Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      AMONG

                           PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

                                PM MERGER, INC.,

                        MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.,

                                       AND

                                 AM MERGER, INC.

                            DATED AS OF MAY 23, 2001

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ARTICLE 1

         THE MERGERS.........................................................................................2
         Section 1.1  The Marine Merger......................................................................2
         Section 1.2  The Pride Merger.......................................................................2
         Section 1.3  The Closing............................................................................2
         Section 1.4  Marine Merger Effective Time...........................................................3
         Section 1.5  Pride Merger Effective Time............................................................3
         Section 1.6  Effects of the Mergers.................................................................3

ARTICLE 2

         ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS OF SURVIVING ENTITIES......................................................4
         Section 2.1  Certificate of Incorporation of the Pride Merger Surviving Entity......................4
         Section 2.2  Bylaws of the Pride Merger Surviving Entity............................................4
         Section 2.3  Certificate of Incorporation of the Marine Merger Surviving Entity.....................4
         Section 2.4  Bylaws of the Marine Merger Surviving Entity...........................................4
         Section 2.5  Adoption of Stockholder Rights Plan....................................................4

ARTICLE 3

         DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE SURVIVING ENTITIES....................................................5
         Section 3.1  Directors of Merger Sub................................................................5
         Section 3.2  Officers of Merger Sub.................................................................5
         Section 3.3  Directors of the Company...............................................................5
         Section 3.4  Officers of the Company................................................................5

ARTICLE 4

         EFFECT OF THE MERGERS ON THE STOCK OF THE
         COMPANY, MARINE, PRIDE AND MERGER SUB; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.....................................6
         Section 4.1  Effect on Marine Stock.................................................................6
         Section 4.2  Effect on the Stock of Merger Sub......................................................6
         Section 4.3  Effect on the Stock of the Company.....................................................6
         Section 4.4  Effect on Pride Stock..................................................................6
         Section 4.5  Exchange of Certificates...............................................................7
         Section 4.6  Rule 16b-3 Approval...................................................................10
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ARTICLE 5

         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MARINE...........................................................10
         Section 5.1  Existence; Good Standing; Corporate Authority.........................................10
         Section 5.2  Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreements......................................10
         Section 5.3  Capitalization........................................................................11
         Section 5.4  Significant Subsidiaries..............................................................11
         Section 5.5  Compliance with Laws; Permits.........................................................12
         Section 5.6  No Conflict...........................................................................13
         Section 5.7  SEC Documents.........................................................................14
         Section 5.8  Litigation............................................................................15
         Section 5.9  Absence of Certain Changes............................................................15
         Section 5.10 Taxes.................................................................................15
         Section 5.11 Employee Benefit Plans................................................................18
         Section 5.12 Labor Matters.........................................................................20
         Section 5.13 Environmental Matters.................................................................21
         Section 5.14 Intellectual Property.................................................................22
         Section 5.15 Decrees, Etc. ........................................................................22
         Section 5.16 Insurance.............................................................................22
         Section 5.17 No Brokers............................................................................23
         Section 5.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................23
         Section 5.19 Vote Required.........................................................................23
         Section 5.20 Ownership of Drilling Rigs............................................................23
         Section 5.21 Undisclosed Liabilities...............................................................24
         Section 5.22 Certain Contracts.....................................................................24
         Section 5.23 Capital Expenditure Program...........................................................25
         Section 5.24 Improper Payments.....................................................................25
         Section 5.25 Amendment to Marine Rights Agreement..................................................25
         Section 5.26 Pooling of Interests..................................................................26

ARTICLE 6

         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PRIDE............................................................26
         Section 6.1  Existence; Good Standing; Corporate Authority.........................................26
         Section 6.2  Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreements......................................26
         Section 6.3  Capitalization........................................................................27
         Section 6.4  Significant Subsidiaries..............................................................27
         Section 6.5  Compliance with Laws; Permits.........................................................28
         Section 6.6  No Conflict...........................................................................29
         Section 6.7  SEC Documents.........................................................................30
         Section 6.8  Litigation............................................................................30
         Section 6.9  Absence of Certain Changes............................................................31
         Section 6.10 Taxes.................................................................................31
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         Section 6.11  Employee Benefit Plans................................................................33
         Section 6.12  Labor Matters.........................................................................36
         Section 6.13  Environmental Matters.................................................................36
         Section 6.14  Intellectual Property.................................................................37
         Section 6.15  Decrees, Etc..........................................................................37
         Section 6.16  Insurance.............................................................................37
         Section 6.17  No Brokers............................................................................38
         Section 6.18  Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................38
         Section 6.19  Vote Required.........................................................................38
         Section 6.20  Ownership of Drilling Rigs and Drillships.............................................38
         Section 6.21  Undisclosed Liabilities...............................................................39
         Section 6.22  Certain Contracts.....................................................................39
         Section 6.23  Capital Expenditure Program...........................................................40
         Section 6.24  Improper Payments.....................................................................40
         Section 6.25  Amendment to Pride Rights Agreement...................................................40
         Section 6.26  Pooling of Interests..................................................................41
         Section 6.27. Representations and Warranties Relating to the Company and Merger
                       Sub...................................................................................41

ARTICLE 7

         COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS............................................................................42
          Section 7.1  Conduct of Marine's Business..........................................................42
          Section 7.2  Conduct of Pride's Business...........................................................46
          Section 7.3  No Solicitation by Marine.  ..........................................................50
          Section 7.4  No Solicitation by Pride..............................................................52
          Section 7.5  Rights Agreements.....................................................................53
          Section 7.6  Meetings of Shareholders..............................................................53
          Section 7.7  Filings; Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts, Etc. ..................................55
          Section 7.8  Inspection............................................................................57
          Section 7.9  Publicity.............................................................................57
          Section 7.10 Registration Statement on Form S-4....................................................58
          Section 7.11 Listing Applications..................................................................59
          Section 7.12 "Comfort" Letters of Accountants......................................................59
          Section 7.13 Agreements of Affiliates..............................................................60
          Section 7.14 Expenses..............................................................................60
          Section 7.15 Indemnification and Insurance.........................................................60
          Section 7.16 Marine Employee Stock Options, Incentives and Benefit Plans...........................62
          Section 7.17 Pride Employee Stock Options, Incentives and Benefit Plans............................63
          Section 7.18 Company Covenants Concerning Incentive Compensation and Benefits......................63
          Section 7.19 Company Assumption of Indenture Indebtedness..........................................64
          Section 7.20 Pooling Letters.......................................................................64
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ARTICLE 8

         CONDITIONS.........................................................................................65
         Section 8.1  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Mergers...........................65
         Section 8.2  Conditions to Obligation of Marine to Effect the Marine Merger........................66
         Section 8.3  Conditions to Obligation of Pride to Effect the Pride Merger..........................67

ARTICLE 9

         TERMINATION........................................................................................68
         Section 9.1  Termination by Mutual Consent.........................................................68
         Section 9.2  Termination by Marine or Pride........................................................68
         Section 9.3  Termination by Marine.................................................................68
         Section 9.4  Termination by Pride.  ...............................................................69
         Section 9.5  Effect of Termination.................................................................70
         Section 9.6  Extension; Waiver.....................................................................72

ARTICLE 10

         GENERAL PROVISIONS..................................................................................72
         Section 10.1  Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.............................72
         Section 10.2  Notices...............................................................................72
         Section 10.3  Assignment; Binding Effect; Benefit...................................................73
         Section 10.4  Entire Agreement......................................................................74
         Section 10.5  Amendments............................................................................74
         Section 10.6  Governing Law.........................................................................74
         Section 10.7  Counterparts..........................................................................74
         Section 10.8  Headings..............................................................................74
         Section 10.9  Interpretation........................................................................74
         Section 10.10 Waivers...............................................................................75
         Section 10.11 Incorporation of Exhibits.............................................................75
         Section 10.12 Severability..........................................................................75
         Section 10.13 Enforcement of Agreement..............................................................75

LIST OF EXHIBITS

         Exhibit 2.1        Form of Certificate of Incorporation of the Pride Merger Surviving Entity
         Exhibit 2.2        Form of Bylaws of the Pride Merger Surviving Entity
         Exhibit 3.3        Directors of the Company
         Exhibit 3.4        Officers of the Company
         Exhibit 7.13(a)(1) Form of Marine Affiliate Letter
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Exhibit 7.13(b)(1)  Form of Marine Letter Relating to Pooling
Exhibit 7.13(b)(2)  Form of Pride Letter Relating to Pooling
Exhibit 8.2         Form of Porter & Hedges, L.L.P. Opinion Certificate
Exhibit 8.3         Form of Baker Botts L.L.P. Opinion Certificate
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                            GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS

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DEFINED TERMS                                                                   WHERE DEFINED
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Action..........................................................................Section 7.15(a)
Affiliate.......................................................................Section 5.10(q)
Affiliated Group................................................................Section 5.10(q)
Agreement.......................................................................Preamble
Assumed Indebtedness............................................................Section 7.20
Certificates....................................................................Section 4.5(b)
Closing.........................................................................Section 1.3
Closing Date....................................................................Section 1.3
Code............................................................................Recitals(c)
Company.........................................................................Preamble
Company Certificates............................................................Section 4.4(b)
Company Common Stock............................................................Section 4.3
Confidentiality Agreement.......................................................Section 7.3(a)
Cutoff Date.....................................................................Section 7.3(d), 7.4(d)
Deferred Intercompany Transaction...............................................Section 5.10(q)
DGCL............................................................................Section 1.1
Effective Time..................................................................Section 1.5(c)
Environmental Laws..............................................................Section 5.13(a)
ERISA...........................................................................Section 5.11(a)
Exchange Act....................................................................Section 4.6
Exchange Agent..................................................................Section 4.5(a)
Exchange Fund...................................................................Section 4.5(a)
Form S-4........................................................................Section 7.10(a)
Hazardous Materials.............................................................Section 5.13(b)
HSR Act.........................................................................Section 5.6(c)
Indemnified Party...............................................................Section 7.15(a)
Indemnified Parties.............................................................Section 7.15(a)
Junior Preferred Stock..........................................................Section 5.3
LBCL............................................................................Section 1.2
Liens...........................................................................Section 5.4
Louisiana Certificate of Merger.................................................Section 1.5(c)
Marine..........................................................................Preamble
Marine Acquisition Proposal.....................................................Section 7.3(a)
Marine Applicable Laws..........................................................Section 5.5(a)
Marine Awards...................................................................Section 7.16
Marine Benefit Plans............................................................Section 5.11(a)
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<TABLE>
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DEFINED TERMS                                                                   WHERE DEFINED
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Marine Certificates.............................................................Section 4.1(b)
Marine Certificate of Merger....................................................Section 1.4(a)
Marine Common Stock.............................................................Section 4.1(a)
Marine Disclosure Letter........................................................Article 5 Preface
Marine ERISA Affiliate..........................................................Section 5.11(b)(10)
Marine Material Adverse Effect..................................................Section 10.9(c)
Marine Material Contracts.......................................................Section 5.22(a)
Marine Meeting..................................................................Section 7.6(a)
Marine Merger...................................................................Section 1.1
Marine Merger Consideration.....................................................Section 4.1(b)
Marine Merger Effective Time....................................................Section 1.4(c)
Marine Merger Surviving Entities................................................Section 1.1
Marine Permits..................................................................Section 5.5(b)
Marine Permitted Liens..........................................................Section 5.20
Marine Real Property............................................................Section 5.5(d)
Marine Regulatory Filings.......................................................Section 5.6(c)
Marine Reports..................................................................Section 5.7
Marine Right....................................................................Section 5.3
Marine Rights Agreement.........................................................Section 5.3
Marine Stock Option.............................................................Section 7.16
Marine Stock Option Agreement...................................................Recitals
Marine Stock Option Plans.......................................................Section 7.16
Marine Superior Proposal........................................................Section 7.3(a)
Material Adverse Effect.........................................................Section 10.9(c)
Meetings........................................................................Section 7.6(a)
Mergers.........................................................................Section 1.2
Merger Sub......................................................................Recitals
NYSE............................................................................Section 7.11
Pride...........................................................................Preamble
Pride Acquisition Proposal......................................................Section 7.4(a)
Pride Applicable Laws...........................................................Section 6.5(a)
Pride Awards....................................................................Section 7.17
Pride Benefit Plans.............................................................Section 6.11(a)
Pride Certificates..............................................................Section 4.4(b)
Pride Certificate of Merger.....................................................Section 1.5(c)
Pride Common Stock..............................................................Section 4.4(a)
Pride Disclosure Letter.........................................................Article 6 Preface
Pride ERISA Affiliate...........................................................Section 6.11(b)(10)
Pride Exchange Ratio............................................................Section 4.4(b)
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<TABLE>
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DEFINED TERMS                                                                   WHERE DEFINED
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Pride Issuance..................................................................Section 6.19
Pride Material Adverse Effect...................................................Section 10.9(c)
Pride Material Contracts........................................................Section 6.22(a)
Pride Meeting...................................................................Section 7.6(a)
Pride Merger....................................................................Section 1.2
Pride Merger Consideration......................................................Section 4.4(b)
Pride Merger Effective Time.....................................................Section 1.5(c)
Pride Merger Surviving Entity...................................................Section 1.2
Pride Permits...................................................................Section 6.5(b)
Pride Permitted Liens...........................................................Section 6.20
Pride Real Property.............................................................Section 6.5(d)
Pride Regulatory Filings........................................................Section 6.6(c)
Pride Reports...................................................................Section 6.7
Pride Right.....................................................................Section 6.3
Pride Rights Agreement..........................................................Section 6.3
Pride Superior Proposal.........................................................Section 7.4(a)
Proxy Statement/Prospectus......................................................Section 7.10(a)
Pride Stock Option..............................................................Section 7.17
Pride Stock Option Agreement....................................................Recitals
Pride Stock Option Plan.........................................................Section 7.17
Rule 145 Affiliates.............................................................Section 7.13
Rule 16b-3......................................................................Section 4.6
SEC.............................................................................Section 4.6
Securities Act..................................................................Section 5.6(c)
Series A Preferred Stock........................................................Section 6.3
Significant Subsidiary..........................................................Section 5.4
Subsidiary......................................................................Section 10.9(d)
Tax.............................................................................Section 5.10(q)
Tax Return......................................................................Section 5.10(q)
TBCA............................................................................Section 1.1
Texas Articles of Merger........................................................Section 1.4(b)
Third-Party Provisions..........................................................Section 10.3
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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") dated as of
May 23, 2001, is by and among Pride International, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of Louisiana ("Pride"), PM Merger, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of Delaware and wholly owned subsidiary of Pride (the "Company"),
Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Texas
("Marine"), and AM Merger, Inc. a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware and wholly owned subsidiary of Pride ("Merger Sub").

                                    RECITALS

                A. The Marine Merger. Merger Sub is a newly organized Delaware
corporation. At the Marine Merger Effective Time, the parties hereto intend to
effect a merger in which (i) Marine will be merged with and into Merger Sub,
(ii) Merger Sub will be the surviving corporation of the merger and (iii) each
outstanding share of Marine Common Stock will be converted into one share of
Pride Common Stock.

                B. The Pride Merger. The Company is a newly organized Delaware
corporation. Following the Marine Merger Effective Time, and at the Pride Merger
Effective Time, the parties hereto intend to effect a merger in which (i) Pride
will be merged with and into the Company, (ii) the Company will be the surviving
corporation of the merger and (iii) each outstanding share of Pride Common Stock
(including Pride Common Stock issued in the merger of Marine with and into
Merger Sub) will be converted into one share of Company Common Stock.

                C. Advisability of the Mergers. The board of directors of each
of Marine, Merger Sub, Pride and the Company have determined that it is
advisable and in the best interest of their respective shareholders that the
Marine Merger and Pride Merger be consummated, all as hereinafter provided.

                D. Intended U.S. Tax Consequences. The parties to this Agreement
intend that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, each of the Mergers will
constitute a reorganization described in Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

                E. Intended U.S. Accounting Treatment. The parties to this
Agreement also intend that the Mergers contemplated by this Agreement will be
accounted for as a pooling of interests under U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.

                F. Marine Stock Option Agreement. As a material inducement to
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Marine and Pride are entering into
a stock option agreement (the

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"Marine Stock Option Agreement") concurrently with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, pursuant to which Pride will grant Marine the option to purchase
shares of Pride Common Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth therein.

                G. Pride Stock Option Agreement. As a material inducement to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, Pride and Marine are entering into a
stock option agreement (the "Pride Stock Option Agreement") concurrently with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, pursuant to which Marine will
grant Pride the option to purchase shares of Marine Common Stock, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth therein.

                NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                   THE MERGERS

                Section 1.1 The Marine Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and the Texas Business Corporation Act (the
"TBCA"), Marine shall be merged with and into Merger Sub (the "Marine Merger")
in accordance with this Agreement, and the separate corporate existence of
Marine shall thereupon cease at the Marine Merger Effective Time. Merger Sub
shall be the surviving entity in the Marine Merger (sometimes hereinafter
referred to as the "Marine Merger Surviving Entity").

                Section 1.2 The Pride Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL and the Louisiana
Business Corporation Law (the "LBCL"), following the Marine Merger Effective
Time, Pride shall be merged with and into the Company (the "Pride Merger," and
together with the Marine Merger, the "Mergers") in accordance with this
Agreement, and the separate corporate existence of Pride shall thereupon cease
at the Pride Merger Effective Time. The Company shall be the surviving entity in
the Pride Merger (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Pride Merger
Surviving Entity").

                Section 1.3 The Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Mergers (the "Closing") shall
take place at (a) the offices of Baker Botts L.L.P., One Shell Plaza, 910
Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, at 9:00 a.m., local time, on the first business
day immediately following the day on which the last to be fulfilled or waived of
the conditions set forth in Section 8.1, or, if on such day any condition set
forth in Section 8.2 or 8.3 has not been fulfilled or waived, as soon as
practicable after all the conditions set forth in Article 8 have been fulfilled
or waived in accordance herewith, or (b) at such other time, date or

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place as Marine and Pride may agree in writing. The date on which the Closing
occurs is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date."

                Section 1.4 Marine Merger Effective Time. (a) Prior to the
Closing, Marine, Merger Sub and Pride shall prepare, and on the Closing Date
shall cause a certificate of merger meeting the requirements of Section 251 of
the DGCL with respect to the Marine Merger (the "Marine Certificate of Merger")
to be properly executed and filed in accordance with such section.

                (b) Prior to the Closing, Marine, Merger Sub and Pride shall
also prepare, and on the Closing Date shall cause articles of merger meeting the
requirements of Article 5.04 of the TBCA with respect to the Marine Merger (the
"Texas Articles of Merger") to be properly executed and filed in accordance with
such section.

                (c) The Marine Merger shall become effective prior to the Pride
Merger at such time as each of the Marine Certificate of Merger and the Texas
Articles of Merger are properly executed and duly filed, or at such other time
(but in any case preceding the Pride Merger Effective Time) as Marine and Pride
shall have agreed upon and designated in each such filing as the effective time
of the Marine Merger (such time at which the Marine Merger shall have become
effective is herein referred to as the "Marine Merger Effective Time").

                Section 1.5 Pride Merger Effective Time. (a) Prior to the
Closing, Pride and the Company shall prepare, and on the Closing Date shall
cause a certificate of merger meeting the requirements of Section 251 of the
DGCL with respect to the Pride Merger (the "Pride Certificate of Merger") to be
properly executed and filed in accordance with such section.

                (b) Prior to the Closing, the Company and Pride shall prepare,
and on the Closing Date shall cause a certificate of merger meeting the
requirements of Section 12:112 of the LBCL with respect to the Pride Merger (the
"Louisiana Certificate of Merger") to be properly executed and filed in
accordance with such section.

                (c) The Pride Merger shall become effective following the Marine
Merger at such time as each of the Pride Certificate of Merger and the Louisiana
Certificate of Merger are properly executed and filed, or at such other time
(but in any case following the Marine Merger Effective Time) as Marine and Pride
shall have agreed upon and designated in each such filing as the effective time
of the Pride Merger (such time at which the Pride Merger shall have become
effective is herein referred to as the "Pride Merger Effective Time", and such
time at which both the Marine Merger and the Pride Merger shall have become
effective is herein referred to as the "Effective Time").

                Section 1.6 Effects of the Mergers. The Marine Merger shall have
the effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL and Article 5.06 of the TBCA.
The Pride Merger shall have the

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effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL and Section 12:115 of the LBCL. The
Company agrees that it will be responsible for, and will pay, all applicable
fees, charges and incorporation and franchise taxes required by law to be paid
by Pride to the State of Louisiana. Merger Sub agrees that it will be
responsible for, and will pay, all applicable fees, charges and incorporation
and franchise taxes required by law to be paid by Marine to the State of Texas.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                 ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS OF SURVIVING ENTITIES

                Section 2.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Pride Merger
Surviving Entity. As of the Pride Merger Effective Time, the certificate of
incorporation of the Company set forth in Exhibit 2.1 hereto shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the Pride Merger Surviving Entity until duly
amended in accordance with applicable law; provided, however, that at the Pride
Merger Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Pride Merger
Surviving Entity shall be amended to provide that the name of the Pride Merger
Surviving Entity from and after the Pride Merger Effective Time shall be "Pride
International, Inc."

                Section 2.2 Bylaws of the Pride Merger Surviving Entity. As of
the Pride Merger Effective Time, the bylaws of the Company set forth in Exhibit
2.2 hereto shall be the bylaws of the Pride Merger Surviving Entity until duly
amended in accordance with applicable law.

                Section 2.3 Certificate of Incorporation of the Marine Merger
Surviving Entity. As of the Marine Merger Effective Time, the certificate of
incorporation of Merger Sub shall be the certificate of incorporation of the
Marine Merger Surviving Entity until duly amended in accordance with applicable
law; provided, however, that if so provided in the Marine Certificate of Merger
the name of Merger Sub shall be amended as provided therein.

                Section 2.4 Bylaws of the Marine Merger Surviving Entity. As of
the Marine Merger Effective Time, the bylaws of Merger Sub shall be the bylaws
of the Marine Merger Surviving Entity until duly amended in accordance with
applicable law.

                Section 2.5 Adoption of Stockholder Rights Plan. As of the
Effective Time, the Company shall adopt a stockholder rights plan substantially
similar to the Pride Rights Agreement as in effect on the date hereof with such
changes as may be necessary or advisable to reflect Delaware as the Company's
jurisdiction of incorporation and to conform such stockholder rights plan to the
certificate of incorporation of the Company.

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                                    ARTICLE 3

                DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE SURVIVING ENTITIES

                Section 3.1 Directors of Merger Sub. The directors of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time shall be the directors of
the Marine Merger Surviving Entity until their successors are duly elected and
qualified.

                Section 3.2 Officers of Merger Sub. The officers of Marine
immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time shall be the officers of
the Marine Merger Surviving Entity until their successors are duly appointed.

                Section 3.3 Directors of the Company. Set forth in Exhibit 3.3
attached hereto is the name of each individual who shall become a director of
the Company as of the Pride Merger Effective Time, and whether such director has
been designated for membership on the Company's board of directors by Marine or
Pride. If any individual identified in Exhibit 3.3 is unable or unwilling to
serve as a director of the Company as of the Pride Merger Effective Time, then a
substitute director shall be selected by the party that initially designated
such individual for membership on the Company's board of directors. From and
after the Pride Merger Effective Time, each person identified in Exhibit 3.3
shall serve as a director of the Company until such person's successor is duly
elected and qualified.

                Section 3.4 Officers of the Company. Set forth in Exhibit 3.4
hereto is the name of each individual who shall become an officer of the Company
at the Pride Merger Effective Time and such person's officer position with the
Company as of the Pride Merger Effective Time, and each such officer shall
thereafter serve until his or her successor shall be appointed or their earlier
death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of
incorporation and bylaws of the Company. If any such person is unable or
unwilling to serve as an officer of the Company in the capacity set forth in
Exhibit 3.4, then a substitute officer shall be selected by (i) Marine if the
person unable or unwilling to serve is employed by Marine or its Subsidiaries on
the date of this Agreement, or (ii) Pride if the person unable or unwilling to
serve is employed by Pride or its Subsidiaries on the date of this Agreement.

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                                    ARTICLE 4

                    EFFECT OF THE MERGERS ON THE STOCK OF THE
         COMPANY, MARINE, PRIDE AND MERGER SUB; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

                Section 4.1 Effect on Marine Stock. As of the Marine Merger
Effective Time, by virtue of the Marine Merger, and without any further action
by Marine, Merger Sub or Pride or by the holders of any securities of Marine,
Merger Sub or Pride:

                (a) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Pride Owned Stock. Each
share of Marine's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Marine Common
Stock"), that is owned directly by Marine, by Pride or their respective
subsidiaries immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no
consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

                (b) Conversion of Marine Common Stock. Each issued and
outstanding share of Marine Common Stock (other than shares to be canceled in
accordance with Section 4.1(a)) shall be converted into one fully paid and
nonassessable share of Pride Common Stock (the "Marine Merger Consideration").
As of the Marine Merger Effective Time, all such shares of Marine Common Stock
shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired
and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate or certificates which
immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time represented outstanding
shares of Marine Common Stock (the "Marine Certificates") shall cease to have
any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the number of
shares of Pride Common Stock into which such shares have been converted.

                Section 4.2 Effect on the Stock of Merger Sub. As of the Marine
Merger Effective Time, each share of the common stock, par value $.01 per share,
of Merger Sub that was outstanding prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time
shall not be converted or otherwise effected by the Marine Merger and shall
remain outstanding after the Marine Merger.

                Section 4.3 Effect on the Stock of the Company. As of the Pride
Merger Effective Time, each share of the common stock, par value $.01 per share,
of the Company ("Company Common Stock") that was outstanding prior to the Pride
Merger Effective Time shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist,
and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

                Section 4.4 Effect on Pride Stock. As of the Pride Merger
Effective Time, by virtue of the Pride Merger and without any action on the part
of Pride or the Company or the holders of any securities of Pride or the
Company:

                                       6
<PAGE>   16

                (a) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Marine Owned Stock. Each
share of Pride's common stock, no par value, (the "Pride Common Stock"), that is
owned directly by Pride, by Marine or by their respective subsidiaries
immediately prior to the Pride Merger Effective Time shall automatically be
canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be
delivered in exchange therefor.

                (b) Conversion of Pride Common Stock. Each issued and
outstanding share of Pride Common Stock (including shares of Pride Common Stock
issued in the Marine Merger but excluding shares of Pride Common Stock to be
canceled in accordance with Section 4.4(a)), shall be converted into one (the
"Pride Exchange Ratio") fully paid and nonassessable share of Company Common
Stock (the "Pride Merger Consideration"). As of the Pride Merger Effective Time,
all such shares of Pride Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a certificate or certificates or rights thereto that immediately prior to the
Pride Merger Effective Time which represent outstanding shares of Pride Common
Stock (the "Pride Certificates") shall cease to have any rights with respect
thereto, except the right to receive certificates ("Company Certificates")
representing the number of shares of Company Common stock into which such shares
have been converted.

                Section 4.5 Exchange of Certificates.

                (a) Exchange Agent. As of the Closing Date, the Company shall
enter into an agreement with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the
"Exchange Agent"), which shall provide that the Company shall deposit with the
Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of Marine Common Stock and Pride
Common Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Article 4, through the
Exchange Agent, Company Certificates representing the number of shares of
Company Common Stock (such shares of Company Common Stock, together with any
dividends or distributions with respect thereto with a record date after the
Pride Merger Effective Time being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Fund") issuable pursuant to this Article 4.

                (b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable after
the Pride Merger Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of
record of a Marine Certificate or a Pride Certificate (each a "Certificate" and
collectively the "Certificates") whose shares were converted pursuant to Section
4.1(b) and/or Section 4.4(b), (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify
that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates
shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and
shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Marine and Pride may
reasonably specify), and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
the Certificates in exchange for the consideration set forth in Article 4. Upon
surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with
such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and such other documents as may
reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, the holder of such Certificate
shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a Company

                                       7
<PAGE>   17

Certificate representing that number of shares of Company Common Stock which
such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article
4, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event
of a transfer of ownership of Marine Common Stock not registered in the transfer
records of Marine or of Pride Common Stock not registered in the transfer
records of Pride, a Company Certificate representing the proper number of shares
of Company Common Stock may be issued to a person other than the person in whose
name the Certificate so surrendered is registered if such Certificate shall be
properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person
requesting such issuance shall pay any transfer or other non-income taxes
required by reason of the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock to a person
other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the
satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.
Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 4.5, each Certificate shall be
deemed at any time after the Pride Merger Effective Time to represent only the
right to receive upon such surrender Company Certificates representing the
number of shares of Company Common Stock into which the shares of Pride Common
Stock formerly represented by such Certificate (including shares of Pride Common
Stock issuable in respect of Marine Common Stock as a result of the Marine
Merger) have been converted. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any cash
payable to holders of Certificates pursuant to the provisions of this Article 4.

                (c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No
dividends or other distributions with respect to Company Common Stock with a
record date after the Pride Merger Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of
any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Company Common Stock
represented thereby and all such dividends and other distributions shall be paid
by the Company to the Exchange Agent and shall be included in the Exchange Fund,
in each case until the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this
Article 4. Subject to the effect of applicable escheat or similar laws,
following surrender of any such Certificate there shall be paid to the holder of
the Company Certificate representing shares of Company Common Stock issued in
exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the
amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Pride
Merger Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such shares of Company
Common Stock and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends
or other distributions with a record date after the Pride Merger Effective Time
but prior to such surrender and with a payment date subsequent to such surrender
payable with respect to such shares of Company Common Stock. The Company shall
make available to the Exchange Agent cash for these purposes.

                (d) No Further Ownership Rights in Marine Common Stock and Pride
Common Stock. All shares of Company Common Stock issued upon the surrender for
exchange of Certificates in accordance with the terms of this Article 4
(including any cash paid pursuant to this Article 4) shall be deemed to have
been issued (and paid) in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the
shares of Pride Common Stock (including shares of Pride Common Stock issuable in
respect of Marine Common Stock as a result of the Marine Merger) theretofore
represented by such Certificates,

                                       8
<PAGE>   18

subject, however, to the Pride Merger Surviving Entity's obligation to pay any
dividends or make any other distributions with a record date prior to the Pride
Merger Effective Time which may have been authorized or made by Marine on such
shares of Marine Common Stock or by Pride on such shares of Pride Common Stock,
as the case may be, which remain unpaid at the Pride Merger Effective Time.

                (e) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange
Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of the Certificates for six
months after the Pride Merger Effective Time shall be delivered to the Company
upon demand, and any holders of the Certificates who have not theretofore
complied with this Article 4 shall thereafter look only to the Company for
payment of their claim for Pride Merger Consideration and any dividends or
distributions with respect to Company Common Stock.

                (f) No Liability. None of the Company, Marine, Pride, Merger Sub
or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any shares of
Company Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or
cash from the Exchange Fund in each case delivered to a public official pursuant
to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. If any Certificate
shall not have been surrendered prior to seven years after the Pride Merger
Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which any Pride
Merger Consideration, any cash payable to the holder of such Certificate
pursuant to this Article 4 or any dividends or distributions payable to the
holder of such Certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of
any governmental body or authority), any Pride Merger Consideration, cash,
dividends or distributions in respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, become the property of the Company, free and clear
of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

                (g) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent shall invest
any cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by the Company, on a daily
basis. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be
paid to the Company; provided, however, that no such investment or loss shall
affect the amounts payable to any holder of a Certificate.

                (h) Exchanges by Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, any Company Common Stock and Company Certificates
therefor issued to affiliates of Marine as a result of the Mergers shall be
subject to the restrictions on transfer described in Section 7.13 and Exhibits
7.13(a) and 7.13(b)(1), and such shares shall bear restrictive legends as
described in Exhibit 7.13(a)(1). Any Company Common Stock and Certificates
therefor issued to affiliates of Pride as a result of the Pride Merger shall be
subject to the restrictions on transfer described in Section 7.13(b) and Exhibit
7.13(b)(2).

                                       9
<PAGE>   19

                (i) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the Company, the posting by such person of a bond in such reasonable amount as
the Company may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange
for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Pride Merger Consideration
and, if applicable, any unpaid dividends and distributions on shares of Company
Common Stock deliverable in respect thereof, pursuant to this Agreement.

                Section 4.6 Rule 16b-3 Approval. Each of the Company, Marine,
Merger Sub and Pride agree that their respective board of directors or the
executive compensation committee of their board of directors shall, at or prior
to the Marine Merger Effective Time, adopt resolutions specifically approving,
for purposes of Rule 16b-3 ("Rule 16b-3") of the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), the receipt, pursuant to this Agreement, of
Company Common Stock and of options to acquire Company Common Stock, by
executive officers or directors of each of Marine and Pride who become executive
officers or directors of the Company subject to Rule 16b-3.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MARINE

                Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to Pride
by Marine at or prior to the execution hereof (the "Marine Disclosure Letter"),
Marine represents and warrants to Pride and the Company the following:

                Section 5.1 Existence; Good Standing; Corporate Authority.
Marine is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of Texas. Marine is duly qualified to do business and, to the
extent such concept or similar concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction, is
in good standing under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the character of
the properties owned or leased by it therein or in which the transaction of its
business makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified does not and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse Effect (as defined in Section 10.9(c)).
Marine has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and lease
its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted. The copies of
Marine's restated articles of incorporation and bylaws previously made available
to Pride are true and correct and contain all amendments as of the date hereof.

                Section 5.2 Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreements.
Marine has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement, the Pride Stock

                                       10
<PAGE>   20

Option Agreement and all other agreements and documents contemplated hereby and
thereby to which it is a party. The consummation by Marine of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the Pride Stock Option Agreement have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action on behalf of Marine, other than the
approvals referred to in Section 5.19. This Agreement and the Pride Stock Option
Agreement constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Marine,
enforceable against Marine in accordance with their respective terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to creditors' rights and general principles of equity. Marine has
taken all action necessary to render the restrictions set forth in Part 13 of
the TBCA inapplicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby. No other state takeover or business combination statute applies to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Pride Stock Option Agreement.

                Section 5.3 Capitalization. As of the date of this Agreement,
the authorized capital stock of Marine consists of 200,000,000 shares of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $.01 per share, of which 200,000 shares have been designated Junior
Participating Preferred Stock ("Junior Preferred Stock"). As of May 18, 2001,
58,697,281 shares of Marine Common Stock and no shares of Junior Preferred Stock
were outstanding. At the same date, there were 3,576,359 shares of Marine Common
Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding Marine Stock Options
(as defined in Section 7.16). All such issued and outstanding shares of Marine
Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and
free of preemptive rights. One right to purchase Junior Preferred Stock (each, a
"Marine Right") issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of November
15, 1996, (the "Marine Rights Agreement"), as amended, between Marine and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is associated with and attached to each
outstanding share of Marine Common Stock. As of the date of this Agreement,
except for the Pride Stock Option Agreement, the Marine Rights and as set forth
in this Section 5.3, there are no outstanding shares of capital stock and there
are no options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities or other
rights, agreements or commitments which obligate Marine or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital stock or other
voting securities of Marine or any of its Subsidiaries. Marine has no
outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which
have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exercisable for
securities having the right to vote) with the shareholders of Marine on any
matter.

                Section 5.4 Significant Subsidiaries. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Significant Subsidiary" shall mean significant subsidiary as defined
in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC under the Exchange Act. Each of
Marine's Significant Subsidiaries is a corporation or other legal entity duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, has the corporate power and
authority to own, operate and lease its properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and is in
good standing (where applicable) in each jurisdiction in which the ownership,

                                       11
<PAGE>   21

operation or lease of its property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except for jurisdictions in which such failure to be so qualified
or to be in good standing does not and is not reasonably likely to have a Marine
Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this Agreement, all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, each of
Marine's Significant Subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and are owned, directly or indirectly, by Marine free and
clear of all mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, security interests, pledges,
leases, conditional sale contracts, charges, privileges, easements, rights of
way, reservations, options, rights of first refusal and other encumbrances
("Liens").

                Section 5.5 Compliance with Laws; Permits. Except for such
matters as, individually or in the aggregate, do not or are not reasonably
likely to have a Marine Material Adverse Effect and except for matters arising
under Environmental Laws which are treated exclusively in Section 5.13:

                (a) Neither Marine nor any Subsidiary of Marine is in violation
of any applicable law, rule, regulation, code, governmental determination,
order, treaty, convention, governmental certification requirement or other
public limitation, U.S. or non-U.S. (collectively, the "Marine Applicable
Laws"), relating to the ownership or operation of any of their respective
assets, and no claim is pending or, to the knowledge of Marine, threatened with
respect to any such matters. No condition exists that is not disclosed in the
Marine Disclosure Letter and which does or is reasonably likely to constitute a
violation of or deficiency under any Marine Applicable Law relating to the
ownership or operation of the assets of Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine.

                (b) Marine and each Subsidiary of Marine hold all permits,
licenses, certifications, variations, exemptions, orders, franchises and
approvals of all governmental or regulatory authorities necessary for the
conduct of their respective businesses (the "Marine Permits"). All Marine
Permits are in full force and effect and there exists no default thereunder or
breach thereof, and Marine has no notice or actual knowledge that such Marine
Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course after the Marine Merger
Effective Time. No governmental authority has given, or to the knowledge of
Marine threatened to give, any action to terminate, cancel or reform any Marine
Permit.

                (c) Each drilling rig or other drilling unit owned by Marine or
a subsidiary of Marine which is subject to classification is in class according
to the rules and regulations of the applicable classifying body and is duly and
lawfully documented under the laws of its flag jurisdiction.

                (d) Marine and each Subsidiary of Marine possess all permits,
licenses, operating authorities, orders, exemptions, franchises, variances,
consents, approvals or other authorizations required for the present ownership
and operation of all its real property or leaseholds ("Marine Real Property")
except where the failure to possess any of the same does not and is not
reasonably likely

                                       12
<PAGE>   22

to have a Marine Material Adverse Effect. There exists no material default or
breach with respect to, and no party or governmental authority has taken or, to
the knowledge of Marine, threatened to take, any action to terminate, cancel or
reform any such permit, license, operating authority, order, exemption,
franchise, variance, consent, approval or other authorization pertaining to
Marine Real Property.

                Section 5.6 No Conflict. (a) Neither the execution and delivery
by Marine of this Agreement, the Pride Stock Option Agreement nor the
consummation by Marine of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby in
accordance with their respective terms will (i) subject to the approvals
referred to in Section 5.19, conflict with or result in a breach of any
provisions of the restated articles of incorporation or bylaws of Marine, (ii)
violate, or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or
constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or in a right of
termination or cancellation of, or give rise to a right of purchase under, or
accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien
upon any of the properties of Marine or its Subsidiaries under, or result in
being declared void, voidable, or without further binding effect, or otherwise
result in a detriment to Marine or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, license, franchise, permit, lease, contract, agreement, joint venture or
other instrument or obligation to which Marine or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party, or by which Marine or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties
is bound or affected or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred
to in Section 5.6(c), contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of
any provision of any law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree binding
upon or applicable to Marine or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such matters
described in clause (ii) or (iii) as do not and are not reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse Effect.

                (b) Neither the execution and delivery by Marine of this
Agreement, the Pride Stock Option Agreement nor the consummation by Marine of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in accordance with their
respective terms will result in any "change of control" or similar event or
circumstance under the terms of any Marine Material Contract or under any
contract or plan under which any officers or directors of Marine or any of its
Subsidiaries are entitled to payments or benefits, which gives rise to rights or
benefits not otherwise available absent such change of control or similar event.

                (c) Neither the execution and delivery by Marine of this
Agreement, the Pride Stock Option Agreement nor the consummation by Marine of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in accordance with their
respective terms will require any consent, approval or authorization of, or
filing or registration with, any governmental or regulatory authority, other
than (i) the filing of the Marine Certificate of Merger, (ii) the filing of the
Texas Articles of Merger, (iii) filings required under the U.S.
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as

                                       13
<PAGE>   23

amended (the "HSR Act"), the Exchange Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), or applicable state securities and "Blue Sky"
laws, applicable non-U.S. competition, antitrust or premerger notification laws,
and (iv) the filing of a listing application with the NYSE with respect to any
Marine Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Pride Stock Option ((i), (ii),
(iii) and (iv) collectively, the "Marine Regulatory Filings"), except for any
consent, approval or authorization the failure of which to obtain and for any
filing or registration the failure of which to make does not and is not
reasonably likely to have a Marine Material Adverse Effect or substantially
impair or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                Section 5.7 SEC Documents. Marine has timely filed with the SEC
all documents required to be so filed by it in the preceding twelve months
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Marine and its
Subsidiaries have filed with the SEC all documents required to be so filed by
them in the preceding three fiscal years and during 2001 pursuant to Section
13(a) of the Exchange Act without regard to Rule 12b-25. Marine has made
available to Pride each registration statement, report, proxy statement or
information statement (other than preliminary materials) it has so filed, each
in the form (including exhibits and any amendments thereto) filed with the SEC
(collectively, the "Marine Reports"). As of its respective date, each Marine
Report (i) complied in all material respects in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and
(ii) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading except for such statements, if any, as have been modified by
subsequent filings with the SEC prior to the date hereof. Each of the
consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into Marine
Reports (including the related notes and schedules) fairly presents in all
material respects the consolidated financial position of Marine and its
Subsidiaries as of its date, and each of the consolidated statements of
operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders' equity included in or
incorporated by reference into Marine Reports (including any related notes and
schedules) fairly presents in all material respects the results of operations,
cash flows or changes in shareholders' equity, as the case may be, of Marine and
its Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to (x) such exceptions as may be permitted by Form 10-Q
and Regulation S-X of the SEC and (y) normal year-end audit adjustments), in
each case in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied during the periods involved, except as may be noted
therein. Except as and to the extent set forth on the most recent consolidated
balance sheet of Marine and its Subsidiaries included in Marine Reports,
including all notes thereto, as of the date of such balance sheet, neither
Marine nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any
nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be
required to be reflected on, or reserved against in, a balance sheet of Marine
or in the notes thereto prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, other than liabilities or
obligations which do not and are not reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse Effect.

                                       14
<PAGE>   24

                Section 5.8 Litigation. Except as would not have a Marine
Material Adverse Effect, Section 5.8 of the Marine Disclosure Letter contains an
accurate summary of each litigation matter pending or threatened against Marine
or any of its Subsidiaries that is not summarized in the Marine Reports. Except
as described in Marine Reports filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement,
there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending against Marine or any of its
Subsidiaries or, to Marine's knowledge, threatened against Marine or any of its
Subsidiaries, at law or in equity, before or by any U.S. federal, state or
non-U.S. court, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, that are
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material
Adverse Effect.

                Section 5.9 Absence of Certain Changes. From December 31, 2000
to the date of this Agreement, there has not been (i) any event or occurrence
that has had or is reasonably likely to have a Marine Material Adverse Effect,
(ii) any material change by Marine or any of its Subsidiaries, when taken as a
whole, in any of its accounting methods, principles or practices or any of its
tax methods, practices or elections, (iii) any declaration, setting aside or
payment of any dividend or distribution in respect of any capital stock of
Marine or any redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any of its securities
or (iv) any increase in or establishment of any bonus, insurance, severance,
deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option, stock
purchase or other employee benefit plan, except in the ordinary course of
business.

                Section 5.10 Taxes. Except for such matters as, individually or
in the aggregate, do not or are not reasonably likely to have a Marine Material
Adverse Effect, and except as disclosed in the Marine Disclosure Letter (it
being understood that inclusion of a matter in the Marine Disclosure Letter does
not necessarily mean that such matter is or is reasonably likely to have a
Marine Material Adverse Effect):

                (a) Each of Marine and its Subsidiaries has filed all Tax
Returns that it was required to file. All such Tax Returns were correct and
complete in all respects. All Taxes owed by any of Marine and its Subsidiaries
(whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. None of Marine and its
Subsidiaries currently is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which
to file any Tax Return. No claim has ever been made by an authority in a
jurisdiction where any of Marine and its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns
that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no
Liens on any of the assets of any of Marine and its Subsidiaries that arose in
connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax.

                (b) Each of Marine and its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid
all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts
paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder, or
other third party.

                                       15
<PAGE>   25

                (c) No officer or employee responsible for Tax matters of any of
Marine and its Subsidiaries expects any authority to assess any additional Taxes
for any period for which Tax Returns have been filed. There is no dispute or
claim concerning any Tax liability of any of Marine and its Subsidiaries either
(i) claimed or raised by any authority in writing or (ii) as to which any of the
officers or employees responsible for Tax matters of Marine and its Subsidiaries
has knowledge based upon personal contact with any agent of such authority.
Section 5.10 of the Marine Disclosure Letter lists all federal, state, local,
and foreign income Tax Returns filed with respect to any of Marine and its
Subsidiaries for taxable periods ended on or after December 31, 1998, indicates
those Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that
currently are the subject of audit or have been noticed for audit.

                (d) None of Marine and its Subsidiaries has waived any statute
of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with
respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

                (e) None of Marine and its Subsidiaries has filed a consent
under Code Section 341(f) concerning collapsible corporations.

                (f) A valid and timely Code Section 338 election was made with
respect to each nonUnited States entity treated as a corporation under the Code
which was acquired after December 31, 1985 by Marine or any of its Subsidiaries
and for which such an election was permissible.

                (g) None of Marine and its Subsidiaries are parties to a gain
recognition agreement under U.S. Treasury Reg. Section 1.367(a)-8.

                (h) None of Marine and its Subsidiaries are parties to, or have
a request pending for, any advance pricing agreements under Internal Revenue
Service Revenue Procedure 96-53.

                (i) None of Marine and its Subsidiaries has paid, or is
obligated to make any payments, in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement that could reasonably be expected to be non-deductible under
Code Section 280G.

                (j) Marine has not been a United States real property holding
corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during the previous
five years.

                (k) Marine has disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns all
positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of
federal income Tax within the meaning of Code Section 6662.

                (l) None of Marine and its Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax
allocation or Tax sharing agreement.

                                       16
<PAGE>   26

                (m) None of Marine and its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of
an Affiliated Group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than
a group the common parent of which was Marine) since January 1, 1987, or (ii)
has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any of Marine and its
Subsidiaries) under U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision
of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or
otherwise.

                (n) Section 5.10(n) of the Marine Disclosure Letter sets forth
the following information with respect to each of Marine and its Subsidiaries as
of the most recent practicable date (as well as on an estimated pro forma basis
as of the Closing giving effect to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby) for both United States income tax purposes and foreign tax
purposes where applicable: (i) the amount of any net operating loss, net capital
loss, unused investment or other credit, unused foreign tax, or excess
charitable contribution allocable to Marine or Subsidiary; and (ii) the amount
of any deferred gain or loss allocable to Marine or Subsidiary arising out of
any Deferred Intercompany Transaction.

                (o) The unpaid Taxes of Marine and its Subsidiaries (i) did not,
as of the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the most recent
Marine Report containing historical financial statements, exceed the reserve for
Tax liability (other than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect
timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of such
most recent balance sheet (rather than in any notes thereto) and (ii) do not
exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date
in accordance with the past custom and practice of Marine and its Subsidiaries
in filing their Tax Returns.

                (p) Neither Marine nor any of the Marine Subsidiaries knows of
any fact, or has taken any action or has failed to take any action, that is
reasonably likely to (i) prevent the Mergers from qualifying as reorganizations
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, (ii) cause the holders who
exchange Marine Common Stock solely for Pride Common Stock pursuant to the
Marine Merger to recognize taxable gain with respect to the Marine Merger, (iii)
cause the Pride shareholders, including the former holders of Marine Common
Stock, who exchange Pride Common Stock solely for Company Common Stock pursuant
to the Pride Merger to recognize taxable gain with respect to the Pride Merger,
or (iv) cause income to be recognized or Tax to be accelerated or be due as a
consequence of the Mergers. Neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed
to pay, or will pay, directly or indirectly, any consideration for Marine Common
Stock other than Pride Common Stock. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has agreed to pay, or will pay, directly or indirectly, any
consideration other than Company Common Stock for Pride Common Stock, including
that issued in the Marine Merger.

                (q) For purposes of this Section 5.10 and Section 6.10, the
following terms have the meanings given them below:

                                       17
<PAGE>   27

                        (1) "Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2
        of the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.

                        (2) "Affiliated Group" means any affiliated group within
        the meaning of Code Section 1504(a), or any similar group defined under
        a similar provision of state, local or foreign law, determined without
        regard to the exceptions in Code Section 1504(b)such that a foreign
        corporation shall be considered an "includable corporation".

                        (3) "Deferred Intercompany Transaction" has the meaning
        set forth in Reg. Section 1.1502-13.

                        (4) "Tax" means any federal, state, local, or foreign
        income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance,
        stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental (including
        taxes under Code Section 59A), customs duties, capital stock, franchise,
        profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment,
        disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer,
        registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or
        other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or
        addition thereto, whether disputed or not.

                        (5) "Tax Return" means any return, declaration, report,
        claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes,
        including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any
        amendment thereof.

                Section 5.11 Employee Benefit Plans. (a) Section 5.11 of the
Marine Disclosure Letter contains a list of all Marine Benefit Plans. The term
"Marine Benefit Plans" means all material employee benefit plans and other
material benefit arrangements, including all "employee benefit plans" as defined
in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA"), whether or not U.S.-based plans, and all other employee
benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, stock option (or other
equity-based), severance, employment, change in control, welfare (including
post-retirement medical and life insurance) and fringe benefit plans, practices
or agreements, whether or not subject to ERISA or U.S.-based and whether written
or oral, sponsored, maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed
to by Marine or any of its Subsidiaries, to which Marine or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or is required to provide benefits under applicable law
or in which any person who is currently, has been or, prior to the Marine Merger
Effective Time, is expected to become an employee of Marine is a participant.
Upon the written request of Pride, Marine will provide to Pride true and
complete copies of Marine Benefit Plans and, if applicable, the most recent
trust agreements, summary plan descriptions, funding statements, annual reports
and actuarial reports, if applicable, for each such plan. Marine has also
previously provided to Pride with respect to each such plan, true and correct
copies of correspondence with governmental entities and Forms 5500 for the past
three calendar years and during 2001 to the date of this Agreement.

                                       18
<PAGE>   28

                (b) Except as for such matters as, individually or in the
aggregate, do not or are not reasonably likely to have a Marine Material Adverse
Effect:

                        (1) all applicable reporting and disclosure requirements
        have been met with respect to Marine Benefit Plans;

                        (2) there has been no "reportable event," as that term
        is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to Marine Benefit
        Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA for which the 30-day reporting
        requirement has not been waived;

                        (3) to the extent applicable, Marine Benefit Plans
        comply and have complied with the requirements of ERISA, the Code, other
        applicable law, with the regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, and
        with the operative documents for each such plan;

                        (4) any Marine Benefit Plan intended to be qualified
        under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination
        letter from the IRS;

                        (5) Marine Benefit Plans have been maintained and
        operated in accordance with their terms, and, to Marine's knowledge,
        there are no breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with Marine
        Benefit Plans;

                        (6) there are no pending or, to Marine's knowledge,
        threatened claims against or otherwise involving any Marine Benefit
        Plan, and no suit, action or other litigation (excluding claims for
        benefits incurred in the ordinary course of Marine Benefit Plan
        activities) has been brought against or with respect to any such Marine
        Benefit Plan;

                        (7) there are no pending audits or investigations by any
        governmental entity involving any Marine Benefit Plan;

                        (8) all material contributions required to be made as of
        the date hereof to Marine Benefit Plans have been made or provided for;

                        (9) Marine has not engaged in a transaction with respect
        to any Marine Benefit Plan for which it could be subject (either
        directly or indirectly) to a liability for either a civil penalty
        assessed pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Section
        4975 of the Code;

                        (10) with respect to Marine Benefit Plans or any
        "employee pension benefit plans," as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA,
        that are subject to Title IV of ERISA and have

                                       19
<PAGE>   29

        been maintained or contributed to within six years prior to the Marine
        Merger Effective Time by Marine, its Subsidiaries or any trade or
        business (whether or not incorporated) which is under common control, or
        which is treated as a single employer, with Marine or any of its
        Subsidiaries under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (a
        "Marine ERISA Affiliate"), (i) neither Marine nor any of its
        Subsidiaries has incurred any direct or indirect liability under Title
        IV of ERISA in connection with any termination thereof or withdrawal
        therefrom, and (ii) there does not exist any accumulated funding
        deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302
        of ERISA, whether or not waived; and

                        (11) All individuals who performed any compensatory
        services for Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine, whether as an employee,
        independent contractor or "leased employee" (as defined in Section
        414(n) of the Code) are, and have been, properly classified for purposes
        of withholding taxes and eligibility to participate in, and coverage
        under, any Marine Benefit Plan.

                (c) Neither Marine nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any Marine
ERISA Affiliate contributes to, or has an obligation to contribute to, and has
not within six years prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time contributed to,
or had an obligation to contribute to, a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning
of Section 3(37) of ERISA, a "multiple employer welfare association" within the
meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA, or a "voluntary employees' beneficiary
association" within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the Code, and the
execution of, and performance of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, other than Section 7.16, will not (either alone or upon the
occurrence of any additional or subsequent events) constitute an event under any
benefit plan, policy, arrangement or agreement or any trust or loan (in
connection therewith) that will or may result in any payment (whether of
severance pay or otherwise), acceleration, forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting,
distribution, increase in benefits or obligations to fund benefits with respect
to any employee of Marine or any Subsidiary thereof.

                (d) No Marine Benefit Plan provides medical, surgical,
hospitalization, death or similar benefits (whether or not insured) for
employees or former employees of Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine for periods
extending beyond their retirement date or other termination of service other
than (i) coverage mandated by applicable law, (ii) death benefits under any
"pension plan" or (iii) benefits the full cost of which is borne by the current
or former employee (or his beneficiary). Each Marine Benefit Plan may be
unilaterally amended or terminated by Marine without liability, except as to
benefits accrued or awarded thereunder prior to amendment or termination.

                Section 5.12 Labor Matters. (a) As of the date of this
Agreement, (i) neither Marine nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or
bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or similar contract, agreement or
understanding with a labor union or similar labor organization

                                       20
<PAGE>   30

(A) covering any U.S. employees or (B) covering, in any single instance, 10% or
more of the employees of Marine and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (ii)
to Marine's knowledge, there are no organizational efforts with respect to the
formation of a collective bargaining unit presently being made or threatened (x)
involving any U.S. employees or (y) involving, in any single instance, 10% or
more of the employees of Marine and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                (b) Except for such matters as are disclosed in the Marine
Reports and matters that do not and are not reasonably likely to have a Marine
Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither Marine nor any Subsidiary of Marine has
received any written complaint of any unfair labor practice or other unlawful
employment practice or any written notice of any material violation of any
federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders
or directives with respect to the employment of individuals by, or the
employment practices of, Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine or the work
conditions or the terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours of
their respective businesses and (ii) there are no unfair labor practice charges
or other employee related complaints against Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine
pending or, to the knowledge of Marine threatened, before any governmental
authority by or concerning the employees working in their respective businesses.

                Section 5.13 Environmental Matters. (a) Marine and each
Subsidiary of Marine has been and is in compliance with all applicable final and
binding orders of any court, governmental authority or arbitration board or
tribunal and any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation or other legal
requirement (including common law) related to human health and the environment
("Environmental Laws") except for such matters as do not and are not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse
Effect. There are no past or present facts, conditions or circumstances that
interfere with the conduct of any of their respective businesses in the manner
now conducted or which interfere with continued compliance with any
Environmental Law except for any non-compliance or interference that is not
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material
Adverse Effect.

                (b) Except for such matters as do not and are not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse
Effect, no judicial or administrative proceedings or governmental investigations
are pending or, to the knowledge of Marine, threatened against Marine or its
Subsidiaries that allege the violation of or seek to impose liability pursuant
to any Environmental Law, and there are no past or present facts, conditions or
circumstances at, on or arising out of, or otherwise associated with, any
current or, to the knowledge of Marine or its Subsidiaries, former businesses,
assets or properties of Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine, including but not
limited to on-site or off-site disposal, release or spill of any material,
substance or waste classified, characterized or otherwise regulated as
hazardous, toxic, pollutant, contaminant or words of similar meaning under
Environmental Laws, including petroleum or petroleum products or byproducts
("Hazardous Materials") which violate Environmental Law or are reasonably likely
to

                                       21
<PAGE>   31

give rise to (i) costs, expenses, liabilities or obligations for any cleanup,
remediation, disposal or corrective action under any Environmental Law, (ii)
claims arising for personal injury, property damage or damage to natural
resources, or (iii) civil, criminal or administrative fines, penalties or
injunctive relief.

                (c) Neither Marine nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) received
any notice of noncompliance with, violation of, or liability or potential
liability under any Environmental Law or (ii) entered into any consent decree or
order or is subject to any order of any court or governmental authority or
tribunal under any Environmental Law or relating to the cleanup of any Hazardous
Materials, except for any such matters as do not and are not reasonably likely
to have a Marine Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 5.14 Intellectual Property. Marine and its Subsidiaries
own or possess adequate licenses or other valid rights to use all patents,
patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights and proprietary information used or
held for use in connection with their respective businesses as currently being
conducted, except where the failure to own or possess such licenses and other
rights does not and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse Effect, and there are no assertions or
claims challenging the validity of any of the foregoing that are reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse
Effect. To the knowledge of Marine, the conduct of Marine's and its
Subsidiaries' respective businesses as currently conducted does not conflict
with any patents, patent rights, licenses, trademarks, trademark rights, trade
names, trade name rights or copyrights of others that are reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of Marine, there is no material infringement of any proprietary right
owned by or licensed by or to Marine or any of its Subsidiaries that is
reasonably likely to have individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material
Adverse Effect.

                Section 5.15 Decrees, Etc. Except for such matters as do not and
are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine
Material Adverse Effect, (i) no order, writ, fine, injunction, decree, judgment,
award or determination of any court or governmental authority has been issued or
entered against Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine that continues to be in
effect that affects the ownership or operation of any of their respective
assets, and (ii) no criminal order, writ, fine, injunction, decree, judgment or
determination of any court or governmental authority has been issued against
Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine.

                Section 5.16 Insurance. (a) Except for such matters as do not
and are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Marine Material Adverse Effect, Marine and its Subsidiaries maintain insurance
coverage with financially responsible insurance companies in such amounts and
against such losses as are customary in the offshore drilling business as
conducted by Marine prior to the date hereof.

                                       22
<PAGE>   32

                (b) Except for such matters as do not and are not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse
Effect, no event relating specifically to Marine or its Subsidiaries (as opposed
to events affecting the drilling service industry in general) has occurred that
is reasonably likely, after the date of this Agreement, to result in an upward
adjustment in premiums under any insurance policies they maintain. Excluding
insurance policies that have expired and been replaced in the ordinary course of
business, no excess liability, hull or protection and indemnity insurance policy
has been canceled by the insurer within one year prior to the date hereof, and
to Marine's knowledge, no threat in writing has been made to cancel (excluding
cancellation upon expiration or failure to renew) any such insurance policy of
Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine during the period of one year prior to the
date hereof. Prior to the date hereof, no event has occurred, including the
failure by Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine to give any notice or information
or by giving any inaccurate or erroneous notice or information, which materially
limits or impairs the rights of Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine under any
such excess liability, hull or protection and indemnity insurance policies.

                Section 5.17 No Brokers. Marine has not entered into any
contract, arrangement or understanding with any person or firm which may result
in the obligation of Marine, Pride or the Company to pay any finder's fees,
brokerage or other like payments in connection with the negotiations leading to
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
except that Marine has retained Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated as its
financial advisor, the arrangements with which have been disclosed in writing to
Pride prior to the date hereof.

                Section 5.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The board of
directors of Marine has received the opinion of Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement, the Marine
Merger Consideration is fair to the shareholders of Marine from a financial
point of view.

                Section 5.19 Vote Required. The only votes of the holders of any
class or series of Marine capital stock necessary to approve any transaction
contemplated by this Agreement are the affirmative vote in favor of the adoption
of this Agreement of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding
shares of Marine Common Stock.

                Section 5.20 Ownership of Drilling Rigs. As of the date hereof,
Marine or a Subsidiary of Marine has good and indefeasible title to the drilling
rigs listed in Marine's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, in each case
free and clear of all Liens except for (i) defects or irregularities of title or
encumbrances of a nature that do not materially impair the ownership or
operation of these assets and which have not had and are not reasonably likely
to have a Marine Material Adverse Effect, (ii) Liens that secure obligations not
yet due and payable or, if such obligations are due and have not been paid,
Liens securing such obligations that are being diligently contested in good
faith and by appropriate proceedings (any such contests involving an amount in

                                       23
<PAGE>   33

excess of $5.0 million being described in Marine Disclosure Letter), (iii) Liens
for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due or
which are being contested in good faith, (iv) Liens in connection with workmen's
compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension
or public liability obligations not yet due or which are being contested in good
faith, (v) operators', vendors', suppliers of necessaries to Marine's drilling
rigs, carriers', warehousemen's, repairmen's, mechanics', workmen's,
materialmen's, construction or shipyard liens (during repair or upgrade periods)
or other similar Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of
business or statutory landlord's liens, each of which is in respect of
obligations that have not been outstanding more than 90 days (so long as no
action has been taken to file or enforce such Liens within said 90-day period)
or which are being contested in good faith and (vi) other Liens disclosed in
Marine Disclosure Letter (the Liens described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
(v) and (vi), collectively, "Marine Permitted Liens"). No such asset is leased
under an operating lease from a lessor that, to Marine's knowledge, has incurred
non-recourse indebtedness to finance the acquisition or construction of such
asset.

                Section 5.21 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither Marine nor any of
its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether or
not fixed, accrued, contingent or otherwise, except liabilities and obligations
that (i) are disclosed in Marine Reports, (ii) are referred to in the Marine
Disclosure Letter or (iii) do not and are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 5.22 Certain Contracts. (a) Section 5.22 of Marine
Disclosure Letter contains a list of all of the following contracts or
agreements (other than those listed as an exhibit to Marine's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000) to which Marine or any
Subsidiary of Marine is a party or by which any of them is bound as of the date
of this Agreement: (i) any non-competition agreement that purports to limit the
manner in which, or the localities in which, all or any portion of their
respective businesses is conducted; (ii) any drilling rig construction or
conversion contract with respect to which the drilling rig has not been
delivered and paid for, (iii) any drilling contracts of one year or greater
remaining duration or drilling contracts of a shorter duration which if extended
at the election of Marine's customer would have a remaining duration of one year
or more; (iv) any contract or agreement for the borrowing of money with a
borrowing capacity or outstanding indebtedness of $5.0 million or more; (v) any
contract for the acquisition or disposition of a "business" (as such term is
defined in Article 11-01(d) of Regulation S-X of the SEC or (vi) any "material
contract" (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the
SEC) (all contracts or agreements of the types described in clauses (i) through
(vi) being referred to herein as "Marine Material Contracts").

                (b) As of the date of this Agreement, each Marine Material
Contract is, to the knowledge of Marine, in full force and effect, and Marine
and each of its Subsidiaries have in all material respects performed all
obligations required to be performed by them to date under each

                                       24
<PAGE>   34

Marine Material Contract, except where such failure to be binding or in full
force and effect or such failure to perform does not and is not reasonably
likely to create, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material Adverse
Effect. Except for such matters as do not and are not reasonably likely to have
a Marine Material Adverse Effect, neither Marine nor any of its Subsidiaries (x)
knows of, or has received written notice of, any breach of or violation or
default under (nor, to the knowledge of Marine, does there exist any condition
which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would result in
such a violation or default under) any Marine Material Contract or (y) has
received written notice of the desire of the other party or parties to any such
Marine Material Contract to exercise any rights such party has to cancel,
terminate or repudiate such contract or exercise remedies thereunder. Each
Marine Material Contract is enforceable by Marine or a Subsidiary of Marine in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to creditors' rights
and general principles of equity, except where such unenforceability is not
reasonably likely to create, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material
Adverse Effect.

                Section 5.23 Capital Expenditure Program. As of the date of this
Agreement, Section 5.23 of the Marine Disclosure Letter accurately sets forth in
all material respects, for each of Marine's sustaining, life extension and
newbuild capital expenditure programs, the capital expenditures for all such
programs that were forecasted to be incurred in 2001 on an annual basis.

                Section 5.24 Improper Payments. No bribes, kickbacks or other
improper payments have been made by Marine or any Subsidiary of Marine or agent
of any of them in connection with the conduct of their respective businesses or
the operation of their respective assets, and neither Marine, any Subsidiary of
Marine nor any agent of any of them has received any such payments from vendors,
suppliers or other persons, where any such payment made or received is
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Marine Material
Adverse Effect.

                Section 5.25 Amendment to Marine Rights Agreement. Marine has
amended or taken other action under Marine Rights Agreement so that none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the execution and delivery of the
Pride Stock Option Agreement, the conversion of shares of Marine Common Stock
into the right to receive shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with this
Agreement, the consummation of the Mergers, the issuance of Marine Common Stock
upon exercise of the Pride Stock Option or any other transactions contemplated
hereby or by the Pride Stock Option Agreement, will cause: (i) the Marine Rights
to become exercisable under the Marine Rights Agreement; (ii) the Company, Pride
or any of Pride's shareholders or Subsidiaries to be deemed an "Acquiring
Person" (as defined in Marine Rights Agreement); (iii) any such event to be an
event requiring an adjustment of the purchase price of the Marine Rights under
Section 12(a)(ii) of the Marine Rights Agreement; (iv) Section 14 of the Marine
Rights Agreement to be or become applicable to any such event; or (v) a "Shares
Acquisition Date" or a "Distribution Date" (each as defined in Marine Rights
Agreement) to occur upon any such event, and so that the Marine

                                       25
<PAGE>   35

Rights will expire immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time. Marine
has delivered to Pride a true and complete copy of Marine Rights Agreement, as
amended to date.

                Section 5.26 Pooling of Interests. To the knowledge of Marine as
of the date of this Agreement, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken,
or agreed to take, any action or failed to take any action which action or
failure (without giving effect to any actions or failures to act by Pride or any
of its Subsidiaries) that is known to Marine as of the date of this Agreement to
prevent the treatment of the Mergers contemplated herein as (i) a pooling of
interests for accounting purposes under the requirements of Opinion No. 16
(Business Combinations) of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board and the rules of the SEC, or (ii) reorganizations within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PRIDE

                Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to Marine
by Pride at or prior to the execution hereof (the "Pride Disclosure Letter"),
Pride represents and warrants to Marine and the Company the following:

                Section 6.1 Existence; Good Standing; Corporate Authority. Pride
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of Louisiana. Pride is duly qualified to do business and, to the extent
such concept or similar concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction, is in good
standing under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the character of the
properties owned or leased by it therein or in which the transaction of its
business makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified does not and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect (as defined in Section 10.9). Pride
has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and lease its
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted. The copies of Pride's
certificate of incorporation and bylaws previously made available to Marine are
true and correct and contain all amendments as of the date hereof.

                Section 6.2 Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreements.
Pride has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement, the Marine Stock Option Agreement and all other agreements and
documents contemplated hereby and thereby to which it is a party. The
consummation by Pride of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Marine
Stock Option Agreement have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
action on behalf of Pride, other than the approvals referred to in Section 6.19.
This Agreement and the Marine Stock Option Agreement constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of Pride, enforceable against

                                       26
<PAGE>   36

Pride in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to creditors' rights and general principles of equity. Pride has taken
all action necessary to render the restrictions set forth in R.S. 12:133 and
12:135-140.2 of the LBCL inapplicable to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. No other state takeover or business combination statute
applies to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Marine Stock
Option Agreement.

                Section 6.3 Capitalization. As of the date of this Agreement,
the authorized capital stock of Pride consists of 200,000,000 shares of common
stock, no par value per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par
value per share, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock"). As of May 22, 2001,
73,597,802 shares of Pride Common Stock and no shares of Series A Preferred
Stock were outstanding. Section 6.3 of the Pride Disclosure Letter sets forth
the number of shares of Pride Common Stock reserved for issuance as of May 18,
2001. All such issued and outstanding shares of Pride Common Stock are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights. One right to purchase Junior Participating Preferred Stock (each, a
"Pride Right") issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of September 9,
1998 (the "Pride Rights Agreement"), as amended, between Pride and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company is associated with and attached to each
outstanding share of Pride Common Stock. As of the date of this Agreement,
except for the Marine Stock Option Agreement, the Pride Rights, the Put and
Exchange Agreement between Pride and First Reserve Fund VIII, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, and as set forth in this Section 6.3, there are no
outstanding shares of capital stock and there are no options, warrants, calls,
subscriptions, convertible securities or other rights, agreements or commitments
which obligate Pride or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any
shares of capital stock or other voting securities of Pride or any of its
Subsidiaries, except as described in the notes to the financial statements of
Pride included in its Form 10-Q report for the quarter ended March 31, 2001
filed with the SEC. Pride has no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other
obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are
convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with
the shareholders of Pride on any matter, except as described in the notes to the
financial statements of Pride included in its Form 10-Q report for the quarter
ended March 31, 2001 filed with the SEC.

                Section 6.4 Significant Subsidiaries. Each of Pride's
Significant Subsidiaries is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized,
validly existing and, to the extent such concept or similar concept exists in
the relevant jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization, has the corporate or other entity power and
authority to own, operate and lease its properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and is in
good standing (where applicable) in each jurisdiction in which the ownership,
operation or lease of its property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except for jurisdictions in which such failure to be so qualified
or to be in good standing does not and

                                       27
<PAGE>   37

is not reasonably likely to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect. As of the date
of this Agreement, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other
ownership interests in, each of Pride's Significant Subsidiaries are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned, directly
or indirectly, by Pride free and clear of all Liens.

                Section 6.5 Compliance with Laws; Permits. Except for such
matters as, individually or in the aggregate, do not or are not reasonably
likely to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect and except for matters arising
under Environmental Laws which are treated exclusively in Section 6.13:

                (a) Neither Pride nor any Subsidiary of Pride is in violation of
any applicable law, rule, regulation, code, governmental determination, order,
treaty, convention, governmental certification requirement or other public
limitation, U.S. or non-U.S. (collectively, the "Pride Applicable Laws"),
relating to the ownership or operation of any of their respective assets, and no
claim is pending or, to the knowledge of Pride, threatened with respect to any
such matters. No condition exists that is not disclosed in the Pride Disclosure
Letter and which does or is reasonably likely to constitute a violation of or
deficiency under any Pride Applicable Law relating to the ownership or operation
of the assets of Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride.

                (b) Pride and each Subsidiary of Pride hold all permits,
licenses, certifications, variations, exemptions, orders, franchises and
approvals of all governmental or regulatory authorities necessary for the
conduct of their respective businesses (the "Pride Permits"). All Pride Permits
are in full force and effect and there exists no default thereunder or breach
thereof, and Pride has no notice or actual knowledge that such Pride Permits
will not be renewed in the ordinary course after the Marine Merger Effective
Time. No governmental authority has given, or to the knowledge of Pride
threatened to give, any action to terminate, cancel or reform any Pride Permit.

                (c) Each drilling rig, drillship or other drilling unit owned by
Pride or a subsidiary of Pride which is subject to classification is in class
according to the rules and regulations of the applicable classifying body and is
duly and lawfully documented under the laws of its flag jurisdiction.

                (d) Pride and each Subsidiary of Pride possess all permits,
licenses, operating authorities, orders, exemptions, franchises, variances,
consents, approvals or other authorizations required for the present ownership
and operation of all its real property or leaseholds ("Pride Real Property")
except where the failure to possess any of the same does not and is not
reasonably likely to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect. There exists no
material default or breach with respect to, and no party or governmental
authority has taken or, to the knowledge of Pride, threatened to take, any
action to terminate, cancel or reform any such permit, license, operating
authority, order, exemption, franchise, variance, consent, approval or other
authorization pertaining to Pride Real Property.

                                       28
<PAGE>   38

                Section 6.6 No Conflict. (a) Neither the execution and delivery
by Pride of this Agreement, the Marine Stock Option Agreement nor the
consummation by Pride of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby in
accordance with their respective terms will (i) subject to the approvals
referred to in Section 6.19, conflict with or result in a breach of any
provisions of the restated articles of incorporation or bylaws of Pride, (ii)
violate, or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or
constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or in a right of
termination or cancellation of, or give rise to a right of purchase under, or
accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien
upon any of the properties of Pride or its Subsidiaries under, or result in
being declared void, voidable, or without further binding effect, or otherwise
result in a detriment to Pride or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, license, franchise, permit, lease, contract, agreement, joint venture or
other instrument or obligation to which Pride or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party, or by which Pride or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties
is bound or affected or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred
to in Section 6.6(c), contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of
any provision of any law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree binding
upon or applicable to Pride or any of its Subsidiaries, except, for such matters
described in clause (ii) or (iii) as do not and are not reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect.

                (b) Neither the execution and delivery by Pride of this
Agreement nor the consummation by Pride of the transactions contemplated hereby
in accordance with the terms hereof will result in any "change of control" under
the indentures and supplemental indentures pursuant to which any outstanding
indebtedness of Pride has been issued. Except as disclosed in the Pride
Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery by Pride of this Agreement
nor the consummation by Pride of the transactions contemplated hereby in
accordance with the terms hereof will result in any "change of control" or
similar event or circumstance under the terms of any Pride Material Contract or
under any contract or plan under which any officers or directors of Pride or any
of its Subsidiaries are entitled to payments or benefits, which gives rise to
rights or benefits not otherwise available absent such change of control or
similar event.

                (c) Neither the execution and delivery by Pride of this
Agreement, the Marine Stock Option Agreement nor the consummation by Pride of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in accordance with their
respective terms will require any consent, approval or authorization of, or
filing or registration with, any governmental or regulatory authority, other
than (i) the filing of the Marine Certificate of Merger, (ii) the filing of the
Pride Certificate of Merger, (iii) the filing of the Louisiana Certificate of
Merger, (iv) filings required under the HSR Act, the Exchange Act, the
Securities Act or applicable state securities and "Blue Sky" laws, applicable
non-U.S. competition, antitrust or premerger notification laws, and (v) the
filing of a listing application with the NYSE with respect to any Pride Common
Stock issued upon exercise of the Marine Stock Option

                                       29
<PAGE>   39

((i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) collectively, the "Pride Regulatory Filings"),
except for any consent, approval or authorization the failure of which to obtain
and for any filing or registration the failure of which to make does not and is
not reasonably likely to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect or substantially
impair or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                Section 6.7 SEC Documents. Pride has timely filed with the SEC
all documents required to be so filed by it in the preceding twelve months
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Pride and its
Subsidiaries have filed with the SEC all documents required to be so filed by
them in the preceding three fiscal years and during 2001 pursuant to Sections
13(a), 14(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Pride has made available to Marine
each registration statement, report, proxy statement or information statement
(other than preliminary materials) it has so filed, each in the form (including
exhibits and any amendments thereto) filed with the SEC (collectively, the
"Pride Reports"). As of its respective date, each Pride Report (i) complied in
all material respects in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and (ii) did not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
except for such statements, if any, as have been modified by subsequent filings
with the SEC prior to the date hereof. Each of the consolidated balance sheets
included in or incorporated by reference into Pride Reports (including the
related notes and schedules) fairly presents in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of Pride and its Subsidiaries as of its date,
and each of the consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in
shareholders' equity included in or incorporated by reference into Pride Reports
(including any related notes and schedules) fairly presents in all material
respects the results of operations, cash flows or changes in shareholders'
equity, as the case may be, of Pride and its Subsidiaries for the periods set
forth therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to (x) such
exceptions as may be permitted by Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X of the SEC and
(y) normal year-end audit adjustments), in each case in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied during the periods
involved, except as may be noted therein. Except as and to the extent set forth
on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of Pride and its Subsidiaries
included in Pride Reports, including all notes thereto, as of the date of such
balance sheet, neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise)
that would be required to be reflected on, or reserved against in, a balance
sheet of Pride or in the notes thereto prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied, other than liabilities or
obligations which do not and are not reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 6.8 Litigation. Except as would not have a Pride
Material Adverse Effect, Section 6.8 of the Pride Disclosure Letter contains an
accurate summary of each litigation matter pending or threatened against Pride
or any of its Subsidiaries that is not summarized in the Pride

                                       30
<PAGE>   40

Reports. Except as described in Pride Reports filed on or prior to the date of
this Agreement, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending against Pride
or any of its Subsidiaries or, to Pride's knowledge, threatened against Pride or
any of its Subsidiaries, at law or in equity, before or by any U.S. federal,
state or non-U.S. court, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality,
that are reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride
Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 6.9 Absence of Certain Changes. From December 31, 2000
to the date of this Agreement, there has not been (i) any event or occurrence
that has had or is reasonably likely to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect,
(ii) any material change by Pride or any of its Subsidiaries, when taken as a
whole, in any of its accounting methods, principles or practices or any of its
tax methods, practices or elections, (iii) any declaration, setting aside or
payment of any dividend or distribution in respect of any capital stock of Pride
or any redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any of its securities, or
(iv) any increase in or establishment of any bonus, insurance, severance,
deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option, stock
purchase or other employee benefit plan, except in the ordinary course of
business.

                Section 6.10 Taxes. Except for such matters as, individually or
in the aggregate, do not or are not reasonably likely to have a Pride Material
Adverse Effect, and except as disclosed in the Pride Disclosure Letter (it being
understood that inclusion of a matter in the Pride Disclosure Letter does not
necessarily mean that such matter is or is reasonably likely to have a Pride
Material Adverse Effect):

                (a) Each of Pride and its Subsidiaries has filed all Tax Returns
that it was required to file. All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in
all respects. All Taxes owed by any of Pride and its Subsidiaries (whether or
not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. None of Pride and its Subsidiaries
currently is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any
Tax Return. No claim has ever been made by an authority in a jurisdiction where
any of Pride and its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be
subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no Liens on any of the
assets of any of Pride and its Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any
failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax.

                (b) Each of Pride and its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all
Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or
owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder, or other
third party.

                (c) No officer or employee responsible for Tax matters of any of
Pride and its Subsidiaries expects any authority to assess any additional Taxes
for any period for which Tax Returns have been filed. There is no dispute or
claim concerning any Tax liability of any of Pride and its Subsidiaries either
(i) claimed or raised by any authority in writing or (ii) as to which any of the
officers or employees responsible for Tax matters of Pride and its Subsidiaries
has knowledge

                                       31
<PAGE>   41

based upon personal contact with any agent of such authority. Section 6.10 of
the Pride Disclosure Letter lists all federal, state, local, and foreign income
Tax Returns filed with respect to any of Pride and its Subsidiaries for taxable
periods ended on or after December 31, 1998, indicates those Tax Returns that
have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that currently are the
subject of audit or have been noticed for audit.

                (d) None of Pride and its Subsidiaries has waived any statute of
limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect
to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

                (e) None of Pride and its Subsidiaries has filed a consent under
Code Section 341(f) concerning collapsible corporations.

                (f) A valid and timely Code Section 338 election was made with
respect to each nonUnited States entity treated as a corporation under the Code
which was acquired after December 31, 1985 by Pride or any of its Subsidiaries
and for which such an election was permissible.

                (g) None of Pride and its Subsidiaries are parties to a gain
recognition agreement under U.S. Treasury Reg. Section 1.367(a)-8.

                (h) None of Pride and its Subsidiaries are parties to, or have a
request pending for, any advance pricing agreements under Internal Revenue
Service Revenue Procedure 96-53.

                (i) None of Pride and its Subsidiaries has paid or is obligated
to make any payments in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement that could be reasonably expected to be non-deductible under Code
Section 280G.

                (j) Pride has not been a United States real property holding
corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during the previous
five years.

                (k) Pride has disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns all
positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of
federal income Tax within the meaning of Code Section 6662.

                (l) None of Pride and its Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax
allocation or Tax sharing agreement.

                (m) None of Pride and its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of
an Affiliated Group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than
a group the common parent of which was Pride) since January 1, 1987, or (ii) has
any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other

                                       32
<PAGE>   42

than any of Pride and its Subsidiaries) under U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6
(or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or
successor, by contract, or otherwise.

                (n) Section 6.10(n) of the Pride Disclosure Letter sets forth
the following information with respect to each of Pride and its Subsidiaries as
of the most recent practicable date (as well as on an estimated pro forma basis
as of the Closing giving effect to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby) for both United States income tax purposes and foreign tax
purposes where applicable: (i) the amount of any net operating loss, net capital
loss, unused investment or other credit, unused foreign tax, or excess
charitable contribution allocable to Pride or any Subsidiary; and (ii) the
amount of any deferred gain or loss allocable to Pride or Subsidiary arising out
of any Deferred Intercompany Transaction.

                (o) The unpaid Taxes of Pride and its Subsidiaries (i) did not,
as of the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the most recent
Pride Report containing historical financial statements, exceed the reserve for
Tax liability (other than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect
timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of such
most recent balance sheet (rather than in any notes thereto) and (ii) do not
exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date
in accordance with the past custom and practice of Pride and its Subsidiaries in
filing their Tax Returns.

                (p) Neither Pride nor any of the Pride Subsidiaries knows of any
fact, or has taken any action or has failed to take any action, that is
reasonably likely to (i) prevent the Mergers from qualifying as reorganizations
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, (ii) cause the holders who
exchange Marine Common Stock solely for Pride Common Stock pursuant to the
Marine Merger to recognize taxable gain with respect to the Marine Merger, (iii)
cause the Pride shareholders, including the former holders of Marine Common
Stock, who exchange Pride Common Stock solely for Company Common Stock pursuant
to the Pride Merger to recognize taxable gain with respect to the Pride Merger,
or (iv) cause income to be recognized or Tax to be accelerated or be due as a
consequence of the Mergers. Neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed
to pay, or will pay, directly or indirectly, any consideration for Marine Common
Stock other than Pride Common Stock. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has agreed to pay, or will pay, directly or indirectly, any
consideration other than Company Common Stock for Pride Common Stock, including
that issued in the Marine Merger.

                Section 6.11 Employee Benefit Plans. (a) Section 6.11 of the
Pride Disclosure Letter contains a list of all Pride Benefit Plans. The term
"Pride Benefit Plans" means all material employee benefit plans and other
material benefit arrangements, including all "employee benefit plans" as defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not U.S.-based plans, and all other
employee benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, stock option (or
other equity-based), severance, employment, change in control, welfare
(including post-retirement medical and life insurance) and

                                       33
<PAGE>   43

fringe benefit plans, practices or agreements, whether or not subject to ERISA
or U.S.-based and whether written or oral, sponsored, maintained or contributed
to or required to be contributed to by Pride or any of its Subsidiaries, to
which Pride or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is required to provide
benefits under applicable law or in which any person who is currently, has been
or, prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time, is expected to become an employee
of Pride is a participant. Upon written request from Marine, Pride will provide
to Marine true and complete copies of Pride Benefit Plans and, if applicable,
the most recent trust agreements, summary plan descriptions, funding statements,
annual reports and actuarial reports, if applicable, for each such plan. Pride
has also previously provided to Marine with respect to each such plan, true and
correct copies of correspondence with governmental entities and Forms 5500 for
the past three calendar years and during 2001 to the date of this Agreement.

                (b) Except as for such matters as, individually or in the
aggregate, do not or are not reasonably likely to have a Pride Material Adverse
Effect:

                        (1) all applicable reporting and disclosure requirements
        have been met with respect to Pride Benefit Plans;

                        (2) there has been no "reportable event," as that term
        is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to Pride Benefit Plans
        subject to Title IV of ERISA for which the 30-day reporting requirement
        has not been waived;

                        (3) to the extent applicable, Pride Benefit Plans comply
        and have complied with the requirements of ERISA, the Code, other
        applicable law, with the regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, and
        with the operative documents for each such plan;

                        (4) any Pride Benefit Plan intended to be qualified
        under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination
        letter from the IRS;

                        (5) Pride Benefit Plans have been maintained and
        operated in accordance with their terms, and, to Pride's knowledge,
        there are no breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with Pride Benefit
        Plans;

                        (6) there are no pending or, to Pride's knowledge,
        threatened claims against or otherwise involving any Pride Benefit Plan,
        and no suit, action or other litigation (excluding claims for benefits
        incurred in the ordinary course of Pride Benefit Plan activities) has
        been brought against or with respect to any such Pride Benefit Plan;

                        (7) there are no pending audits or investigations by any
        governmental entity involving any Pride Benefit Plan;

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<PAGE>   44

                        (8) all material contributions required to be made as of
        the date hereof to Pride Benefit Plans have been made or provided for;

                        (9) Pride has not engaged in a transaction with respect
        to any Pride Benefit Plan for which it could be subject (either directly
        or indirectly) to a liability for either a civil penalty assessed
        pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Section 4975 of
        the Code;

                        (10) with respect to Pride Benefit Plans or any
        "employee pension benefit plans," as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA,
        that are subject to Title IV of ERISA and have been maintained or
        contributed to within six years prior to the Marine Merger Effective
        Time by Pride, its Subsidiaries or any trade or business (whether or not
        incorporated) which is under common control, or which is treated as a
        single employer, with Pride or any of its Subsidiaries under Section
        414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (a "Pride ERISA Affiliate"), (i)
        neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any direct or
        indirect liability under Title IV of ERISA in connection with any
        termination thereof or withdrawal therefrom, and (ii) there does not
        exist any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of Section
        412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived; and

                        (11) All individuals who performed any compensatory
        services for Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride, whether as an employee,
        independent contractor or "leased employee" (as defined in Section
        414(n) of the Code) are, and have been, properly classified for purposes
        of withholding taxes and eligibility to participate in, and coverage
        under, any Pride Benefit Plan.

                (c) Neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any Pride
ERISA Affiliate contributes to, or has an obligation to contribute to, and has
not within six years prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time contributed to,
or had an obligation to contribute to, a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning
of Section 3(37) of ERISA, a "multiple employer welfare association" within the
meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA, or a "voluntary employees' beneficiary
association" within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the Code, and the
execution of, and performance of the transactions contemplated by, this
Agreement, other than Section 7.17, will not (either alone or upon the
occurrence of any additional or subsequent events) constitute an event under any
benefit plan, policy, arrangement or agreement or any trust or loan (in
connection therewith) that will or may result in any payment (whether of
severance pay or otherwise), acceleration, forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting,
distribution, increase in benefits or obligations to fund benefits with respect
to any employee of Pride or any Subsidiary thereof.

                (d) No Pride Benefit Plan provides medical, surgical,
hospitalization, death or similar benefits (whether or not insured) for
employees or former employees of Pride or any

                                       35
<PAGE>   45

Subsidiary of Pride for periods extending beyond their retirement date or other
termination of service other than (i) coverage mandated by applicable law, (ii)
death benefits under any "pension plan" or (iii) benefits the full cost of which
is borne by the current or former employee (or his beneficiary). Each Pride
Benefit Plan may be unilaterally amended or terminated by Pride without
liability, except as to benefits accrued or awarded thereunder prior to
amendment or termination.

                Section 6.12 Labor Matters. (a) As of the date of this
Agreement, (i) neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound
by, any collective bargaining agreement or similar contract, agreement or
understanding with a labor union or similar labor organization (A) covering any
U.S. employees or (B) covering, in any single instance, 10% or more of the
employees of Pride and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (ii) to Pride's
knowledge, there are no organizational efforts with respect to the formation of
a collective bargaining unit presently being made or threatened (x) involving
any U.S. employees or (y) involving, in any single instance, 10% or more of the
employees of Pride and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                (b) Except for such matters as are disclosed in the Pride
Reports and matters that do not and are not reasonably likely to have a Pride
Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither Pride nor any Subsidiary of Pride has
received any written complaint of any unfair labor practice or other unlawful
employment practice or any written notice of any material violation of any
federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders
or directives with respect to the employment of individuals by, or the
employment practices of, Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride or the work conditions
or the terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours of their
respective businesses and (ii) there are no unfair labor practice charges or
other employee related complaints against Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride
pending or, to the knowledge of Pride threatened, before any governmental
authority by or concerning the employees working in their respective businesses.

                Section 6.13 Environmental Matters. (a) Pride and each
Subsidiary of Pride has been and is in compliance with all Environmental Laws
except for such matters as do not and are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect. There are no
past or present facts, conditions or circumstances that interfere with the
conduct of any of their respective businesses in the manner now conducted or
which interfere with continued compliance with any Environmental Law except for
any non-compliance or interference that is not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect.

                (b) Except for such matters as do not and are not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse
Effect, no judicial or administrative proceedings or governmental investigations
are pending or, to the knowledge of Pride, threatened against Pride or its
Subsidiaries that allege the violation of or seek to impose liability pursuant
to any Environmental Law, and there are no past or present facts, conditions or
circumstances at, on or arising out of, or otherwise associated with, any
current or, to the knowledge of Pride or its

                                       36
<PAGE>   46

Subsidiaries, former businesses, assets or properties of Pride or any Subsidiary
of Pride, including but not limited to on-site or off-site disposal, release or
spill of any Hazardous Materials which violate Environmental Law or are
reasonably likely to give rise to (i) costs, expenses, liabilities or
obligations for any cleanup, remediation, disposal or corrective action under
any Environmental Law, (ii) claims arising for personal injury, property damage
or damage to natural resources, or (iii) civil, criminal or administrative
fines, penalties or injunctive relief.

                (c) Neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) received
any notice of noncompliance with, violation of, or liability or potential
liability under any Environmental Law or (ii) entered into any consent decree or
order or is subject to any order of any court or governmental authority or
tribunal under any Environmental Law or relating to the cleanup of any Hazardous
Materials, except for any such matters as do not and are not reasonably likely
to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 6.14 Intellectual Property. Pride and its Subsidiaries
own or possess adequate licenses or other valid rights to use all patents,
patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights and proprietary information used or
held for use in connection with their respective businesses as currently being
conducted, except where the failure to own or possess such licenses and other
rights does not and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect, and there are no assertions or
claims challenging the validity of any of the foregoing that are reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse
Effect. To the knowledge of Pride, the conduct of Pride's and its Subsidiaries'
respective businesses as currently conducted does not conflict with any patents,
patent rights, licenses, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name
rights or copyrights of others that are reasonably likely to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of Pride,
there is no material infringement of any proprietary right owned by or licensed
by or to Pride or any of its Subsidiaries that is reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 6.15 Decrees, Etc. Except for such matters as do not and
are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride
Material Adverse Effect, (i) no order, writ, fine, injunction, decree, judgment,
award or determination of any court or governmental authority has been issued or
entered against Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride that continues to be in effect
that affects the ownership or operation of any of their respective assets, and
(ii) no criminal order, writ, fine, injunction, decree, judgment or
determination of any court or governmental authority has been issued against
Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride.

                Section 6.16 Insurance. (a) Except for such matters as do not
and are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride
Material Adverse Effect, Pride and its Subsidiaries maintain insurance coverage
with financially responsible insurance companies in such

                                       37
<PAGE>   47

amounts and against such losses as are customary in the international and
domestic drilling business conducted by Pride and its Subsidiaries prior to the
date hereof.

                (b) Except for such matters as do not and are not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse
Effect, no event relating specifically to Pride or its Subsidiaries (as opposed
to events affecting the drilling service industry in general) has occurred that
is reasonably likely, after the date of this Agreement, to result in an upward
adjustment in premiums under any insurance policies they maintain. Excluding
insurance policies that have expired and been replaced in the ordinary course of
business, no excess liability, hull or protection and indemnity insurance policy
has been canceled by the insurer within one year prior to the date hereof, and
to Pride's knowledge, no threat in writing has been made to cancel (excluding
cancellation upon expiration or failure to renew) any such insurance policy of
Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride during the period of one year prior to the date
hereof. Prior to the date hereof, no event has occurred, including the failure
by Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride to give any notice or information or by
giving any inaccurate or erroneous notice or information, which materially
limits or impairs the rights of Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride under any such
excess liability, hull or protection and indemnity insurance policies.

                Section 6.17 No Brokers. Pride has not entered into any
contract, arrangement or understanding with any person or firm which may result
in the obligation of Pride, Marine or the Company to pay any finder's fees,
brokerage or other like payments in connection with the negotiations leading to
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
except that Pride has retained Salomon Smith Barney Inc. as its financial
advisor, the arrangements with which have been disclosed in writing to Marine
prior to the date hereof.

                Section 6.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The board of
directors of Pride has received the opinion of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. to the
effect that, as of the date of this Agreement, the Pride Exchange Ratio is fair
to the shareholders of Pride from a financial point of view.

                Section 6.19 Vote Required. The only votes of the holders of any
class or series of Pride capital stock necessary to approve any transaction
contemplated by this Agreement are the affirmative vote in favor of the issuance
of shares of Pride Common Stock pursuant to the Marine Merger (the "Pride
Issuance") and the adoption of this Agreement of the holders of at least a
majority of the Pride Common Stock represented at the Pride Meeting (as
hereafter defined) at which a quorum is present.

                Section 6.20 Ownership of Drilling Rigs and Drillships. As of
the date hereof, Pride or a Subsidiary of Pride has good and indefeasible title
to the drilling rigs listed in Pride's most recent annual report on Form 10-K,
in each case free and clear of all Liens except for (i) defects or

                                       38
<PAGE>   48

irregularities of title or encumbrances of a nature that do not materially
impair the ownership or operation of these assets and which have not had and are
not reasonably likely to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect, (ii) Liens that
secure obligations not yet due and payable or, if such obligations are due and
have not been paid, Liens securing such obligations that are being diligently
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings (any such contests
involving an amount in excess of $5.0 million being described in Pride
Disclosure Letter), (iii) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental
charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith, (iv)
Liens in connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance or other
social security, old age pension or public liability obligations not yet due or
which are being contested in good faith, (v) operators', vendors', suppliers of
necessaries to Pride's drilling rigs, carriers', warehousemen's, repairmen's,
mechanics', workmen's, materialmen's, construction or shipyard liens (during
repair or upgrade periods) or other similar Liens arising by operation of law in
the ordinary course of business or statutory landlord's liens, each of which is
in respect of obligations that have not been outstanding more than 90 days (so
long as no action has been taken to file or enforce such Liens within said
90-day period) or which are being contested in good faith and (vi) other Liens
disclosed in Pride Disclosure Letter (the Liens described in clauses (i), (ii),
(iii), (iv), (v) and (vi), collectively, "Pride Permitted Liens"). No such asset
is leased under an operating lease from a lessor that, to Pride's knowledge, has
incurred non-recourse indebtedness to finance the acquisition or construction of
such asset.

                Section 6.21 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither Pride nor any of
its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether or
not fixed, accrued, contingent or otherwise, except liabilities and obligations
that (i) are disclosed in Pride Reports, (ii) are referred to in the Pride
Disclosure Letter or (iii) do not and are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 6.22 Certain Contracts. (a) Section 6.22 of Pride
Disclosure Letter contains a list of all of the following contracts or
agreements (other than those listed as an exhibit to Pride's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000) to which Pride or any Subsidiary
of Pride is a party or by which any of them is bound as of the date of this
Agreement: (i) any non-competition agreement that purports to limit the manner
in which, or the localities in which, all or any portion of their respective
businesses is conducted, other than any such limitation that is not material to
Pride and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) any drilling rig construction
or conversion contract with respect to which the drilling rig has not been
delivered and paid for; (iii) any drilling contracts of one year or greater
remaining duration or drilling contracts of a shorter duration which if extended
at the election of Pride's customer would have a remaining duration of one year
or more; (iv) any contract or agreement for the borrowing of money with a
borrowing capacity or outstanding indebtedness of $5.0 million or more; (v) any
contract for the acquisition or disposition of a "business" (as such term is
defined in Article 11-01(d) of Regulation S-X of the SEC; or (vi) any "material
contract" (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of

                                       39
<PAGE>   49

the SEC) (all contracts or agreements of the types described in clauses (i)
through (vi) being referred to herein as "Pride Material Contracts").

                (b) As of the date of this Agreement, each Pride Material
Contract is, to the knowledge of Pride, in full force and effect, and Pride and
each of its Subsidiaries have in all material respects performed all obligations
required to be performed by them to date under each Pride Material Contract,
except where such failure to be binding or in full force and effect or such
failure to perform does not and is not reasonably likely to create, individually
or in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect. Except for such matters as
do not and are not reasonably likely to have a Pride Material Adverse Effect,
neither Pride nor any of its Subsidiaries (x) knows of, or has received written
notice of, any breach of or violation or default under (nor, to the knowledge of
Pride, does there exist any condition which with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would result in such a violation or default under) any
Pride Material Contract or (y) has received written notice of the desire of the
other party or parties to any such Pride Material Contract to exercise any
rights such party has to cancel, terminate or repudiate such contract or
exercise remedies thereunder. Each Pride Material Contract is enforceable by
Pride or a Subsidiary of Pride in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to creditors' rights and general principles of equity, except
where such unenforceability is not reasonably likely to create, individually or
in the aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 6.23 Capital Expenditure Program. As of the date of this
Agreement, Section 6.23 of the Pride Disclosure Letter accurately sets forth in
all material respects, for each of Pride's sustaining, life extension and
newbuild capital expenditure programs, the capital expenditures for all such
programs that were forecasted to be incurred in 2001 on an annual basis.

                Section 6.24 Improper Payments. No bribes, kickbacks or other
improper payments have been made by Pride or any Subsidiary of Pride or agent of
any of them in connection with the conduct of their respective businesses or the
operation of their respective assets, and neither Pride, any Subsidiary of Pride
nor any agent of any of them has received any such payments from vendors,
suppliers or other persons, where any such payment made or received is
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Pride Material
Adverse Effect.

                Section 6.25 Amendment to Pride Rights Agreement. Pride has
amended or taken other action under the Pride Rights Agreement so that none of
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the execution and delivery of the
Marine Stock Option Agreement, the conversion of shares of Pride Common Stock
into the right to receive shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with this
Agreement, the consummation of the Mergers, the issuance of Pride Common Stock
upon exercise of the Marine Stock Option or any other transactions contemplated
hereby or by the Marine Stock Option Agreement, will cause: (i) Pride Rights to
become exercisable under the Pride Rights Agreement; (ii) the Company, Pride or
any of Pride's shareholders or Subsidiaries to

                                       40
<PAGE>   50

be deemed an "Acquiring Person" (as defined in the Pride Rights Agreement);
(iii) any such event to be an event requiring an adjustment of the purchase
price of the Pride Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) of the Pride Rights Agreement;
(iv) Section 13 of the Pride Rights Agreement to be or become applicable to any
such event; or (v) a "Stock Acquisition Date" or a "Distribution Date" (each as
defined in Pride Rights Agreement) to occur upon any such event, and so that the
Pride Rights will expire immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time.
Pride has delivered to Marine a true and complete copy of the Pride Rights
Agreement, as amended to date.

                Section 6.26 Pooling of Interests. To the knowledge of Pride as
of the date of this Agreement, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken,
or agreed to take, any action or failed to take any action which action or
failure (without giving effect to any actions or failures to act by Marine or
any of its Subsidiaries) that is known to Pride as of the date of this Agreement
to prevent the treatment of the Mergers contemplated herein as (i) a pooling of
interests for accounting purposes under the requirements of Opinion No. 16
(Business Combinations) of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board and the rules of the SEC, or (ii) reorganizations within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.

                Section 6.27. Representations and Warranties Relating to the
Company and Merger Sub. (a) Each of the Company and Merger Sub is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware. Neither the Company nor Merger Sub owns any properties (other
than the initial cash subscription for shares) or has commenced any business or
operations. Pride has delivered to Marine true and correct copies of the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws of each of the Company and Merger Sub.

        (b) The Company has an authorized capital stock consisting of (i)
400,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, 20 shares of which were issued and
outstanding on the date hereof and immediately prior to the Pride Merger
Effective Time, and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01
per share, none of which were issued and outstanding as of the date hereof and
immediately prior to the Pride Merger Effective Time. As of the date hereof and
immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time, all of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of Merger Sub are owned by Pride. As of the
date hereof and immediately prior to the Pride Merger Effective Time, all of the
issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are owned by
Pride.

        (c) Each of the Company and Merger Sub has the corporate power and
authority and has taken all corporate action necessary to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been (i) duly and validly authorized by the board of directors and
sole stockholder of each of the Company and Merger Sub and (ii) duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Company and Merger Sub and constitutes the valid
and binding

                                       41
<PAGE>   51

obligation of each of the Company and Merger Sub, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other Laws relating to or affecting creditors'
rights generally or by equitable principles.

        (d) Each of the Company and Merger Sub has been formed solely to
consummate the Pride Merger and Marine Merger, respectively, and each of the
Company and Merger Sub has not conducted and will not conduct any business
activities or other operations of any kind other than the issuance of shares of
their capital stock to Pride, prior to the Pride Merger Effective Time and
Marine Merger Effective Time, respectively.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                            COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

                Section 7.1 Conduct of Marine's Business. Prior to the Marine
Merger Effective Time, and except (i) as set forth in the Marine Disclosure
Letter, (ii) as expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement
(iii), as contemplated by the Pride Stock Option Agreement, (iii) as required by
Applicable Laws (provided that Marine has provided Pride with advance notice of
the proposed action to the extent practicable), or (iv) as otherwise consented
to by Pride in writing, Marine:

                (a) shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, conduct
its operations according to their usual, regular and ordinary course in
substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted;

                (b) shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts, and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to use its commercially reasonable best
efforts, to preserve intact their business organizations and goodwill (except
that any of its Subsidiaries may be merged with or into, or be consolidated with
any of its Subsidiaries or may be liquidated into Marine or any of its
Subsidiaries), keep available the services of their respective officers and
employees and maintain satisfactory relationships with those persons having
business relationships with them;

                (c) shall not amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws;

                (d) shall promptly notify Pride of any material change in its
condition (financial or otherwise) or business or any termination, cancellation,
repudiation or material breach of any Marine Material Contract (or
communications indicating that the same may be contemplated) or any material
litigation or material governmental complaints, investigations or hearings (or
communications indicating that the same may be contemplated), or the breach in
any material respect of any representation or warranty contained herein;

                                       42
<PAGE>   52

                (e) shall promptly deliver to Pride true and correct copies of
any report, statement or schedule filed with the SEC subsequent to the date of
this Agreement;

                (f) shall not,

                        (1) except pursuant to the exercise of options,
        warrants, conversion rights and other contractual rights existing on the
        date hereof and disclosed pursuant to this Agreement (including Marine
        Rights issued pursuant to the Marine Rights Agreement) or pursuant to
        the exercise of stock options and stock awards granted after the date
        hereof and expressly permitted under this Agreement or in connection
        with transactions permitted by Section 7.1(i), issue any shares of its
        capital stock, effect any stock split or otherwise change its
        capitalization as it existed on the date hereof,

                        (2) grant, confer or award any option, warrant,
        conversion right or other right not existing on the date hereof to
        acquire any shares of its capital stock, except the issuance of Marine
        Rights with permitted issuances of Marine Common Stock,

                        (3) amend or otherwise modify any option, warrant,
        conversion right or other right to acquire any shares of its capital
        stock existing on the date hereof,

                        (4) with respect to any of its former, present or future
        employees, increase any compensation or benefits, or enter into, amend
        or extend (or permit the extension of) any employment or consulting
        agreement, except in each case in the ordinary course of business
        consistent with past practice,

                        (5) with respect to any of its former, present or future
        officers or directors, increase any compensation or benefits or enter
        into, amend or extend (or permit the extension of) any employment or
        consulting agreement,

                        (6) adopt any new employee benefit plan or agreement
        (including any stock option, stock benefit or stock purchase plan) or
        amend (except as required by law) any existing employee benefit plan in
        any material respect, except for changes which are less favorable to
        participants in such plans,

                        (7) except as approved by good faith action of the board
        of directors of Marine after Marine has provided Pride with advance
        written notice of the proposed action and consulted in advance with
        Pride regarding such action, terminate any executive officer

                                       43
<PAGE>   53

        without cause or permit circumstances to exist that would give any
        executive officer a right to terminate employment if the termination
        would entitle such executive officer to receive enhanced separation
        payments upon consummation of the Mergers, or

                        (8) permit any holder of an option to acquire Marine
        Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof to have shares withheld upon
        exercise, for tax purposes, in excess of the number of shares needed to
        satisfy the minimum statutory withholding requirements for federal and
        state withholding;

                (g) shall not (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or make
any other distribution or payment with respect to any shares of its capital
stock or (ii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital
stock or capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries, or make any commitment for
any such action;

                (h) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its assets (including capital stock
of Subsidiaries) which are material to Marine, individually or in the aggregate,
except for sales of surplus equipment or sales of other assets in the ordinary
course of business;

                (i) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
except pursuant to contractual commitments in effect on the date hereof and
disclosed in the Marine Disclosure Letter, acquire or agree to acquire by
merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing an equity interest in or a
substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or
any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or
division thereof, in each case (i) for an aggregate consideration for all such
acquisitions in excess of $1 million (excluding acquisitions approved in writing
by Pride) or (ii) where a filing under the HSR Act or any non-U.S. competition,
antitrust or premerger notification laws is required;

                (j) shall not, except as may be required as a result of a change
in generally accepted accounting principles, change any of the material
accounting principles or practices used by it;

                (k) shall, and shall cause any of its Subsidiaries to, use
reasonable efforts to maintain with financially responsible insurance companies
insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as are customary for
such party;

                (l) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,

                                       44
<PAGE>   54

                        (1) make or rescind any material election relating to
        taxes, including elections for any and all joint ventures, partnerships,
        limited liability companies, working interests or other investments
        where it has the capacity to make such binding election,

                        (2) settle or compromise any material claim, action,
        suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or
        controversy relating to taxes, or

                        (3) change in any material respect any of its methods of
        reporting any item for tax purposes from those employed in the
        preparation of its tax returns for the most recent taxable year for
        which a return has been filed, except as may be required by applicable
        law;

                (m) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,

                        (1) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
        guarantee any such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or
        warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of Marine or any of
        its Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of others,

                        (2) except in the ordinary course of business, enter
        into any material lease (whether such lease is an operating or capital
        lease) or create any material mortgages, Liens, security interests or
        other encumbrances on its property in connection with any indebtedness
        thereof (other than the Marine Permitted Liens), or

                        (3) make or commit to make aggregate capital
        expenditures in excess of $1 million per month for each month from the
        date of this Agreement to the Marine Merger Effective Time over the
        capital expenditures forecast disclosed in the Marine Disclosure Letter
        for such month, excluding capital expenditures covered by insurance (A)
        for any partial loss not covered by loss of hire insurance, not in
        excess of $1 million per occurrence or series of related occurrences and
        (B) for any vessel for which Marine has bound loss of hire insurance,
        provided, however, that capital expenditures in connection with the
        total loss (actual or constructive) of any vessel shall require the
        consent of Pride;

                (n) shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, purchase
or otherwise acquire any Pride Common Stock;

                (o) subject to Section 7.7, shall not take any action that is
reasonably likely to delay materially or adversely affect the ability of any of
the parties hereto to obtain any consent, authorization, order or approval of
any governmental commission, board or other regulatory body or the expiration of
any applicable waiting period required to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;

                                       45
<PAGE>   55

                (p) unless in the good faith opinion of the board of directors
of Marine after consultation with its outside legal counsel the following would
be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties, (i) shall not terminate, amend,
modify or waive any provision of any agreement containing a standstill covenant
to which it is a party and (ii) during such period shall enforce, to the fullest
extent permitted under applicable law, the provisions of such agreement,
including by obtaining injunctions to prevent any breaches of such agreements
and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions thereof in any court of the
United States of America or any state having jurisdiction; and

                (q) shall not (i) agree in writing or otherwise to take any of
the foregoing actions or (ii) permit any of its Subsidiaries to agree in writing
or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions that refer to Subsidiaries.

                Section 7.2 Conduct of Pride's Business. Prior to the Marine
Merger Effective Time, and except (i) as set forth in the Pride Disclosure
Letter, (ii) as expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement,
(iii) as contemplated by the Marine Stock Option Agreement, (iv) as required by
Applicable Laws (provided that Pride has provided Marine with advance notice of
the proposed action to the extent practicable), or (v) as otherwise consented to
by Marine in writing, Pride:

                (a) shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, conduct
its operations according to their usual, regular and ordinary course in
substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted;

                (b) shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts, and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to use its commercially reasonable best
efforts, to preserve intact their business organizations and goodwill (except
that any of its Subsidiaries may be merged with or into, or be consolidated with
any of its Subsidiaries or may be liquidated into Pride or any of its
Subsidiaries), keep available the services of their respective officers and
employees and maintain satisfactory relationships with those persons having
business relationships with them;

                (c) shall not amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws;

                (d) shall promptly notify Marine of any material change in its
condition (financial or otherwise) or business or any termination, cancellation,
repudiation or material breach of any Pride Material Contract (or communications
indicating that the same may be contemplated) or any material litigation or
material governmental complaints, investigations or hearings (or communications
indicating that the same may be contemplated), or the breach in any material
respect of any representation or warranty contained herein;

                                       46
<PAGE>   56

                (e) shall promptly deliver to Marine true and correct copies of
any report, statement or schedule filed with the SEC subsequent to the date of
this Agreement;

                (f) shall not,

                        (1) except pursuant to the exercise of options,
        warrants, conversion rights and other contractual rights existing on the
        date hereof and disclosed pursuant to this Agreement (including Pride
        Rights issued pursuant to the Pride Rights Agreement) or pursuant to the
        exercise of stock options and stock awards granted after the date hereof
        and expressly permitted under this Agreement or in connection with
        transactions permitted by Section 7.2(i), issue any shares of its
        capital stock, effect any stock split or otherwise change its
        capitalization as it existed on the date hereof,

                        (2) grant, confer or award any option, warrant,
        conversion right or other right not existing on the date hereof to
        acquire any shares of its capital stock, except the issuance of Pride
        Rights with permitted issuances of Pride Common Stock,

                        (3) amend or otherwise modify any option, warrant,
        conversion right or other right to acquire any shares of its capital
        stock existing on the date hereof,

                        (4) with respect to any of its former, present or future
        employees, increase any compensation or benefits, or enter into, amend
        or extend (or permit the extension of) any employment or consulting
        agreement, except in each case in the ordinary course of business
        consistent with past practice,

                        (5) with respect to any of its former, present or future
        officers or directors, increase any compensation or benefits or enter
        into, amend or extend (or permit the extension of) any employment or
        consulting agreement,

                        (6) adopt any new employee benefit plan or agreement
        (including any stock option, stock benefit or stock purchase plan) or
        amend (except as required by law) any existing employee benefit plan in
        any material respect, except for changes which are less favorable to
        participants in such plans,

                        (7) except as approved by good faith action of the board
        of directors of Pride after Pride has provided Marine with advance
        written notice of the proposed action and consulted in advance with
        Marine regarding such action, terminate any executive officer without
        cause or permit circumstances to exist that would give any executive
        officer a right to terminate employment if the termination would entitle
        such executive officer to receive enhanced separation payments upon
        consummation of the Mergers, or

                                       47
<PAGE>   57

                        (8) permit any holder of an option to acquire Pride
        Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof to have shares withheld upon
        exercise, for tax purposes, in excess of the number of shares needed to
        satisfy the minimum statutory withholding requirements for federal and
        state withholding;

                (g) shall not (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or make
any other distribution or payment with respect to any shares of its capital
stock or (ii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital
stock or capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries, or make any commitment for
any such action;

                (h) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its assets (including capital stock
of Subsidiaries) which are material to Pride individually or in the aggregate,
except for sales of surplus equipment or sales of other assets in the ordinary
course of business;

                (i) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
except pursuant to contractual commitments in effect on the date hereof and
disclosed in the Pride Disclosure Letter, acquire or agree to acquire by merging
or consolidating with, or by purchasing an equity interest in or a substantial
portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division
thereof, in each case (i) for an aggregate consideration for all such
acquisitions in excess of $1 million (excluding acquisitions approved in writing
by Marine) or (ii) where a filing under the HSR Act or any non-U.S. competition,
antitrust or premerger notification laws is required;

                (j) shall not, except as may be required as a result of a change
in generally accepted accounting principles, change any of the material
accounting principles or practices used by it;

                (k) shall, and shall cause any of its Subsidiaries to, use
reasonable efforts to maintain with financially responsible insurance companies
insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as are customary for
such party;

                (l) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,

                        (1) make or rescind any material election relating to
        taxes, including elections for any and all joint ventures, partnerships,
        limited liability companies, working interests or other investments
        where it has the capacity to make such binding election,

                        (2) settle or compromise any material claim, action,
        suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or
        controversy relating to taxes, or

                                       48
<PAGE>   58

                        (3) change in any material respect any of its methods of
        reporting any item for tax purposes from those employed in the
        preparation of its tax returns for the most recent taxable year for
        which a return has been filed, except as may be required by applicable
        law;

                (m) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,

                        (1) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
        guarantee any such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or
        warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of Pride or any of its
        Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of others,

                        (2) except in the ordinary course of business, enter
        into any material lease (whether such lease is an operating or capital
        lease) or create any material mortgages, Liens, security interests or
        other encumbrances on its property in connection with any indebtedness
        thereof (other than the Pride Permitted Liens), or

                        (3) make or commit to make aggregate capital
        expenditures in excess of $1 million per month for each month from the
        date of this Agreement to the Marine Merger Effective Time over the
        capital expenditures forecast disclosed in the Pride Disclosure Letter
        for such month, excluding capital expenditures covered by insurance (A)
        for any partial loss not covered by loss of hire insurance, not in
        excess of $1 million per occurrence or series of related occurrences and
        (B) for any vessel for which the Pride has bound loss of hire insurance,
        provided, however, that capital expenditures in connection with the
        total loss (actual or constructive) of any vessel shall require the
        consent of Pride.

                (n) shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, purchase
or otherwise acquire any Marine Common Stock;

                (o) subject to Section 7.7, shall not take any action that is
reasonably likely to delay materially or adversely affect the ability of any of
the parties hereto to obtain any consent, authorization, order or approval of
any governmental commission, board or other regulatory body or the expiration of
any applicable waiting period required to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;

                (p) unless in the good faith opinion of the board of directors
of Pride after consultation with its outside legal counsel the following would
be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties, (i) shall not terminate, amend,
modify or waive any provision of any agreement containing a standstill covenant
to which it is a party; and (ii) during such period shall enforce, to the
fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the provisions of such agreement,
including by obtaining injunctions to prevent any breaches of such agreements
and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions thereof in any court of the
United States of America or any state having jurisdiction;

                                       49
<PAGE>   59

                (q) shall not (i) agree in writing or otherwise to take any of
the foregoing actions or (ii) permit any of its Subsidiaries to agree in writing
or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions that refer to Subsidiaries;

                (r) shall not, and shall not permit the Company to amend the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company;

                (s) shall not, and shall not permit either Merger Sub or the
Company to issue any shares of capital stock, rights, options or warrants to
purchase shares of capital stock of either the Company or Merger Sub except to
Pride;

                (t) shall not permit either Merger Sub or the Company to engage
in any business activities (other than as contemplated by this Agreement), or
liquidate, merge or consolidate with any other corporation or permit any other
corporation to merge into or consolidate with either Merger Sub or the Company;
and

                (u) shall cause Merger Sub and the Company to take any actions
required to be taken by them under this Agreement and to refrain from taking any
actions that they are prohibited from taking under this Agreement.

                Section 7.3 No Solicitation by Marine. (a) Marine agrees that
(i) neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, and it shall not authorize or
permit any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives
(including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney or accountant
retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) to, and on becoming aware of it will
stop such person from continuing to, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate
or encourage (including by way of furnishing nonpublic information), or take any
action designed to facilitate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or
offer (including, without limitation, any proposal or offer to its shareholders)
with respect to a tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation, business
combination, purchase or similar transaction or series of transactions (other
than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) involving, individually or
in the aggregate, 15% or more of the assets, net revenues, EBITDA, or net income
of Marine and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or 15% or more of any
class of capital stock of Marine (any such proposal, offer or transaction being
hereinafter referred to as a "Marine Acquisition Proposal") or cooperate with or
assist, participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations concerning a
Marine Acquisition Proposal; and (ii) it will immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any existing negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with
respect to any of the foregoing; provided that nothing contained in this
Agreement shall prevent Marine or its board of directors from (A) complying with
Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Marine
Acquisition Proposal or (B) prior to the Cutoff Date, providing information
(pursuant to a confidentiality and standstill agreement in reasonably customary
form with terms at least as favorable to Marine with respect to confidentiality
as the Agreement dated

                                       50
<PAGE>   60

April 2, 2001, between Marine and Pride (the "Confidentiality Agreement") and
which does not contain terms that prevent Marine from complying with its
obligations under this Section 7.3) to or engaging in any negotiations or
discussions with any person or entity who has made an unsolicited bona fide
written Marine Acquisition Proposal with respect to all the outstanding capital
stock of Marine or all or substantially all the assets of Marine and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that, in the good faith judgment of the
board of directors of Marine, taking into account the likelihood of financing
and consummation, and based on the advice of a financial advisor of recognized
national reputation, is superior to the Mergers (a "Marine Superior Proposal"),
to the extent the board of directors of Marine, after consultation with its
outside legal counsel, determines that the failure to do so would be
inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations.

                (b) Prior to taking any action referred to in Section 7.3(a), if
Marine intends to participate in any such discussions or negotiations or provide
any such information to any such third party, Marine shall give prompt prior
oral and written notice to Pride of each such action. Marine will immediately
notify Pride orally and in writing of any such requests for such information or
the receipt of any Marine Acquisition Proposal or any inquiry with respect to or
that could lead to a Marine Acquisition Proposal, including the identity of the
person or group engaging in such discussions or negotiations, requesting such
information or making such Marine Acquisition Proposal, and the material terms
and conditions of any Marine Acquisition Proposal. Marine will (i) keep Pride
fully informed of the status and details (including any changes or proposed
changes to such status or details) on a timely basis of any such requests,
Marine Acquisition Proposals or inquiries and (ii) provide to Pride as soon as
practicable after receipt or delivery thereof with copies of all correspondence
and other written material sent or provided to Marine from any third party in
connection with any Marine Acquisition Proposal or sent or provided by Marine to
any third party in connection with any Marine Acquisition Proposal. Any written
notice under this Section 7.3 shall be given by facsimile with receipt confirmed
or personal delivery, and any oral notice under this Section 7.3 shall be given
to Paul A. Bragg, or such other person identified by Marine to Pride in writing.

                (c) Nothing in this Section 7.3 shall permit Marine to enter
into any agreement with respect to a Marine Acquisition Proposal during the term
of this Agreement, it being agreed that during the term of this Agreement
(except pursuant to Section 9.3(c)), Marine shall not enter into any agreement
with any person that provides for, or in any way facilitates, a Marine
Acquisition Proposal, other than a confidentiality and standstill agreement in
reasonably customary form with confidentiality terms at least as favorable to
Marine as the Confidentiality Agreement and which does not contain terms that
prevent Marine from complying with its obligations under this Section.

                (d) For purposes hereof, the "Cutoff Date," when used with
respect to Marine, means the date the condition set forth in Section 8.1(a) is
satisfied.

                                       51
<PAGE>   61

                Section 7.4 No Solicitation by Pride. (a) Pride agrees that (i)
neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, and it shall not authorize or
permit any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives
(including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney or accountant
retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) to, and on becoming aware of it will
stop such person from continuing to, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate
or encourage (including by way of furnishing nonpublic information), or take any
action designed to facilitate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or
offer (including, without limitation, any proposal or offer to its shareholders)
with respect to a tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation, business
combination, purchase or similar transaction or series of transactions (other
than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) involving, individually or
in the aggregate, 15% or more of the assets, net revenues, EBITDA or net income
of Pride and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or 15% or more of any
class of capital stock of Pride (any such proposal, offer or transaction being
hereinafter referred to as a "Pride Acquisition Proposal") or cooperate with or
assist, participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations concerning a
Pride Acquisition Proposal; and (ii) it will immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any existing negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with
respect to any of the foregoing; provided that nothing contained in this
Agreement shall prevent Pride or its board of directors from (A) complying with
Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Pride Acquisition
Proposal or (B) prior to the Cutoff Date, providing information (pursuant to a
confidentiality and standstill agreement in reasonably customary form with terms
at least as favorable to Pride with respect to confidentiality as the
Confidentiality Agreement and which does not contain terms that prevent Pride
from complying with its obligations under this Section 7.4) to or engaging in
any negotiations or discussions with any person or entity who has made an
unsolicited bona fide written Pride Acquisition Proposal with respect to all the
outstanding capital stock of Pride or all or substantially all the assets of
Pride and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that, in the good faith
judgment of the board of directors of Pride, taking into account the likelihood
of financing and consummation and based on the advice of a financial advisor of
recognized national reputation, is superior to the Mergers (a "Pride Superior
Proposal"), to the extent the board of directors of Pride, after consultation
with its outside legal counsel, determines that the failure to do so would be
inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations.

                (b) Prior to taking any action referred to in Section 7.4(a), if
Pride intends to participate in any such discussions or negotiations or provide
any such information to any such third party, Pride shall give prompt prior oral
and written notice to Marine of each such action. Pride will immediately notify
Marine orally and in writing of any such requests for such information or the
receipt of any Pride Acquisition Proposal or any inquiry with respect to or that
could lead to a Pride Acquisition Proposal, including the identity of the person
or group engaging in such discussions or negotiations, requesting such
information or making such Pride Acquisition Proposal, and the material terms
and conditions of any Pride Acquisition Proposal. Pride will (i) keep Marine
fully informed of the status and details (including any changes or proposed
changes to such status or details) on a timely basis of any such requests,
Marine Acquisition Proposals or inquiries and (ii)

                                       52
<PAGE>   62

provide to Marine as soon as practicable after receipt or delivery thereof with
copies of all correspondence and other written material sent or provided to
Pride from any third party in connection with any Pride Acquisition Proposal or
sent or provided by Pride to any third party in connection with any Pride
Acquisition Proposal. Any written notice under this Section 7.4 shall be given
by facsimile with receipt confirmed or personal delivery, and any oral notice
under this Section 7.4 shall be given to Jan Rask, or such other person
identified by Pride to Marine in writing.

                (c) Nothing in this Section 7.4 shall permit Pride to enter into
any agreement with respect to a Pride Acquisition Proposal during the term of
this Agreement, it being agreed that during the term of this Agreement (except
pursuant to Section 9.4(c)), Pride shall not enter into any agreement with any
person that provides for, or in any way facilitates, a Pride Acquisition
Proposal, other than a confidentiality and standstill agreement in reasonably
customary form with terms at least as favorable to Pride as the Confidentiality
Agreement and which does not contain terms that prevent Pride from complying
with its obligations under this Section 7.4.

                (d) For purposes hereof, the "Cutoff Date," when used with
respect to Pride means the date the condition set forth in Section 8.1(b) is
satisfied.

                Section 7.5 Rights Agreements. (a) Except for actions
contemplated by this Agreement that are taken by Marine simultaneously with its
entering into a binding definitive agreement pursuant to Section 9.3(c), the
board of directors of Marine shall not take any other action to (i) terminate
the Marine Rights Agreement, (ii) redeem the Marine Rights, (iii) amend the
Marine Rights Agreement in a manner adverse to Pride or the Company, or (iv)
cause any person not to be or become an "Acquiring Person."

                (b) Except for actions contemplated by this Agreement that are
taken by Pride simultaneously with its entering into a binding definitive
agreement pursuant to Section 9.4(c), the board of directors of Pride shall not
take any other action to (i) terminate the Pride Rights Agreement, (ii) redeem
the Pride Rights, (iii) amend the Pride Rights Agreement in a manner adverse to
Marine or the Company or (iv) cause any person not to be or become an "Acquiring
Person."

                Section 7.6 Meetings of Shareholders. (a) Each of Marine and
Pride shall take all action necessary, in accordance with applicable law, its
articles of incorporation and bylaws to convene a meeting of its shareholders as
promptly as practicable to consider and vote upon the adoption of this Agreement
and approval of the Marine Merger in the case of Marine and the Pride Merger and
the Pride Issuance in the case of Pride. The meeting of Marine's shareholder is
herein referred to as the "Marine Meeting," the meeting of Pride's shareholders
is referred to as the "Pride Meeting," and both such meetings are referred to as
the "Meetings." Marine and Pride shall coordinate and cooperate with respect to
the timing of the Meetings and shall use their respective reasonable best
efforts to hold the Meetings on the same day. Notwithstanding any other
provision

                                       53
<PAGE>   63

of this Agreement, unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with the
terms hereof, Marine and Pride shall each (to the extent permitted or limited by
the laws of its state of incorporation), submit this Agreement to its respective
shareholders, whether or not the board of directors of Marine or Pride, as the
case may be, withdraws, modifies or changes its recommendation and declaration
regarding the foregoing matters.

                (b) Marine through its board of directors, has adopted
resolutions declaring the Marine Merger to be advisable and in the best interest
of Marine's shareholders and shall recommend that this Agreement and the Marine
Merger be approved and adopted by Marine shareholders, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to solicit from Marine's shareholders proxies in favor
thereof; provided, however, that the board of directors of Marine may at any
time prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time upon five business days' prior
written notice to Pride, withdraw, modify or change any recommendation and
declaration regarding such matters or recommend and declare advisable any Marine
Superior Proposal, if in the good faith opinion of Marine's board of directors
after consultation with its outside legal counsel the failure to so withdraw,
modify or change its recommendation and declaration or to so recommend and
declare advisable any Marine Superior Proposal would be inconsistent with its
fiduciary obligations.

                (c) Pride through its board of directors, has adopted
resolutions declaring the Pride Issuance and the Pride Merger to be advisable
and in the best interest of Pride's shareholders and shall recommend that the
Pride Issuance, this Agreement and the Pride Merger be approved and adopted by
Pride shareholders, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from
Pride's shareholders proxies in favor thereof; provided, however, that the board
of directors of Pride may at any time prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time
upon five business days' prior written notice to Marine, withdraw, modify or
change any recommendation and declaration regarding such matters or recommend
and declare advisable any Pride Superior Proposal, if in the good faith opinion
of Pride's board of directors after consultation with its outside legal counsel
the failure to so withdraw, modify or change its recommendation and declaration
or to so recommend and declare advisable any Pride Superior Proposal would be
inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations.

                (d) The Company has caused this Agreement, the Mergers and the
other transactions contemplated hereby to be approved and adopted by its board
of directors and only stockholder at or prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Company. If so required by law or the Company's
certificate of incorporation or bylaws, the Company shall cause any amendment to
this Agreement executed by Marine and Pride to be likewise promptly approved and
adopted by the Company's board of directors and stockholders and promptly
executed and delivered by the Company.

                                       54
<PAGE>   64

                Section 7.7 Filings; Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts, Etc.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, each of Marine and
Pride shall:

                        (1) make their respective required filings under the HSR
        Act to be made pursuant to this Section 7.7 (and shall share equally all
        filing fees incident thereto), which filings shall be made not more than
        15 business days from the date hereof, and thereafter shall promptly
        make any other required submissions under the HSR Act;

                        (2) use their commercially reasonable best efforts to
        cooperate with one another in (i) determining which filings are required
        to be made prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time with, and which
        consents, approvals, permits or authorizations are required to be
        obtained prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time from, governmental or
        regulatory authorities of the United States, the several states, and
        non-U.S. jurisdictions in connection with the execution and delivery of
        this Agreement and the consummation of the Mergers and the transactions
        contemplated hereby; and (ii) timely making all such filings and timely
        seeking all such consents, approvals, permits or authorizations without
        causing a Marine Material Adverse Effect or a Pride Material Adverse
        Effect;

                        (3) promptly notify each other of any communication
        concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to
        that party from any governmental authority and permit the other party to
        review in advance any proposed communication concerning this Agreement
        or the transactions contemplated hereby to any governmental entity;

                        (4) not agree to participate in any meeting or
        discussion with any governmental authority in respect of any filings,
        investigation or other inquiry concerning this Agreement or the
        transactions contemplated hereby unless it consults with the other party
        in advance and, to the extent permitted by such governmental authority,
        gives the other party the opportunity to attend and participate thereat;

                        (5) furnish the other party with copies of all
        correspondence, filings and communications (and memoranda setting forth
        the substance thereof) between them and their affiliates and their
        respective representatives on the one hand, and any government or
        regulatory authority or members or their respective staffs on the other
        hand, with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
        hereby, except for copies of their respective filings under the HSR Act;
        and

                        (6) furnish the other party with such necessary
        information and reasonable assistance as such other party and its
        affiliates may reasonably request in connection with their preparation
        of necessary filings, registrations or submissions of information to any

                                       55
<PAGE>   65

        governmental or regulatory authorities, including, without limitation,
        any filings necessary or appropriate under the provisions of the HSR
        Act.

                (b) Without limiting Section 7.7(a), but subject to Section
7.7(c), Marine and Pride each shall:

                        (i) each use commercially reasonable best efforts to
        avoid the entry of, or to have vacated, terminated or modified, any
        decree, order or judgment that would restrain, prevent or delay the
        Closing; and

                        (ii) each use commercially reasonable best efforts to
        take any and all steps necessary to obtain any consents or eliminate any
        impediments to the Mergers.

                (c) Nothing in this Agreement shall require any of the Company,
Marine or Pride to (i) dispose of any of its assets or to limit its freedom of
action with respect to any of its businesses, (ii) consent to any disposition of
its assets or limits on its freedom of action with respect to any of its
businesses, whether prior to or after the Marine Merger Effective Time, (iii)
commit or agree to any of the foregoing, (iv) obtain any consents, approvals,
permits or authorizations or to remove any impediments to the Mergers relating
to antitrust laws or (v) avoid the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of,
any injunction, temporary restraining order or other order in any suit or
proceeding relating to antitrust laws, other than matters described in the
immediately preceding clauses (i) through and including (v) which in each such
case may be conditioned upon the consummation of the Mergers and the
transactions contemplated hereby and which, in the reasonable judgment of each
of Marine and Pride, in each such case do not and are not reasonably likely to
individually or in the aggregate either have a (i) Marine Material Adverse
Effect; (ii) Pride Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) Company Material Adverse
Effect (as defined in Section 10.9(c)) following the Mergers.

                (d) The Company, Marine and Pride intend that the Mergers will
each qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code. The Company, Marine and Pride shall each use their respective commercially
reasonable best efforts to cause each of the Mergers to qualify as
reorganizations within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and shall not
take actions, cause actions to be taken, or fail to take actions that (i) could
reasonably be expected to prevent either of the Mergers from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, or (ii) could
reasonably be expected to cause the Marine shareholders who exchange their
Marine Common Stock for Pride Common Stock pursuant to the Marine Merger or
Pride shareholders, including the former holders of Marine Common Stock, who
exchange their Pride Common Stock for Company Common Stock pursuant to the Pride
Merger to recognize taxable gain with respect to the Marine Merger or Pride
Merger, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 368(a) of the Code.

                                       56
<PAGE>   66

                (e) The Company, Marine and Pride intend that the Mergers will
each qualify as a pooling of interests transaction as described in Section 5.26
and Section 6.26. Each of Marine and Pride shall not take any action and shall
not fail to take any action which action or failure to take action would
prevent, or would be reasonably likely to prevent, the Mergers from qualifying
for pooling of interest accounting treatment.

                (f) Prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time, Marine, Merger
Sub and Pride shall file: (i) with the Secretary of State of Delaware the Marine
Certificate of Merger and (ii) with the Secretary of State of Texas the Texas
Articles of Merger.

                (g) Promptly after the Marine Merger Effective Time, the Company
and Pride shall file: (i) with the Secretary of State of Delaware the Pride
Certificate of Merger and (ii) with the Secretary of State of Louisiana the
Louisiana Certificate of Merger.

                Section 7.8 Inspection. From the date hereof to the Marine
Merger Effective Time, each of Marine and Pride shall allow all designated
officers, attorneys, accountants and other representatives of Marine or Pride as
the case may be, access, at all reasonable times, upon reasonable notice, to the
records and files, correspondence, audits, audit work papers, tax returns
(foreign and domestic) and related work papers, environmental compliance
correspondence, permits and files, rigs, ships and other assets, as well as to
all information relating to commitments, contracts, titles and financial
position, or otherwise pertaining to the business and affairs of Marine and
Pride and their respective Subsidiaries, including inspection of such assets;
provided, however, that no investigation pursuant to this Section 7.8 shall
affect any representation or warranty given by any party hereunder, and
provided, further that notwithstanding the provision of information or
investigation by any party, no party shall be deemed to make any representation
or warranty except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no party shall be required to provide any information which it
reasonably believes it may not provide to the other party by reason of
applicable law, rules or regulations, which constitutes information protected by
attorney/client privilege, or which it is required to keep confidential by
reason of contract or agreement with third parties. The parties hereto shall
make reasonable and appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under
circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding sentence apply. Each of
Marine and Pride agrees that it shall not, and shall cause its respective
representatives not to, use any information obtained pursuant to this Section
7.8 for any purpose unrelated to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. All non-public information obtained pursuant to
this Section 7.8 shall be governed by the Confidentiality Agreement.

                Section 7.9 Publicity. The parties will consult with each other
and will mutually agree upon any press releases or public announcements
pertaining to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and shall
not issue any such press releases or make any such public announcements prior to
such consultation and agreement, except as may be required by applicable

                                       57
<PAGE>   67

law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national
securities exchange, in which case the party proposing to issue such press
release or make such public announcement shall use its best efforts to consult
in good faith with the other party before issuing any such press releases or
making any such public announcements.

                Section 7.10 Registration Statement on Form S-4. (a) Each of
Marine and Pride shall cooperate and promptly prepare and Pride and the Company
shall file with the SEC as soon as practicable a Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (the "Form S-4") under the Securities Act, with respect to the Pride Common
Stock and Company Common Stock issuable in the Mergers upon exercise or
conversion of options, warrants or convertible securities which following the
Mergers will be exercisable for, or convertible into, Company Common Stock. A
portion of the Form S-4 shall also serve as the joint proxy statement with
respect to the respective meetings of the shareholders of Marine and Pride in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the "Proxy
Statement/Prospectus"). The respective parties will cause the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 to comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder. Marine and Pride shall each use
commercially reasonable best efforts, and shall cooperate with one another, so
as to have the Form S-4 declared effective by the SEC as promptly as
practicable. Pride shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain,
prior to the effective date of the Form S-4, all necessary state securities law
or "Blue Sky" permits or approvals required to carry out the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the parties shall share equally all expenses
incident thereto (including all SEC and other filing fees and all printing and
mailing expenses associated with the Form S-4 and the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus). Pride will advise Marine, promptly after it receives
notice thereof, of the time when the Form S-4 has been declared effective or any
supplement or amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order, the
suspension of the qualification of the Pride Common Stock issuable in connection
with the Marine Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or any request
by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4 or
comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional
information. Each of the parties shall also promptly provide each other party
copies of all written correspondence received from the SEC and summaries of all
oral comments received from the SEC in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the parties shall promptly provide each
other party with drafts of all correspondence intended to be sent to the SEC in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and allow each
such party the opportunity to comment thereon prior to delivery to the SEC.

                (b) Marine and Pride shall each use its best efforts to cause
the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to its shareholders as promptly as
practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act.

                                       58
<PAGE>   68

                (c) Each of Marine and Pride shall ensure that the information
provided by it for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, at the time of
mailing thereof and at the time of the respective meetings of shareholders of
Marine and Pride or, in the case of information provided by it for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the Form S-4 or any amendment or supplement
thereto, at the time it becomes effective, (i) will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (ii) will comply as
to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act.

                (d) The filing fees payable to the SEC with respect to the Form
S-4 or any amendment thereto shall be paid by Marine and Pride. Marine and Pride
shall each contribute to such filing fee expense in proportion to the number of
shares of Company Common Stock estimated to be issuable as of the date of such
filing, on a fully diluted basis, to their respective security holders.

                Section 7.11 Listing Applications. (a) Pride shall promptly
prepare and submit to the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") a listing
application covering the Pride Common Stock covered by the Form S-4 and shall
use its commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain, prior to the Marine
Merger Effective Time, approval for the listing on the NYSE of such Pride Common
Stock, subject to official notice of issuance.

                (b) Pride shall cause the Company to promptly prepare and submit
to the NYSE a listing application covering the Company Common Stock and shall
use (and cause the Company to use) its commercially reasonable best efforts to
obtain, prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time, approval for the listing on
the NYSE of such Company Common Stock, subject to official notice of issuance.

                (c) The listing fees payable to the NYSE with respect to the
listing applications or any amendments thereto shall be paid on behalf of the
Pride and/or Company by Marine and Pride. Marine and Pride shall each contribute
to such listing fee expense in proportion to the number of shares of Company
Common Stock estimated to be issuable as of the date of such filings, on a fully
diluted basis, to their respective security holders at the Pride Merger
Effective Time.

                Section 7.12 "Comfort" Letters of Accountants. (a) Marine shall
use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered to Pride
"comfort" letters of KPMG LLP, Marine's independent public accountants, dated
the effective date of the Form S-4 and the Closing Date, respectively, and
addressed to Pride with regard to certain financial information regarding Marine
included in the Form S-4, in form reasonably satisfactory to Pride and customary
in scope and substance for "comfort" letters delivered by independent public
accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the Form S-4.

                                       59
<PAGE>   69

                (b) Pride shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to
cause to be delivered to Marine "comfort" letters of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
Pride's independent public accountants, dated the effective date of the Form S-4
and the Closing Date, respectively, and addressed to Marine with regard to
certain financial information regarding Pride included in the Form S-4, in form
reasonably satisfactory to Marine and customary in scope and substance for
"comfort" letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with
registration statements similar to the Form S-4.

                Section 7.13 Agreements of Affiliates. (a) At least five
business days prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time, each of Marine and
Pride shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each other a list identifying
all persons who each believes, at the date of the meeting of the of their
respective shareholders to consider and vote upon the adoption of this
Agreement, may be deemed to be "affiliates" of Marine or Pride, as the case may
be, as that term is used in paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 under the
Securities Act (the "Rule 145 Affiliates"). Each of Marine and Pride shall use
their respective commercially reasonable best efforts to cause each person who
is identified as its Rule 145 Affiliate in such list to deliver to the Company,
at or prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time, a written agreement, in the
form of Exhibit 7.13(a)(1) in the case of Marine affiliates and in the form of
Exhibit 7.13(a)(2) in the case of Pride affiliates. The Company shall be
entitled to place restrictive legends on any Company Common Stock issued to such
Rule 145 Affiliates pursuant to the Mergers.

                (b) Marine shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
obtain, within 15 days after the date of this Agreement, a letter agreement in
substantially the form of Exhibit 7.13(b)(1) from each person listed in Section
7.13(b)(1) of the Marine Disclosure Letter. Pride shall use its commercially
reasonable best efforts to obtain, within 15 days after the date of this
Agreement, a letter agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit 7.13(b)(2)
from each person listed in Section 7.13(b)(2) of the Pride Disclosure Letter.

                Section 7.14 Expenses. Whether or not the Mergers are
consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring
such expenses, except as expressly provided herein or as otherwise agreed in
writing by the parties.

                Section 7.15 Indemnification and Insurance. (a) (i) From and
after the Marine Merger Effective Time, Pride and (ii) from and after the Pride
Merger Effective Time, the Company and Pride shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law each person who
is, or has been at any time prior to the Effective Time, an officer or director
of the Company, Marine or Pride (or any Subsidiary or division thereof) and each
person who served at the request of the Company, Marine or Pride as a director,
officer, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise

                                       60
<PAGE>   70

(individually, an "Indemnified Party" and, collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties") against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in
settlement in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation arising out of or pertaining to acts or omissions, or alleged acts
or omissions, by them in their capacities as such, whether commenced, asserted
or claimed before or after the Effective Time. In the event of any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation (an "Action"), (i) the Company and
Pride shall pay, as incurred, the fees and expenses of counsel selected by the
Indemnified Party, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company,
in advance of the final disposition of any such Action to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law and, if required, upon receipt of any undertaking
required by applicable law, and (ii) the Company will cooperate in the defense
of any such matter; provided, however, the Pride Merger Surviving Entity shall
not be liable for any settlement effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and provided further,
that the Company and Pride shall not be obligated pursuant to this Section 7.15
to pay the fees and disbursements of more than one counsel for all Indemnified
Parties in any single Action, unless, in the good faith judgment of any of the
Indemnified Parties, there is or may be a conflict of interests between two or
more of such Indemnified Parties, in which case there may be separate counsel
for each similarly situated group.

                (b) The parties agree that all rights to indemnification and any
provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in defense of any action or
suit, whether contained in this Agreement or in the charter, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Marine, Pride or any of their respective
Subsidiaries shall survive the Mergers with respect to matters occurring through
and including the Effective Time.

                (c) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the
Company shall cause to be maintained officers' and directors' liability
insurance covering the Indemnified Parties who are, or at any time prior to the
Effective Time, covered by either Marine's or Pride's existing officers' and
directors' liability insurance policies on terms substantially no less
advantageous to the Indemnified Parties than such existing insurance, provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to pay annual premiums in excess
of 150% of the sum of the last annual premium paid by each of Marine and Pride
prior to the date hereof (the amount of each such premium being set forth in
Section 7.15(c) of the Marine Disclosure Letter and Pride Disclosure Letter),
but in such case shall purchase as much coverage as reasonably practicable for
such amount.

                (d) The rights of each Indemnified Party hereunder shall be in
addition to any other rights such Indemnified Party may have under the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, under applicable law or otherwise. The provisions of this Section
7.15 shall survive the consummation of the Mergers and expressly are intended to
benefit each of the Indemnified Parties.

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<PAGE>   71

                (e) In the event the Company or any of its respective successors
or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not
be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity in such consolidation or
merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets
to any person, then and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so
that the successors and assigns of the Company as the case may be, shall assume
the obligations set forth in this Section 7.15.

                Section 7.16 Marine Employee Stock Options, Incentives and
Benefit Plans. (a) At the Marine Merger Effective Time, each outstanding option
to purchase Marine Common Stock (a "Marine Stock Option") granted under Marine's
plans identified in Section 5.11 of the Marine Disclosure Letter as being the
only compensation or benefit plans or agreements pursuant to which Marine Common
Stock may be issued (collectively, the "Marine Stock Option Plans"), whether
vested or unvested, shall be deemed assumed by Pride and shall thereafter be
deemed to constitute an option to acquire the same number of shares of Pride
Common Stock, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such
Marine Stock Option immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time (in
accordance with the past practice of Marine with respect to interpretation and
application of such terms and conditions). In addition, Marine shall prior to
the Marine Merger Effective Time make any amendments to the terms of its stock
option or compensation plans or arrangements that are necessary to give effect
to the transactions contemplated by this Section.

                (b) Pride shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve
for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Pride Common Stock for delivery
pursuant to this Section.

                (c) At the Marine Merger Effective Time, each award or account
(excluding restricted stock, awards and Marine Stock Options) then outstanding
and not issued in violation of this Agreement (a "Marine Award") that has been
established, made or granted under any employee incentive or benefit plans,
programs or arrangements and non-employee director plans maintained by Marine on
or prior the date hereof which provide for grants of equity-based awards or
equity- based accounts shall be amended or converted into a similar instrument
of Pride, in each case with such adjustments to the terms and conditions of such
Marine Awards as are appropriate to preserve the value inherent in such Marine
Awards with no detrimental effects on the holders thereof. The other terms and
conditions of each Marine Award, and the plans or agreements under which they
were issued, shall continue to apply in accordance with their terms and
conditions, including any provisions for acceleration. Marine represents that
(i) there are no Marine Awards or Marine Stock Options other than those
reflected in Section 5.11 of the Marine Disclosure Letter and (ii) all employee
incentive or benefit plans, programs or arrangements and non-employee director
plans under which any Marine Award has been established, made or granted and all
Marine Stock Option Plans are disclosed in Section 5.11 of the Marine Disclosure
Letter.

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                Section 7.17 Pride Employee Stock Options, Incentives and
Benefit Plans. (a) At the Pride Merger Effective Time, each outstanding option
to purchase Pride Common Stock (a "Pride Stock Option") granted under Pride's
plans identified in Section 6.11 of the Pride Disclosure Letter as being the
only compensation or benefit plans or agreements pursuant to which Pride Common
Stock may be issued, whether vested or unvested, and all Marine Stock Options
assumed by Pride pursuant to Section 7.16, shall be deemed assumed by the
Company and shall thereafter be deemed to constitute an option to acquire the
same number of shares of Company Common Stock, on the same terms and conditions
as were applicable under such Pride Stock Option or assumed Marine Stock Options
immediately prior to the Pride Merger Effective Time (in accordance with the
past practice of Pride with respect to interpretation and application of such
terms and conditions of Pride Stock Options). In addition, Pride shall prior to
the Marine Merger Effective Time make any amendments to the terms of its stock
option or compensation plans or arrangements that are necessary to give effect
to the transactions contemplated by this Section.

                (b) Pride shall take and cause the Company to take all corporate
action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of
Company Common Stock for delivery pursuant to this Section.

                (c) At the Pride Merger Effective Time, each award or account
(excluding restricted stock, awards and Pride Stock Options) then outstanding
and not issued in violation of this Agreement (a "Pride Award") that has been
established, made or granted under any employee incentive or benefit plans,
programs or arrangements and non-employee director plans maintained by Pride on
or prior the date hereof which provide for grants of equity-based awards or
equity-based accounts, and all Marine Awards converted into awards with respect
to Pride Common Stock, shall be amended or converted into a similar instrument
of the Company, in each case with such adjustments to the terms and conditions
of such Pride Awards or converted into Marine Awards as are appropriate to
preserve the value inherent in such awards with no detrimental effects on the
holders thereof. The other terms and conditions of each Pride Award, and the
plans or agreements under which they were issued, shall continue to apply in
accordance with their terms and conditions, including any provisions for
acceleration. Pride represents that (i) there are no Pride Awards or Pride Stock
Options other than those reflected in Section 6.11 of the Pride Disclosure
Letter and (ii) all employee incentive or benefit plans, programs or
arrangements and non-employee director plans under which any Pride Award has
been established, made or granted and all Pride Stock Option Plans are disclosed
in Section 6.11 of the Pride Disclosure Letter.

                Section 7.18 Company Covenants Concerning Incentive Compensation
and Benefits. (a) At the Marine Merger Effective Time, or promptly thereafter,
the Company shall file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate
form or a post-effective amendment to the Form S-4 with respect to the Company
Common Stock subject to options and other equity-based awards

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<PAGE>   73

issued pursuant to this Agreement, as well as comply with applicable state
securities registration laws, for so long as such options or other equity-based
awards remain outstanding.

                (b) The Company, Marine and Pride each agree that all employees
of Marine and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Marine Merger Effective
Time and all employees of Pride and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the
Pride Merger Effective Time shall be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries
immediately after the Pride Merger Effective Time, it being understood that
neither the Company nor Merger Sub shall not have any obligations to continue
employing such employees for any length of time thereafter. The Company, Marine
and Pride further agree that the Marine Benefit Plans and the Pride Benefit
Plans in effect at the date of this Agreement shall, to the extent practicable,
remain in effect until otherwise determined after the Pride Merger Effective
Time. To the extent any such Marine Benefit Plan or Pride Benefit Plan is not
continued, the Company will maintain for a period of one year after the Pride
Merger Effective Time benefit plans that are not less favorable, in the
aggregate, to the employees covered, respectively, by the Marine Benefit Plans
and the Pride Benefit Plans, except to the extent compliance with this sentence
would be unduly burdensome, or would materially increase the cost thereof in the
aggregate.

                Section 7.19 Company Assumption of Indenture Indebtedness. Prior
to or at the Pride Merger Effective Time, Pride and each of its Subsidiaries
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the occurrence, as a
result of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
of a change in control or any other event that constitutes a default (or an
event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under
any indebtedness of Pride. At the Pride Merger Effective Time, the Company
shall, with respect to indebtedness of Pride the terms of which require the
Company to assume such indebtedness in order to avoid default thereunder
(collectively, the "Assumed Indebtedness"), execute and deliver such
supplemental indentures or other instruments as shall be required under the
indentures and other agreements governing such Assumed Indebtedness, expressly
assuming the obligations of Pride with respect to the due and punctual payment
of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest if any, on, and
conversion obligations under all Assumed Indebtedness.

                Section 7.20 Pooling Letters. (a) Marine shall use its
commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain a letter from KPMG LLP and
addressed to Marine, a complete copy of which shall be delivered to Pride, in
which KPMG LLP concurs with the conclusion of the management of Marine that, as
of the date of such letter, no conditions exist related to Marine and its
Subsidiaries that would preclude the Company from accounting for the Marine
Merger as a pooling of interests as described in Section 5.26. Such letter shall
be dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4. Marine shall also use its
commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain a letter from KPMG LLP and
addressed to Marine, a complete copy of which shall be delivered to Pride at or
before the Marine Merger Effective Time, in which KPMG LLP reconfirms the
matters set forth in its earlier letter as of the Marine Merger Effective Time.

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<PAGE>   74

                (b) Pride shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
obtain a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and addressed to Pride, a
complete copy of which shall have been delivered to Marine, in which
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP concurs with the conclusion of the management of
Pride that, as of the date of such letter, no conditions exist related to Pride
and its Subsidiaries that would preclude the Company from accounting for the
Marine Merger and Pride Merger as a pooling of interests as described in Section
6.26. Such letter shall be dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4. Pride
shall also use its commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain a letter from
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and addressed to Pride, a complete copy of which
shall be delivered to Marine at or before the Marine Merger Effective Time, in
which PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reconfirms the matters set forth in its earlier
letter as of the Marine Merger Effective Time.

                                    ARTICLE 8

                                   CONDITIONS

                Section 8.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
Mergers. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Mergers shall be
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:

                (a) This Agreement shall have been adopted and approved by the
requisite vote of the shareholders of Marine in accordance with applicable law;

                (b) This Agreement and the Pride Issuance shall have been
adopted and approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of Pride in
accordance with applicable law;

                (c) Any waiting period applicable to the consummation of the
Mergers under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated;

                (d) No statute, rule, regulation executive order, decree, ruling
or cease and desist order shall have enacted, entered promulgated or enforced by
any U.S. federal or state or foreign governmental authority which prohibits the
consummation of the Mergers substantially on the terms contemplated hereby;
provided, however, that, prior to invoking this condition, each party agrees to
comply with Section 7.7, and with respect to other matters not covered by
Section 7.7, to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to have any such
decree, order or injunction lifted or vacated;

                (e) None of the parties hereto shall be subject to any decree,
order or injunction of a United States federal or state or foreign court of
competent jurisdiction which prohibits the consummation of the Mergers;
provided, however, that, prior to invoking this condition, each party agrees to
comply with Section 7.7, and with respect to other matters not covered by
Section 7.7, to

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<PAGE>   75

use its commercially reasonable best efforts to have any such decree, order or
injunction lifted or vacated;

                (f) The Form S-4 shall have become effective and no stop order
with respect thereto shall be in effect; and

                (g) The Company Common Stock registered under the Form S-4 to be
issued in connection with the Mergers shall have been authorized for listing on
the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

                Section 8.2 Conditions to Obligation of Marine to Effect the
Marine Merger. The obligation of Marine to effect the Marine Merger shall be
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:

                (a) Pride shall have performed, in all material respects, its
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed on
or prior to the Closing Date, and the representations and warranties of Pride
contained in this Agreement (i) that are qualified as to materiality or Pride
Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects as of the
Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly
relate to an earlier date (in which case as of such earlier date), and (ii)
those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all respects as of the
Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly
relate to an earlier date (in which case as of such earlier date), except for
such breaches of representations and inaccuracies in warranties in this clause
(ii) that do not and are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Pride Material Adverse Effect, and Marine shall have received a
certificate of Pride executed on its behalf by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents, dated the Closing Date, certifying to such effect.

                (b) Marine shall have received the opinion of Porter & Hedges,
L.L.P. in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Marine and dated the
Closing Date to the effect that, for United States federal income tax purposes
(i) the Marine Merger and the Pride Merger will each qualify as a reorganization
under Section 368(a) of the Code, (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by the
shareholders of Marine who exchange Marine Common Stock solely for Pride Common
Stock pursuant to the Marine Merger, and who then exchange such Pride Common
Stock solely for Company Common Stock pursuant to the Pride Merger, and (iii) no
gain or loss will be recognized by Marine or Pride on the transfer of its
respective assets in the Mergers. In rendering such opinion, Porter & Hedges,
L.L.P. shall be entitled to receive and rely upon representations of officers of
Marine, the Company, and Pride substantially in the form of Exhibits 8.2 and
8.3, dated as of the Closing Date.

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                (c) At any time after the date of this Agreement, there shall
not have been any event or occurrence, or series of events or occurrences, that
has had or is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate with
all other events or occurrences since the date of this Agreement, a Pride
Material Adverse Effect.

                Section 8.3 Conditions to Obligation of Pride to Effect the
Pride Merger. The obligations of Pride to effect the Pride Merger shall be
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:

                (a) Marine shall have performed, in all material respects, its
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed on
or prior to the Closing Date, and the representations and warranties of Marine
contained in this Agreement (i) that are qualified as to materiality or Marine
Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects as of the
Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly
relate to an earlier date (in which case as of such earlier date), and (ii)
those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all respects as of the
Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly
relate to an earlier date (in which case as of such earlier date), except for
such breaches of representations and inaccuracies in warranties in this clause
(ii) that do not and are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, Pride Material Adverse Effect, and Pride shall have received a
certificate of Marine executed on its behalf by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents, dated the Closing Date, certifying to such effect.

                (b) Pride shall have received the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Pride and dated the Closing
Date to the effect that, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) the
Marine Merger and the Pride Merger will each qualify as a reorganization under
Section 368(a) of the Code, (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by the
shareholders of Pride, including the shareholders of Marine who received Pride
Common Stock in the Marine Merger, and who then exchange such Pride Common Stock
solely for Company Common Stock pursuant to the Pride Merger, and (iii) no gain
or loss will be recognized by Marine or Pride on the transfer of its respective
assets in the Mergers. In rendering such opinion, Baker Botts L.L.P. shall be
entitled to receive and rely upon representations of officers of Pride, the
Company, and Marine substantially in the form of Exhibits 8.2 and 8.3, dated as
of the Closing Date.

                (c) At any time after the date of this Agreement, there shall
not have been any event or occurrence, or series of events or occurrences, that
has had or is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate with
all other events or occurrences since the date of this Agreement, a Marine
Material Adverse Effect.

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                                    ARTICLE 9

                                   TERMINATION

                Section 9.1 Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be
terminated at any time prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time by the mutual
written consent of Marine and Pride.

                Section 9.2 Termination by Marine or Pride. This Agreement may
be terminated at any time prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time by action of
the board of directors of Marine or of Pride if:

                (a) the Mergers shall not have been consummated by December 31,
2001; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this clause (a) shall not be available to any party whose failure to perform or
observe in any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement in
any manner shall have been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the
Mergers to occur on or before such date;

                (b) a meeting (including adjournments and postponements) of the
shareholders of Marine for the purpose of obtaining the approval required by
Section 8.1(a) shall have been held and such shareholder approval shall not have
been obtained;

                (c) a meeting (including adjournments and postponements) of the
shareholders of Pride for the purpose of obtaining the approval required by
Section 8.1(b) shall have been held and such shareholder approval shall not have
been obtained; or

                (d) a U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. court of competent
jurisdiction or U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission shall have issued an order, decree or ruling
or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such order,
decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable;
provided, however, that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this clause (d) shall have complied with Section 7.7 and, with respect to
other matters not covered by Section 7.7, shall have used its commercially
reasonable best efforts to remove such injunction, order or decree.

                Section 9.3 Termination by Marine. This Agreement may be
terminated at any time prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time by action of
the board of directors of Marine, after consultation with its outside legal
advisors, if:

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                (a) there has been a breach by Pride of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement or if any
representation or warranty of Pride shall have become untrue, in either case
such that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) would not be satisfied, and
any such breach is not curable, or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days
after written notice of such breach is given to Pride by Marine; provided,
however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.3(a)
shall not be available to Marine if it, at such time, is in breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement such
that the condition set forth in Section 8.3(a) shall not be satisfied;

                (b) the board of directors of Pride shall have withdrawn or
materially modified, in a manner adverse to Marine, its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Pride Merger or recommended a Pride
Acquisition Proposal, or resolved to do so; or

                (c) prior to the Cutoff Date, (i) the board of directors of
Marine has received a Marine Superior Proposal, (ii) in light of such Marine
Superior Proposal the board of directors of Marine shall have determined in good
faith, (A) after consultation with its outside legal advisors, that proceeding
with the Marine Merger would be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations and
(B) that there is a substantial likelihood that the adoption by Marine's
shareholders of this Agreement will not be obtained by reason of the existence
of such Marine Superior Proposal, (iii) Marine has complied in all material
respects with Section 7.3, (iv) Marine has previously paid the fee due under
Section 9.5(a)(i), (v) the board of directors of Marine concurrently approves,
and Marine concurrently enters into, a binding definitive written agreement
providing for the implementation of such Marine Superior Proposal and (vi) Pride
is not at such time entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.4(a); provided, however, that the Company may not effect such termination
pursuant to this Section 9.3(c) unless and until (x) Pride receives at least ten
business days' prior written notice from Marine of its intention to effect such
termination pursuant to this Section 9.3(c); and (y) during such ten business
day period, Marine shall, and shall cause its respective financial and legal
advisors to, consider any adjustment in the terms and conditions of this
Agreement that Pride may propose.

                Section 9.4 Termination by Pride. This Agreement may be
terminated at any time prior to the Marine Merger Effective Time by action of
the board of directors of Pride after consultation with its outside legal
advisors, if:

                (a) there has been a breach by Marine of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement or if any
representation or warranty of Marine shall have become untrue, in either case
such that the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a) would not be satisfied, and
such breach is not curable, or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after
written notice of such breach is given by Pride to Marine; provided, however,
that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.4(a) shall not
be available to Pride if it, at such time, is in breach

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of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this
Agreement such that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) shall not be
satisfied; or

                (b) the board of directors of Marine shall have withdrawn or
materially modified, in a manner adverse to Pride, its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Marine Merger or recommended a Marine
Acquisition Proposal, or resolved to do so; or

                (c) prior to the Cutoff Date, (i) the board of directors of
Pride has received a Pride Superior Proposal, (ii) in light of such Pride
Superior Proposal the board of directors of Pride shall have determined in good
faith, (A) after consultation with its outside legal advisors, that proceeding
with the Pride Merger would be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations and
(B) that there is a substantial likelihood that the adoption by Pride's
shareholders of this Agreement will not be obtained by reason of the existence
of such Pride Superior Proposal, (iii) Pride has complied in all material
respects with Section 7.4, (iv) Pride has previously paid the fee due under
Section 9.5(b)(i), (v) the board of directors of Pride concurrently approves,
and Pride concurrently enters into, a binding definitive written agreement
providing for the implementation of such Pride Superior Proposal and (vi) Marine
is not at such time entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.3(a); provided, however, that Pride may not effect such termination pursuant
to this Section 9.4(c) unless and until (x) Marine receives at least ten
business days' prior written notice from Pride of its intention to effect such
termination pursuant to this Section 9.4(c); and (y) during such ten business
day period, Pride shall, and shall cause its respective financial and legal
advisors to, consider any adjustment in the terms and conditions of this
Agreement that Marine may propose.

                Section 9.5 Effect of Termination.

                (a) (i) If this Agreement is terminated:

                                (A) by Marine or Pride pursuant to Section
                9.2(b) [failure to obtain Marine shareholder approval] after the
                public announcement of a Marine Acquisition Proposal, whether or
                not the Marine Acquisition Proposal is still pending or has been
                consummated; or

                                (B) by Pride pursuant to Section 9.4(b)
                [withdrawal of Marine board recommendation to shareholders]; or

                                (C) by Marine pursuant to Section 9.3(c)
                [fiduciary out];

                then Marine shall pay Pride a fee of $50.0 million at the time
                of such termination in cash by wire transfer to an account
                designated by Pride.

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                        (ii) If this Agreement is terminated by Marine pursuant
        to Section 9.3(c) and in accordance with the terms thereof, no fee
        additional to the fee specified in Section 9.3(c) shall be payable by
        Marine to Pride.

                (b) (i) If this Agreement is terminated:

                                (A) by Pride or Marine pursuant to Section
                9.2(c) [failure to obtain Pride shareholder approval] after the
                public announcement of a Pride Acquisition Proposal, whether or
                not the Pride Acquisition Proposal is still pending or has been
                consummated; or

                                (B) by Marine pursuant to Section 9.3(b)
                [withdrawal of Pride board recommendation to shareholders]; or

                                (C) by Pride pursuant to Section 9.4(c)
                [fiduciary out];

                then Pride shall pay Marine a fee of $50.0 million at the time
                of such termination in cash by wire transfer to an account
                designated by Marine.

                        (ii) If this Agreement is terminated by Pride pursuant
        to Section 9.4(c) and in accordance with the terms thereof, no fee
        additional to the fee specified in Section 9.4(c) shall be payable by
        Pride to Marine.

                (c) If this Agreement is terminated by Marine or Pride pursuant
to Section 9.2(b) other than in circumstances covered by Section 9.5(a), then
Marine shall pay to Pride a fee of $5.0 million to reimburse Pride for its costs
and expenses incurred in connection with this transaction. If this Agreement is
terminated by Pride or Marine pursuant to Section 9.2(c), other than in
circumstances covered by Section 9.5(b), then Pride shall pay to Marine a fee of
$5.0 million to reimburse Marine for its costs and expenses incurred in
connection with this transaction.

                (d) In the event of termination of this Agreement and the
abandonment of the Merger pursuant to this Article 9, all obligations of the
parties hereto shall terminate, except the obligations of the parties pursuant
to this Section 9.5, and Section 7.14 and except for the provisions of Sections
10.3, 10.4, 10.6, 10.8, 10.9, 10.11, 10.12 and 10.13, provided that nothing
herein shall relieve any party from any liability for any willful and material
breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies of such
nonbreaching party under this Agreement in the case of such a willful and
material breach, at law or in equity, shall be preserved.

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                Section 9.6 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Marine
Merger Effective Time, each party may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend
the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the
other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties made to such party contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any agreement on the
part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if
set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.

                                   ARTICLE 10

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

                Section 10.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and
Agreements. None of the representations, warranties and agreements in this
Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall
survive the Pride Merger; provided, however, that the agreements contained in
Article 4 and in Sections 3.3, 3.4, 7.13, 7.14, 7.15, 7.16, 7.17, 7.18 and this
Article 10 and the agreements delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
the Pride Merger. The Confidentiality Agreement shall survive any termination of
this Agreement, and the provisions of such Confidentiality Agreement shall apply
to all information and material delivered by any party hereunder.

                Section 10.2 Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, any
notice required to be given hereunder shall be sufficient if in writing, and
sent by facsimile transmission or by courier service (with proof of service),
hand delivery or certified or registered mail (return receipt requested and
first-class postage prepaid), addressed as follows:

                  (a)      if to Marine or the Company:

                                    Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.
                                    One Sugar Creek Center Boulevard,
                                    Suite 600
                                    Sugar Land, Texas  77489
                                    Attention:  Jan Rask
                                    Facsimile:  (281) 243-3070

                                       72
<PAGE>   82

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Porter & Hedges, L.L.P.
                                    700 Louisiana, Suite 3500
                                    Houston, Texas 77002
                                    Attention:  Nick D. Nicholas
                                    Facsimile:  (713) 226-0237

                  (b)      if to Pride or the Company:

                                    Pride International, Inc.
                                    5845 San Felipe, Suite 3300
                                    Houston, Texas  77057
                                    Attention:  Robert Randall
                                    Facsimile:  (713) 952-6916

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Baker Botts L.L.P.
                                    One Shell Plaza
                                    910 Louisiana
                                    Houston, Texas  77002-4995
                                    Attention:  L. Proctor Thomas
                                    Facsimile:  (713) 229-7785

or to such other address as any party shall specify by written notice so given,
and such notice shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so
telecommunicated, personally delivered or mailed.

                Section 10.3 Assignment; Binding Effect; Benefit. Neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be
assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise)
without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, except for the provisions
of Article 4 and Section 7.15 and except as provided in any agreements delivered
pursuant hereto (collectively, the "Third-Party Provisions"), nothing in this
Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than
the parties hereto or their respective heirs, successors, executors,
administrators and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement. The Third-Party Provisions may be enforced
by the beneficiaries thereof.

                                       73
<PAGE>   83

                Section 10.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the exhibits to
this Agreement, the Marine Disclosure Letter, the Pride Disclosure Letter and
any documents delivered by the parties in connection herewith constitute the
entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties with respect
thereto, except that the Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in effect. No
addition to or modification of any provision of this Agreement shall be binding
upon any party hereto unless made in writing and signed by all parties hereto.

                Section 10.5 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their boards of directors, at
any time before or after approval of matters presented in connection with the
Mergers by the shareholders of Marine or Pride but after any such shareholder
approval, no amendment shall be made which by law requires the further approval
of shareholders without obtaining such further approval. This Agreement may not
be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.

                Section 10.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard
to its rules of conflict of laws.

                Section 10.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and
delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number
of copies hereof each signed by less than all, but together signed by all of the
parties hereto.

                Section 10.8 Headings. Headings of the Articles and Sections of
this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and shall be given no
substantive or interpretative effect whatsoever.

                Section 10.9 Interpretation. In this Agreement:

                (a) Unless the context otherwise requires, words describing the
singular number shall include the plural and vice versa, words denoting any
gender shall include all genders, and words denoting natural persons shall
include corporations and partnerships and vice versa.

                (b) The phrase "to the knowledge of" and similar phrases
relating to knowledge of Marine or Pride, as the case may be, shall mean the
actual knowledge of its executive officers and directors.

                (c) "Material Adverse Effect" with respect to Marine or Pride
shall mean a material adverse effect on or change in (a) the business, assets,
condition (financial or otherwise) or

                                       74
<PAGE>   84

operations of a party (including the Pride Merger Surviving Entity when used
with respect to Pride) and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, except for
such changes or effects in general economic, capital market, regulatory or
political conditions or changes that affect generally the marine drilling
services industry or changes arising out of the announcement of this Agreement,
or (b) the ability of the party to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or fulfill the conditions to closing. "Company Material Adverse
Effect," "Marine Material Adverse Effect" and "Pride Material Adverse Effect"
mean a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, Marine and Pride,
respectively.

                (d) The term "Subsidiary," when used with respect to any party,
means any corporation or other organization (including a limited liability
company), whether incorporated or unincorporated, domestic or foreign, of which
such party directly or indirectly owns or controls (i) at least a majority of
the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar
functions with respect to such corporation or other organization or any
organization of which such party is a general partner or (ii) any form of equity
interest or an interest of any other character that is convertible into an
equity interest in such corporation or organization and such party has working
control over the management of such corporation or organization.

                Section 10.10 Waivers. Except as provided in this Agreement, no
action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any
investigation by or on behalf of any party, shall be deemed to constitute a
waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement. The waiver by
any party hereto of a breach of any provision hereunder shall not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of the same or any other
provision hereunder.

                Section 10.11 Incorporation of Exhibits. The Marine Disclosure
Letter, the Pride Disclosure Letter and all exhibits attached hereto and
referred to herein are hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all
purposes as if fully set forth herein.

                Section 10.12 Severability. Any term or provision of this
Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to
that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms
and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of
any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If
any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the
provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

                Section 10.13 Enforcement of Agreement. (a) The parties hereto
agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific
terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the

                                       75
<PAGE>   85

parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this
being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in
equity.

                (b) Each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit itself to
the personal jurisdiction of any Texas state court sitting in Harris County,
Texas or any Federal court located in the Southern District of Texas, Houston,
Division in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated herein, (ii) 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 (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated herein in any court other
than any Texas state court or any Federal court sitting in the Southern District
of Texas, Houston Division, and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury with
respect to any action related to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated herein.

                            [Signature page follows]

                                       76
<PAGE>   86

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.             PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
<S>                                         <C>
By: /s/ JAN RASK                            By:  /s/ PAUL A. BRAGG
-------------------------------------          -------------------------------------
Jan Rask                                       Paul A. Bragg
President and Chief Executive Officer          President and Chief Executive Officer
</TABLE>

                                 PM MERGER, INC.

                    By: /s/ PAUL A. BRAGG
                       -------------------------------------
                            PAUL A. BRAGG
                       -------------------------------------
                       President and Chief Executive Officer

                                 AM MERGER, INC.

                    By: /s/ PAUL A. BRAGG
                       -------------------------------------
                            PAUL A. BRAGG
                       -------------------------------------
                       President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       77
<PAGE>   87
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                  FIRST: The name of the corporation is Pride International,
Inc. (the "Corporation").

                  SECOND: The address of the registered office of the
Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such
address is The Corporation Trust Company.

                  THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any
lawful business, act or activity for which corporations may be organized under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any successor statute
(the "DGCL").

                  FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of capital
stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 450,000,000 shares,
which shall be divided into (a) 400,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), and (b) 50,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). Shares of any class of
capital stock of the Corporation may be issued for such consideration and for
such corporate purposes as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board
of Directors") may from time to time determine. Each share of Common Stock shall
be entitled to one vote.

                  The Preferred Stock may be divided into and issued from time
to time in one or more series as may be fixed and determined by the Board of
Directors. The relative rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock of each
series shall be such as shall be stated in any resolution or resolutions adopted
by the Board of Directors setting forth the designation of the series and fixing
and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof, any such resolution
or resolutions being herein called a "Directors' Resolution." The authority of
the Board of Directors with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall
include, but not be limited to, determination of the following: (i) the number
of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that
series; (ii) the dividend rate, if any, or any method of computing the dividend
on the shares of that series, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so,
from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of
payment of dividends on shares of that series; (iii) whether that series shall
have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if
so, the terms of such voting rights; (iv) whether that series shall have
conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion,
including provisions for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the
Board of Directors shall determine; (v) whether or not the shares of that series
shall be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption,
including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and
the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under
different conditions and at different redemption dates; (vi) whether that series
shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that
series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund; (vii) the rights
of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative
rights of

                                       1
<PAGE>   88

priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and (viii) any other
relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.

                  No stockholder shall, by reason of the holding of shares of
any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, have a preemptive or
preferential right to acquire or subscribe for any shares or securities of any
class, whether now or hereafter authorized, which may at any time be issued,
sold or offered for sale by the Corporation, unless specifically provided for in
a Directors' Resolution with respect to a series of Preferred Stock.
Furthermore, Common Stock is not convertible, redeemable or assessable, or
entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund.

                  Cumulative voting of shares of any class or series of capital
stock having voting rights is prohibited unless specifically provided for in a
Directors' Resolution with respect to a series of Preferred Stock.

                  FIFTH: (a) Directors. The business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of
Directors. In addition to the authority and powers conferred upon the Board of
Directors by the DGCL or by the other provisions of this Certificate of
Incorporation, the Board of Directors is hereby authorized and empowered to
exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or
done by the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the DGCL, this Certificate
of Incorporation and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation;
provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the
Corporation, or any amendments thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the
Board of Directors that would have been valid if such Bylaws or amendment had
not been adopted.

                         (b) Number, Election and Terms of Directors. The number
of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed
from time to time by a majority of the directors then in office, except in the
case of an increase in the number of directors by reason of any provisions
contained in a Directors' Resolution with respect to a series of Preferred
Stock. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the next annual meeting of
stockholders following his or her election to the Board of Directors and until
such director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until
his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

                  Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the
Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

                         (c) Removal of Directors. No director of the
Corporation shall be removed from office as a director by vote or other action
of the stockholders or otherwise except (a) for cause and (b) by the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the
election of directors, voting together as a single class. Except as may
otherwise be provided by law, cause for removal of a director shall be deemed to
exist only if: (i) the director whose removal is proposed has been convicted, or
where a director is granted immunity to testify where another has been
convicted, of a felony by a court of competent jurisdiction and such conviction
is no longer subject to direct appeal; (ii) such director has been found by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors at any regular
or special meeting of the Board of

                                       2
<PAGE>   89

Directors called for that purpose or by a court of competent jurisdiction to
have been grossly negligent or guilty of misconduct in the performance of his
duties to the Corporation in a matter of substantial importance to the
Corporation; or (iii) such director has been adjudicated by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be mentally incompetent, which mental incompetency directly
affects his ability as a director of the Corporation.

                         (d) Vacancies on Board of Directors. Except as provided
in Article FOURTH hereof, newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board of Directors
resulting from death, resignation, removal or other cause shall be filled by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even
though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in
accordance with the preceding sentence shall serve for a term ending on the next
annual meeting of stockholders following his or her election to the Board of
Directors and until such director's successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease
in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the
term of any incumbent director.

                         (e) Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance of, and not in
limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the
Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, adopt, amend or repeal the
Bylaws of the Corporation, or adopt new Bylaws, without any action on the part
of the stockholders, except as may be otherwise provided by applicable law or
the Bylaws of the Corporation. Except as otherwise expressly prescribed by law,
the stockholders may not adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation,
except by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting
power of the then issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a
single class.

                         (f) Certain Amendments. Notwithstanding anything in
this certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of
directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend
or adopt any provision inconsistent with, or to repeal, paragraph (c), (e) or
(f) of this Article or Article SIXTH.

                  SIXTH: From and after the first date (such date, the "Public
Status Date") as of which the Corporation has a class or series of capital stock
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the
Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of
the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such
stockholders and from and after the Public Status Date, the power of the
stockholders of the Corporation to consent in writing, without a meeting, to the
taking of any action is specifically denied. Except as otherwise required by
law, or as may be prescribed in a Directors' Resolution, special meetings of
stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board
of Directors or by the President of the Corporation or by the Board of Directors
pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.

                                       3
<PAGE>   90

                  SEVENTH: No director of the Corporation shall be personally
liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director; provided, however, that the foregoing
provisions shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any
breach of such director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the DGCL, as the same exists or as such provision may hereafter be amended,
supplemented or replaced, or (iv) for any transactions from which such director
derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended after the filing of
this Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability
of a director of the Corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal
liability provided herein, shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by
such law, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this Article SEVENTH by
the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not
adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the
Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

                  EIGHTH: Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed
between this corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between
this corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of
equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a
summary way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on
the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation
under section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of
trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this
corporation under the provisions of section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code
order a meeting of this creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the
stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be,
to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number
representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors,
and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the
case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of
this corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said
compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by
the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the
creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of
stockholders, of this corporation, as the case may be, and also on this
corporation.

                  NINTH: The name and mailing address of the incorporator is as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                  Name                                 Address
                  ----                                 -------
<S>                                                    <C>
                                                       Baker Botts L.L.P.
                                                       One Shell Plaza
                                                       910 Louisiana
                  Sarah Cooper                         Houston, Texas 77002
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>   91

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the incorporator has caused this
certificate to be executed this _____ day of _________, 2001.

                                       By:
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Sarah Cooper

                                       5
<PAGE>   92

                                     BYLAWS
                                       OF
                                PM MERGER, INC.

                                   ARTICLE I

                                    OFFICES

1.1      Registered Office. The registered office of PM Merger, Inc. (the
         "Corporation") required by the General Corporation Law of the State of
         Delaware or any successor statute (the "DGCL"), to be maintained in the
         State of Delaware, shall be the registered office named in the
         Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as it may be amended
         or restated in accordance with the DGCL from time to time (the
         "Certificate of Incorporation"), or such other office as may be
         designated from time to time by the Board of Directors of the
         Corporation (the "Board of Directors") in the manner provided by law.
         Should the Corporation maintain a principal office within the State of
         Delaware such registered office need not be identical to such principal
         office of the Corporation.

1.2      Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other
         places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of
         Directors may determine from time to time or as the business of the
         Corporation may require.

                                   ARTICLE II

                            MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

2.1      Place of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place
         within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated by the
         Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, or the officer calling
         the meeting.

2.2      Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election
         of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may
         properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, within
         or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the
         Board of Directors shall fix and set forth in the notice of the
         meeting, which date shall be within thirteen months subsequent to the
         last annual meeting of stockholders. At the annual meeting of the
         stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been
         properly brought before the annual meeting as set forth in Section 2.8
         hereof. Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time or
         otherwise shall not work a dissolution of the Corporation.

2.3      Special Meetings. Unless otherwise provided by the provisions of the
         DGCL, or by or pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation of the
         Corporation, as it may be amended or

                                      -1-
<PAGE>   93

         restated from time to time, including pursuant to any resolution or
         resolutions adopted in accordance therewith by the Board of Directors
         providing for the establishment of one or more series of preferred
         stock of the Corporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), special
         meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any
         time only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, by the President
         of the Corporation or by the Board of Directors pursuant to a
         resolution approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of
         the Whole Board, and no such special meeting may be called by any other
         person or persons (the term "Whole Board" shall mean the total number
         of authorized Directors of the Corporation, whether or not there exist
         any vacancies in previously authorized directorships). Upon written
         request of any person or persons referenced in the immediately
         preceding sentence who are authorized to call special meetings of the
         stockholders of the Corporation and who have duly called such a special
         meeting, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Corporation to
         fix the date of the meeting to give due notice thereof to stockholders
         of the Corporation. If the Secretary shall neglect or refuse to fix the
         date of the meeting and give notice thereof, the person or persons
         calling the meeting may do so. Every special meeting of the
         stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such place within or
         without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors, the Chairman
         of the Board, or the officer calling the meeting may designate.

2.4      Notice of Meeting. Written or printed notice of all meetings stating
         the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special
         meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall
         be delivered not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of
         the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of
         the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary of the Corporation,
         to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such
         notice shall be deemed to be delivered to a stockholder when deposited
         in the United States mail addressed to such stockholder at such
         stockholder's address as it appears on the stock transfer records of
         the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice of any meeting of
         stockholders of the Corporation need not be given to any stockholder of
         the Corporation if waived by him in writing in accordance with Section
         7.3 hereof. In addition, attendance at a meeting of the stockholders of
         the Corporation shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting,
         except when a stockholder of the Corporation attends a meeting for the
         express purpose of objecting (and so expresses such objection at the
         beginning of the meeting) to the transaction of any business on the
         ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

2.5      Registered Holders of Shares; Closing of Share Transfer Records; and
         Record Date.

         (a)   Registered Holders as Owners. Unless otherwise provided under
               Delaware law, the Corporation may regard the person in whose name
               any shares issued by the Corporation are registered in the stock
               transfer records of the Corporation at any particular time
               (including, without limitation, as of a record date fixed
               pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.5) as the owner of
               those shares at that time for purposes of voting those shares,
               receiving distributions thereon or notices in

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   94

               respect thereof, transferring those shares, exercising rights of
               dissent with respect to those shares, entering into agreements
               with respect to those shares, or giving proxies with respect to
               those shares; and neither the Corporation nor any of its
               officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for
               regarding that person as the owner of those shares at that time
               for those purposes, regardless of whether that person possesses a
               certificate for those shares.

         (b)   Record Date. For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled
               to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any
               adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive a dividend by the
               Corporation, or in order to make a determination of stockholders
               for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors may fix in
               advance a date as the record date for any such determination of
               stockholders, such date in any case to be not more than 60 days
               and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten
               days, prior to the date on which the particular action requiring
               such determination of stockholders is to be taken. The Board of
               Directors shall not close the books of the Corporation against
               transfers of shares during the whole or any part of such period.

               If the Board of Directors does not fix a record date for any
               meeting of the stockholders, the record date for determining
               stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at such meeting
               shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the
               day on which notice is given, or, if in accordance with Section
               7.3 of these Bylaws notice is waived, at the close of business on
               the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

2.6      Quorum of Stockholders.

         (a)   Quorum Generally. Unless otherwise provided by the DGCL or the
               Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the Voting Stock,
               present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a
               quorum at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation. The
               term "Voting Stock" shall mean all outstanding shares of all
               classes and series of capital stock of the Corporation entitled
               to vote generally in the election of Directors of the
               Corporation, considered as one class; and, if the Corporation
               shall have outstanding at any time shares of Voting Stock
               entitled to more or less than one vote for any such share, each
               reference in these Bylaws to a proportion or percentage in voting
               power of Voting Stock shall be calculated by reference to the
               portion or percentage of all votes entitled to be cast by holders
               of all such shares generally in the election of Directors of the
               Corporation. "Broker non-votes" shall be considered present at
               the meeting with respect to the determination of a quorum but
               shall not be considered as votes cast with respect to matters as
               to which no authority is granted.

         (b)   Quorum with Respect to a Class or Series. If any outstanding
               class or series of capital stock of the Corporation shall be
               entitled to vote as a class or series with

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   95

               respect to any matter to be submitted to a vote of the
               stockholders of the Corporation at any duly convened meeting,
               then, with respect to any such matter, in addition to the
               requirement of Section 2.6(a), a majority of the outstanding
               shares of such class or series of capital stock of the
               Corporation so entitled to vote shall be required to be present
               in person or represented by proxy, in order to constitute a
               quorum.

         (c)   Continuation of Business. The stockholders of the Corporation
               present at any duly convened meeting may continue to do business
               at such meeting or at any adjournment thereof notwithstanding any
               withdrawal from the meeting of holders of shares counted in
               determining the existence of a quorum.

2.7      Adjournment. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of
         Incorporation or these Bylaws, any meeting of the stockholders of the
         Corporation may be adjourned from time to time, without notice other
         than by announcement at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken,
         and at any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present
         any action may be taken that could have been taken at the meeting
         originally called; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for
         more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is
         fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting
         shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the
         adjourned meeting.

2.8      Voting by Stockholders.

         (a)   Voting on Matters Other than the Election of Directors. With
               respect to any matters as to which no other voting requirement is
               specified by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these
               Bylaws, the affirmative vote required for stockholder action
               shall be that of a majority of the shares present in person or
               represented by proxy at the meeting (as counted for purposes of
               determining the existence of a quorum at the meeting), except
               that broker non-votes shall not be considered as shares present
               as to matters with respect to which no authority has been
               granted. In the case of a matter submitted for a vote of the
               stockholders as to which a stockholder approval requirement is
               applicable under the stockholder approval policy of any stock
               exchange or quotation system on which the capital stock of the
               Corporation is traded or quoted, the requirements of Rule 16b-3
               under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
               "Exchange Act"), or any provision of the Internal Revenue Code,
               in each case for which no higher voting requirement is specified
               by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
               the vote required for approval shall be the requisite vote
               specified in such stockholder approval policy, Rule 16b-3 or
               Internal Revenue Code provision, as the case may be (or the
               highest such requirement if more than one is applicable). For the
               approval of the appointment of independent public accountants (if
               submitted for a vote of the stockholders), the vote required for
               approval shall be a majority of the votes cast on the matter.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   96

         (b)   Voting in the Election of Directors. Unless otherwise provided in
               the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws in accordance
               with the DGCL, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the
               votes cast by the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock
               of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors
               at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present.

         (c)   Stockholder Proposals. At an annual meeting of stockholders of
               the Corporation, only such business shall be conducted, and only
               such proposals shall be acted upon, as shall have been properly
               brought before such annual meeting. To be properly brought before
               an annual meeting, business or proposals must (i) be specified in
               the notice relating to the meeting (or any supplement thereto)
               given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors in
               accordance with Section 2.4 hereof or (ii) be properly brought
               before the meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation who (A) is
               a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of such
               stockholder's notice provided for in this Section 2.8, (B) shall
               be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (C) complies with
               the requirements of this Section 2.8, and otherwise be proper
               subjects for stockholder action and be properly introduced at the
               annual meeting. For a proposal to be properly brought before an
               annual meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation, in addition
               to any other applicable requirements, such stockholder must have
               given timely advance notice thereof in writing to the Secretary
               of the Corporation. To be timely, such stockholder's notice must
               be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal
               executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 days prior
               to the scheduled annual meeting date, regardless of any
               postponements, deferrals or adjournments of such annual meeting
               to a later date; provided, however, that if the scheduled annual
               meeting date differs from the annual meeting date of the next
               preceding annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation by
               greater than 30 days, and if less than 100 days' prior notice or
               public disclosure of the scheduled annual meeting date is given
               or made, notice by such stockholder, to be timely, must be so
               delivered or received not later than the close of business on the
               10th day following the earlier of the day on which the notice of
               such meeting was mailed to stockholders of the Corporation or the
               day on which such public disclosure was made. Any such
               stockholder's notice to the Secretary of the Corporation shall
               set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring
               before the annual meeting (i) a description of the proposal
               desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons
               for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name
               and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such
               stockholder proposing such business and any other stockholders of
               the Corporation known by such stockholder to be in favor of such
               proposal, (iii) the number of shares of each class or series of
               capital stock of the Corporation Beneficially Owned (as defined
               below) by such stockholder on the date of such notice and (iv)
               any material interest of such stockholder in such proposal. A
               person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any shares of any class
               or series of capital stock of the Corporation of which such
               person would be the beneficial

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   97

               owner pursuant to the terms of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act as
               in effect on the Public Status Date; stock shall be deemed
               "Beneficially Owned" by the beneficial owner or owners thereof.
               The Chairman of the Board or, if he is not presiding, the
               presiding officer of the meeting of stockholders of the
               Corporation shall determine whether the requirements of this
               Section 2.8 have been met with respect to any stockholder
               proposal. If the Chairman of the Board or the presiding officer
               determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in
               accordance with the terms of this Section 2.8, he shall so
               declare at the meeting and any such proposal shall not be acted
               upon at the meeting. At a special meeting of stockholders of the
               Corporation, only such business shall be conducted, and only such
               proposals shall be acted upon, as shall have been properly
               brought before such special meeting. To be properly brought
               before such a special meeting, business or proposals must (i) be
               specified in the notice relating to the meeting (or any
               supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of
               Directors in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof or (ii)
               constitute matters incident to the conduct of the meeting as the
               Chairman of the Board or the presiding officer of the meeting
               shall determine to be appropriate. In addition to the foregoing
               provisions of this Section 2.8, a stockholder of the Corporation
               shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the
               Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with
               respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.8.

2.9      Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders
         may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy.
         Proxies for use at any meeting of stockholders shall be filed with the
         Secretary, or such other officer as the Board of Directors may from
         time to time determine by resolution, before or at the time of the
         meeting. All proxies shall be received and taken charge of and all
         ballots shall be received and canvassed by the secretary of the meeting
         who shall decide all questions relating to the qualification of voters,
         the validity of the proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes,
         unless an inspector or inspectors shall have been appointed by the
         chairman of the meeting, in which event such inspector or inspectors
         shall decide all such questions.

2.10     Approval or Ratification of Acts or Contracts by Stockholders. The
         Board of Directors in its discretion may submit any act or contract for
         approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the stockholders, or
         at any special meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of
         considering any such act or contract, and any act or contract that
         shall be approved or be ratified by the vote of the stockholders
         holding a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of the
         Corporation entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at such
         meeting (provided that a quorum is present), shall be as valid and as
         binding upon the Corporation and upon all the stockholders as if it has
         been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   98

                                  ARTICLE III

                                    DIRECTORS

3.1      Powers, Number, Classification and Tenure.

         (a)   Powers of the Board of Directors. The powers of the Corporation
               shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business
               and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the
               direction of, the Board of Directors. In addition to the
               authority and powers conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
               DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board
               of Directors is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise all
               such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised
               or done by the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the
               DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation and any Bylaw of the
               Corporation adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation;
               provided, however, that no Bylaw of the Corporation hereafter
               adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation, nor any amendment
               thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board of Directors
               that would have been valid if such Bylaw or amendment thereto had
               not been adopted.

         (b)   Management. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of
               Incorporation or these Bylaws or to the extent prohibited by
               Delaware law, the Board of Directors shall have the right (which,
               to the extent exercised, shall be exclusive) to establish the
               rights, powers, duties, rules and procedures that (i) from time
               to time shall govern the Board of Directors, including, without
               limiting the generality of the foregoing, the vote required for
               any action by the Board of Directors and (ii) from time to time
               shall affect the Directors' power to manage the business and
               affairs of the Corporation; no Bylaw of the Corporation shall be
               adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation that shall impair
               or impede the implementation of this Section 3.1(b).

         (c)   Number of Directors. Within the limits specified in the
               Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to such rights of
               holders of shares of one or more outstanding series of preferred
               stock of the Corporation to elect one or more Directors of the
               Corporation under circumstances as shall be provided by or
               pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of
               Directors of the Corporation that shall constitute the Board of
               Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by, and
               may be increased or decreased from time to time exclusively be,
               the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Whole Board.

         (d)   Term. Each Director of the Corporation shall hold office for the
               full term for which such Director is elected and until such
               Director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified
               or until his earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance
               with the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   99

         (e)   Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided by or pursuant to the
               Certificate of Incorporation, newly created directorships
               resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors
               of the Corporation and any vacancies on the Board of Directors
               resulting from death, resignation or removal in accordance with
               the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws shall be filled
               only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the
               remaining Directors of the Corporation then in office, even if
               such remaining Directors constitute less than a quorum of the
               Board of Directors. Any Director of the Corporation elected in
               accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office until
               the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such Director's
               successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his
               earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the
               Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws. Unless otherwise
               provided by or pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, no
               decrease in the number of Directors of the Corporation
               constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any
               incumbent Director of the Corporation.

3.2      Qualifications. Directors need not be residents of the State of
         Delaware or stockholders of the Corporation.

         (a)   Nomination of Directors. Subject to such rights of holders of
               shares of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock of
               the Corporation to elect one or more Directors of the Corporation
               under circumstances as shall be provided by or pursuant to the
               Certificate of Incorporation, only persons who are nominated in
               accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.3
               shall be eligible for election as, and to serve as, Directors of
               the Corporation. Nominations of persons for election to the Board
               of Directors may be made only at a meeting of the stockholders of
               the Corporation at which Directors of the Corporation are to be
               elected (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or
               (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder
               of record at the time of the giving of such stockholder's notice
               provided for in this Section 3.3, who shall be entitled to vote
               at such meeting in the election of Directors of the Corporation
               and who complies with the requirements of this Section 3.3. Any
               such nomination by a stockholder of the Corporation shall be
               preceded by timely advance notice in writing to the Secretary of
               the Corporation. To be timely, such stockholder's notice must be
               delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive
               offices of the Corporation not less than 120 days prior to the
               scheduled annual meeting date, regardless of any postponements,
               deferrals or adjournments of such annual meeting to a later date;
               provided, however, that if the scheduled annual meeting date
               differs from the annual meeting date of the next preceding annual
               meeting of stockholders of the Corporation by greater than 30
               days, and if less than 100 days' prior notice or public
               disclosure of the scheduled meeting date is given or made, notice
               by such stockholder, to be timely, must be so delivered or
               received not later than the close of business on the 10th day
               following the earlier of the day on which the notice of such
               meeting was mailed to stockholders of the

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   100

               Corporation or the day on which such public disclosure was made.
               Any such stockholder's notice to the Secretary of the Corporation
               shall set forth (i) as to each person whom such stockholder
               proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director of
               the Corporation, (A) the name, age, business address and
               residence address of such person, (B) the principal occupation or
               employment of such person, (C) the number of shares of each class
               or series of capital stock of the Corporation Beneficially Owned
               by such person on the date of such notice and (D) any other
               information relating to such person that is required to be
               disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors
               of the Corporation, or is otherwise required, in each case
               pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including,
               without limitation, the written consent of such person to having
               such person's name placed in nomination at the meeting and to
               serve as a Director of the Corporation if elected), and (ii) as
               to such stockholder giving the notice, (A) the name and address,
               as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such stockholder
               and any other stockholders of the Corporation known by such
               stockholder to be in favor of such person being nominated and (B)
               the number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of
               the Corporation Beneficially Owned by such stockholder on the
               date of such notice. The Chairman of the Board or, if he is not
               presiding, the presiding officer of the meeting of stockholders
               of the Corporation shall determine whether the requirements of
               this Section 3.3 have been met with respect to any nomination or
               intended nomination. If the Chairman of the Board or the
               presiding officer determines that any nomination was not made in
               accordance with the requirements of this Section 3.3, he shall so
               declare at the meeting and the defective nomination shall be
               disregarded. In addition to the foregoing provisions of this
               Section 3.3, a stockholder of the Corporation shall also comply
               with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the
               rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set
               forth in this Section 3.3.

3.3      Place of Meeting; Order of Business. Except as otherwise provided by
         law, meetings of the Board of Directors, regular or special, may be
         held either within or without the State of Delaware, at whatever place
         is specified by the person or persons calling the meeting. In the
         absence of specific designation, the meetings shall be held at the
         principal office of the Corporation. At all meetings of the Board of
         Directors, business shall be transacted in such order as shall from
         time to time be determined by the Chairman of the Board (if any), or in
         his absence by the President, or by resolution of the Board of
         Directors.

3.4      Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
         held at such place or places within or without the State of Delaware,
         at such hour and on such day as may be fixed by resolution of the Board
         of Directors, without further notice of such meetings. The time or
         place of holding regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
         changed by the Chairman of the Board or the President by giving written
         notice thereof as provided in Section 3.7 hereof.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   101

3.5      Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
         held, whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or by
         resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, at such place or places
         within or without the State of Delaware as may be stated in the notice
         of the meeting.

3.6      Attendance at and Notice of Meetings. Written notice of the time and
         place of, and general nature of the business to be transacted at, all
         special meetings of the Board of Directors, and written notice of any
         change in the time or place of holding the regular meetings of the
         Board of Directors, shall be given to each director personally or by
         mail, telecopier or similar communication at least one day before the
         day of the meeting; provided, however, that notice of any meeting need
         not be given to any director if waived by him in writing, or if he
         shall be present at such meeting. Attendance at a meeting of the Board
         of Directors shall constitute presence in person at such meeting,
         except where a person attends the meeting for the express purpose of
         objecting (and so expresses such objection at the beginning of the
         meeting) to the transaction of any business on the ground that the
         meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

3.7      Quorum of and Action by Directors. A majority of the directors in
         office shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors for the
         transaction of business; but a lesser number may adjourn from day to
         day until a quorum is present. Except as otherwise provided by law or
         in these Bylaws, all questions shall be decided by the vote of a
         majority of the directors present.

3.8      Board and Committee Action by Unanimous Written Consent in Lieu of
         Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of
         Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be
         taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof
         may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth
         the action so taken, is signed by all the members of the Board of
         Directors or such committee, as the case may be, and shall be filed
         with the Secretary of the Corporation.

3.9      Board and Committee Conference Telephone Meetings. Subject to the
         provisions required or permitted by the DGCL for notice of meetings,
         unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or
         these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or members of any
         committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in and
         hold a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of
         conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of
         which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
         attendance at a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall constitute
         presence in person at such meeting, except where a person attends the
         meeting for the express purpose of objecting (and so expresses such
         objection at the beginning of the meeting) to the transaction of any
         business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or
         convened.

3.10     Compensation. Directors, as such, will receive such compensation for
         their services as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors
         and shall receive their actual

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   102

         expenses of attendance, if any, for each regular or special meeting of
         the Board; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to
         preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other
         capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

3.11     Removal. No director of the Corporation shall be removed from office as
         a director by vote or other action of the stockholders or otherwise
         except (a) for cause and (b) then only by the affirmative vote of the
         holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then issued and
         outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
         in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Cause
         for removal of a director shall be as provided by law or in the
         Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

                  Notwithstanding the first paragraph of this Section 3.12,
         whenever holders of outstanding shares of one or more series of
         Preferred Stock are entitled to elect members of the Board of Directors
         pursuant to the provisions applicable in the case of arrearages in the
         payment of dividends or other defaults contained in the resolution or
         resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the establishment
         of any such series, any such director of the Corporation so elected may
         be removed in accordance with the provision of such resolution or
         resolutions.

3.12     Committees of the Board of Directors.

         (a)   The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of
               the full Board of Directors, may designate from among its members
               one or more committees, each of which shall be comprised of one
               or more of its members, and may designate one or more of its
               members as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject
               to any limitations by the Board of Directors, replace absent or
               disqualified members at any meeting of that committee. Any such
               committee, to the extent provided in such resolution or in the
               Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, shall have and may
               exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors to the
               extent permitted by the DGCL. Any such committee may authorize
               the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may
               require it. In addition to the above, such committee or
               committees shall have such other powers and limitations of
               authority as may be determined from time to time by resolution
               adopted by the Board of Directors.

         (b)   The Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change
               the membership of any such committee and to fill vacancies in it.
               A majority of the number of members of any such committee shall
               constitute a quorum for the transaction of business unless a
               greater number is required by a resolution adopted by the Board
               of Directors. The act of the majority of the members of a
               committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present
               shall be the act of such committee, unless the act of a greater
               number is required by a resolution adopted by the Board of
               Directors. Each such committee may elect a chairman (unless the
               Borrower Director appoints a chairman) and may appoint such
               subcommittees and

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   103

               assistants as it may deem necessary. Except as otherwise provided
               by the Board of Directors, meetings of any committee shall be
               conducted in accordance with Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9,
               3.10 and 7.3 hereof. In the absence or disqualification of a
               member of a committee, the member or members present at any
               meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not
               constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of
               the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the
               absent or disqualified member. Any member of any such committee
               elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by
               the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best
               interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such
               removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if
               any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of a
               member of a committee shall not of itself create contract rights.

         (c)   Any action taken by any committee of the Board of Directors shall
               promptly be recorded in the minutes and filed with the Secretary
               of the Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    OFFICERS

4.1      Designation. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a
         President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such Executive, Senior or other
         Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and other officers as may be
         elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices
         may be held by the same person, provided that no person holding more
         than one office may sign, in more than one capacity, any certificate or
         other instrument required by law to be signed by two officers. The
         Board of Directors shall also elect or appoint from among the Directors
         a person to act as Chairman of the Board who shall not be deemed to be
         an officer of the Corporation unless he or she has otherwise been
         elected or appointed as such.

4.2      Powers and Duties. The officers of the Corporation shall have such
         powers and duties as generally pertain to their offices, except as
         modified herein or by the Board of Directors, as well as such powers
         and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of
         Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall have such duties as may be
         assigned to him by the Board of Directors and shall preside at meetings
         of the Board of Directors and at meetings of the stockholders. The
         President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and
         shall have general supervision over the business, affairs and property
         of the Corporation.

4.3      Vacancies. Whenever any vacancies shall occur in any office by death,
         resignation, increase in the number of offices of the Corporation, or
         otherwise, the same shall be filled by the Board of Directors, and the
         officer so elected shall hold office until such officer's successor is
         elected or appointed or until his earlier death, resignation or
         removal.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   104

4.4      Removal. Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of
         Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its
         judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby,
         but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if
         any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or
         agent shall not of itself create contract rights.

4.5      Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. Unless
         otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
         Board, the President, any Vice President and the Treasurer of the
         Corporation shall each have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf
         of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security
         holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any
         other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and
         otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this
         Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in
         such other corporation.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                  CAPITAL STOCK

5.1      Certificates for Shares. The certificates for shares of the capital
         stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as may be approved by
         the Board of Directors or may be uncertificated shares. In the case of
         certificated shares, the Corporation shall deliver certificates
         representing shares to which stockholders are entitled. Certificates
         representing such certificated shares shall be signed by the Chairman
         of the Board, the President or a Vice President and either the
         Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, and may bear
         the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. The signatures of
         such persons upon a certificate may be facsimiles. The stock record
         books and the blank stock certificate books shall be kept by the
         Secretary of the Corporation, or at the office of such transfer agent
         or transfer agents as the Board of Directors may from time to time by
         resolution determine. In case any person who has signed or whose
         facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have
         ceased to be Chairman of the Board or shall have ceased to be an
         officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the
         Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer at
         the date of its issuance.

5.2      Transfer of Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be
         transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holders
         thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal
         representatives upon surrender and cancellation of certificates for a
         like number of shares.

5.3      Ownership of Shares. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the
         holder of record of any share or shares of capital stock of the
         Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not
         be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in
         such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it
         shall have express

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   105

         or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of
         the State of Delaware.

5.4      Regulations Regarding Certificates. The Board of Directors shall have
         the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they
         may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration or
         the replacement of certificates for shares of capital stock of the
         Corporation.

5.5      Lost or Destroyed Certificates. The President or any Vice President may
         determine the conditions upon which a new certificate of stock may be
         issued in place of a certificate which is alleged to have been lost,
         stolen or destroyed; and may, in its discretion, require the owner of
         such certificate or his legal representative to give bond, with
         sufficient surety, to indemnify the Corporation and each transfer agent
         and registrar against any and all losses or claims that may arise by
         reason of the issue of a new certificate in the place of the one so
         lost, stolen or destroyed.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

6.1      General. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by
         applicable law in effect on the date of effectiveness of these Bylaws,
         and to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter permit,
         indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from and against any and all
         losses, liabilities, claims, damages and, subject to Section 6.2,
         Expenses (as this and all other capitalized words used in this Article
         VI not previously defined in these Bylaws are defined in Section 6.16
         hereof), whatsoever arising out of any event or occurrence related to
         the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the
         Corporation or is or was serving in another Corporate Status.

6.2      Expenses. If Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party
         to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he
         shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
         incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee
         is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the
         merits or otherwise, as to any Matter in such Proceeding, the
         Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually
         and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf relating to such
         Matter. The termination of any Matter in such a Proceeding by
         dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a
         successful result as to such Matter. To the extent that the Indemnitee
         is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding, he
         shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
         incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

6.3      Advances. In the event of any threatened or pending action, suit or
         proceeding in which Indemnitee is a party or is involved and that may
         give rise to a right of indemnification under this Article VI,
         following written request to the Corporation by Indemnitee, the

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   106

         Corporation shall promptly pay to Indemnitee amounts to cover expenses
         reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in such proceeding in advance of its
         final disposition upon the receipt by the Corporation of (i) a written
         undertaking executed by or on behalf of Indemnitee providing that
         Indemnitee will repay the advance if it shall ultimately be determined
         that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
         provided in this Agreement and (ii) satisfactory evidence as to the
         amount of such expenses.

6.4      Repayment of Advances or Other Expenses. Indemnitee agrees that
         Indemnitee shall reimburse the Corporation for all expenses paid by the
         Corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or
         investigative action, suit or proceeding against Indemnitee in the
         event and only to the extent that it shall be determined pursuant to
         the provisions of this Article VI or by final judgment or other final
         adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law that Indemnitee
         is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such expenses.

6.5      Request for Indemnification. To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee
         shall submit to the Secretary of the Corporation a written claim or
         request. Such written claim or request shall contain sufficient
         information to reasonably inform the Corporation about the nature and
         extent of the indemnification or advance sought by Indemnitee. The
         Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly advise the Board of
         Directors of such request.

6.6      Determination of Entitlement; No Change of Control. If there has been
         no Change of Control at the time the request for indemnification is
         submitted, Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be
         determined in accordance with Section 145(d) of the DGCL. If
         entitlement to indemnification is to be determined by Independent
         Counsel, the Corporation shall furnish notice to Indemnitee within 10
         days after receipt of the request for indemnification, specifying the
         identity and address of Independent Counsel. The Indemnitee may, within
         14 days after receipt of such written notice of selection, deliver to
         the Corporation a written objection to such selection. Such objection
         may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so
         selected does not meet the requirements of Independent Counsel and the
         objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis for such
         assertion. If there is an objection to the selection of Independent
         Counsel, either the Corporation or Indemnitee may petition the Court
         for a determination that the objection is without a reasonable basis
         and/or for the appointment of Independent Counsel selected by the
         Court.

6.7      Determination of Entitlement; Change of Control. If there has been a
         Change of Control at the time the request for indemnification is
         submitted, Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be
         determined in a written opinion by Independent Counsel selected by
         Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall give the Corporation written notice
         advising of the identity and address of the Independent Counsel so
         selected. The Corporation may, within seven days after receipt of such
         written notice of selection, deliver to the Indemnitee a written
         objection to such selection. Indemnitee may, within five days after

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   107

         the receipt of such objection from the Corporation, submit the name of
         another Independent Counsel and the Corporation may, within seven days
         after receipt of such written notice of selection, deliver to the
         Indemnitee a written objection to such selection. Any objections
         referred to in this Section 6.7 may be asserted only on the ground that
         the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of
         Independent Counsel and such objection shall set forth with
         particularity the factual basis for such assertion. Indemnitee may
         petition the Court for a determination that the Corporation's objection
         to the first and/or second selection of Independent Counsel is without
         a reasonable basis and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of
         a person selected by the Court.

6.8      Procedures of Independent Counsel. If a Change of Control shall have
         occurred before the request for indemnification is sent by Indemnitee,
         Indemnitee shall be presumed (except as otherwise expressly provided in
         this Article VI) to be entitled to indemnification upon submission of a
         request for indemnification in accordance with Section 6.5 hereof, and
         thereafter the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome
         the presumption in reaching a determination contrary to the
         presumption. The presumption shall be used by Independent Counsel as a
         basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification unless the
         Corporation provides information sufficient to overcome such
         presumption by clear and convincing evidence or the investigation,
         review and analysis of Independent Counsel convinces him by clear and
         convincing evidence that the presumption should not apply.

                  Except in the event that the determination of entitlement to
         indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, if the person or
         persons empowered under Section 6.6 or 6.7 hereof to determine
         entitlement to indemnification shall not have made and furnished to
         Indemnitee in writing a determination within 60 days after receipt by
         the Corporation of the request therefor, the requisite determination of
         entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and
         Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification unless Indemnitee
         knowingly misrepresented a material fact in connection with the request
         for indemnification or such indemnification is prohibited by applicable
         law. The termination of any Proceeding or of any Matter therein, by
         judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
         contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly
         provided in this Article VI) of itself adversely affect the right of
         Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee
         did not act in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed
         to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or
         with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable
         cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. A person who acted in
         good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest
         of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan of
         the Corporation shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed
         to the best interests of the Corporation.

                  For purposes of any determination hereunder, a person shall be
         deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
         believed to be in or not opposed to the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   108

         best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal
         action or Proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his
         conduct was unlawful, if his action is based on the records or books of
         account of the Corporation or another enterprise or on information
         supplied to him by the officers of the Corporation or another
         enterprise in the course of their duties or on the advice of legal
         counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or
         records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise
         by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or
         other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or
         another enterprise. The term "another enterprise" as used in this
         Section shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, limited
         liability company, association, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
         plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the
         request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent.
         The provisions of this paragraph shall not be deemed to be exclusive or
         to limit in any way the circumstances in which an Indemnitee may be
         deemed to have met the applicable standards of conduct for determining
         entitlement to rights under this Article.

6.9      Independent Counsel Expenses. The Corporation shall pay any and all
         reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred acting
         pursuant to this Article VI and in any proceeding to which it is a
         party or witness in respect of its investigation and written report and
         shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures
         in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. No
         Independent Counsel may serve if a timely objection has been made to
         his selection until a court has determined that such objection is
         without a reasonable basis.

6.10     Adjudication. In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to
         Section 6.6 or 6.7 hereof that Indemnitee is not entitled to
         indemnification under this Article VI; (ii) advancement of Expenses is
         not timely made pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof; (iii) Independent
         Counsel has not made and delivered a written opinion determining the
         request for indemnification (a) within 90 days after being appointed by
         the Court, (b) within 90 days after objections to his selection have
         been overruled by the Court or (c) within 90 days after the time for
         the Corporation or Indemnitee to object to his selection; or (iv)
         payment of indemnification is not made within five days after a
         determination of entitlement to indemnification has been made or deemed
         to have been made pursuant to Section 6.6, 6.7 or 6.8 hereof,
         Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court
         of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent
         jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement
         of Expenses. In the event that a determination shall have been made
         that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial
         proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 6.10 shall
         be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and
         Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse
         determination. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any
         judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 6.10, the
         Corporation shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not
         entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may
         be. If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made
         that Indemnitee is

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   109

         entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such
         determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this
         Section 6.10, or otherwise, unless Indemnitee knowingly misrepresented
         a material fact in connection with the request for indemnification, or
         such indemnification is prohibited by law.

                  The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any
         judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 6.10 that the
         procedures and presumptions of this Article VI are not valid, binding
         and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such proceeding that the
         Corporation is bound by all provisions of this Article VI. In the event
         that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 6.10, seeks a judicial
         adjudication to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for
         breach of, this Article VI, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover
         from the Corporation, and shall be indemnified by the Corporation
         against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him
         in such judicial adjudication, but only if he prevails therein. If it
         shall be determined in such judicial adjudication that Indemnitee is
         entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or
         advancement of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
         connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be
         appropriately prorated.

6.11     Participation by the Corporation. With respect to any such claim,
         action, suit, proceeding or investigation as to which Indemnitee
         notifies the Corporation of the commencement thereof: (a) the
         Corporation will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense;
         (b) except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish,
         the Corporation (jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
         notified) will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
         reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After receipt of notice from the
         Corporation to Indemnitee of the Corporation's election so to assume
         the defense thereof, the Corporation will not be liable to Indemnitee
         under this Article VI for any legal or other expenses subsequently
         incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other
         than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below.
         Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his own counsel in such
         action, suit, proceeding or investigation but the fees and expenses of
         such counsel incurred after notice from the Corporation of its
         assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee
         unless (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized
         by the Corporation, (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded
         that there is a conflict of interest between the Corporation and
         Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action or (iii) the
         Corporation shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the
         defense of such action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of
         counsel employed by Indemnitee shall be subject to indemnification
         pursuant to the terms of this Article VI. The Corporation shall not be
         entitled to assume the defense of any action, suit, proceeding or
         investigation brought in the name of or on behalf of the Corporation or
         as to which Indemnitee shall have made the conclusion provided for in
         (ii) above; and (c) the Corporation shall not be liable to indemnify
         Indemnitee under this Article VI for any amounts paid in settlement of
         any action or claim effected without its written consent, which consent
         shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Corporation

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   110

         shall not settle any action or claim in any manner which would impose
         any limitation or unindemnified penalty on Indemnitee without
         Indemnitee's written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
         withheld.

6.12     Nonexclusivity of Rights. The rights of indemnification and advancement
         of Expenses as provided by this Article VI shall not be deemed
         exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be
         entitled to under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the
         Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of
         directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this
         Article VI or any provision hereof shall be effective as to any
         Indemnitee for acts, events and circumstances that occurred, in whole
         or in part, before such amendment, alteration or repeal. The provisions
         of this Article VI shall continue as to an Indemnitee whose Corporate
         Status has ceased for any reason and shall inure to the benefit of his
         heirs, executors and administrators. Neither the provisions of this
         Article VI or those of any agreement to which the Corporation is a
         party shall be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who
         is not specified in this Article VI as having the right to receive
         indemnification or is not a party to any such agreement, but whom the
         Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the
         provisions of the DGCL.

6.13     Insurance and Subrogation. The Corporation shall not be liable under
         this Article VI to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable
         hereunder if, but only to the extent that, Indemnitee has otherwise
         actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract,
         agreement or otherwise.

                  In the event of any payment hereunder, the Corporation shall
         be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all the rights of
         recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take
         all action reasonably requested by the Corporation to secure such
         rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to
         enable the Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights.

6.14     Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VI shall
         be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason
         whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
         provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and,
         to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VI shall
         be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the
         provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

6.15     Certain Actions Where Indemnification Is Not Provided. Notwithstanding
         any other provision of this Article VI, no person shall be entitled to
         indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Article VI with
         respect to any Proceeding, or any Matter therein, brought or made by
         such person against the Corporation.

6.16     Definitions. For purposes of this Article VI:

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   111

         "Change of Control" means a change in control of the Corporation after
         the date Indemnitee acquired his Corporate Status, which shall be
         deemed to have occurred in any one of the following circumstances
         occurring after such date: (i) there shall have occurred an event
         required to be reported with respect to the Corporation in response to
         Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any
         similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the
         Exchange Act, whether or not the Corporation is then subject to such
         reporting requirement; (ii) any "person" (as such term is used in
         Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) shall have become the
         "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
         directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing
         40% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then
         outstanding voting securities without prior approval of at least
         two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office
         immediately prior to such person attaining such percentage interest;
         (iii) the Corporation is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of
         assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of
         which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to
         such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board
         of Directors thereafter; or (iv) during any period of two consecutive
         years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the
         Board of Directors (including, for this purpose, any new director whose
         election or nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders
         was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then
         still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period)
         cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of
         Directors.

         "Corporate Status" describes the status of Indemnitee as a director,
         officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Corporation or any
         predecessor of the Corporation, of Pride Oil Well Service Company, a
         Texas corporation, of any subsidiary of the Corporation or of Pride Oil
         Well Service Company, or of any other corporation, partnership, limited
         liability company, association, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
         plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee is or was serving at the
         request of the Corporation.

         "Court" means the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any
         other court of competent jurisdiction.

         "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers,
         court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel
         expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone
         charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or
         expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with
         prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend,
         investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.

         "Indemnitee" includes any person who is, or is threatened to be made, a
         witness in or a party to any Proceeding as described in Section 6.1 or
         6.2 hereof by reason of his Corporate Status.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   112

         "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that
         is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is,
         nor in the five years previous to his selection or appointment has
         been, retained to represent: (i) the Corporation or Indemnitee in any
         matter material to either such party or (ii) any other party to the
         Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.

         "Matter" is a claim, a material issue or a substantial request for
         relief.

         "Proceeding" includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
         resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any
         other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
         investigative, except one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to
         Section 6.10 hereof to enforce his rights under this Article VI.

6.17     Notices. Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the
         commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if he
         anticipates or contemplates making a claim for expenses or an advance
         pursuant to the terms of this Article VI, notify the Corporation of the
         commencement of such action, suit or proceeding; provided, however,
         that any delay in so notifying the Corporation shall not constitute a
         waiver or release by Indemnitee of rights hereunder and that any
         omission by Indemnitee to so notify the Corporation shall not relieve
         the Corporation from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee
         otherwise than under this Article VI. Any communication required or
         permitted to the Corporation shall be addressed to the Secretary of the
         Corporation and any such communication to Indemnitee shall be addressed
         to Indemnitee's address as shown on the Corporation's records unless he
         specifies otherwise and shall be personally delivered or delivered by
         overnight mail delivery. Any such notice shall be effective upon
         receipt.

6.18     Contractual Rights. The right to be indemnified or to the advancement
         or reimbursement of Expenses (i) is a contract right based upon good
         and valuable consideration, pursuant to which Indemnitee may sue as if
         these provisions were set forth in a separate written contract between
         Indemnitee and the Corporation, (ii) is and is intended to be
         retroactive and shall be available as to events occurring prior to the
         adoption of these provisions and (iii) shall continue after any
         rescission or restrictive modification of such provisions as to events
         occurring prior thereto.

6.19     Savings Clause. If any provision of this Section of the Bylaws is
         determined by a court having jurisdiction over the matter to require
         the Corporation to do or refrain from doing any act that is in
         violation of applicable law, the court shall be empowered to modify or
         reform such provision so that, as modified or reformed, such provision
         provides the maximum of indemnification permitted by law and such
         provision, as so modified or reformed, and the balance of this Section
         shall be applied in accordance with their terms. Without limiting the
         generality of the foregoing, if any portion of this Section of the
         Bylaws shall be invalidated on any ground, the Corporation shall
         nevertheless indemnify an Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by an
         applicable portion of this Section of the

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   113

         Bylaws that shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent
         permitted by law with respect to that portion that has been
         invalidated.

6.20     Successors and Assigns. This Section of the Bylaws shall be binding
         upon the Corporation, its successors and assigns and shall inure to the
         benefit of Indemnitee's heirs and personal representatives.

6.21     Indemnification of Other Persons. The Corporation may indemnity any
         person not a director or officer of the Corporation to the extent
         authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board
         expressly authorized by the Board of Directors.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

7.1      Bylaw Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt,
         amend and repeal from time to time the Bylaws of the Corporation,
         subject to the right of stockholders entitled to vote with respect
         thereto to amend or repeal such Bylaws as adopted or amended by the
         Board of Directors. Bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted, amended
         or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of
         the voting power of the then issued and outstanding shares of capital
         stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors,
         voting together as a single class, at any annual meeting, or at any
         special meeting if notice of the proposed amendment be contained in the
         notice of said special meeting, or by the Board of Directors as
         specified in the preceding sentence.

7.2      Books and Records. The Corporation shall keep books and records of
         account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders,
         its Board of Directors and each committee of its Board of Directors.

7.3      Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any
         stockholder, director or committee member under the provisions of the
         DGCL or under the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or
         these Bylaws, said notice shall be deemed to be sufficient if given (i)
         by telegraphic, facsimile, cable or wireless transmission or (ii) by
         deposit of the same in a post office box in a sealed prepaid wrapper
         addressed to the person entitled thereto at his post office address, as
         it appears on the records of the Corporation, and such notice shall be
         deemed to have been given on the day of such transmission or mailing,
         as the case may be.

                  Whenever any notice is required to be given to any
         stockholder, director or committee member under the provisions of the
         DGCL or under the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or
         these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or
         persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time
         stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice.
         Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
         of such meeting, except when the person

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   114

         attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the
         beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because
         the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to
         be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of
         the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee of directors
         need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by
         the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

7.4      Resignations. Any director or officer may resign at any time. Such
         resignations shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time
         specified therein, or, if no time be specified, at the time of its
         receipt by the President or the Secretary of the Corporation. The
         acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it
         effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.

7.5      Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as the Board of
         Directors may adopt.

7.6      Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the 31st
         day of December of each year or as otherwise provided by a resolution
         adopted by the Board of Directors.

7.7      Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for the use of
         facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws,
         facsimile signatures of the Chairman of the Board, any other director,
         or any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and
         as authorized by the Board of Directors.

7.8      Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director and each member
         of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the
         performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith
         upon the books of account or reports made to the Corporation by any of
         its officers, or by an independent certified public accountant, or by
         an appraiser selected with reasonable care by the Board of Directors or
         by any such committee, or in relying in good faith upon other records
         of the Corporation.

                                      -23-

<PAGE>   115
                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.3

                            DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

Marine nominees:                           Pride nominees:
---------------                            --------------

Robert L. Barbanell, Chairman              Paul A. Bragg
David A. B. Brown                          Jorge E. Estrada M.
J. C. Burton                               William E. Macaulay
David B. Robson                            Ralph D. McBride

<PAGE>   116

                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.4

OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

Name:                                      Title:
----                                       -----

Paul A. Bragg                              President and Chief Executive Officer
James W. Allen                             Senior Vice President and
                                           Chief Operating Officer
Earl McNiel                                Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>   117
                                                              EXHIBIT 7.13(a)(1)

                            Form of Affiliate Letter
                        [Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.]

                                     [Date]

Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.
One Sugar Creek Center Boulevard
Suite 600
Sugar Land, Texas 77489

Pride International, Inc.
5847 San Felipe, Suite 3300
Houston, Texas 77057

PM Merger, Inc.
5847 San Felipe, Suite 3300
Houston, Texas 77057

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        I have been advised that as of the date of this letter I may be deemed
to be an "affiliate" of Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas corporation
("Marine"), as the term "affiliate" is defined for purposes of paragraphs (c)
and (d) of Rule 145 of the rules and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations")
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Pursuant to the terms
of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 23, 2001 (the "Agreement"),
among Pride International, Inc., a Louisiana corporation ("Pride"), Marine, PM
Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pride (the
"Company"), and AM Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of Pride ("Merger Sub"), Marine will be merged with and into Merger
Sub (the "Marine Merger") and immediately thereafter Pride will be merged with
and into the Company (the "Pride Merger" and together with the Marine Merger,
the "Mergers")

        As a result of the Marine Merger, I may receive shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of Pride ("Pride Common Stock") in exchange for shares
owned by me of (i) common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Marine, or (ii)
upon the exercise of options for such shares.

        As a result of the Pride Merger, I may receive shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of the Company ("Company Common Stock") in exchange
for shares owned by me of (i) Pride Common Stock, or (ii) upon the exercise of
options for such shares.

<PAGE>   118

        1. I represent, warrant and covenant to Marine and the Company that as
of the date I receive any Pride Common Stock or Company Common Stock as a result
of the Mergers:

               A. I shall not make any sale, transfer or other disposition of
        Pride Common Stock or Company Common Stock in violation of the
        Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations.

               B. I have carefully read this letter and the Agreement and
        discussed the requirements of such documents and other applicable
        limitations upon my ability to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of
        Pride Common Stock or Company Common Stock to the extent I felt
        necessary, with my counsel.

               C. I have been advised that the issuance of Pride Common Stock to
        me pursuant to the Marine Merger will be registered with the Commission
        under the Securities Act on a Registration Statement on Form S-4.
        However, I have also been advised that, at the time the Mergers are
        submitted for a vote of the stockholders of Marine, I may be deemed to
        be an affiliate of Marine, I may not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
        of Pride Common Stock or Company Common Stock issued to me in the
        Mergers unless (i) such sale, transfer or other disposition has been
        registered under the Securities Act, (ii) such sale, transfer or other
        disposition is made in conformity with Rule 145 (as such rule may be
        hereafter from time to time amended) promulgated by the Commission under
        the Securities Act, or (iii) in the opinion of counsel reasonably
        acceptable to Company or Pride, or as described in a "no action" or
        interpretive letter obtained by me from the staff of the Commission,
        such sale, transfer or other disposition is otherwise exempt from
        registration under the Securities Act.

               D. I understand that neither Pride nor the Company is under any
        obligation to register the sale, transfer or other disposition of Pride
        Common Stock or Company Common Stock by me or on my behalf under the
        Securities Act or to take any other action necessary in order to make
        compliance with an exemption from such registration available.

               E. I also understand that stop transfer instructions will be
        given to Pride's and the Company's transfer agents with respect to Pride
        Common Stock and Company Common Stock, respectively, and that there will
        be placed on the certificates for Pride Common Stock and Company Common
        Stock issued to me, or any substitutions therefor, a legend stating in
        substance:

               "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED IN A
               TRANSACTION TO WHICH RULE 145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES
               ACT OF 1933 APPLIES AND MAY ONLY BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
               TRANSFERRED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 145 OR
               PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR IN ACCORDANCE
               WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
               SECURITIES ACT OF 1933."

                                       2
<PAGE>   119

               F. I also understand that unless the transfer by me of my Pride
        Common Stock or Company Common Stock has been registered under the
        Securities Act or is a sale made in conformity with the provisions of
        Rule 145, each of Pride and the Company reserves the right to put the
        following legend on the certificates issued to my transferee:

               "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
               REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND WERE ACQUIRED
               FROM A PERSON WHO RECEIVED SUCH SHARES IN A TRANSACTION TO WHICH
               RULE 145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 APPLIES.
               THE SHARES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE HOLDER NOT WITH A VIEW TO,
               OR FOR RESALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION THEREOF WITHIN
               THE MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND MAY NOT BE SOLD,
               PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
               REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM
               THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933."

               G. I also understand and agree that the representations,
        warranties, covenants and agreements I have made herein are for the
        benefit of Marine, Pride and the Company and will be relied upon by such
        entities and their respective counsel and accountants.

        2. By acceptance of this letter by each of Pride and the Company, each
of them hereby agrees with me as follows:

               A. For so long as and to the extent necessary to permit me to
        sell Pride Common Stock or Company Common Stock pursuant to Rule 145
        and, to the extent applicable, Rule 144 under the Securities Act, Pride
        and Company shall (a) use their reasonable efforts to (i) file, on a
        timely basis, all reports and data required to be filed with the
        Commission by it pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act
        of 1934, as amended, and (ii) furnish to me upon request a written
        statement as to whether each of Pride and the Company has complied with
        such reporting requirements during the 12 months preceding any proposed
        sale (or for such shorter period that each of Pride and the Company has
        been required to file such reports) of Pride Common Stock or Company
        Common Stock by me under Rule 145, and (b) otherwise use its reasonable
        efforts to permit such sales pursuant to Rule 145 and Rule 144.

               B. It is understood and agreed that the legends set forth in
        paragraphs E and F above will be removed by delivery of substitute
        certificates without such legend if such legend is not required for
        purposes of the Securities Act. It is understood and agreed that such
        legends and the stop orders referred to above will be removed if (i) one
        year shall have elapsed from the date I acquire Pride Common Stock or
        Company Common Stock received

                                       3
<PAGE>   120

        in the Marine Merger and the Pride Merger, respectively, and the
        provisions of Rule 145(d)(2) are then available to me, (ii) two years
        shall have elapsed from the date I acquire the Pride Common Stock or
        Company Common Stock received in the Marine Merger and Pride Merger,
        respectively, and the provisions of Rule 145(d)(3) are then available to
        me, or (iii) each of Pride and the Company has received either an
        opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably
        satisfactory to each of Pride and the Company, or a "no action" letter
        obtained by me from the staff of the Commission, to the effect that the
        restrictions imposed by Rule 145 under the Act no longer apply to me.

        Execution of this letter should not be considered an admission on my
part that I am an "affiliate" of Marine as described in the first paragraph of
this letter or as a waiver of any rights I may have to object to any claim that
I am an affiliate on or after the date of this letter.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             -----------------------------------
                                             [Insert Name of Affiliate]

Accepted this _____ day of

____________________, 2001___ by

PM MERGER, INC.                              PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:                                          By:
     --------------------------------             ------------------------------
     Name:                                   Name:
     Title:                                  Title:

MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

By:
     --------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

                                       4
<PAGE>   121
                                                              EXHIBIT 7.13(b)(1)

                           LETTER RELATING TO POOLING
                        (MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.)

                                     [Date]

Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.
One Sugar Creek Center Boulevard, Suite 600
Sugar Land, Texas 77489

Pride International, Inc.
5847 San Felipe, Suite 3300
Houston, Texas 77057

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
May 23, 2001 (the "Agreement"), among Pride International, Inc., a Louisiana
corporation ("Pride"), Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas corporation
("Marine"), PM Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
of Pride (the "Company"), and AM Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation and
wholly-owned subsidiary of Pride ("Merger Sub"), Marine will be merged with and
into Merger Sub (the "Marine Merger") and immediately thereafter Pride will be
merged with and into the Company (the "Pride Merger" and together with the
Marine Merger, the "Merger").

        I represent, warrant and covenant with and to Marine and the Company
that:

        1. I understand that the Merger is intended to be accounted for using
the "pooling-of- interests" method and that such treatment for financial
accounting purposes is dependent upon the accuracy of certain of the
representations and warranties, and my compliance with certain of the covenants
and agreements, set forth herein. Accordingly, I will not sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of my interests in, or acquire or sell any options or other
securities relating to securities of Marine, Pride or the Company that would be
intended to reduce my risk relative to, any shares of common stock of either
Marine, Pride or the Company beneficially owned by me during the period
commencing on the 30th day prior to the effectiveness of the Marine Merger and
ending at such time as the Company publicly releases a report (the "Combined
Financial Results Report") covering at least 30 days of combined operations of
Marine, Pride and the Company after the Merger. The Company shall notify the
undersigned of the publication of such results.

        2. I also understand that stop transfer instructions will be given to
the transfer agents of Marine, Pride and the Company in order to prevent any
breach of the covenants and agreements made by me in paragraph 1, although such
stop transfer instructions will be promptly rescinded upon the publication of
the Combined Financial Results Report.

<PAGE>   122

Letter Relating to Pooling
Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.
Pride International, Inc.

        3. I also understand and agree that this letter agreement shall apply to
all shares of the capital stock of Marine, Pride and the Company that are deemed
to be beneficially owned by me pursuant to applicable federal securities laws.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             ___________________________________
                                             Name:

ACCEPTED THIS THE ____ DAY OF

________________, 2001 BY

MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

By:     ______________________________________
        Name:
        Title:

PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:     ______________________________________
        Name:
        Title:

<PAGE>   123

                                                              EXHIBIT 7.13(b)(2)

                           LETTER RELATING TO POOLING
                           (PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.)

                                     [Date]

Pride International, Inc.
5845 San Felipe, Suite 3300
Houston, Texas 77057

Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.
One Sugar Creek Center Boulevard, Suite 600
Sugar Land, Texas 78489

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
May 23, 2001 (the "Agreement"), among Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation ("Marine"), Pride International, Inc., a Louisiana corporation
("Pride"), PM Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
of Pride (the "Company"), and AM Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation and
wholly-owned subsidiary of Pride ("Merger Sub"), Marine will be merged with and
into Merger Sub (the "Marine Merger") and immediately thereafter Pride will be
merged with and into the Company (the "Pride Merger" and together with the
Marine Merger, the "Merger").

        I represent, warrant and covenant with and to Pride and the Company
that:

        1. I understand that the Merger is intended to be accounted for using
the "pooling-of- interests" method and that such treatment for financial
accounting purposes is dependent upon the accuracy of certain of the
representations and warranties, and my compliance with certain of the covenants
and agreements, set forth herein. Accordingly, I will not sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of my interests in, or acquire or sell any options or other
securities relating to securities of Pride or the Company that would be intended
to reduce my risk relative to, any shares of common stock of either Pride or the
Company beneficially owned by me during the period commencing on the 30th day
prior to the effectiveness of the Merger and ending at such time as the Company
publicly releases a report (the "Combined Financial Results Report") covering at
least 30 days of combined operations of Pride, Marine and the Company after the
Merger. The Company shall notify the undersigned of the publication of such
results.

        2. I also understand that stop transfer instructions will be given to
the transfer agents of Pride and the Company in order to prevent any breach of
the covenants and agreements made by me in paragraph 1, although such stop
transfer instructions will be promptly rescinded upon the publication of the
Combined Financial Results Report.

<PAGE>   124

Letter Relating to Pooling
Pride International, Inc.
Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.
Page 2

        3. I also understand and agree that this letter agreement shall apply to
all shares of the capital stock of Pride and the Company that are deemed to be
beneficially owned by me pursuant to applicable federal securities laws.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              __________________________________
                                              Name:

ACCEPTED THIS THE ____ DAY OF

________________, 2001 BY

PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:     __________________________________
        Name:
        Title:

MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

By:     __________________________________
        Name:
        Title:

<PAGE>   125

                       EXHIBIT 8.2 TO THE MERGER AGREEMENT

                         Marine drilling companies, inc.

                              OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE

            This Certificate is being provided by the undersigned officer of
Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Marine"), to Porter &
Hedges, L.L.P. and Baker Botts L.L.P. (collectively, "Counsel"), in connection
with opinions to be delivered by Counsel regarding certain U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the merger (the "Marine Merger") of Marine with and into AM
Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("New Marine") pursuant to the Agreement
and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated as of May 23, 2001 by and
among Pride International, Inc., a Louisiana corporation ("Old Pride"), Pride
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("New Pride"), Marine, and New
Marine. the undersigned recognizes that Counsel will rely on this Certificate in
delivering such opinions. The undersigned hereby certifies as follows:(1)

            1. I am the [title] of Marine. I am familiar with the transactions
contemplated by, and the terms and provisions of, the Merger Agreement, have
personal knowledge of the matters covered by the following representations, and
am authorized to make the following representations on behalf of Marine.

            2. The fair market value of the Old Pride stock received by each
Marine shareholder will be approximately equal to the fair market value of the
Marine stock surrendered in the Marine Merger.

            3. Prior to and in connection with the Marine Merger, no outstanding
stock of Marine has been or will be (a) acquired by Marine or any person related
to Marine, or (b) the subject of any redemption or distribution by Marine which
would be treated as property received in the Marine Merger.

            For purposes of this Certificate, a person will be treated as
related to Marine if there is overlapping stock ownership of at least 50%
between Marine and such person, as described in and subject to the rules of
section 304(c) of the Code.

            4. New Marine will acquire at least 90 percent of the fair market
value of the net assets and at least 70 percent of the fair market value of the
gross assets held by marine immediately prior to the Marine Merger. For purposes
of this representation, amounts used to pay reorganization expenses and all
redemptions and distributions (except for regular, normal dividends) made by
Marine immediately preceding the transfer will be included as assets of Marine
held immediately prior to the Marine Merger.

--------
(1) Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in
the Merger Agreement. Section references not otherwise identified are to
sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

                                      -1-
<PAGE>   126

            5. The liabilities of Marine assumed by New Marine plus the
liabilities, if any, to which the transferred assets are subject were incurred
by Marine in the ordinary course of its business and are associated with the
assets transferred.

            6. Marine and its shareholders will pay their respective expenses,
if any, incurred in connection with the Marine Merger.

            7. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between Pride
and Marine or between New Marine and Marine.

            8. Marine is not an investment company.

            For purposes of this representation, an investment company is a
regulated investment company (as defined in the Code), a real estate investment
trust (as defined in the Code), or a corporation 50% or more of the value of
whose total assets are stock and securities and 80% or more of the value of
whose total assets are assets held for investment. For this purpose, (a) in
making the 50% and 80% determinations just described, stock and securities in
any subsidiary corporation shall be disregarded and the parent corporation shall
be deemed to own its ratable share of the subsidiary's assets, and a corporation
shall be considered a subsidiary if the parent owns 50% or more of the combined
voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, or 50% or more of the
total value shares of all classes of stock outstanding, and (b) in determining
total assets there shall be excluded cash and cash items (including
receivables), government securities, and any assets acquired for purposes of
ceasing to be an investment company.

            9. Marine is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a title 11 or
similar case within the meaning of section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

            10. The fair market value of the assets of Marine transferred to New
Marine will equal or exceed the sum of the liabilities assumed by New Marine
plus the amount of liabilities, if any, to which the transferred assets are
subject.

            11. None of the compensation received by any employees or
independent contractors of Marine and its Subsidiaries who are shareholders of
Marine will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any of their shares
of Marine stock; none of the shares of Old Pride or New Pride stock received by
any such employees or independent contractors will be separate consideration
for, or allocable to, any employment or services agreement; and the compensation
paid to any such employees or independent contractors will be for services
actually rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to third parties
bargaining at arm's-length for similar services.

                                       MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC

Dated:                                 _________________________________________
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   127

                       EXHIBIT 8.3 TO THE MERGER AGREEMENT

                            PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                              OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE

            This Certificate is being provided by the undersigned officer of
Pride International, Inc., a Louisiana corporation ("Old Pride"), to Porter &
Hedges, L.L.P. and Baker Botts L.L.P. (collectively, "Counsel"), in connection
with opinions to be delivered by Counsel regarding certain U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the merger (the "Marine Merger") of Marine Drilling
Companies, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Marine"), with and into AM Merger, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation ("New Marine") and the merger (the "Pride Merger" and,
together with the Marine Merger, the "Mergers") of Old Pride with and into Pride
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("New Pride" and, collectively with
Old Pride, "Pride") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
Agreement") dated as of May 23, 2001 by and among Old Pride, New Pride, Marine,
and New Marine. The undersigned recognizes that Counsel will rely on this
Certificate in delivering such opinions. The undersigned hereby certifies as
follows:(1)

                               OFFICER'S POSITION

            1. I am the [title] of Pride. I am familiar with the transactions
contemplated by, and the terms and provisions of, the Merger Agreement, have
personal knowledge of the matters covered by the following representations, and
am authorized to make the following representations on behalf of Old Pride, New
Pride, and New Marine.

            2. I understand that the Marine Merger will take place before the
Pride Merger and have taken this into account, where relevant, in the
representations which follow.

                                  PRIDE MERGER

            3. The fair market value of the New Pride stock received by each Old
Pride shareholder will be approximately equal to the fair market value of the
Old Pride stock surrendered in the Pride Merger.

            4. No member of the Pride group has acquired (or has any plan or
intention to acquire), directly or through any transaction, agreement or
arrangement with any other person, any Pride stock as part of a plan which
includes the Mergers, other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

--------
(1) Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in
the Merger Agreement. Section references not otherwise identified are to
sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
References to "regs." are to Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.
Headings are for convenience only and do not limit the scope of any
representation to matters relating to the heading under which the representation
appears.

                                      -1-
<PAGE>   128

            For purposes of this Certificate, the term "Pride group" means Pride
and one or more chains of corporations connected through stock ownership with
Pride if Pride directly owns stock meeting the requirements of the next sentence
in at least one of the other corporations and if stock meeting the requirements
of the next sentence in each of the corporations (except Pride) is owned
directly by one or more of the other corporations. Stock meets the requirements
of this sentence if the stock so owned possesses at least 80% of the total
voting power of the stock of the corporation and has a value equal to at least
80% of the total value of the stock of the corporation, except that the term
"stock" does not include preferred stock which is described in section
1504(a)(4) of the Code. In addition, for purposes of this Certificate, a person
other than a member of the Pride group will be treated as related to Pride if
there is overlapping stock ownership of at least 50% between Pride and such
person, as described in and subject to the rules of section 304(c) of the Code.

            5. Immediately following consummation of the Pride Merger, the
shareholders of Old Pride will own all of the outstanding New Pride stock and
will own such stock solely by reason of their ownership of Old Pride stock
immediately prior to the Pride Merger.

            6. New Pride has no plan or intention to issue additional shares of
its stock following the Pride Merger, except that New Pride intends to continue
the Direct Stock Purchase Plan which is described in footnote 12 of Pride's Form
10-K for 2000.

            7. Immediately following consummation of the Pride Merger, New Pride
will possess the same assets and liabilities, except for assets used to pay
expenses incurred in connection with the Pride Merger, as those possessed by Old
Pride immediately prior to the Pride Merger. Assets used to pay expenses and all
redemptions and distributions (except for regular, normal dividends) made by Old
Pride immediately preceding the Pride Merger will, in the aggregate, constitute
less than one percent of the net assets of Old Pride.

            8. At the time of the Pride Merger, Old Pride will not have
outstanding any warrants, options, convertible securities, or any other type of
right pursuant to which any person could acquire stock in Old Pride, except as
described or referred to in section 6.3 of the Merger Agreement.

            9. New Pride has no plan or intention to reacquire any of its stock
issued in the Pride Merger.

            10. New Pride has no plan or intention to sell or otherwise dispose
of any of the assets of Old Pride acquired in the Pride Merger, except for
dispositions made in the ordinary course of business.

            11. The liabilities of Old Pride assumed by New Pride plus the
liabilities, if any, to which the transferred assets are subject were incurred
by Old Pride in the ordinary course of its business and are associated with the
assets transferred.

            12. Following the Pride Merger, New Pride will continue the historic
business of Old Pride or use a significant portion of Old Pride's historic
business assets in a business.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   129

            13. The shareholders will pay their respective expenses, if any,
incurred in connection with the Pride Merger.

            14. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between Old
Pride and New Pride.

            15. Pride is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a Title 11 or
similar case within the meaning of section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

            16. The fair market value of the assets of Old Pride transferred to
New Pride will equal or exceed the sum of the liabilities assumed by New Pride
plus the amount of liabilities, if any, to which the transferred assets are
subject.

                                  Marine Merger

            17. The fair market value of the Old Pride stock received by each
Marine shareholder will be approximately equal to the fair market value of the
Marine stock surrendered in the Marine Merger.

            18. No member of the Pride group has acquired (or has any plan or
intention to acquire), directly or through any transaction, agreement or
arrangement with any other person, any Marine stock as part of a plan which
includes the Mergers, other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

            19. New Marine will acquire at least 90 percent of the fair market
value of the net assets and at least 70 percent of the fair market value of the
gross assets held by Marine immediately prior to the Marine Merger. For purposes
of this representation, amounts used to pay reorganization expenses and all
redemptions and distributions (except for regular, normal dividends) made by
Marine immediately preceding the Marine Merger will be included as assets of
Marine held immediately prior to the Marine Merger.

            20. Prior to the Marine Merger, Pride will be in control of New
Marine.

            For purposes of this Certificate, control means the direct ownership
of stock possessing at least 80% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock entitled to vote and at least 80% of the total number of shares
of each other class of stock of the corporation.

            21. Following the Marine Merger, New Marine will not issue
additional shares of its stock that would result in Pride losing control of New
Marine.

            22. Pride has no plan or intention to reacquire any of its stock
issued in the Marine Merger, except as contemplated by the Pride Merger.

            23. Pride has no plan or intention to liquidate New Marine; to merge
New Marine with and into another corporation; to sell or otherwise dispose of
the stock of New Marine; or to cause New Marine to sell or otherwise dispose of
any of the assets of Marine acquired in the Marine Merger, except for
dispositions made in the ordinary course of business,

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   130

transfers or successive transfers made to one or more corporations of which the
transferor corporation is in control, or transfers to partnerships which are
permitted by reg. 1.368-2(f).

            24. Following the Marine Merger, New Marine will continue the
historic business of Marine or use a significant portion of Marine's historic
business assets in a business.

            25. Pride and New Marine will pay their respective expenses, if any,
incurred in connection with the Marine Merger.

            26. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between Pride
and Marine or between New Marine and Marine.

            27. Neither Pride nor New Marine is an investment company.

            For purposes of this Certificate, an investment company is a
regulated investment company (as defined in the Code), a real estate investment
trust (as defined in the Code), or a corporation 50% or more of the value of
whose total assets are stock and securities and 80% or more of the value of
whose total assets are assets held for investment. For this purpose, (a) in
making the 50% and 80% determinations just described, stock and securities in
any subsidiary corporation shall be disregarded and the parent corporation shall
be deemed to own its ratable share of the subsidiary's assets, and a corporation
shall be considered a subsidiary if the parent owns 50% or more of the combined
voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, or 50% or more of the
total value shares of all classes of stock outstanding, and (b) in determining
total assets there shall be excluded cash and cash items (including
receivables), government securities, and any assets acquired for purposes of
ceasing to be an investment company.

            28. New Marine is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a Title
11 or similar case within the meaning of section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

            29. No stock of New Marine will be issued in the Marine Merger.

                                  Other Matters

            30. The Merger Agreement and the documents referred to therein
represent the full and complete agreement among Pride and Marine regarding the
Mergers and related transactions and there are no other material written or oral
agreements regarding the Mergers.

            31. Neither Pride nor any of its affiliates will knowingly take or
omit to take any action (whether before, on or after the date hereof) that would
cause the Mergers to fail to qualify as reorganizations within the meaning of
section 368(a) of the Code.

            32. Pride and New Marine will characterize the Mergers as
reorganizations within the meaning of section 368(a) of the Code in all tax
returns and other filings.

            The representations in this Certificate are made as of the date
hereof and as of each of the Effective Times. This Certificate is furnished to
you solely for use in connection with the Mergers and is not to be relied upon
by any other person, quoted in whole or in part, or otherwise referred to
(except in a list of closing documents) without our express written consent.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   131

                                            PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Dated:                                      ____________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                      -5-<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of May 23, 2001 (the "Agreement"),
between Pride International, Inc., a Louisiana corporation ("Grantee"), and
Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Issuer").

                                    RECITALS

         A. Grantee and Issuer are, concurrently with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
the date hereof, among Grantee, Issuer, PM Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
and AM Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant
to which, among other things, the parties will engage in a business combination
in a merger of equals (the "Merger");

         B. As a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger
Agreement, Grantee has required that Issuer agree, and believing it to be in the
best interests of Issuer, Issuer has agreed, among other things, to grant to
Grantee the Option (as hereinafter defined) to purchase shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of Issuer ("Issuer Common Stock") at a price per share
equal to the Exercise Price (as hereinafter defined);

         C. Capitalized terms used without definition herein having the meanings
assigned to them in the Merger Agreement; and

         D. In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                            OPTION TO PURCHASE SHARES

         Section 1.1 Grant of Option. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an
irrevocable option to purchase, in whole or in part, an aggregate of up to
11,680,759 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares
of Issuer Common Stock (representing 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Issuer
Common Stock as of May 18, 2001) on the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein (the "Option"); provided, however, that in no event shall the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock for which this Option is exercisable
exceed 19.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock at the
time of exercise without giving effect to the issuance of any Option Shares (as
hereinafter defined). The number of shares of Issuer Common Stock that may be
received upon the exercise of the Option and the Exercise Price are subject to
adjustment as herein set forth.

<PAGE>   2

         (b) In the event that any (i) additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
are issued or otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement
(other than pursuant to this Agreement and other than pursuant to an event
described in Section 3.1 hereof), or (ii) shares of Issuer Common Stock are
redeemed, repurchased, retired or otherwise cease to be outstanding after the
date of this Agreement, the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to
the Option shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate, so that, after such
issuance or redemption, such number together with any shares of Issuer Common
Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, equals 19.9% of the number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock then issued and outstanding without giving effect to any
shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained in this
Section 1.1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize
Issuer to breach or fail to comply with any provision of the Merger Agreement.
As used herein, the term "Option Shares" means the shares of Issuer Common Stock
issuable pursuant to the Option, as the number of such shares shall be adjusted
pursuant to the terms hereof.

         Section 1.2 Exercise of Option. (a) The Option may be exercised by
Grantee, in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, commencing upon
the Exercise Date and prior to the Expiration Date. As used herein, the term
"Exercise Date" means the date on which Issuer becomes obligated to pay a fee
pursuant to Section 9.5(a)(i) of the Merger Agreement. As used herein, the term
"Expiration Date" means the first to occur prior to Grantee's exercise of the
Option pursuant to Section 1.2(b) of:

         (i) the Effective Time;

         (ii) 12 months after the first receipt by the Grantee of written notice
     from the Issuer of the occurrence of an Exercise Date; or

         (iii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement, unless, in the
     case of this clause (iii), an Exercise Date has occurred or could still
     occur.

Notwithstanding the termination of the Option, Grantee shall be entitled to
purchase those Option Shares with respect to which it may have exercised the
Option by delivery of an Option Notice (as defined below) prior to the
Expiration Date, and the termination of the Option will not affect any rights
hereunder which by their terms do not terminate or expire prior to or at the
Expiration Date.

         (b) In the event Grantee wishes to exercise the Option, Grantee shall
send a written notice to Issuer of its intention to so exercise the Option (an
"Option Notice"), specifying the number of Option Shares to be purchased (and
the denominations of the certificates, if more than one), whether the aggregate
Exercise Price will be paid in cash or by surrendering a portion of the Option
in accordance with Section 1.3(b) or a combination thereof, and the place in the
United States, time and date of the closing of such purchase (the "Option
Closing" and the date of such Closing, the "Option Closing Date"), which date
shall not be less than two business days nor more than ten business days from
the date on which an Option Notice is delivered; provided that the Option
Closing shall be held only if (i) such purchase would not otherwise violate or
cause the violation of, any applicable

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

material law, statute, ordinance, rule or regulation (collectively, "Laws")
(including the HSR Act), and (ii) no material judgment, order, writ, injunction,
ruling or decree of any governmental entity (collectively, "Orders") shall have
been promulgated, enacted, entered into, or enforced by any governmental entity
which prohibits delivery of the Option Shares, whether temporary, preliminary or
permanent; provided, however, that the parties hereto shall use their reasonable
best efforts to (x) promptly make and process all necessary filings and
applications and obtain all consents, approvals, Orders, authorizations,
registrations and declarations or expiration or termination of any required
waiting periods (collectively, "Approvals") and to comply with any such
applicable Laws and (y) have any such Order vacated or reversed. In the event
the Option Closing is delayed pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, the Option
Closing shall be within ten business days following the cessation of such
restriction, violation, Law or Order or the receipt of any necessary Approval,
as the case may be (so long as the Option Notice was delivered prior to the
Expiration Date); provided further that, notwithstanding any prior Option
Notice, Grantee shall be entitled to rescind such Option Notice and shall not be
obligated to purchase any Option Shares in connection with such exercise upon
written notice to such effect to Issuer.

         (c) At any Option Closing, (i) Issuer shall deliver to Grantee all of
the Option Shares to be purchased by delivery of a certificate or certificates
evidencing such Option Shares in the denominations designated by Grantee in the
Option Notice, and (ii) if the Option is exercised in part and/or surrendered in
part to pay the aggregate Exercise Price pursuant to Section 1.3(b), Issuer and
Grantee shall execute and deliver an amendment to this Agreement reflecting the
Option Shares for which the Option has not been exercised and/or surrendered. If
at the time of issuance of any Option Shares pursuant to an exercise of all or
part of the Option hereunder, Issuer shall have issued any rights or other
securities which are attached to or otherwise associated with the Issuer Common
Stock, then each Option Share issued pursuant to such exercise shall also
represent such rights or other securities with terms substantially the same as
and at least as favorable to Grantee as are provided under any shareholder
rights agreement or similar agreement of Issuer then in effect. At the Option
Closing, Grantee shall pay to Issuer by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an account specified by Issuer to Grantee in writing at least two
business days prior to the Option Closing an amount equal to the Exercise Price
multiplied by the number of Option Shares to be purchased for cash pursuant to
this Article I; provided, however, that the failure or refusal of Issuer to
specify an account shall not affect Issuer's obligation to issue the Option
Shares.

         (d) Upon the delivery by Grantee to Issuer of the Option Notice and the
tender of the applicable aggregate Exercise Price in immediately available funds
or the requisite portion of the Option in accordance with Section 1.3, Grantee
shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the Option Shares issuable upon
such exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of Issuer may then
be closed, that certificates representing such Option Shares may not then have
been actually delivered to Grantee, or Issuer may have failed or refused to take
any action required of it hereunder. Issuer shall pay all expenses that may be
payable in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of stock
certificates or an amendment to this Agreement under this Section 1.2 and any
filing fees and other expenses arising from the performance of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

         Section 1.3 Exercise Price; Payments. (a) The purchase and sale of the
Option Shares pursuant to Section 1.2 of this Agreement shall be at a purchase
price equal to $27.72 per Share (as such amount may be adjusted pursuant to the
terms hereof, the "Exercise Price"), payable at Grantee's option in cash, by
surrender of a portion of the Option in accordance with Section 1.3(b), or a
combination thereof.

         (b) Grantee may elect to purchase Option Shares issuable, and pay some
or all of the aggregate Exercise Price payable, upon an exercise of the Option
by surrendering a portion of the Option with respect to such number of Option
Shares as is determined by dividing (i) the aggregate Exercise Price payable in
respect of the number of Option Shares being purchased in such manner by (ii)
the excess of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) per share of Issuer
Common Stock as of the last trading day preceding the date Grantee delivers its
Option Notice (such date, the "Option Exercise Date") over the per share
Exercise Price. The "Fair Market Value" per share of Issuer Common Stock shall
be (i) if the Issuer Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(the "NYSE") or any other nationally recognized exchange or trading system as of
the Option Exercise Date, the average of last reported sale prices per share of
Issuer Common Stock thereon for the 5 trading days commencing on the 6th trading
day immediately preceding the Option Exercise Date, or (ii) if the Issuer Common
Stock is not listed on the NYSE or any other nationally recognized exchange or
trading system as of the Option Exercise Date, the amount determined by a
mutually acceptable independent investment banking firm as the value per share
the Issuer Common Stock would have if publicly traded on a nationally recognized
exchange or trading system (assuming no discount for minority interest,
illiquidity or restrictions on transfer). That portion of the Option so
surrendered under this Section 1.3(b) shall be canceled and shall thereafter be
of no further force and effect.

         (c) Certificates for the Option Shares delivered at an Option Closing
will have typed or printed thereon a restrictive legend which will read
substantially as follows:

         "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY BE
         REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH
         REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO
         ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK OPTION
         AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 23, 2001, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED
         FROM THE SECRETARY OF MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC. AT ITS PRINCIPAL
         EXECUTIVE OFFICES."

It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to restrictions arising under
the Securities Act in the above legend will be removed, by delivery of
substitute certificate(s) without such reference if such Option Shares have been
registered pursuant to the Securities Act, such Option Shares have been sold in
reliance on and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or Grantee
has delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or an
opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and
its counsel, to the effect that such legend is not

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

required for purposes of the Securities Act and (ii) the reference to
restrictions pursuant to this Agreement in the above legend will be removed by
delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the Option
Shares evidenced by certificate(s) containing such reference have been sold or
transferred in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement under
circumstances that do not require the retention of such reference.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Section 2.1 Representations and Warranties of Grantee. Grantee hereby
represents and warrants to Issuer that any Option Shares or other securities
acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be taken with a view to
the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or otherwise
disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from registration under
the Securities Act.

         Section 2.2 Representations and Warranties of Issuer. Issuer hereby
represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:

         (a) Option Shares. Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other
action to authorize and reserve for issuance, and, subject to receipt of any
Approvals, to permit it to issue, the Option Shares and all additional shares or
other securities which may be issued pursuant to Section 3.1 upon exercise of
the Option, and, at all times from the date hereof until such time as the
obligation to deliver Option Shares hereunder terminates, will have reserved for
issuance upon exercise of the Option the Option Shares and such other additional
shares or securities, if any. All of the Option Shares and all additional shares
or other securities or property which may be issuable pursuant to Section 3.1,
upon exercise of the Option and issuance pursuant hereto, shall be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, shall be delivered
free and clear of all Liens of any nature whatsoever, and shall not be subject
to any preemptive or similar right of any Person.

         (b) No Restrictions. No Texas law or other state takeover statute or
similar Law and no provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of
Issuer or any agreement to which Issuer is a party (a) would or would purport to
impose restrictions which might adversely affect or delay the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (b) as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (i) would or
would purport to restrict or impair the ability of Grantee to vote or otherwise
exercise the rights of a shareholder with respect to securities of Issuer or any
of its Subsidiaries that may be acquired or controlled by Grantee or (ii) would
or would purport to entitle any Person to acquire securities of Issuer.

         (c) Amendment to Marine Rights Agreement. Issuer has amended or taken
other action under the Marine Rights Agreement so that neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the issuance of Option Shares pursuant to an
exercise of the Option, will cause: (i) the Marine Rights to become exercisable
under the Marine Rights Agreement; (ii) the Grantee or any of Grantee's

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

shareholders or Subsidiaries to be deemed an "Acquiring Person" (as defined in
the Marine Rights Agreement); (iii) any such event to be an event requiring an
adjustment of the purchase price of the Marine Rights under Section 12(a)(ii) of
the Marine Rights Agreement; (iv) Section 14 of the Marine Rights Agreement to
be or become applicable to any such event; or (v) a "Shares Acquisition Date" or
a "Distribution Date" (each as defined in Marine Rights Agreement) to occur upon
any such event.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                    ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

         Section 3.1 Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization. In addition to
the adjustment in the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock that may be
purchased upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1.1 of this Agreement,
the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock that may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Option and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time as provided in this Section 3.1. In the event of any change in
the number of issued and outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock by reason of
any stock dividend, split-up, merger, recapitalization, combination, conversion,
exchange of shares, spin-off or other change in the corporate or capital
structure of Issuer which would have the effect of altering or otherwise
diminishing Grantee's rights hereunder, the number and kind of Option Shares or
other securities subject to the Option and the Exercise Price therefor shall be
appropriately adjusted so that Grantee shall receive upon exercise of the Option
(or, if such a change occurs between exercise and the Option Closing, upon the
Option Closing) the number and kind of shares or other securities or property
that Grantee would have received in respect of the Option Shares that Grantee is
entitled to purchase upon exercise of the Option if the Option had been
exercised (or the purchase thereunder had been consummated, as the case may be)
immediately prior to such event or the record date for such event, as
applicable. The rights of Grantee under this Section shall be in addition to,
and shall in no way limit, its rights against Issuer for breach of or the
failure to perform any provision of the Merger Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 4

                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

         Section 4.1 Registration of Option Shares Under the Securities Act. (a)
If requested by Grantee at any time and from time to time within one year after
receipt by Grantee of Option Shares (the "Registration Period"), Issuer shall
use its reasonable best efforts, as promptly as practicable, to effect the
registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state law (a "Demand
Registration") of such number of Option Shares or such other Issuer securities
owned by or issuable to Grantee in accordance with the method of sale or other
disposition contemplated by Grantee, including a "shelf" registration statement
under Rule 415 of the Securities Act or any successor provision, and to obtain
all consents or waivers of other parties that are required therefor. Grantee
agrees to use reasonable best efforts to cause, and to use reasonable best
efforts to cause any underwriters of any sale or other disposition to cause, any
sale or other disposition pursuant to such

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

registration statement to be effected on a widely distributed basis so that upon
consummation thereof no purchaser or transferee will own beneficially more than
5% of the then-outstanding voting power of Issuer. With respect to such a
"shelf" registration statement, Issuer shall keep such Demand Registration
effective for a period of not less than one year, unless, in the written opinion
of counsel to Issuer, which opinion shall be delivered to Grantee and which
shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Grantee and its counsel, such
registration under the Securities Act is not required in order to lawfully sell
and distribute such Option Shares or other Issuer securities in the manner
contemplated by Grantee. Except with respect to such a "shelf" registration
statement, Issuer shall keep such Demand Registration effective for a period of
not less than 150 days, unless, in the written opinion of counsel to Issuer,
which opinion shall be delivered to Grantee and which shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to Grantee and its counsel, such registration under the
Securities Act is not required in order to lawfully sell and distribute such
Option Shares or other Issuer securities in the manner contemplated by Grantee.
Issuer shall only have the obligation to effect two Demand Registrations
pursuant to this Section 4.1; provided that only requests relating to a
registration statement that has become effective under the Securities Act shall
be counted for purposes of determining the number of Demand Registrations made.
Issuer shall be entitled to postpone for up to 100 days from receipt of
Grantee's request for a Demand Registration the filing of any registration
statement in connection therewith if the Board of Directors of Issuer determines
in its good faith reasonable judgment that such registration would materially
interfere with or require premature disclosure of, any material acquisition,
reorganization, pending or proposed offering of Issuer Securities or other
transaction involving Issuer or any other material contract under active
negotiation by Issuer; and provided further that Issuer shall not have postponed
any Demand Registration pursuant to this sentence during the twelve month period
immediately preceding the date of delivery of Grantee's request for a Demand
Registration.

         (b) If Issuer effects a registration under the Securities Act of Issuer
Common Stock for its own account or for any other stockholders of Issuer (other
than on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor form), Grantee shall have the
right to participate in such registration and include in such registration the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock or such other Issuer securities as
Grantee shall designate by notice to Issuer (an "Incidental Registration" and,
together with a Demand Registration, a "Registration"); provided, however, that,
if the managing underwriters of such offering advise Issuer in writing that in
their opinion the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock or other securities
requested to be included in such Incidental Registration exceeds the number
which can be sold in such offering, Issuer shall include therein (i) first, all
shares proposed to be included therein by Issuer, (ii) second, subject to the
rights of any other holders of registration rights in effect as of the date
hereof, the shares requested to be included therein by Grantee and (iii) third,
shares proposed to be included therein by any other stockholder of Issuer.
Participation by Grantee in any Incidental Registration shall not affect the
obligation of Issuer to effect Demand Registrations under this Section 4.1.
Issuer may withdraw any registration under the Securities Act that gives rise to
an Incidental Registration without the consent of Grantee.

         (c) In connection with any Registration pursuant to this Section 4.1,
(i) Issuer and Grantee shall provide each other and any underwriter of the
offering with customary representations,

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

warranties, covenants, indemnification and contribution obligations in
connection with such Registration, and (ii) Issuer shall use reasonable best
efforts to cause any Option Shares included in such Registration to be approved
for listing on the NYSE or any other nationally recognized exchange or trading
system upon which Issuer's securities are then listed, subject to official
notice of issuance, which notice shall be given by Issuer upon issuance. Grantee
will provide all information reasonably requested by Issuer for inclusion in any
registration statement to be filed hereunder. The costs and expenses incurred by
issuer in connection with any Registration pursuant to this Section 4.1
(including any fees related to qualifications under Blue Sky Laws and SEC filing
fees) (the "Registration Expenses") shall be borne by Issuer, excluding legal
fees of Grantee's counsel and underwriting discounts or commissions with respect
to Option Shares to be sold by Grantee included in a Registration.

         Section 4.2 Transfers of Option Shares. The Option Shares may not be
sold, assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of except (i) in an
underwritten public offering as provided in Section 4.1 or (ii) to any purchaser
of transferee who would not, to the knowledge of the Grantee after reasonable
inquiry, immediately following such sale, assignment, transfer or disposal
beneficially own more than 5% of the then-outstanding voting power of the
Issuer; provided, however, that Grantee shall be permitted to sell any Option
Shares if such sale is made pursuant to a tender or exchange offer that has been
approved or recommended by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
of Issuer (which majority shall include a majority of directors who were
directors as of the date hereof).

                                    ARTICLE 5

                      REPURCHASE RIGHTS; SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS

         Section 5.1 Repurchase Rights. (a) Subject to Section 6.1, at any time
on or after the Exercise Date and prior to the Expiration Date, or, if the
Option has been exercised prior to the Expiration Date, for 120 days after the
Expiration Date, Grantee shall have the right (the "Repurchase Right") to
require Issuer to repurchase from Grantee (i) the Option or any part thereof as
Grantee shall designate at a price (the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to the
amount, subject to reduction at the sole discretion of Grantee pursuant to
clause (iii) of Section 6.1(a), by which (A) the Market/Offer Price (as defined
below) exceeds (B) the Exercise Price, multiplied by the number of Option Shares
as to which the Option is to be repurchased and/or (ii) such number of Option
Shares purchased by Grantee as Grantee shall designate at a price (the "Option
Share Repurchase Price") equal to the Market/Offer Price multiplied by the
number of Option Shares so designated. The term "Market/Offer Price" shall mean
the highest of (i) the highest price per share of Issuer Common Stock offered or
paid in any Marine Acquisition Proposal, or (ii) the highest closing price for
shares of Issuer Common Stock during the six-month period immediately preceding
the date Grantee gives the Repurchase Notice (as hereinafter defined). In
determining the Market/Offer Price, the value of consideration other than cash
shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by Grantee and reasonably acceptable to Issuer, which determination, absent
manifest error, shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

         (b) Grantee shall exercise its Repurchase Right by delivering to Issuer
written notice (a "Repurchase Notice") stating that Grantee elects to require
Issuer to repurchase all or a portion of the Option and/or the Option Shares as
specified therein. The closing of the Repurchase Right (the "Repurchase
Closing") shall take place in the United States at the place, time and date
specified in the Repurchase Notice, which date shall not be less than two
business days nor more than ten business days from the date on which the
Repurchase Notice is delivered. At the Repurchase Closing, subject to the
receipt of a writing evidencing the surrender of the Option and/or certificates
representing Option Shares, as the case may be, Issuer shall deliver to Grantee
the Option Repurchase Price therefor or the Option Share Repurchase Price
therefor, as the case may be, or the portion thereof that Issuer is not then
prohibited under applicable Law from so delivering. At the Repurchase Closing,
(i) Issuer shall pay to Grantee the Option Repurchase Price for the portion of
the Option which is to be repurchased or the Option Shares Repurchase Price for
the number of Option Shares to be repurchased, as the case may be, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by Grantee at
least 24 hours prior to the Repurchase Closing and (ii) if the Option is
repurchased only in part, Issuer and Grantee shall execute and deliver an
amendment to this Agreement reflecting the Option Shares for which the Option is
not being repurchased.

         (c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable Law from
repurchasing the portion of the Option or the Option Shares designated in such
Repurchase Notice, Issuer shall immediately so notify Grantee and thereafter
deliver, from time to time, to Grantee the portion of the Option Repurchase
Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively, that it is no longer
prohibited from delivering, within five Business Days after the date on which
Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided, however, that if Issuer at any time
after delivery of a Repurchase Notice is prohibited under applicable Law from
delivering to Grantee the full amount of the Option Repurchase Price and the
Option Share Repurchase Price for the Option or Option Shares to be repurchased,
respectively, Grantee may rescind the exercise of the Repurchase Right, whether
in whole, in part or to the extent of the prohibition, and, to the extent
rescinded, no part of the amounts, terms or the rights with respect to the
Option or Repurchase Right shall be changed or affected as if such Repurchase
Right were not exercised. Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required notices to
permit Grantee to exercise its Repurchase Right and shall use its reasonable
best efforts to avoid or cause to be rescinded or rendered inapplicable any
prohibition on Issuer's repurchase of the Option or the Option Shares.

         Section 5.2 Substitute Option. (a) In the event that Issuer enters into
an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any Person, other than
Grantee, any Subsidiary of Grantee or the Company (each an "Excluded Person"),
and Issuer is not the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation
or merger, (ii) to permit any Person, other than an Excluded Person, to merge
into Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving or acquiring
corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then outstanding shares of
Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person or cash or any other property or the then
outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock shall after such merger represent less
than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the merged or acquiring
company, or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, other than an Excluded
Person, then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such transaction
shall make proper provision so that, unless earlier exercised by Grantee, the
Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged for, an option
with identical terms appropriately adjusted to acquire the number and class of
shares or other securities or property that Grantee would have received in
respect of Issuer Common Stock if the Option had been exercised immediately
prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, or transfer, or the record date
therefor, as applicable and make any other necessary adjustments; provided,
however, that if such a conversion or exchange cannot, because of applicable Law
be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no
event less advantageous to Grantee than the Option.

         (b) In addition to any other restrictions or covenants, Issuer agrees
that it shall not enter or agree to enter into any transaction described in
Section 5.2(a) unless the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) and any
Person that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the
obligations of Issuer hereunder and agree for the benefit of Grantee to comply
with this Article V.

         (c) For purposes of this Section 5.2, the term "Acquiring Corporation"
shall mean (i) the continuing or surviving person of a consolidation or merger
with Issuer (if other than Issuer), (ii) Issuer in a consolidation or merger in
which Issuer is the continuing or surviving or acquiring Person, and (iii) the
transferee of all or substantially all of Issuer's assets.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         Section 6.1 Total Profit. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, in no event shall Grantee's Total Profit (as hereinafter
defined) exceed $50.0 million (the "Limitation Amount") and, if the total amount
that would otherwise be received by Grantee otherwise would exceed such amount,
Grantee, at its sole election, shall either (i) reduce the number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock subject to this Option, (ii) deliver to issuer for
cancellation Option Shares previously purchased by Grantee, (iii) reduce the
amount of the Option Repurchase Price or the Option Share Repurchase Price, (iv)
reduce the fee payable to Grantee pursuant to Section 9.5(a)(i) of the Merger
Agreement, (v) pay cash to Issuer, or (vi) any combination thereof, so that
Grantee's actually realized Total Profit, shall not exceed the Limitation Amount
after taking into account the foregoing actions.

         (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Option
may not be exercised for a number of Option Shares as would, as of the date of
exercise, result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined below) which would
exceed the Limitation Amount; provided, that nothing in this sentence shall
restrict any exercise of the Option permitted hereby on any subsequent date.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

         (c) As used herein, the term "Total Profit" shall mean the aggregate
amount (before taxes) of the following: (i) the amount received by Grantee
pursuant to Issuer's repurchase of the Option (or any portion thereof) pursuant
to Section 5.1, (ii) (x) the amount received by Grantee pursuant to Issuer's
repurchase of Option Shares pursuant to Section 5.1, less (y) Grantee's purchase
price for such Option Shares, (iii) (x) the net cash amounts or the fair market
value of any property received by Grantee pursuant to any consummated
arm's-length sales of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such
Option Shares are converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated party, less (y)
Grantee's purchase price of such Option Shares and (iv) the amount received by
Grantee pursuant to Section 9.5(a)(i) of the Merger Agreement.

         (d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Profit" with respect to
any number of Option Shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise the
Option shall be the Total Profit determined as of the date of such proposal
assuming that the Option was exercised on such date for such number of Option
Shares and assuming that such Option Shares, together with all other Option
Shares held by Grantee and its affiliates as of such date, were sold for cash at
the closing market price (less customary brokerage commissions) for shares of
Issuer Common Stock on the preceding trading day on the NYSE (or on any other
nationally recognized exchange or trading system on which shares of Issuer
Common Stock are then so listed or traded).

         Section 6.2 Further Assurances; Listing. (a) From time to time, at the
other party's request and without further consideration, each party hereto shall
execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action
as may be necessary or desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including, without limitation, to vest in Grantee good and
marketable title, free and clear of all Liens, to any Option Shares purchased
hereunder. Issuer agrees not to avoid or seek to avoid (whether by charter
amendment or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, issuance of rights
or securities, the Marine Rights Agreement or similar agreement, dissolution or
sale of assets, or by any other voluntary act) the observance or performance of
any of the covenants, agreements or conditions to be observed or performed
hereunder by it.

         (b) If the Issuer Common Stock or any other securities to be acquired
upon exercise of the Option are then listed on the NYSE (or any other national
securities exchange or trading system), Issuer, upon the request of Grantee,
will promptly file an application to list the shares of Issuer Common Stock or
such other securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option on the NYSE
(and any other national securities exchange or trading system) and will use
reasonable best efforts to obtain approval of such listing as promptly as
practicable.

         Section 6.3 Division of Option; Lost Options. The Agreement (and the
Option granted hereby) are exchangeable, without expense, at the option of
Grantee, upon presentation and surrender of this Agreement at the principal
office of Issuer, for other agreements providing for Options of different
denominations entitling Grantee to purchase, on the same terms and subject to
the same conditions as are set forth herein, in the aggregate the same number of
Option Shares purchasable hereunder. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft or destruction or mutilation of
this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of
this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new agreement of
like tenor and date.

         Section 6.4 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

         Section 6.5 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery
if delivered personally, or by telecopy or telefacsimile, upon confirmation of
receipt, (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if
delivered by a recognized next-day courier service, or (c) on the tenth Business
Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid. 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 Grantee to:

                  Pride International, Inc.
                  5845 San Felipe, Suite 3300
                  Houston, Texas  77057
                  Attention:  Robert Randall
                  Facsimile:  (713) 952-6916

                  with a copy to:

                  Baker Botts L.L.P.
                  One Shell Plaza
                  910 Louisiana
                  Houston, Texas  77002-4995
                  Attention:  L. Proctor Thomas
                  Facsimile:  (713) 229-7785

         (b)      if to Issuer to:

                  Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.
                  One Sugar Creek Center Boulevard,
                  Suite 600
                  Sugar Land, Texas  77489
                  Attention:  Jan Rask
                  Facsimile:  (281) 243-3070

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

                  with a copy to:

                  Porter & Hedges, L.L.P.
                  700 Louisiana, Suite 3500
                  Houston, Texas 77002
                  Attention:  Nick D. Nicholas
                  Facsimile:  (713) 226-0237

         Section 6.6 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement
to Articles, Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to an
Article or Section of or Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in
this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation."

         Section 6.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart.

         Section 6.8 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. (a) This
Agreement and the other agreements of the parties referred to herein constitute
the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         (b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the
benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied,
is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or
remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

         Section 6.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas (without giving
effect to choice of law principles thereof).

         Section 6.10 Severability. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or
public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in
order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

         Section 6.11 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto, in whole or in part (whether by operation of law or otherwise), without
the prior written consent of the other party, and any attempt to make any such
assignment without such consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

         Section 6.12 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of Grantee and
Issuer hereby (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any
Texas state court sitting in Harris County, Texas or any Federal court located
in the Southern District of Texas, Houston, Division in the event any dispute
arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated herein,
(ii) 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 (iii)
agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of
the transactions contemplated herein in any court other than any Texas state
court or any Federal court sitting in the Southern District of Texas, Houston
Division, and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury with respect to any action
related to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated herein.

         Section 6.13 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that
the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this
being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in
equity.

         Section 6.14 Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No
failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in the exercise of any right
hereunder will impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of, or
acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty or agreement herein,
nor will any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude other or
further exercise thereof or of any other right. All rights and remedies existing
under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive to, and not exclusive
of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantee and Issuer have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                ISSUER:

                                MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                                 By:  /s/ Jan Rask
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Name:  Jan Rask
                                   Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                 GRANTEE:

                                 PRIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                 By:  /s/  Paul A. Bragg
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Paul A. Bragg
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       15

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