually known by the
      Tom L. Ward, N. Malone Mitchell, Dirk M. Van Doren, Matthew McCann and Matthew
      K. Grubb after making due inquiry of the current management employees of such
      Person and its Subsidiaries having primary responsibility for such
      matter.

     

    “Law”
means
      any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order, ordinance, requirement,
      code, writ, injunction, or decree of any Governmental Entity. 

     

    “Lease(s)”
means
      oil, gas or mineral leases, leasehold estates, operating rights and other rights
      authorizing the owner thereof to explore or drill for and produce Hydrocarbons
      and other minerals, contractual rights to acquire any such of the foregoing
      interests which have been earned by performance, and fee mineral,
      royalty
      and overriding royalty interests, net profits interests, production payments
      and
      other interests payable out of Hydrocarbon production, in each case, in which
      the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an interest. 

     

    “Letter
      of Intent”
is
      defined in the Recitals.

     

    “Lien”
means
      any claim, lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge, deposit,
      charge,
      option, easement, encroachment or encumbrance of any kind.

     

    “Management
      Agreements”
means
      all agreements between NEGI and any of the Company or the Subsidiaries providing
      for the payment of fees, reimbursements or other compensation to NEGI, including
      without limitation, the Management Agreement, dated May 1, 2001, as amended,
      between NEGI and NEG Operating LLC; the Management Agreement dated August 28,
      2003 between NEGI and TransTexas Gas Corporation; and the Management Agreement
      dated November 16, 2004 between NEGI and Panaco, Inc.

     

    “Material
      Adverse Change”
shall
      mean, when used in connection with Riata, Seller or the Company, as the case
      may
      be, any change, event, occurrence, condition, circumstance, development or
      effect that, individually or in the aggregate has had, or will have, a material
      adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition
      (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of such party and its
      Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or that would reasonably be expected to
      materially delay or adversely affect the ability of such party and its
      Affiliates to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; provided,
      however, that any change, event, occurrence, condition, circumstance,
      development or effect that is (i) primarily caused by conditions affecting
      the
      United States economy generally or the economy of any nation or region in which
      such party or any of its Subsidiaries conducts business that is material to
      the
      business of such entity and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall not be
      taken into account in determining whether there as been or would be “Material
      Adverse Change” on or with respect to such party, (ii) primarily caused by
      conditions generally affecting the oil and gas industry shall not be taken
      into
      account in determining whether there has been or would be a “Material Adverse
      Change” on or with respect to such party, and (iii) primarily caused by the
      announcement or pendency of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
      hereby shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been
      or
      would be a “Material Adverse Change” on or with respect to such party, except in
      the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent such change, event, occurrence,
      condition, circumstance, development or effect has a disproportionate adverse
      effect on such party and its Subsidiaries as compared to any other person
      engaged in the same business.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        56

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Merger
      Agreement”
means
      the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 7, 2005 among NEGI, the Company,
      NEG, Inc. and AREH.

     

    “Mizuho
      Note”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(a).

     

    “Most
      Recent SEC Reports”
is
      defined in Section
      4.7(a).

     

    “NEG
      Holding”
means
      NEG Holding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

     

    “NEG
      Sub”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(a).

     

    “NEG
      Operating”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(a).

     

    “NEGI”
means
      National Energy Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     

    “NEGI’s
      Relevant Employees”
is
      defined in Section
      7.14(c).

     

    “Net
      Revenue Interest”
means
      an interest (expressed as a percentage or decimal fraction) in and to all
      Hydrocarbons produced and saved from or attributable to a Reserve Report Well,
      as such percentage or decimal is set forth in the Reserve Reports.

     

    “Net
      Working Capital”
shall
      mean current assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries minus current
      liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with
      GAAP (and consistent, with respect to presentation, with the June 30 Financials
      and September 30 Financials), excluding receivables or payables due to or from
      AREP or its Affiliates which are being eliminated by the Seller Parties as
      part
      of the transactions contemplated hereby, Cash and all liabilities and
      obligations (and positive benefits and value) relating to the Hedges, and,
      since
      September 7, 2006, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have been operating
      in
      the ordinary course consistent with past practice with respect to net working
      capital items. In addition, the calculation of Net Working Capital
      shall:
      (i)
      include as a current asset the drilling deposit/return premium (estimated to
      be
      between $900,000 and $1,085,000) under insurance policy numbers JHB2M050074
      and
      BCR-9E-1001-05 dated December 1, 2005 to December 1, 2006: (1) if such treatment
      is in accordance with GAAP (and consistent, with respect to presentation, with
      the June 30 Financials and the September 30 Financials), whether or not such
      drilling deposit/return premium is actually repaid to or otherwise obtained
      (in
      whole or in part) by Buyer, the Company or its Subsidiaries; or (2)
      notwithstanding GAAP or past practice, in an amount equal to the amount of
      such
      drilling deposit/return premium actually repaid to or otherwise obtained (in
      whole or in part) by Buyer, the Company or its Subsidiaries or in an amount
      equal to the benefit therefrom realized by the Buyer, the Company or its
      Subsidiaries; and (ii) exclude: (a)
      cash
      and cash equivalents which are restricted in use, including in connection with
      securing bonding requirements for plugging and abandonment obligations or other
      similar items, and (b) any insurance proceeds and any claims therefor made
      by or
      on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after June 30, 2006.
Notwithstanding
      the presentation in the June 30 Financials or the September 30 Financials or
      the
      treatment under GAAP, gas imbalances shall be deemed to be a current liability.
      Set
      forth
      on Exhibit
      G
      is an
      example of the calculation of Net Working Capital based on the June 30
      Financials and September 30 Financials.
      For the
      avoidance of doubt, no items included in Indebtedness shall be included in
      Net
      Working Capital.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        57

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Note”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(a).

     

    “Notice
      Period”
is
      defined in Section
      9.4(a).

     

    “Oil
      and Gas Contracts”
is
      defined
      in
Section
      4.13(b).

     

    “Oil
      and Gas Properties”
      means
      all
      right, title and interest, including easements, of the Company and any of its
      Subsidiaries in and to a Lease or lands pooled therewith.

     

    “Oil
      and Gas Holdings”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    “Operating
      Agreement of NEG Holding”
means
      that certain Operating Agreement of NEG Holding dated May 1, 2001, and any
      amendment thereto or replacement thereof.

     

    “Ordinary
      Course of Business”
means,
      with respect to a Person, the ordinary course of each of the businesses
      of such Person and its Subsidiaries
      consistent with past practice and custom (including with respect to quantity
      and
      frequency).

     

    “Panaco
      ESOP”
means
      the Panaco, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust Contract #937064
      Marshall and Isley Trust Company N.A., Account #93-7064-00-4.

     

    “Parents”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    “Pay-Off
      Letters”
means
      the letters, and any updates thereto, to be sent by the lenders under the Credit
      Facility to Buyer prior to or at Closing (if the Buyer has elected to cause
      the
      payoff of the Credit Facility), which letters shall specify the aggregate amount
      of Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries that will be outstanding
      as
      of the Closing Date under the Credit Facility and wire transfer information
      for
      each such lender.

     

    “Permits”
means
      licenses,
      permits, waivers, franchises, consents, concessions, approvals, variances,
      grants, exemptions, registrations, operating certificates, orders and other
      authorizations of or from Governmental Entities.

     

    “Permitted
      Encumbrances”
means
      the following: 

     

    (a) Liens
      for
      taxes which are not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith
      and for which adequate reserves have been established; 

     

    (b) normal
      and customary Liens under operating agreements, unitization agreements, and
      pooling orders relating to the Properties, which obligations are not yet
      delinquent and pursuant to which none of the Company and its Subsidiaries is
      in
      default; 

     

    (c) mechanic’s,
      materialman’s and other like Liens relating to the Properties, which obligations
      are not yet delinquent and pursuant to which none of the Company and its
      Subsidiaries is in default; 

     

    (d) minor
      imperfections, defects and irregularities in title or other restrictions on
      the
      use or ownership of property (whether created by or arising out of joint
      operating agreements, farm-out agreements, leases and assignments, contracts
      for
      purchases of Hydrocarbons or similar agreements, or otherwise in the Ordinary
      Course of Business) that are of the nature customarily accepted by reasonable
      and prudent persons engaged in the business of the ownership, development and
      operating of oil and gas properties, including but not limited to (i) defects
      in
      the early chain of title consisting of failure to recite marital status or
      the
      omission of succession or heirship proceedings; (ii) defects or irregularities
      arising out of mortgages or deeds of trust which, by their terms, matured more
      that twenty years ago but which remain unreleased of record; (iii) defects
      or
      irregularities arising out of the lack of recorded powers of attorney from
      corporations to execute and deliver documents on their behalf; and (iv) defects
      and irregularities cured by possession under applicable statues of limitation
      and statutes relating to prescription;

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        58

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (e) all
      rights to consent by, required notices to, filings with, or other actions by
      Governmental Entities in connection with the sale or conveyance of oil and
      gas
      leases or interests therein if the same are customarily obtained routinely
      and
      subsequent to such sale or conveyance; 

     

    (f) preferential
      rights to purchase and required third party consents to assignments and similar
      agreements with respect to which, prior to Closing, 

     

    (i) waivers
      or consents are obtained from the appropriate parties, 

     

    (ii) the
      appropriate time period for asserting such rights has expired without an
      exercise of such rights, or

     

    (iii) arrangements
      can be made on terms satisfactory to Buyer to allow Buyer to receive
      substantially the same economic benefits as if all such waivers and consents
      had
      been obtained; 

     

    (g) easements,
      encumbrances, rights-of-way, servitudes, Permits, surface leases and other
      rights in respect of surface operations, pipelines, grazing, logging, canals,
      ditches, reservoirs, fences or the like; and easements for streets, alleys,
      highways, pipelines, telephone lines, power lines, railways and other easements
      and rights-of-way, on, over or in respect of any of the Properties to the extent
      such matters do not materially interfere with operations on the Properties;
      

     

    (h) rights
      reserved to or vested in any municipality or governmental, statutory or public
      authority to control or regulate any of the Properties in any manner, and all
      applicable Laws, rules and orders of any Governmental Entity;

     

    (i) conventional
      rights of reassignment normally actuated by an intent to abandon or release
      a
      lease and requiring notice to the holders of such rights; and

     

    (j)
       Liens
      securing Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company solely to the Company
      or
      any of the Company's Subsidiaries.

     

    “Person”
means
      any individual,
      corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association,
      joint-stock company, trust, enterprise, unincorporated organization, or
      Governmental Entity. 

     

    “Pre-Closing
      Tax Period”
is
      defined in Section
      7.7(a).

     

    “Pipeline
      and Processing Facilities”
means
      any pipelines or treatment or processing facilities of the Company and its
      Subsidiaries.

     

    “Potential
      MAC Claim”
is
      defined in Section
      9.4(b).

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        59

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Private
      Placement Memorandum”
is
      defined in Section
      5.5(a).

     

    “Proceedings”
means
      all proceedings,
      litigation, arbitrations,
      actions,
      claims, suits and investigations, whether
      at law or equity, or civil or criminal in nature, in each case by or before
      any
      arbitrator or any Governmental Entity.

     

    “Properties”
      means
      the Oil
      and Gas Properties, Easements, Fixtures, Facilities and Equipment, and Pipeline
      and Processing Facilities.

     

    “Protest
      Letter”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3(b).

     

    “PUD
      Location”
shall
      mean each drilling location identified in the Reserve Reports, subject to any
      depth restriction set forth in the Reserve Reports to such
      location.

     

    “PUD
      Well”
shall
      mean a well to be drilled in the future upon a PUD Location, which (for the
      purposes of determining Defensible Title thereto) shall be treated as if such
      well had been drilled and completed and was in existence at or prior to the
      date
      of this Agreement.

     

    “Purchase
      Price”
is
      defined in Section
      7.7(c).

     

    “Purchase
      Price Allocation”
is
      defined in Section
      7.7(c).

     

    “Purchase
      Price Review Period”
is
      defined in Section
      1.3(b).

     

    “Representatives”
is
      defined in Section
      7.14(a).

     

    “Required
      Third Party Consent”
is
      defined in Section
      8.2(a).
      

     

    “Reserve
      Reports”
is
      defined in Section
      4.17.

     

    “Reserve
      Report Well”
means
      a
      Well or a PUD Well, as the context requires, that is specifically referenced
      in
      the Reserve Reports.

     

    “Restructuring”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(a).

     

    “Riata
      Financial Statements”
is
      defined in Section
      5.5(b).

     

    “SEC”
means
      the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

     

    “SEC
      Financial Statements”
is
      defined in Section
      4.7(b).

     

    “Section
      8.3 SEC Reports”
is
      defined in Section
      8.3(c).

     

    “Securities
      Act”
means
      the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     

    “Seller
      Business Representations”
is
      defined in Section
      9.1(a).

     

    “Seller
      Indemnified Persons”
is
      defined in Section
      9.3.

     

    “Seller
      Insurance Policies”
is
      defined in Section
      7.18.

     

    “Seller”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        60

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Seller
      Cap”
is
      defined in Section
      9.6(a).

     

    “Seller
      Parties”
is
      defined in the Preamble.

     

    “September
      30 Financials”
means
      the NEG Oil & Gas LLC September 30, 2006 financial statements.

     

    “Stock”
is
      defined in Section
      7.11(a).

     

    “Straddle
      Period”
is
      defined in Section
      7.7(a).

     

    “Subsidiary”
means,
      with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, limited
      partnership, partnership, trust or other entity with respect to which such
      Person has the power, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
      to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities or interests to elect
      a
      majority of the directors or management committee or similar governing body.
      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any agreements,
      certificates or documents delivered in connection with this Agreement, (i)
      NEGI
      shall not be deemed a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or any Seller
      Party for all purposes of this Agreement or any agreements, certificates or
      documents delivered in connection with this Agreement and (ii) NEG Holding
      and
      its Subsidiaries are Subsidiaries of the Company for all purposes of this
      Agreement and any agreements, certificates or documents delivered in connection
      with this Agreement.

     

    “Survival
      Period”
is
      defined
      in
Section
      9.1(a).

     

    “Tax”
or
      “Taxes”
means
      any and all taxes, charges, fees, levies, tariffs, duties, liabilities,
      impositions or other assessments of any kind (together with any and all
      interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional amounts imposed with
      respect thereto) imposed by any Tax authority or other Governmental Entity,
      including, without limitation, income, gross receipts, profits, gaming, excise,
      real or personal property, environmental, sales, use, value-added, ad velorem,
      withholding, social security, retirement, employment, unemployment, workers’
compensation, occupation, service, license, net worth, capital stock, payroll,
      franchise, gains, stamp, transfer and recording taxes, and shall include any
      liability for the Taxes of any Person under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6
      (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), or as a transferee
      or successor, by contract, or otherwise. 

     

    “Tax
      Returns”
means
      any report, return, amended return, refund claim, information statement, payee
      statement or other information provided or required to be provided to any
      Governmental Entity, with respect to Taxes, including any return of an
      affiliated, combined or unitary group.

     

    “Third
      Party Claim”
is
      defined in Section
      9.4(a).

     

    “Transaction
      Costs”
means
      the aggregate amount of all fees, costs and expenses of the Company and its
      Subsidiaries (whether incurred by or on behalf of the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries or on behalf of Seller or any of its Affiliates) incurred through
      the Closing Date in connection with the structuring, negotiation, performance
      or
      consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether due
      to
      be paid before or after the Closing Date), including, without limitation, any
      investment banking, accounting, advisory, brokers, finders or legal fees or
      fees
      paid to any Governmental Entity or third party. 

     

    “Treasury”
is
      defined in Section
      2.2(e).

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        61

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    “Well”
means
      a
      well drilled for the purpose of producing Hydrocarbons or disposing of fluids
      produced in connection with the
      production of Hydrocarbons, associated with the Company’s or any of its
      Subsidiaries’ interest in any Lease or lands pooled therewith.

     

    “Working
      Interest”
      means
      the
      percentage of costs and expenses attributable to the maintenance, development
      and operation of a Reserve Report Well, as such percentage is set forth in
      the
      Reserve Reports.

     

    Section
      11.2.  References
      and
      Construction.All
      references in this Agreement to articles, sections, subsections and other
      subdivisions refer to corresponding articles, sections, subsections and other
      subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. All
      references to “Schedule or “Schedules” are to the disclosure schedules attached
      hereto.

     

    (a)  Titles
      appearing at the beginning of any of such subdivisions are for convenience
      only
      and shall not constitute part of such subdivisions and shall be disregarded
      in
      construing the language contained in such subdivisions.

     

    (b)  The
      words
“this Agreement,” “this instrument,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder”
and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
      particular subdivision unless expressly so limited.

     

    (c)  Words
      in
      the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa,
      unless the context otherwise requires. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and
      neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender.

     

    (d)  Unless
      the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise provided herein, the terms
      defined in this Agreement which refer to a particular agreement, instrument
      or
      document also refer to and include all renewals, extensions, modifications,
      amendments or restatements of such agreement, instrument or document, provided
      that nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to authorize such
      renewal, extension, modification, amendment or restatement.

     

    (e)  The
      word
“includes” and its derivatives means “includes, but is not limited to” and
      corresponding derivative expressions.

     

    (f)  Each
      of
      the parties hereto acknowledges that it has been represented by independent
      counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the
      execution of this Agreement and that it has executed the same with consent
      and
      upon the advice of said independent counsel. Each party and its counsel
      cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents
      referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto exchanged between
      the parties shall be deemed the work product of the parties and may not be
      construed against any party by reason of its preparation. Accordingly, any
      rule
      of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any
      ambiguities in this Agreement against any party that drafted it is of no
      application and is hereby expressly waived.

     

    (g)  Notwithstanding
      anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise
      expressly provided in this Agreement, the Parties hereto covenant and agree
      that
      no amount shall be (or is intended to be) included, in whole or in part (either
      as an increase or a reduction), more than once in the calculation of any
      calculated amount pursuant to this Agreement if the effect of such additional
      inclusion (either as an increase or a reduction) would be to cause such amount
      to be over- or under-counted for purposes of the transactions contemplated
      by
      this Agreement. The Parties hereto further covenant and agree that, with respect
      to any calculation of Cash or Net Working Capital pursuant to this Agreement,
      if
      there is a conflict between the terms set forth in this Agreement and GAAP,
      the
      terms set forth in this Agreement shall control.

    

    
      
        
        

      

      
        62

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    ARTICLE
      XII

    GUARANTEE;
      LETTER OF INTENT;
      MANAGEMENT

     

    Section
      12.1.  Guarantee .
      Riata
      hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the full and
      punctual payment when due, and the performance by, the Buyer of all of its
      obligations under this Agreement. This guarantee constitutes a continuing,
      absolute, unconditional and irrevocable guarantee of payment when due, and
      not
      of collection, and Riata specifically agrees that it shall not be necessary
      or
      required that the Seller Parties exercise any right, assert any claim or demand
      or enforce any remedy whatsoever against the Buyer (or any other person or
      entity) before or as a condition to the obligations of Riata hereunder. This
      guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until all obligations of the
      Buyer hereunder have been paid in full or performed. 

     

    Section
      12.2.  Letter
      of Intent.
      The
      parties hereto agree that (i) the Letter of Intent is hereby amended so that
      all
      references therein to “November 16, 2006” shall be replaced with “November 21,
      2006” and (ii) the Letter of Intent shall be deemed to have been continuously in
      effect since the execution thereof through and until the Closing (including
      for
      purposes of Section
      9.2(c)
      hereof).

     

    Section
      12.3.  Management.
      Buyer
      agrees that following the Closing it will not, and will cause the Company and
      its Subsidiaries not to, assert any claim against NEGI based upon any management
      failure, mistake or error in the provision of management services under the
      Management Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not
      limit
      the rights of Buyer under this Agreement (including Sections
      7.10,
      7.11
      or
10.11
      or
Article
      IX
      hereof)
      nor rights of Buyer, the Company and its Subsidiaries arising out of the failure
      to return to the Company and its Subsidiaries of assets, books and records,
      information technology, data, software and rights (if any) belonging to the
      Company and its Subsidiaries but in the possession of NEGI. 

     

    [Signature
      page follows]

    
      
        
        

      

      
        63

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    IN
      WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by the parties hereto on the date
      set forth above.

     

    

    

    

    AMERICAN
      REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.

    

    By:
      American Property Investors, Inc.,

    its
      general partner

    

    

    By:
      /s/ Hillel
      Moerman                                             

    Name:
      Hillel Moerman

    Title:
      Chief Financial Officer

    

    

    AMERICAN
      REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS 

    LIMITED
      PARTNERSHIP

    

    By:
      American Property Investors, Inc.,

    its
      general partner

    

    

    By:
      /s/ Hillel
      Moerman                                             

    Name:
      Hillel Moerman

    Title:
      Chief Financial Officer

    

    

    

    AREP
      OIL & GAS HOLDINGS LLC

    

    By:
      American Real Estate Holdings Limited Partnership

    By:
      American Property Investors, Inc.,

    its
      general partner

    

    

    By:
      /s/ Hillel
      Moerman                                             

    Name:
      Hillel Moerman

    Title:
      Chief Financial Officer

    

    
      
        [Purchase
          and Sale Agreement Signature Page]

        
        

      

      
        64

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    AREP
      O & G HOLDINGS LLC

    

    

    By:
      AREP
      Oil & Gas Holdings LLC, its sole member

    By:
      American Real Estate Holdings Limited Partnership, its sole member

    By:
      American Property Investors, Inc.,

    its
      general partner

    

    

    By:
      /s/ Hillel
      Moerman                                             

    Name:
      Hillel Moerman

    Title:
      Chief Financial Officer

    

    

    NEG
      OIL & GAS LLC

    

    By:
      AREP
      O&G Holdings LLC, its sole member

    By:
      AREP
      Oil & Gas Holdings LLC, its sole member

    By:
      American Real Estate Holdings Limited Partnership, its sole member

    By:
      American Property Investors, Inc.,

    its
      general partner

    

    

    By:
      /s/ Hillel
      Moerman                                             

    Name:
      Hillel Moerman

    Title:
      Chief Financial Officer

    

    

    SANDRIDGE
      HOLDINGS, INC.

    

    

    By:
      /s/ Tom L. Ward         
                                     

    Name:
      Tom
      L. Ward

    Title:
      Chief Executive Officer

    

    

    Solely
      for purposes of Article
      V,
      Article
      XII,
      Section
      9.5
      and Section
      10.2

    RIATA
      ENERGY, INC.

    

    

    By:
      /s/ Tom L.
      Ward                                               

    Name:
      Tom
      L. Ward

    Title:
      Chief Executive Officer

    

    
      
        
        

      

      65

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