Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.25

                               SUBLEASE AGREEMENT

This Sublease Agreement, made as of the ___ day of January, 2001 by and between
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC., having an office at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue,
Bethesda, Maryland 20814 ("Sublandlord"), and INFORMAX, INC., having an office
at ____________________("Subtenant");

                               W I T N E S S E T H

        WHEREAS, by Office Lease dated August 14, 1998, (the "Overlease"),
Newlands Building Venture, LLC ("Landlord"), leased to Sublandlord, as tenant,
approximately 75,391 square feet of rentable area on the floors of the building
located at Two Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, Maryland (hereinafter referred
to as the "Building"), at the rent and upon and subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Overlease; and

        WHEREAS, Subtenant desires to sublet from Sublandlord the entire third
(3rd) and fourth (4th) floors under lease to Sublandlord;

        NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, for themselves, their successors and
assigns, mutually covenant and agree as follows:

        1. Demised Premises. Sublandlord does hereby demise and sublease to
Subtenant, and Subtenant does hereby sublease from Sublandlord, for the term and
upon the conditions hereinafter provided, an area of approximately 34,849 square
feet of rentable area consisting of the entire third (3rd) and fourth (4th)
floors of the Building (such area being hereinafter referred to as the "Demised
Premises"). The Demised Premises is indicated by outlining and diagonal marking
on the floor plan attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit A.

        2. Condition. The Demised Premises are subleased to Subtenant upon and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, in their "as is" condition
existing on the date possession is delivered to Subtenant, without requiring any
alterations, improvements, repairs or decorations to be made by Sublandlord, or
at Sublandlord's expense, either at the time possession is given to Subtenant or
during the entire term of this Sublease, or any extension thereof. In connection
therewith, Subtenant represents that it has thoroughly examined the Building and
the Demised Premises. Sublandlord provides no representation or warranty that
the Building, main lobby, restrooms and other common areas of Building, comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act (the "ADA"), building codes, or with
other fire and safety codes, or any other representation or warranty except as
expressly provided herein.

        3. Term. The term of this Sublease shall commence on March 1, 2001, and
shall end on July 31, 2004. In the event Landlord's consent has not been
obtained by _____________, 2001, or such later date as Sublandlord and Subtenant
may agree to in writing, this Sublease shall be and become null and void and of
no further force or effect and all Prepaid Rent and the Security Deposit (as
defined in Section 11 of this Sublease) shall be promptly returned to Subtenant.

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        4. Monthly Base Rent. The monthly base rent which Subtenant hereby
agrees to pay to Sublandlord in advance, and Sublandlord hereby agrees to
accept, shall be the sum of One Hundred Twenty One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy
One and 50/00 Dollars ($121,971.50) (hereinafter referred to as "Monthly Base
Rent"), commencing at the beginning of the term of this Sublease and continuing
thereafter on the last day of each and every calendar month during the term of
this Sublease. The Monthly Base Rent payable by Subtenant hereunder shall be
increased on the first anniversary of the commencement of the term and on each
anniversary thereafter by an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the Monthly
Base Rent. If the obligation of Subtenant to pay rent hereunder begins on a day
other than on the first day of a calendar month rent from such date until the
first day of the following calendar month shall be prorated at the rate of
one-thirtieth (1/30th) of the monthly installment for each day payable in
advance.

        5. Operating Expenses and Real Estate Passthroughs. Beginning on the
first anniversary of the sublease commencement date and each anniversary
thereafter, Subtenant will pay to Sublandlord, on an annual basis, its
proportionate share of any increases in Operating Expenses and Real Estate Taxes
as may occur over a base year of 2001, subject to the provisions of the
Overlease. Subtenant's proportionate share of Sublandlord's obligations under
the Lease is 46.22%.

        6. Payments. The Monthly Base Rent, Additional Rent and any other
charges herein reserved or payable shall be paid to Sublandlord at 7700
Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, Attention: ______, or at such
other place as Sublandlord may reasonably designate in writing, in lawful money
of the United States of America without demand therefor and without and
deduction, setoff or abatement whatever, except as expressly provided in this
Sublease.

        7. Use. Subtenant will use and occupy the Demised Premises solely for
general office purposes and in accordance with the use permitted under the
applicable zoning regulations. Without the prior written consent of Landlord and
Sublandlord, the Demised Premises will not be used for any other purposes.

        8. Alterations. Subtenant shall not make any alteration, improvement,
decoration, or installation (hereinafter called "Alterations") in or to the
Demised Premises without Sublandlord's consent, not to be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed but subject nevertheless to Landlord's consent. If any
Alterations are made without consent, Landlord or Sublandlord may remove the
same, and may correct, repair and restore the Demised Premises and any damage
arising from such removal, and Subtenant shall be liable for any and all costs
and expenses incurred by Landlord or Sublandlord in the performance of this
work.

        9. Furniture Equipment and Improvements. Sublandlord shall provide the
Subtenant beneficial use of the systems furniture, chairs, file cabinets,
kitchen equipment and substantial leasehold improvements within the Premises.
Subtenant agrees to maintain all the equipment and improvements in the Premises
in good condition, subject only to normal wear and tear, or to repair and
replace the same as necessary at Subtenant's sole cost and expense. In
consideration to rental rate paid, the equipment and furniture shall become the
property of the Subtenant at the end of the sublease Term. Prior to the
commencement of this Sublease, Sublandlord shall provide a detailed inventory of
all equipment and furniture which will be conveyed to Subtenant, and the parties
shall agree to a written amortization/buyout schedule for such equipment and

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furniture in the event of an early termination of this Sublease.

        l0. Parking. Sublandlord shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
assist Subtenant in securing a ratio of parking contracts in the Building
parking garage similar to that contained in the Overlease; provided, however,
Sublandlord makes no warranty or representation to Subtenant regarding: (1)
obtaining monthly parking contracts or (2) the use of the parking garage.
Subtenant agrees to contract the garage operator directly in trying to obtain
monthly parking contracts. Rates for any parking contract shall be at the
then-prevailing parking rates charged by the garage operator.

        11. Security Deposit and Prepaid Rent. Upon execution of Sublease,
Subtenant shall deposit with Sublandlord a sum equal to One Hundred Twenty-One
Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy One and 50/100 Dollars ($121,971.50) as a
non-interest bearing cash deposit to cover payment of Base Rent for the first
calendar month of the Sublease Term ("Prepaid Rent"). In addition, upon
execution of Sublease, Subtenant shall deposit with Sublandlord as security for
rent furniture, fixtures and equipment, either: (1) an additional non-interest
bearing cash deposit of One Hundred Twenty-One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy One
and 50/00 Dollars ($121,971.50), or (2) an unconditional and irrevocable letter
of credit in favor of Subtenant in customary form and issued directly by PNC
Bank or other bank, having one or more offices in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area, having an expiration date not earlier than one (1) month
after the expiration date of the Sublease Term ("Security Deposit").

        12. Terms of Overlease. All of the terms, provisions, covenants and
conditions of the Overlease are incorporated herein by reference and hereby made
a part hereof (other than the following provisions of the Overlease: Sections 1,
2, 4, 6, 8, 34, 41). As between the parties hereto, Subtenant hereby assumes all
of the obligations of the Sublandlord, as the tenant under the Overlease but
only to the extent they are applicable to the Demised Premises. Sublandlord
shall have all of the rights but not the obligations of the Landlord under the
Overlease as against Subtenant and, Sublandlord agrees to observe and perform
the terms, covenants and conditions on its part to be observed and performed
hereunder as well as those applicable terms, covenants and conditions to be
observed and performed by Landlord under the Overlease with respect to the
Demised Premises. Notwithstanding anything in this Sublease to the contrary,
Subtenant agrees that Sublandlord shall not be obligated to furnish for
Subtenant any services of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation,
the furnishing of heat, electrical energy, air conditioning, elevator service,
cleaning, window washing, or rubbish removal services, however, Sublandlord
shall be obligated to take all action necessary to obtain the performance of and
furnishing of such services for the Demised Premises by Landlord pursuant to the
terms of the Overlease. Subtenant shall obtain and maintain all insurance types
and coverages as specified in the Overlease to be obtained and maintained by
Sublandlord, as tenant, in amounts not less than those specified in the
Overlease. All policies of insurance obtained by Subtenant shall name Landlord
and Sublandlord as additional insureds therein in accordance with the Overlease.
Subtenant's insurance shall be primary over Landlord's and Sublandlord's
insurance with respect to the Demised Premises. Subtenant will deliver to
Sublandlord at the commencement of the Sublease term and on demand thereafter
certificates reflecting that Subtenant has obtained and is maintaining the
required insurance coverages in the appropriate amounts.

        13. Overlease. Sublandlord hereby represents and warrants to Subtenant
that attached hereto as

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Exhibit B is a true, correct and complete copy of the Overlease; that the
Overlease is in full force and effect; and that to the best of Sublandlord's
knowledge there are no defaults thereunder by any party. Subtenant acknowledges
the attached Overlease that it has reviewed the Overlease, and that it is
familiar with the contents thereof.

        14. Subtenant's Covenants. Subtenant covenants and agrees that Subtenant
will not do anything which would constitute a default under the Overlease or
omit to do anything which Subtenant is obligated to do under the terms of this
Sublease and which would constitute a default under the Overlease.

        15. Indemnification. (a) Subtenant shall and hereby does indemnify and
hold Landlord and Sublandlord harmless from and against any and all actions,
claims, demands, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) asserted against, imposed upon or
incurred by Landlord or Sublandlord by reason of (a) any violation caused,
suffered or permitted by Subtenant, its agents, servants, employees or invitees,
of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of the Overlease or this Sublease
and (b) any damage or injury to persons or property occurring upon or in
connection with the use or occupancy of the Sublandlord, or its agents,
employees or invitees.

        (b) Sublandlord shall and hereby does indemnify and hold Subtenant
        harmless from and against any and all actions, claims, demands, damages,
        liabilities, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
        attorney's fees) asserted against, imposed upon or incurred by Subtenant
        by reason of (a) any violation caused, suffered or permitted by
        Sublandlord, its agents, servants, employees, or invitees, of any of the
        terms, covenants or conditions of the Overlease or this Sublease and (b)
        any damage or injury to persons or property occurring upon or in
        connection with the use or occupancy of the Sublandlord, or its agents,
        employees, or invitees.

        16. Assignment and Sublease. (a) Subtenant agrees not to assign,
mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber this Sublease, nor to sublet the Demised
Premises or any part thereof, without the consent of the Sublandlord, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Any
assignment or sublease shall be in strict accordance with the terms, conditions
and restrictions of the Overlease.

        (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, but subject
        nevertheless to the Overlease, Subtenant may assign this Sublease or
        sublet all or part of the Demised Premises either to a wholly owned
        corporation or entity or controlled subsidiary or parent of the
        Subtenant or to any successor to Subtenant by purchase, merger,
        consolidation or reorganization (hereinafter collectively referred to as
        "Corporate Transfer") without consent of Sublandlord (but not without
        prior written consent from Landlord in accordance with Section 7(A) of
        the Overlease), provided that (i) Subtenant is not in default under this
        Sublease; (ii) if such proposed transferee is a successor to Subtenant
        by purchase, said proposed transferee shall acquire all or substantially
        all of the stock or assets of Subtenant's business or, if such proposed
        transferee is a successor to Subtenant by merger, consolidation, or
        reorganization, the continuing or surviving corporation shall own all or
        substantially all of the assets of Subtenant; (iii) such Corporate
        Transfer shall be subject to the terms of this Sublease; (iv) in the
        case of an assignment, such proposed

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        transferee shall have a net worth which is equal to or greater than
        Subtenant's net worth at the date of this Sublease; and (v) in the case
        of assignment, such proposed transferee shall assume all of the
        obligations of Subtenant hereunder. Subtenant shall give Sublandlord and
        Landlord written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective
        date of any such Corporate Transfer. As used herein, the term
        "controlled subsidiary" shall mean a corporate entity wholly owned by
        Subtenant or at least fifty-one percent (51%) of whose voting stock is
        owned by Subtenant.

        17. Confidentiality. All terms and conditions contained in the Overlease
and in this Sublease shall be treated as confidential information and shall be
shared only with those parties necessary to execute and perform the transaction
throughout the entire term of this Sublease.

        18. Brokers. Sublandlord and Subtenant hereby represent and warrant
that except for (i) Freeman Group LLC/Gerstein Commercial Realty and (ii)
Newmark and Bank Company, neither party has dealt with any broker in connection
with this Sublease for the Demised Premises, and Subtenant will defend and hold
harmless Sublandlord from any loss arising from breach of this. Sublandlord will
be responsible for any commissions, payments or fees due to said brokers
pursuant to a separate agreement.

        19. Entire Agreement. This Sublease contains all of the covenants,
agreements, terms, provisions, conditions, warranties and understandings
relating to the leasing of the Demised Premises and Sublandlord's obligations in
connection therewith, and neither Sublandlord nor any agent or representative of
Sublandlord has made or is making, and Subtenant in executing and delivering
this Sublease is not relying upon, any warranties, representations, promises or
statements whatsoever, except to the extent expressly set forth in this
Sublease. All understandings and agreements, if any, heretofore had between the
parties are merged to this Sublease, which alone fully and completely expresses
the agreement of the parties. The failure of Sublandlord to insist in any
instance upon the strict keeping, observance or performance of any covenant,
agreement, term, provision or condition of this Sublease or to exercise any
election herein contained shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment
for the future of such covenant, agreement, term, provision, condition or
election, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect. No
waiver or modification of any covenant, agreement, term, provision or condition
of this Sublease shall be deemed to have been made unless expressed in writing
and signed by Landlord and Sublandlord. No surrender of possession of the
Demised Premises or of any part thereof or of any remainder of the term of this
Sublease shall release Subtenant from any of its obligations hereunder unless
accepted by Sublandlord in writing. The receipt and retention by Sublandlord of
monthly base rent or additional rent from anyone other than Subtenant shall not
be deemed a waiver of the breach by Subtenant of any covenant, agreement, term
or provision of this Sublease, or as the acceptance of such other person as a
tenant, or as a release of Subtenant of the covenants, agreements, terms,
provisions and conditions herein contained. The receipt and retention by
Sublandlord of monthly base rent or additional rent with knowledge of the breach
of any covenant, agreement, term, provision or condition herein contained shall
not be deemed a waiver of such breach.

        20. Successors and Assigns. The obligations of this Sublease shall bind
and benefit the successors and permitted assigns of the parties with the same
effect as if mentioned in each instance where a party hereto is named or
referred to.

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        21. Notices. Any and all communications delivered hereunder shall be
sent in accordance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Overlease, as
follows: If to Landlord c/o the Chevy Chase Land Company of Montgomery County,
Maryland, Suite 540, Two Wisconsin Circle, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815; if to
Sublandlord, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Attention:
_________; and if to Subtenant 6010 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland
20852, Attention: Sandy Terry, with a copy to Hogan & Hartson L.L.P., 8300
Greensboro Drive, Suite 1100, McLean Virginia 22102, Attention: Dennis K. Moyer,
Esq.; or to such other address and attention as any of the above shall notify
the others in writing.

        22. Landlord's Consent. This Sublease shall be effective upon obtaining
the written consent of Landlord, or its duly authorized agent, and it is hereby
acknowledged by Sublandlord and Subtenant that Landlord's consent to this
Sublease shall not create any contractual liability or duty on the part of
Landlord or its agent to the Subtenant, and shall not in any manner increase,
decrease or otherwise affect the rights and obligations of Landlord and
Sublandlord, as the tenant under the Overlease, with respect to the Demised
Premises.

        23. Amendments. Sublandlord and Subtenant shall not amend this Sublease
without Landlord's prior written consent, and any such amendment made or entered
into without Landlord's consent shall be null and void.

        24. Limitation on Damages. Each party waives any right to consequential
damages against the other.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Sublandlord and Subtenant have duly executed this
Sublease as of the day and year first above written.

WITNESS/ATTEST:                                SUBLANDLORD:

                                DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                By:    /s/ DOMENICK FIORAVANTI
                                      --------------------------------------
                                Name: Domenick Fioravanti
                                      --------------------------------------
                                Its:  SVP ADMIN OFFICER
                                      --------------------------------------
                                                (SEAL)

WITNESS/ATTEST:                                 SUBTENANT:

                                INFORMAX, INC.

                                By:    /s/ TIMOTHY D. SULLIVAN
                                      --------------------------------------
                                Name: Timothy D. Sullivan
                                      --------------------------------------
                                Its:  EVP
                                      --------------------------------------
                                                (SEAL)

        This Sublease is consented to by the Landlord by and through its duly
authorized agent, the Chevy Chase Land Company of Montgomery County Maryland,
upon the terms acknowledged by Sublandlord and Subtenant in the paragraph of
this Sublease entitled "LANDLORD'S CONSENT."

                                          LANDLORD:

                                          NEWLANDS BUILDING VENTURE, LLC

                                          By:  The Chevy Chase Land Company of
                                               Montgomery County Maryland, Agent

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

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                                                                 EXHIBIT  4.8

            THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS WARRANT, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE
            HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN
                     THIS WARRANT EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED.

                 VOID AFTER 5:00PM EASTERN TIME, AUGUST 19, 2001

                                     WARRANT
                               FOR THE PURCHASE OF
                         200,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                       OF
                            GOTHIC ENERGY CORPORATION

1.  WARRANT

          This certifies that in consideration of $10.00 and other good and
valuable consideration, duly paid by or on behalf of Gaines, Berland Inc.
("Holder"), as registered owner of this Warrant, to Gothic Energy Corporation
("Company"), Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time at or after
August 19, 1996 ("Commencement Date"), and at or before 5:00PM, Eastern Time
August 19, 2001 ("Expiration Date"), but not thereafter, to subscribe for,
purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to two hundred thousand (200,000)
shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.01 par value ("Common Stock"). If the
Expiration Date is a day on which banking Institutions are authorized by law to
close, then this Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is
not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period ending on
the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would
terminate the Warrant. This Warrant is initially exercisable at $2.25 per share

<PAGE>   2
of Common Stock purchased: provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of
the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Warrant,
including the exercise price and the number of shares of Common Stock to be
received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term
"Exercise Price" shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise
price, depending on the context, of a share of Common Stock. The term
"Securities" shall mean the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
this Warrant.

2.  EXERCISE

          2.1  Exercise Form.  In order to exercise this Warrant, the exercise
form attached hereto must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the
Company, together with this Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for the
Securities being purchased. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall
not be exercised at or before 5:00PM, Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, this
Warrant shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights
represented hereby shall cease and expire.

          2.2  Legend.  Each certificate for Securities purchased under this
Warrant shall bear a legend as follows, unless such Securities have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Act"):

     "The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered
     under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Act") or applicable state
     law. The securities may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise
     transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under
     the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and
     applicable state law."

          2.3  Conversion Right.

          2.3.  Determination of Amount.  In lieu of the payment of the Exercise
Price in cash, the Holder shall have the right (but not the obligation) to
convert this Warrant, in whole or in part, into Common Stock ("Conversion
Right"), as follows: upon exercise of the Conversion Right, the Company shall
deliver to the Holder (without payment by the Holder of any of the Exercise
Price) that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing (x) the "Value" (as defined below) of the portion of the Warrant being
converted at the time the Conversion Right is exercised by (y) the Exercise
Price. The "Value" of the portion of the Warrant being converted shall equal the
remainder derived from subtracting (a) the Exercise Price multiplied by the
number of shares of Common Stock being converted from (b) the Market Price of
the Common Stock multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock being
converted. As used herein, the term "Market Price" at any date shall be deemed
to be the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on such date, or, in case
no such reported sale takes place on such day, the average of the last reported
sale prices for the Immediately preceding three trading days, in either case as
officially reported by the principal securities exchange on which the Common
Stock is listed or admitted to trading, or, if the Common Stock is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or if any such exchange
on which the Common Stock is listed is not its principal trading market, the
last reported sale price as furnished by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") through the Nasdaq National Market or SmallCap Market,
or, if applicable, the OTC Bulletin Board, or if the

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<PAGE>   3

Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any of the foregoing
markets, or similar organization, as determined in good faith by resolution of
the Board of Directors of the Company, based on the best information available
to it.

          2.3.2  Exercise of Conversion.  The Conversion Right may be exercised
by the Holder on any business day on or after the Commencement Date and not
later than the Expiration Date by delivering the Warrant with a duly executed
exercise form attached hereto with the conversion section completed to the
Company, exercising the Conversion Right and specifying the total number of
shares of Common Stock the Holder will purchase pursuant to such conversion.

3.  TRANSFER.

    3.1  General Restrictions.  The registered Holder of this Warrant, by
its acceptance hereof, agrees that it will not sell, transfer or assign or
hypothecate this Warrant to anyone except upon compliance with, or pursuant to
exemptions from, applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted
assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached
hereto duly executed and completed, together with this Warrant and payment of
all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall
immediately transfer this Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute
and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor to the appropriate
assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as
shall be contemplated by any such assignment.

    3.2  Restrictions Imposed by the Securities Act.  This Warrant and the
Securities underlying this Warrant shall not be transferred unless and until (i)
the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that such
securities may be sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act,
and applicable state law. the availability of which is established to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Company, or (ii) a registration statement
relating to such Securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective
by the Securities and Exchange Commission and compliance with applicable state
law.

4.  NEW WARRANTS TO BE ISSUED.

    4.1  Partial Exercise or Transfer.  Subject to the restrictions in
Section 3 hereof, this Warrant may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part.
In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only. upon surrender
of this Warrant for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or
assignment form and funds (or conversion equivalent) sufficient to pay any
Exercise Price and/or transfer tax, the Company shall cause to be delivered to
the Holder without charge a new Warrant of like tenor to this Warrant in the
name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock and Warrants purchasable hereunder as to which
this Warrant has not been exercised or assigned.

                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4

    4.2  Lost Certificate.  Upon receipt by the Company of evidence
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant
and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, the Company shall execute and
deliver a new Warrant of like tenor and date. Any such new Warrant executed and
delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall
constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.

5.  REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

    5.1  "Piggy-Back" Registration.

          5.1.1  Grant of Right.  The Holders of this Warrant shall have the
right for a period of seven years from the Commencement Date to include all or
any part of this Warrant and the shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant
(collectively, the "Registrable Securities") as part of any registration of
securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction
contemplated by Rule 145(a) promulgated under the Act or pursuant to Form S-8 or
any equivalent form); provided, however, that if, In the written opinion of the
Company's managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, for such offering (the
"Underwriter"), the inclusion of the Registrable Securities, when added to the
securities being registered by the Company or the selling stockholder(s). will
exceed the maximum amount of the Company's securities which can be marketed (i)
at a price reasonably related to their then current market value, or (ii)
without materially and adversely affecting the entire offering, the Company
shall nevertheless register all or any portion of the Registrable Securities
required to be so registered but such Registrable Securities shall not be sold
by the Holders until 90 days after the registration statement for such offering
has become effective; and provided further that, if any securities are
registered for sale on behalf of other stockholders in such offering and such
stockholders have not agreed to defer such sale until the expiration of such 90-
day period, the number of securities to be sold by all stockholders In such
public offering during such 90-day period shall be apportioned pro rata among
all such selling stockholders, including all holders of the Registrable
Securities, according to the total amount of securities of the Company proposed
to be sold by said selling stockholders, including all holders of the
Registrable Securities.

          5.1.2  Terms.  The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant
to registering the Registrable Securities, but the Holders shall pay any and all
underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the
Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable
Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall
furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less
than thirty days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such

                                       -4-
<PAGE>   5

registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to be given
for each registration statement filed by the Company until such time as all of
the Registrable Securities have been sold by the Holder. The holders of the
Registrable Securities shall exercise the "piggy-back" rights provided for
herein by giving written notice, within twenty days of the receipt of the
Company's notice of its Intention to file a registration statement, The Company
shall cause any registration statement filed pursuant to the above "piggy-back"
rights to remain effective for at least nine months from the date that the
Holders of the Registrable Securities are first given the opportunity to sell
all of such securities. Nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as,
requiring any Holder to exercise this Warrant or any part thereof prior to the
initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.

    5.2  General Terms

         5.2.1 Indemnification.

               (a) The Company shall indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable
Securities to be sold pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and any
underwriter or person deemed to be an underwriter under the Act and each person.
if any, who controls such Holders or underwriters or persons deemed to be
underwriters within the meaning of Section 16 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), against all loss,
claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys' fees
and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
against any claim whatsoever) to which any of them may become subject under the
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement.
The Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such
registration statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and
not jointly, indemnify the Company, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or
liability (including all reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim
whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders,
in writing, for specific inclusion in such registration statement.

               (b) If any action is brought against a party hereto,
("Indemnified Party") in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the
other party ("Indemnifying Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify
Indemnifying Party in writing of the institution of such action and Indemnifying
Party shall assume the defense of such action. including the employment and fees
of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. Such Indemnified
Party shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case,
but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been
authorized in writing by Indemnifying Party in connection with the defense of
such action, or (ii) Indemnifying Party shall not have

                                       -5-
<PAGE>   6

employed counsel to defend such action, or (iii) such Indemnified Party shall
have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to it which may result in a conflict between the Indemnified Party and
Indemnifying Party (in which case Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to
direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified Party), in any of
which events. the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional
firm of attorneys designated in writing by the Indemnified Party shall be borne
by Indemnifying Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, if Indemnified Party shall assume the defense of such action as provided
above, Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such
action effected without its written consent.

               (c) It the indemnification or reimbursement provided for
hereunder is finally judicially determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party (other than as a consequence of a
final judicial determination of willful misconduct, bad faith or gross
negligence of such Indemnified Party), then Indemnifying Party agrees, in lieu
of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, to contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by
Indemnifying Party on the one hand and by such Indemnified Party on the other or
(ii) if (but only if) the allocation provided in clause (i) of this sentence is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in such clause (i) but also the
relative fault of Indemnifying Party and of such indemnified Party; provided,
however, that in no event shall the aggregate amount contributed by a Holder
exceed the profit. if any, earned by such Holder as a result of the exercise by
him of the Warrants and the sale by him of the underlying shares of Common
Stock.

               (d) The rights accorded to Indemnified Parties hereunder shall be
in addition to any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at common law, by
separate agreement or otherwise.

          5.2.2  Exercise of Warrants.  Nothing contained in this Warrant shall
be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to exercise their Warrants prior to or
after the initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness
thereof.

          5.2.3  Documents Delivered to Holders.  The Company shall furnish to
each Holder participating in any of the foregoing offerings and to each
Underwriter of any such offering, if any, a signed counterpart addressed to such
Holder or Underwriter, of (i) an opinion of counsel to the Company, dated the
effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration
includes an underwritten public offering, an opinion dated the date of the
closing under any underwriting agreement related thereto), and (ii) a "cold
comfort" letter dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if
such registration includes an underwritten public offering, a letter dated the
date of the closing under the underwriting agreement) signed by

                                       -6-
<PAGE>   7

the independent public accountants who have issued a report on the Company's
financial statements included in such registration statement, in each case
covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration
statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of such
accountants' letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such
financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuers counsel
and in accountants' letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public
offerings of securities. The Company shall also deliver promptly to each Holder
participating in the offering requesting the correspondence and memoranda
described below and to the managing underwriter copies of all correspondence
between the Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all
memoranda relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect
to the registration statement and permit each Holder and underwriter to do such
investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information
contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably
necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of the NASD. Such
investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and
opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and
independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times
and as often as any such Holder shall reasonably request.

6.  ADJUSTMENTS.

    6.1  Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Securities.  The
Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:

          6.1.1  Stock Dividends - Recapitalization, Reclassification, Split-
Ups. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.2
below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or by a split-up,
recapitalization or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar
event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable on exercise of this Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such
increase in outstanding shares.

          6.1.2   Aggregation of Shares.  If after the date hereof, and subject
to the provisions of Section 6.3, the number of outstanding shares of Common
Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of shares
of Common Stock or other similar event, then, upon the effective date thereof,
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of this Warrant shall
be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.

                                       -7-
<PAGE>   8

          6.1.3  Adjustments in Exercise Price.  Whenever the number of shares
of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant is adjusted, as
provided in this Section 6.1, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted (to the
nearest cent) by multiplying such Exercise Price immediately prior to such
adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant immediately
prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

          6.1.4  Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc.  In case of
any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
other than a change covered by Section 6. 1.1 hereof or which solely affects the
par value of such shares of Common Stock, or in the case of any merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and
which does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to
another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety In connection with which the Company is dissolved,
the Holder of this Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration
of the right of exercise of this Warrant) to receive upon the exercise hereof,
for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to
such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or
property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization,
merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or other
transfer, by a Holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
obtainable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such event: and If
any reclassification also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered
by Sections 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to
Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2, 6.1.3 and this Section 6.1.4. The provisions of this
Section 6.1.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications,
reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

          6.1.5  Changes in Form of Warrant.  This form of Warrant need not be
changed because of any change pursuant to this Section, and Warrants issued
after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of
shares of Common Stock and Warrants as are stated in the Warrants initially
issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the Issuance
of new Warrants reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed
to waive any rights to a prior adjustment or the computation thereof.

          6.2  Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be
required to Issue certificates representing fractions of shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of this Warrant, nor shall It be required to issue scrip or
pay cash In lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties
that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up to
the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock or other securities,
properties or rights.

                                       -8-
<PAGE>   9

7.  RESERVATION AND LISTING.

          The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its
authorized shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of Issuance upon
exercise of this Warrant, such number of shares of Common Stock or other
securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof.
The Company covenants and agrees that. upon exercise of the Warrants and payment
of the Exercise Price therefor, all shares of Common Stock and other securities
issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any stockholder. As long
as the Warrants shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its best efforts to
cause all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants to be
listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all securities exchanges (or,
if applicable on Nasdaq) on which the Common Stock is then listed and/or quoted.

8.  CERTAIN NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.

    8.1  Holders Right to Receive Notice.  Nothing herein shall be
construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent or to
receive notice as a stockholder for the election of directors or any other
matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company. If,
however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Warrants and their exercise,
any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of
said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least
fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the
transfer books for the determination of the stockholders entitled to such
dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription
rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding
up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the
closing of the transfer books, as the case may be.

    8.2  Events Requiring Notice.  The Company shall be required to give
the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events:
(i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its shares of Common
Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution
payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable
otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting
treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, or (ii)
the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Common Stock any additional
shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or
warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a merger or reorganization in which the
Company is not the surviving party, or (iv) a dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or
merger) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and
business shall be proposed.

                                       -9-
<PAGE>   10

    8.3  Notice of Change in Exercise Price.  The Company shall, promptly
after an event requiring a change In the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6
hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change ("Price Notice").
The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of
calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the
Company's President and Chief Financial Officer.

    8.4  Transmittal of Notices.  All notices, requests, consents and
other communications under this Warrant shall be In writing and shall be deemed
to have been duly made on the date of delivery if delivered personally or sent
by overnight courier, with acknowledgment of receipt by the party to which
notice is given, or on the fifth day after mailing if mailed to the party to
whom notice is to be given. by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid and properly addressed as follows: (i) if to the
registered Holder of this Warrant, to the address of such Holder as shown on the
books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to its principal executive
office.

9.  MISCELLANEOUS.

    9.1  Headings.  The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose
of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the
meaning or Interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Warrant.

    9.2  Entire Agreement.  This Warrant (together with the other
agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this
Warrant) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject
matter hereof.

     9.3  Binding Effect.  This Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit
of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their respective
successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or
be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of or by virtue of this Warrant or any provisions herein contained.

     9.4  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.  This Warrant shall be
governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the law of the State
of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws. The Company hereby
agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it a (arising out of, or
relating in any way to this Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the courts
of the State of New York or of the United States of America for the Southern
District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which
jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such
exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11

represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the
Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address
set forth in Section 8 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and
shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.
The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be
entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in
connection with the preparation therefor.

    9.6  Waiver, Etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any
time enforce any of the provisions of this Warrant shall not be deemed or
construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the
validity of this Warrant or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or
any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Warrant. No
waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions
of this Warrant shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument
executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such
waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-
fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or
subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by its
duly authorized officer as of the 19th day of August, 1996.

                                         GOTHIC ENERGY CORPORATION

                                       By: /s/  MICHAEL PAULK
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Michael Paulk, President

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

                       FORM TO BE USED TO EXERCISE WARRANT

To:  Gothic Energy Corporation
     5727 South Lewis Avenue - Suite 700
     Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105

                                                           , 19
                                               ------------    ----

          The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the within
Warrant and to purchase ________ shares of Common Stock of Gothic Energy
Corporation and hereby makes payment of $______________  (at the rate of
$__________ per share of Common Stock) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant
thereto. Please issue the Common Stock as to which this Warrant is exercised in
accordance with the instructions given below.

                                     - OR -

         The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its rights to
purchase __________shares of Common Stock purchasable under the within Warrant
into _________ shares of Common Stock of Gothic Energy Corporation (based on a
"Market Price" of $______________  per share of Common Stock).  Please issue
the Common Stock in accordance with the instructions given below.

                                                                         /(1)/
--------------------------------    ----------------------------------
(Signature Guaranteed)                            (Signature )

                  INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

Name:
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Print in Block Letters or Type)

Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

City, State, Zip Code:
                      ----------------------------------------------------------

/(1)/ The Signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon
      the face of the within Warrant in every particular, without alteration or
      enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank,
      other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having
      membership on a registered national securities exchange.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

                        FORM TO BE USED TO ASSIGN WARRANT

                                   ASSIGNMENT
             (To be executed by the Registered Holder to effect a
                        transfer of the within Warrant)

  For value received, _________________________ does hereby sell, assign and
transfer unto ________________________  the right to purchase __________ shares
of Common Stock of Gothic Energy Corporation ("Company") evidenced by the within
Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the
books of the Company.

Date:
                                                                           /(1)/
                                  ----------------------------------------
                                  (Signature of Owner)

                                  ----------------------------------------
                                  Type or Print Name of Owner

                                  ----------------------------------------
                                  Street Address of Owner

                                  ----------------------------------------
                                  City, State, Zip Code of Owner

/(1)/ The Signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon
      the face of the within Warrant in every particular, without alteration or
      enlargement or any change whatsoever.

                                      -13-

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