Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                                RETAIL AGREEMENT

        THIS RETAIL AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into as of December
31, 2000, by and between Reliant Energy, Incorporated ("REI"), a Texas
corporation, and Reliant Resources, Inc. ("Resources"), a Delaware corporation,
as an Ancillary Agreement pursuant to that certain Master Separation Agreement
("MSA") between REI and Resources, dated as of December 31, 2000, as follows:

1.      Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms used herein which
        are defined in the MSA shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
        MSA.

2.      Scope of Agreement. In order to implement the Business Separation Plan,
        effective as of January 1, 2001, all retail electric functions performed
        by REI shall become the responsibility of Resources, and personnel
        performing those functions shall become employees of a member of the
        Resources Group as of that date. This Agreement sets forth the
        understanding of the parties regarding the transfer of those functions
        and personnel and regarding certain transition services to be performed
        between REI and Resources to implement the transfer of those functions
        until the Choice Date as defined in the MSA but which is currently
        expected to be January 1, 2002.

3.      Customer Care Services.

        3.1    Customer Care Personnel. On or before January 1, 2001, REI shall
               terminate from its employment and Reliant Energy Customer Care
               LLC ("Customer Care") shall employ those personnel of REI
               (including management and contractor personnel) who are then
               engaged in providing the following services for the Reliant
               Energy HL&P Division ("HL&P") (and, in the case of remittance
               processing services, REI's regulated gas utility divisions Entex
               and Arkla):

               (a)     Call Center services,
               (b)     Credit and Collections,
               (c)     Remittance processing, and
               (d)     Revenue accounting,

        excepting only those certain individuals identified by REI to Resources
        as required to be retained by REI in order to prepare for the
        implementation similar functions on behalf of REI following Choice Date.

        3.2    Equipment. As of January 1, 2001, REI shall contribute to
               Customer Care the remittance processing equipment described on
               Schedule 2.2, which will be used by Customer Care to provide
               services to the REI Group.

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               In addition, REI does hereby grant to Customer Care the right and
               license to use its remaining remittance processing machine and
               other equipment of REI currently utilized in providing customer
               care services but which is not sold hereunder until such time as
               Customer Care ceases to provide services under this Agreement to
               REI with respect to retail electric customers. Customer Care
               shall utilize this machine as a backup for its processing, and
               shall be responsible for operation and maintenance costs
               associated with the machine until its rights to use such machine
               terminate.

               Such right and license is granted to Customer Care on a no-cost
               basis, AS IS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION AND WITH ALL
               FAULTS.

        3.3    Office Space. REI will lease to Customer Care approximately
               150,000 square feet of office and equipment space currently
               occupied in space owned or leased by REI in order to perform
               services under this Agreement for the duration of services
               provided by Customer Care. Office services and other shared
               service support functions will be provided by REI to Customer
               Care pursuant to the terms of the Transition Services Agreement
               executed between REI and Resources contemporaneously with the MSA
               (the "Transition Services Agreement").

        3.4    Other Services by REI. REI will continue to provide services for
               printing retail electric bills and inserting them for mailing.
               These services will be provided by REI personnel pursuant to the
               Transition Services Agreement. Following Choice Date, REI will
               continue to provide these services pursuant to the terms of the
               Transition Services Agreement to the member of the Resources
               Group succeeding to its retail electric customers.

        3.5    Services Provided by Customer Care to HL&P. During the period
               from January 1, 2001 until Choice Date, Customer Care shall
               provide the services traditionally provided by the personnel
               transferred pursuant to Section 3.1 for REI and its regulated
               electric and gas distribution utility operations, including
               providing call center, credit and collections and revenue
               accounting services for HL&P and receiving and processing
               payments for HL&P, Arkla and Entex. Such services shall be
               provided with personnel hired by Customer Care from HL&P and
               other personnel hired or otherwise engaged by Customer Care to
               provide such services. Customer Care shall provide no services to
               other members of the Resources Group (except processing payments
               under the General Land Office contract for Reliant Energy
               Solutions, Inc. and with respect to customers purchasing from
               members of the Resources Group under the retail pilot program
               provided for in the Utilities Code) or to third parties during
               the period services are provided under this section. The parties
               shall develop a mutually agreeable

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               service level agreement regarding such services which will
               provide for levels of service generally consistent with those
               historically provided by HL&P and which, when developed, shall be
               attached hereto as Schedule 3.5. The parties recognize that
               Resources will need to train Customer Care personnel on its new
               systems that will be in place as of Choice Date. To that end,
               Resources shall be free to rotate its personnel into training
               after September 2001 provided that (i) Resources substitutes
               appropriate contractor personnel to ensure that customer service
               does not decline during the training period and (ii) the costs to
               HL&P during the training are not greater than costs would have
               been had the training rotations not been made.

        3.6    Termination of Services. Services provided by Customer Care shall
               terminate at Choice Date, and Resources shall be free to provide
               these services to other business units of the Resources Group or
               to third parties.

        3.7    Changes to Services. Customer Care agrees to add or delete
               specific services upon reasonable request from a member of the
               REI Group so long as they are generally within the scope of the
               services provided under this Section 3, provided that the costs
               of any increase or decrease in personnel or equipment required to
               implement such change are borne by the member of the REI Group
               requesting them.

        3.8    Code of Conduct and Reporting Requirements. During the period
               Customer Care provides services related to retail electric
               customers of REI, all personnel of Customer Care shall continue
               to observe the Code of Conduct adopted for HL&P personnel, and
               management personnel of Customer Care shall report for
               operational and organizational purposes only to an Executive Vice
               President of Resources and not to any personnel of Resources who
               are engaged in providing unregulated retail electric service for
               any business in the Resources Group.

        3.9    Charges for Services. For the services provided by Customer Care,
               members of the REI Group shall reimburse Customer Care for the
               fully allocated direct and indirect costs incurred by Customer
               Care to provide the services, and shall reimburse Customer Care
               for out-of-pocket expenditures to third parties incurred to
               perform services. Charges will be made on a basis that allocates
               such costs on a fair nondiscriminatory basis. It is understood
               that all salary and salary-related costs attributable to the
               personnel transferred to Customer Care from HL&P shall be borne
               by the REI Group for services prior to Choice Date.

        3.10   Payment Terms. Charges and collections for services rendered
               pursuant to this Agreement shall continue to be made using the
               methodology and procedures for intracompany billing in use as of

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               the date of this Agreement unless and until either party elects
               to discontinue such procedures, in which case Customer Care shall
               thereafter bill members of the REI Group receiving the services
               monthly for all charges pursuant to this Agreement and such
               members receiving the services shall pay Customer Care for all
               services within thirty days after receipt of an invoice therefor.
               Charges shall be supported by reasonable documentation (which may
               be maintained in electronic form), consistent with past
               practices. Late payments shall bear interest at the lesser of the
               prime rate announced by Chase Bank Houston, N.A. and in effect
               from time to time plus two percent (2%) per annum or the maximum
               non-usurious rate of interest permitted by applicable law.

        3.11   Error Correction; True-ups; Accounting. Customer Care shall make
               adjustments to charges as required to reflect the discovery of
               errors or omissions in charges. Customer Care and REI shall
               conduct an annual true up process to adjust charges based on a
               reconciliation of differences in budgeted usage and costs with
               actual experience. It is the intent of the parties that such
               true-up process will be conducted using substantially the same
               process, procedures and methods of review as have been heretofore
               in effect among members of the REI Group. Services under this
               Agreement and charges therefor shall be subject to the provisions
               of Section 10.5 of the Separation Agreement (Audit Rights).

        3.12   Severance Costs. Upon the termination of services provided by
               Customer Care, REI will reimburse Resources for the actual costs
               of severance incurred under a previously approved severance plan
               for personnel (i) who were hired by Customer Care from REI
               pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) who are terminated by Resources
               within 60 days after Customer Care terminates its services for
               REI (other than employees who are terminated during such period
               due to death, disability or cause) and (iii) who are not employed
               by a member of the REI Group within 30 days after their
               separation from the Resources Group. No severance costs shall be
               payable with respect to any personnel hired by any member of the
               Resources Group from REI other than personnel hired by Customer
               Care to perform services under this Section 3 of this Agreement.
               Nor shall REI be responsible for severance costs related to
               personnel initially hired by Customer Care from REI but who
               subsequently are transferred to employment by another member of
               the Resources Group prior to their termination from Resources.

        3.13   Indemnification. REI agrees to defend, indemnify and hold
               Resources and Customer Care and their respective personnel
               harmless against liability on claims made by the personnel for
               whom REI has agreed to reimburse Resources for severance (the

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              "Personnel") to the extent claims relate to: (i) the severance of
               the Personnel and their severance payments, (ii) employment of
               the Personnel with REI prior to their transfer to Customer Care
               (including their selection for transfer to Customer Care), (iii)
               policies and personnel of REI and (iv) benefits provided to the
               Personnel with respect to their employment with REI, including in
               such indemnity, indemnification against employment grievances,
               equal employment or sexual harassment charges or other employment
               related claims of the Personnel. As a condition for REI providing
               this indemnity, Resources and Customer Care agree to cooperate
               fully with REI on the defense of such claims and to provide REI
               with all information available to them and, to the extent within
               their control, witnesses necessary with respect to the defense of
               such claims. The compromise or settlement of any claims against
               Resources or Customer Care for which indemnity is provided by REI
               shall be the sole responsibility of REI, provided that any such
               compromise or settlement, unless Resources shall otherwise agree,
               shall include a full and unconditional release of Resources and
               Customer Care from liability and shall not impose injunctive
               relief or require admissions of fault or liability from Resources
               or Customer Care. This indemnity shall not extend to, and REI
               will not indemnify Resources against, claims related to
               employment grievances, equal employment or sexual harassment
               charges or other employment related claims made by the Personnel
               with respect to policies or conduct of Resources during the
               period the Personnel are employed by Customer Care; provided,
               however, that REI will on request of Resources assume the defense
               of Resources against any such claims which are asserted in
               conjunction with claims for which REI has agreed to indemnify
               Resources. Resources shall be responsible for and shall control
               the compromise or settlement of claims for which REI has not
               indemnified Resources.

4.      Services After Choice Date. As of the Choice Date and thereafter, the
        electric retail customers of Reliant Energy HL&P will become customers
        of an unregulated Retail Electric Provider pursuant to the Utilities
        Code, and a member of the Resources Group which qualifies as a Retail
        Electric Provider will succeed to those customers who do not elect an
        alternative supplier. For those customers, all customer care functions
        will be assumed by a member of the Resources Group. Following Choice
        Date, Customer Care will provide no further services for REI to REI's
        electric customers, and REI will provide customer care functions related
        to its electric transmission and distribution functions from its own
        resources.

        4.1    Services to Members of REI Group. Following Choice Date, Reliant
               Energy Retail Services LLC (Retail Services), or another member
               of the Resources Group providing customer services will, upon
               request, provide remittance processing services to the gas
               utilities which are members of the REI Group. Compensation for

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               these services will be on the same basis as compensation paid to
               Customer Care for similar services prior to Choice Date. The
               members of the REI Group may terminate such services at any time
               upon ninety (90) days prior written notice, and in any event such
               services shall terminate as of January 1, 2004, unless continued
               under a separate agreement between the parties.

5.      Limitation of Liability. Neither Resources nor Customer Care shall have
        any liability to any member of the REI Group with respect to its
        furnishing any of the services hereunder except for liabilities arising
        out of or resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
        Resources or any member of the Resources Group. Resources will
        indemnify, defend and hold harmless each member of the REI Group
        receiving services under this Agreement in respect of all liabilities
        arising out of or resulting from such gross negligence or willful
        misconduct. Such indemnification obligation shall be a Liability of
        Resources for purposes of the MSA and the provisions of Article III of
        the MSA with respect to indemnification shall govern with respect
        thereto. IN NO EVENT SHALL RESOURCES OR ANY MEMBER OF THE RESOURCES
        GROUP HAVE ANY LIABILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT
        OF OR RESULTING FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF, OR THE FAILURE TO PERFORM,
        SERVICES FOR LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS BY REASON OF ANY BUSINESS
        INTERRUPTION, FACILITY SHUTDOWN OR NON-OPERATION, LOSS OF DATA OR
        OTHERWISE OR FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
        DAMAGES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM NEGLIGENCE,
        INCLUDING GROSS NEGLIGENCE, AND WHETHER OR NOT RESOURCES OR ANY MEMBER
        OF THE RESOURCES GROUP WAS INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE EXISTENCE
        OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL RESOURCES OR ANY MEMBER OF THE
        RESOURCES GROUP HAVE ANY LIABILITY HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF
        OR RESULTING FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF, OR FAILURE TO PERFORM, SERVICES IN
        AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT EXCEEDING THE TOTAL CHARGES PAID OR PAYABLE TO
        RESOURCES HEREUNDER.

        REI shall indemnify and hold harmless Customer Care in respect of all
        Liabilities arising out of or resulting from Customer Care's furnishing
        or failing to furnish the services provided for in this Agreement, other
        than Liabilities arising out of or resulting from the gross negligence
        or willful misconduct of Customer Care or any other member of the
        Resources Group. The provisions of this indemnity shall apply only to
        losses which relate directly to the provision of services hereunder.
        Such indemnification obligation shall be a Liability of REI for purposes
        of the Separation Agreement and the provisions of Article III of the
        Separation Agreement with respect to indemnification shall govern with
        respect thereto. IN NO EVENT SHALL REI OR ANY MEMBER OF THE REI GROUP
        HAVE ANY LIABILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF OR
        RESULTING FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF, OR THE FAILURE TO PERFORM, SERVICES
        FOR LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS BY REASON OF ANY BUSINESS INTERRUPTION,
        FACILITY SHUTDOWN OR NON-OPERATION, LOSS OF DATA OR OTHERWISE OR FOR ANY
        INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER OR

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        NOT CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM NEGLIGENCE, INCLUDING GROSS NEGLIGENCE,
        OR BREACH OF OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER AND WHETHER OR NOT REI OR ANY MEMBER
        OF THE REI GROUP WAS INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE EXISTENCE OF
        SUCH DAMAGES.

6.      Taxes. (a) Each member of the REI Group receiving services under this
        Agreement shall bear all sales and use taxes, duties and other similar
        charges (and any related interest and penalties), imposed as a result of
        their receipt of services under this Agreement.

               (b) Sales Tax Liability and Payment. Notwithstanding Section
        6(a), each member of the REI Group that receives services under this
        Agreement shall be liable for and will indemnify and hold harmless each
        member of the Resources Group from all sales, use and similar taxes
        (plus any penalties, fines or interest thereon) (collectively, "Sales
        Taxes") assessed, levied or imposed by any governmental or taxing
        authority on the providing of services by a member of the Resources
        Group to a member of the REI Group. Resources shall collect from REI any
        Sales Tax that is due on the service it provides to a member of the REI
        Group and shall pay such Sales Tax so collected to the appropriate
        governmental or taxing authority.

7.      Responsibility for Errors; Delays. Customer Care's sole responsibility
        to the member of the REI Group receiving the services:

               (i) for errors or omissions in services, shall be to furnish
        correct information and/or adjustment in the services, at no additional
        cost or expense to the receiving company; provided, the receiving
        company must promptly advise Customer Care of any such error or omission
        of which it becomes aware after having used reasonable efforts to detect
        any such errors or omissions in accordance with the standard of care
        provided for in this Agreement; and provided, further, that the
        responsibility to furnish correct information or an adjustment of
        services at no additional cost or expense to the receiving company shall
        not be construed to require Customer Care to make any payment or incur
        any Liability for which it is not responsible, or with respect to which
        it is provided indemnity, under Section 5; and

               (ii) for failure to deliver any service because of
        Impracticability, shall be to use commercially reasonable efforts,
        subject to the next sentence, to make the services available and/or to
        resume performing the services as promptly as reasonably practicable.
        Customer Care shall not be required to provide any service to the extent
        the performance of such service becomes "Impracticable" as a result of a
        cause or causes outside the reasonable control of Customer Care
        including unfeasible technological requirements, or to the extent the
        performance of such services would require Customer Care to violate any
        applicable laws, rules or regulations or would result in the breach of
        any software license or other applicable contract in effect on the date
        of this Agreement.

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8.      Dispute Resolution. Any dispute arising under this Agreement among REI,
        Resources or a member of their respective groups shall be exclusively
        resolved under the dispute resolution provisions of Article IX of the
        MSA, and each party, for itself and all its Affiliates, hereby waives
        any right to seek judicial resolution of such disputes except for
        enforcement of an arbitration award made in accordance with such dispute
        resolution provisions.

9.      Miscellaneous Provisions.

        9.1    Amendments. This Agreement shall not be supplemented, amended or
               modified in any manner whatsoever (including by course of dealing
               or of performance or usage of trade) except in writing signed by
               the parties.

        9.2    Successors and Assignments. This Agreement shall be binding upon
               and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
               successors and permitted assigns. No party shall assign this
               Agreement or any rights herein without the prior written consent
               of the other party, which may be withheld for any or no reason.

        9.3    Books and Records and Audit Rights. Maintenance of books and
               records relating to this Agreement and audit rights shall be as
               prescribed in the MSA.

        9.4    Notices. Any notice, demand, offer, request or other
               communication required or permitted to be given by either party
               pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and
               shall be deemed effectively given the earlier of (i) when
               received, (ii) when delivered personally, (iii) one (1) business
               day after being delivered by facsimile (with receipt of
               appropriate confirmation), (iv) one (1) business day after being
               deposited with an overnight courier service or (v) four (4) days
               after being deposited in the U.S. mail, First Class with postage
               prepaid, and addressed to the attention of the party's General
               Counsel at the address of its principal executive office or such
               other address as a party may request by notifying the other in
               writing.

        9.5    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
               in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.

        9.6    Headings. The various headings used in this Agreement are for
               convenience only and are not to be used in interpreting the text
               of the Articles or Sections in which they appear or to which they
               relate.

        9.7    Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement
               shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and
               valid under applicable law. If any portion of this Agreement is
               declared invalid for any reason, such declaration shall have no
               effect upon

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               the remaining portions of this Agreement, which shall continue in
               full force and effect as if this Agreement had been executed with
               the invalid portions thereof deleted.

        9.8    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
               counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all
               of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

        9.9    Rights of the Parties. Nothing expressed or implied in this
               Agreement is intended or will be construed to confer upon or give
               any person or entity, other than the Parties and their respective
               Subsidiaries and Affiliates, as the case may be, any rights or
               remedies under or by reason of this Agreement or any transaction
               contemplated thereby.

        9.10   Waiver of Rights. The waiver by either party of any of its rights
               or remedies afforded hereunder or at law is without prejudice and
               shall not operate to waive any other rights or remedies which
               that party shall have available to it, nor shall such waiver
               operate to waive the party's rights to any remedies due to a
               future breach, whether of a similar or different nature. The
               failure or delay of a party in exercising any rights granted to
               it hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any such right and
               that party may exercise that right at any time. Any single or
               partial exercise of any particular right by a party shall exhaust
               the same or constitute a waiver of any other right.

        9.11   Entire Agreement. All understandings, representations, warranties
               and agreements, if any, heretofore existing between the parties
               regarding the subject matter hereof are merged into this
               Agreement, which fully and completely express the agreement of
               the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

        9.12   No Sale, Transfer, Assignment. Neither REI nor any member of the
               REI Group may sell, transfer, assign or otherwise use the
               services provided hereunder, in whole or in part, for the benefit
               of any Person other than a member of the REI Group.

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

                                       RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED

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

                                        RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

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

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.7

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December
31, 2000, between Reliant Energy, Incorporated, a Texas corporation ("REI"), and
Reliant Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

          WHEREAS, REI is the owner of all of the shares of common stock, par
value $.001 per share ("Common Stock"), of the Company outstanding on the date
of this Agreement.

          WHEREAS, as provided in Master Separation Agreement dated the date
hereof between REI and the Company, the Company, with the consent of REI, has
determined to offer to the public (the "Public Offering") shares of Common
Stock.

          WHEREAS, in partial consideration for the consent of REI to the Public
Offering by the Company, the Company has, among other things, agreed to grant to
REI certain registration rights applicable to Registrable Securities (as defined
below) held by REI.

          WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to set
forth the terms of such option to purchase and registration rights.

          NOW, THEREFORE, upon the premises and based on the mutual promises
herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

     1.   Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
initially capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

          (a) "Affiliate" means, with respect to any person, any other person
who, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by or is under
common control with the former person; and "control" (including the terms
"controlling," "controlled by," and "under common control with") means the
possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.

          (b) "Company Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.

          (c) "Exchangeable Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 6
of this Agreement.

          (d) "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any security, (i) if
the security is listed on a national securities exchange or authorized for
quotation on a national market quotation system, the closing price, regular way,
of the security on such exchange or quotation system, as the case may be, or if
no such reported sale of the security shall have occurred on such date, on the
next preceding date on which there was such a reported sale, or (ii) if the
security is

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not listed for trading on a national securities exchange or authorized for
quotation on a national market quotation system, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System or such other reputable entity or system engaged in
the regular reporting of securities prices and on which such prices for such
security are reported or, if no such prices shall have been reported for such
date, on the next preceding date for which such prices were so reported, or
(iii) if the security is not publicly traded, the fair market value of such
security as determined by a nationally recognized investment banking or
appraisal firm mutually acceptable to the Company and the Holders, the fair
market value of whose Registrable Securities is to be determined.

          (e) "Holder" means REI or any Permitted Transferee.

          (f) "Initiating Holders" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of
this Agreement.

          (g) "Other Holders" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

          (h) "Other Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

          (i) "Other Voting Securities" means any options, rights, warrants or
other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Voting Stock of the
Company.

          (j) "Permitted Transferee" has the meaning set forth in Section 11
hereof.

          (k) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture, or other entity of whatever nature.

          (l) "Registrable After-Acquired Securities" means any securities of
the Company acquired by REI (or any permitted transferee).

          (m) "Registrable Securities" means (i) all shares of Common Stock (as
presently constituted) owned on the date hereof by REI, (ii) all Registrable
After-Acquired Securities, (iii) any stock or other securities into which or for
which such Common Stock or Registrable After-Acquired Securities may hereafter
be changed, converted or exchanged, and (iv) any other securities issued to
holders of such Common Stock or Registrable After-Acquired Securities (or such
stock or other securities into which or for which such Common Stock or
Registrable After-Acquired Securities are so changed, converted or exchanged)
upon any reclassification, share combination, share subdivision, share dividend,
merger, consolidation or similar transaction or event, provided that any such
securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when such securities are
sold in any manner to a person who is not a Permitted Transferee.

          (n) "Registration Expenses" means all out-of-pocket expenses incurred
in connection with any registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Agreement including, without limitation, the following; (i) SEC filing fees;
(ii) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel(s) and
accountants in connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities to
be disposed of; (iii) all expenses in connection with the preparation, printing
and

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filing of the registration statement, any preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering
of copies thereof to any Holders, underwriters and dealers and all expenses
incidental to delivery of the Registrable Securities; (iv) the cost of printing
or producing any underwriting agreement, agreement among underwriters, agreement
between syndicates, selling agreement, blue sky or legal investment memorandum
or other document in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of the
Registrable Securities to be disposed of; (v) all expenses in connection with
the qualification of the Registrable Securities to be disposed of for offering
and sale under state securities laws, including the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the underwriters in connection with such qualification and the
preparation of any blue sky and legal investments surveys; (vi) the filing fees
incident to securing any required review by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Registrable Securities
to be disposed of; (vii) transfer agents', depositaries' and registrars' fees
and the fees of any other agent appointed in connection with such offering;
(viii) all security engraving and security printing expenses, (ix) all fees and
expenses payable in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on
any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system; and (x) any one-time
payment for directors and officers insurance directly related to such offering,
provided the insurer provides a separate statement for such payment.

          (o) "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, or
any successor rule to similar effect.

          (p) "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

          (q) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
any successor statute.

          (r) "Selling Expenses" means all underwriting discounts and
commissions, selling concessions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale
by the Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement and all fees
and disbursements of any legal counsel, investment banker, accountant or other
professional advisor retained by a Holder.

          (s) "Selling Holder" has the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.

          (t) "Transactional Deferral" has the meaning set forth in Section 2 of
this Agreement.

          (u) "Voting Stock" means shares of the Company's capital stock having
the power under ordinary circumstances (and not merely upon the happening of a
contingency) to vote in the election of directors of the Company.

     2.   Demand Registration.

          (a) At any time prior to such time as the rights under this Section 2
terminate with respect to a Holder as provided in Section 2(e) hereof, upon
written notice from such Holder in the manner set forth in Section 12(h) hereof
requesting that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of
any or all of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder, which notice shall
specify the intended method or methods of disposition of such

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect, in the
manner set forth in Section 5, the registration under the Securities Act of such
Registrable Securities for disposition in accordance with the intended method or
methods of disposition stated in such request (including in an offering on a
delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 (or any successor rule of similar
effect) promulgated under the Securities Act), provided that:

               (i) if, within 5 business days of receipt of a registration
          request pursuant to this Section 2(a), the Holder or Holders making
          such request are advised in writing that the Company has in good faith
          commenced the preparation of a registration statement for an
          underwritten public offering prior to receipt of the notice requesting
          registration pursuant to this Section 2(a) and the managing
          underwriter of the proposed offering has determined that in such
          firm's good faith opinion, a registration at the time and on the terms
          requested would materially and adversely affect the offering that is
          contemplated by the Company, the Company shall not be required to
          effect a registration pursuant to this Section 2(a) (a "Transactional
          Deferral") until the earliest of (A) the abandonment of such offering
          by the Company, (B) 60 days after receipt by the Holder or Holders
          requesting registration of the managing underwriter's written opinion
          referred to above in this clause (i), unless the registration
          statement for such offering has become effective and such offering has
          commenced on or prior to such 60th day, and (C) if the registration
          statement for such offering has become effective and such offering has
          commenced on or prior to such 60th day, the day on which the
          restrictions on the Holders contained in Section 10 hereof lapse,
          provided, however, that the Company shall not be permitted to delay a
          requested registration in reliance on this clause (i) more than once
          in any 12-month period;

               (ii) if, while a registration request is pending pursuant to this
          Section 2(a), the Company determines, following consultation with and
          receiving advice from its legal counsel, that the filing of a
          registration statement would require the disclosure of material
          information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for
          preserving as confidential and the disclosure of which the Company
          determines reasonably and in good faith would have a material adverse
          effect on the Company, the Company shall not be required to effect a
          registration pursuant to this Section 2(a) until the earlier of (A)
          the date upon which such material information is otherwise disclosed
          to the public or ceases to be material and (B) 90 days after the
          Company makes such determination;

               (iii) the Company shall not be obligated to file a registration
          statement relating to a registration request pursuant to this Section
          2: (A) prior to 180 days following the closing of the Public Offering,
          (B) within a period of 90 calendar days after the effective date of
          any other registration statement of the Company demanded pursuant to
          this Section 2(a), or (C) if such registration request is for a number
          of Registrable Securities having a Fair Market Value on the business
          day immediately preceding the date of such registration request of
          less than $100,000,000; and

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

               (iv) the Company shall not be obligated to file a registration
          statement relating to a registration request pursuant to this Section
          2: (A) in the case of a registration request by REI or any Permitted
          Transferee that has acquired, in the transaction in which it became a
          Permitted Transferee, at least a majority of the then issued and
          outstanding Voting Stock, on more than three occasions after such time
          as REI or such Permitted Transferee, as the case may be, owns less
          than a majority of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock
          of the Company (it being acknowledged that so long as REI or such
          Permitted Transferee owns a majority of the voting power of the
          outstanding capital stock of the Company, there shall be no limit to
          the number of occasions on which REI or such Permitted Transferee may
          exercise such rights), or (B) in the case of a Holder other than REI
          or a Permitted Transferee described in clause (A) above, on more than
          the number of occasions permitted such Holder in accordance with
          Section 11 hereof.

          (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary:

               (i) a registration requested by a Holder pursuant to this Section
          2 shall not be deemed to have been effected (and, therefore, not
          requested for purposes of Section 2(a)), (A) unless the registration
          statement filed in connection therewith has become effective, (B) if
          after such registration statement has become effective, it becomes
          subject to any stop order, or there is issued an injunction or other
          order or decree of the SEC or other governmental agency or court for
          any reason other than a misrepresentation or an omission by such
          Holder, which injunction, order or decree prohibits or otherwise
          materially and adversely affects the offer and sale of the Registrable
          Securities so registered prior to the completion of the distribution
          thereof in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in the
          registration statement or (C) if the conditions to closing specified
          in the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement entered into in
          connection with such registration are not satisfied by reason of some
          act, misrepresentation or omission by the Company and are not waived
          by the purchasers or underwriters; and

               (ii) nothing herein shall modify a Holder's obligation to pay
          Registration Expenses, in accordance with Section 4 hereof, that are
          incurred in connection with any withdrawn registration requested by
          such Holder.

          (c) In the event that any registration pursuant to this Section 2
shall involve, in whole or in part, an underwritten offering, Holders owning at
least 50.1% of the Fair Market Value of the Registrable Securities to be
registered in connection with such offering shall have the right to designate an
underwriter reasonably satisfactory to the Company as the lead managing
underwriter of such underwritten offering, and the Company shall have the right
to designate one underwriter reasonably satisfactory to such Holders as a
co-manager of such underwritten offering.

          (d) The Company shall have the right to cause the registration of
additional securities for sale for the account of any person (including the
Company) in any registration of Registrable Securities requested by any Holder
pursuant to Section 2(a) only to the extent the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

managing underwriter or other independent marketing agent for such offering (if
any) determines that, in its opinion, the additional securities proposed to be
sold will not materially and adversely affect the offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities to be registered in accordance with the intended method
or methods of disposition then contemplated by such Holder. The rights of a
Holder to cause the registration of additional Registrable Securities held by
such Holder in any registration of Registrable Securities requested by another
Holder pursuant to Section 2(a) shall be governed by the agreement of the
Holders with respect thereto as provided in Section 11(a).

          (e) The Company shall not be obligated to file a registration
statement relating to a registration request by a Holder pursuant to this
Section 2 from and after such time as such Holder first owns Registrable
Securities representing (assuming for this purpose the conversion, exchange or
exercise of all Registrable Securities then owned by such Holder that are
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Voting Stock of the Company)
less than 10% of the then issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.

     3.   Piggyback Registration. If the Company at any time proposes to
register any of its Common Stock or any other of its securities (collectively,
"Other Securities") under the Securities Act, whether or not for sale for its
own account, in a manner which would permit registration of Registrable
Securities for sale for cash to the public under the Securities Act, it will at
such time give prompt written notice to each Holder of its intention to do so at
least 10 business days prior to the anticipated filing date of the registration
statement relating to such registration. Such notice shall offer each such
Holder the opportunity to include in such registration statement such number of
Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request. Upon the written request
of any such Holder made within 5 business days after the receipt of the
Company's notice (which request shall specify the number of Registrable
Securities intended to be disposed of and the intended method of disposition
thereof), the Company shall effect, in the manner set forth in Section 5, in
connection with the registration of the Other Securities, the registration under
the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
requested to register, to the extent required to permit the disposition (in
accordance with such intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities so
requested to be registered, provided that:

          (a) if at any time after giving written notice of its intention to
register any securities and prior to the effective date of such registration,
the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay
registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written
notice of such determination to the Holders and, thereupon, (A) in the case of a
determination not to register, the Company shall be relieved of its obligation
to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration and
(B) in the case of a determination to delay such registration, the Company shall
be permitted to delay registration of any Registrable Securities requested to be
included in such registration for the same period as the delay in registering
such other securities, but, in either such case, without prejudice to the rights
of the Holders under Section 2;

          (b) (i) if the registration referred to in the first sentence of this
Section 3 is to be a registration in connection with an underwritten offering on
behalf of either the Company or holders of securities (other than Registrable
Securities) of the Company ("Other Holders"), and the managing underwriter for
such offering advises the Company in writing that, in such firm's

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

opinion, such offering would be materially and adversely affected by the
inclusion therein of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein
because such Registrable Securities are not of the same type, class or series as
the securities to be offered and sold in such offering on behalf of the Company
and/or the Other Holders, the Company may exclude all such Registrable
Securities from such offering provided that the Holder is permitted to
substitute for the Registrable Securities so excluded an equal number of
Registrable Securities of the same type, class or series as those being
registered by the Company or the Other Holders, if and to the extent such Holder
owns Registrable Securities of such type, class or series or can acquire
Registrable Securities of such type, class or series upon exercise or conversion
of other Registrable Securities; and

     (ii) if the registration referred to in the first sentence of this Section
3 is to be a registration in connection with an underwritten primary offering on
behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriter for such offering advises
the Company in writing that, in such firm's opinion, such offering would be
materially and adversely affected by the inclusion therein of the Registrable
Securities requested to be included therein because the number or principal
amount of such Registrable Securities, considered together with the number or
principal amount of securities proposed to be offered by the Company, exceeds
the aggregate number or principal amount of securities which, in such firm's
opinion, can be sold in such offering without materially and adversely affecting
the offering, the Company shall include in such registration: (1) first, all
securities the Company proposes to sell for its own account ("Company
Securities") and (2) second, the number or principal amount of Registrable
Securities and securities, if any, requested to be included therein by Other
Holders in excess of the number or principal amount of Company Securities which,
in the opinion of such underwriter, can be so sold without materially and
adversely affecting such offering (allocated pro rata among the Holders and the
Other Holders on the basis of the number of securities (including Registrable
Securities) requested to be included therein by each Holder and each such Other
Holder); and

     (iii) if the registration referred to in the first sentence of this Section
3 is to be a registration in connection with an underwritten secondary offering
on behalf of Other Holders made pursuant to demand registration rights granted
by the Company to such Other Holders (the "Initiating Holders"), and the
managing underwriter for such offering advises the Company in writing that, in
such firm's opinion, such offering would be materially and adversely affected by
the inclusion therein of the Registrable Securities requested to be included
therein because the number or principal amount of such Registrable Securities,
considered together with the number or principal amount of securities proposed
to be offered by the Initiating Holders, exceeds the aggregate number or
principal amount of securities which, in such firm's opinion, can be sold in
such offering without materially and adversely affecting the offering, the
Company shall include in such registration; (1) first, to the extent the
registration rights granted to an Initiating Holder permit it to exclude other
securities from its registration on substantially the same basis as that set
forth in the first sentence of Section 2(d) hereof, all securities any such
Initiating Holder proposes to sell for its own account, and (2) second, the
number or principal amount of additional securities (including Registrable
Securities) that such managing underwriter advises can be sold without
materially and adversely affecting such offering, allocated pro rata among any
Other Holders to which clause (1) does not apply and the Holders on the basis of
the number of securities (including Registrable Securities) requested to be
included therein by each Holder and each such Other Holder,

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

          (c) the Company shall not be required to effect any registration of
Registrable Securities under this Section 3 incidental to the registration of
any of its securities in connection with stock option or other executive or
employee benefit or compensation plans of the Company;

          (d) no registration of Registrable Securities effected under this
Section 3 shall relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any registration
of Registrable Securities required of the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
and

          (e) the Company shall not be required to effect any registration of
Registrable Securities under this Section for any Holder from and after such
time as such Holder is able to dispose of all of its Registrable Securities
within a three-month period pursuant to Rule 144.

     4.   Expenses. The Holders, on the one hand, by accepting Registrable
Securities, and the Company, on the other hand, each agree to pay one-half of
all Registration Expenses with respect to a registration pursuant to Section 2
hereof, provided that to the extent a registration pursuant to Section 2
includes the registration of shares for the Company or another person in
connection therewith, the Company or such other person shall pay all incremental
expenses of including such additional shares in the registration. The Holders'
portion of any Registration Expenses shall be allocated among them pro rata
based on each Holder's number or principal amount of Registrable Securities
included in such offering. The Company agrees to pay all Registration Expenses
with respect to a registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof. All Registration
Expenses to be paid by the Holder shall be paid within 30 days of the delivery
of a statement from the Company, such statements to be delivered not more
frequently than once every 60 days. All internal expenses of the Company or a
Holder in connection with any offering pursuant to this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the salaries and expenses of officers and employees,
including in-house attorneys, shall be borne by the party incurring them. All
Selling Expenses of the Holders participating in any registration pursuant to
this Agreement shall be borne by such Holders pro rata based on each Holder's
number of Registrable Securities included in such registration.

     5.   Registration and Qualification. If and whenever the Company is
required to use its best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable
Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 2 or 3 hereof, the
Company, subject to Section 4 hereof, shall:

          (a) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act
relating to the Registrable Securities to be offered as soon as practicable, but
in no event later than 30 days (45 days if the applicable registration form is
other than Form S-3) after the date notice is given, and use its best efforts to
cause the same to become effective within 60 days after the date notice is given
(90 days if the applicable registration form is other than Form S-3);

          (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to
such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as
may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective with respect to
the disposition of all Registrable Securities until the earlier of (i) such time
as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with
the intended methods of disposition set forth in such registration statement and
(ii) the expiration of nine months after such registration statement becomes

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

effective; provided, that such nine-month period shall be extended for such
number of days that equals the number of days elapsing from (A) the date the
written notice contemplated by paragraph (f) below is given by the Company to
(B) the date on which the Company delivers to the Holders of Registrable
Securities the supplement or amendment contemplated by paragraph (f) below; and
provided further, that in the case of a registration to permit the exercise or
exchange of Exchangeable Securities for, or the conversion of Exchangeable
Securities into, Registrable Securities, the time limitation contained in clause
(ii) above shall be disregarded to the extent that, in the written opinion of
REI's counsel delivered to the Company, such Registrable Securities are required
to be covered by an effective registration statement under the Securities Act at
the time such Registrable Securities are issued upon exercise, exchange or
conversion of Registrable Securities in order for such Registrable Securities to
be freely tradeable by any person who is not an Affiliate of the Company or REI;

          (c) furnish to the Holders and to any underwriter of such Registrable
Securities such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of
each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all
exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration
statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other
documents, as the Holders or such underwriter may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the public sale of the Registrable Securities, and a copy of any and
all transmittal letters or other correspondence to, or received from, the SEC or
any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having
jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to
such offering;

          (d) use its best efforts to register or qualify all Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement under the securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Holders or any
underwriter of such Registrable Securities shall request, and use its best
efforts to obtain all appropriate registrations, permits and consents required
in connection therewith, and do any and all other acts and things which may be
necessary or advisable to enable the Holders or any such underwriter to
consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of its Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement; provided that the Company shall not for
any such purpose be required to register or qualify generally to do business as
a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it is not so qualified, or to
subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or to consent to general
service of process in any such jurisdiction;

          (e) (i) use its best efforts to furnish an opinion of counsel for the
Company addressed to the underwriters and each Holder of Registrable Securities
included in such registration (each a "Selling Holder") and dated the date of
the closing under the underwriting agreement (if any) (or if such offering is
not underwritten, dated the effective date of the registration statement), and
(ii) use its best efforts to furnish a "cold comfort" letter addressed to each
Selling Holder, if permissible under applicable accounting practices, and signed
by the independent public accountants who have audited the Company's financial
statements included in such registration statement, in each such case covering
substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and
the prospectus included therein) as are customarily covered in opinions of
issuer's counsel and in accountants' letters delivered to underwriters in
underwritten public offerings of securities and such other matters as the
Selling Holders may

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10

reasonably request and, in the case of such accountants' letter, with respect to
events subsequent to the date of such financial statements;

          (f) immediately notify the Selling Holders in writing (i) at any time
when a prospectus relating to a registration pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof
is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any
event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration
statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and (ii) if any request by the SEC or any other regulatory
body or other body having jurisdiction for any amendment of or supplement to any
registration statement or other document relating to such offering, and in
either such case (i) or (ii) at the request of the Selling Holders, subject to
Section 4 hereof, prepare and furnish to the Selling Holders a reasonable number
of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be
necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable
Securities, such prospectus shall 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
arc made, not misleading;

          (g) use its best efforts to list all such Registrable Securities
covered by such registration on each securities exchange and inter-dealer
quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed, with expenses in
connection therewith (not including any future periodic assessments or fees for
such additional listing, which shall be paid by the Company) to be paid in
accordance with Section 4 hereof;

          (h) use its best efforts to list all Registrable Securities covered by
such registration statement on any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation
system (in each case, domestic or foreign) not described in paragraph (g) above
as the Selling Holders or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities shall
request, and use its best efforts to obtain all appropriate registrations,
permits and consents required in connection therewith, and to do any and all
other acts and things which may be necessary or advisable to effect such
listing; provided, however, that, (i) notwithstanding Section 4, the Holders of
the Registrable Securities to be so listed shall pay all costs and expenses
incurred by the Company in connection with such listing and (ii) the Company
shall have no obligation to use its best efforts to so list Registrable
Securities if in the good faith opinion of counsel for the Company such listing
shall impose on the Company an ongoing material compliance obligation;

          (i) to the extent reasonably requested by the lead or managing
underwriters in connection with any underwritten offering, send appropriate
officers of the Company to attend any "road shows" scheduled in connection with
any such registration; and

          (j) furnish for delivery in connection with the closing of any
offering of Registrable Securities unlegended certificates representing
ownership of the Registrable Securities being sold in such denominations as
shall be requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11

     6.   Exchangeable Securities. REI shall be entitled, if it intends to offer
any options, rights, warrants or other securities issued or to be issued by it
or any other person that are exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into
any Registrable Securities ("Exchangeable Securities"), to register the
Registrable Securities underlying such options, rights, warrants or other
securities pursuant to (and subject to the limitations contained in) Section 2
of this Agreement.

     7.   Underwriting; Due Diligence.

          (a)  If requested by the underwriters for any underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration requested under this
Agreement, the Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement, with such
underwriters for such offering, such agreement to contain such representations
and warranties by the Company and such other terms and provisions as are
customarily contained in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary
distributions, including, without limitation, indemnities and contribution
substantially to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof and
the provision of opinions of counsel and accountants' letters to the effect and
to the extent provided in Section 5(e) hereof. The Selling Holders on whose
behalf the Registrable Securities are to be distributed by such underwriters
shall be parties to any such underwriting agreement and the representations and
warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for
the benefit of such underwriters, shall also be made to and for the benefit of
such Selling Holders. Such underwriting agreement shall also contain such
representations and warranties by the Selling Holders on whose behalf the
Registrable Securities are to be distributed as are customarily contained in
underwriting agreements with respect to secondary distributions. The Selling
Holders may require that any additional securities included in an offering
proposed by a Holder be included on the same terms and conditions as the
Registrable Securities that are included therein.

          (b)  In the event that any registration pursuant to Section 3 shall
involve, in whole or in part, an underwritten offering, the Company may require
the Registrable Securities requested to be registered pursuant to Section 3 to
be included in such underwritten offering on the same terms and conditions as
shall be applicable to the other securities being sold through underwriters
under such registration. If requested by the underwriters for such underwritten
offering, the Selling Holders on whose behalf the Registrable Securities are to
be distributed shall enter into an underwriting agreement with such
underwriters, such agreement to contain such representations and warranties by
the Selling Holders and such other terms and provisions as are customarily
contained in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary distributions,
including, without limitation, indemnities and contribution substantially to the
effect and to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. Such underwriting
agreement shall also contain such representations and warranties by the Company
and such other person or entity for whose account securities are being sold in
such offering as are customarily contained in underwriting agreements with
respect to secondary distributions.

          (c)  In connection with the preparation and filing of each
registration statement registering Registrable Securities under the Securities
Act, the Company shall give the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the
Underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel and accountants, such
reasonable and customary access to its banks and records and such

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and the
independent public accountants who have certified the Company's financial
statements as shall be necessary, in the opinion of such Holders and such
underwriters or their respective counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation
within the meaning of the Securities Act.

     8.   Indemnification and Contribution.

          (a) In the case of each offering of Registrable Securities made
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, its officers and directors, each underwriter of Registrable
Securities so offered and each person, if any, who controls any of the foregoing
persons within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any and all
claims, liabilities, losses, damages, expenses and judgments, joint of several,
to which they or any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, including any amount paid in settlement of any litigation commenced
or threatened, and shall promptly reimburse them, as and when incurred, for any
reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating any claims and defending any actions, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions shall arise out of, or shall be based
upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the registration statement (or in any preliminary or final
prospectus included therein) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or
in any document incorporated by reference therein, or any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be liable to a particular Holder in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or
is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or any
omission, if such statement or omission shall have been made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information relating to such Holder furnished to the
Company in writing by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for use in the
preparation of the registration statement (or in any preliminary or final
prospectus included therein) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
Such indemnity shall remain in full force and affect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of a Holder and shall survive the transfer of
such securities. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any
liability which the Company may otherwise have to each Holder, any of such
Holder's directors or officers, underwriters of the Registrable Securities or
any controlling person of the foregoing; provided, further, that this indemnity
does not apply in favor of any underwriter or person controlling an underwriter
(or if a Selling Holder offers Registrable Securities directly without an
underwriter, the Selling Holder) with respect to any loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus
if a copy of a final prospectus was not sent or given by or on behalf of an
underwriter (or the Selling Holder, if the Selling Holder offered the
Registrable Securities directly without an underwriter) to the person asserting
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities as required by the
Securities Act and such untrue statement or omission had been corrected in such
final prospectus.

          (b)  In the case of each offering made pursuant to this Agreement,
each Holder of Registrable Securities included in such offering, by exercising
its registration rights hereunder, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls any of
the foregoing within the meaning of the Securities Act (and if

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

requested by the underwriters, each underwriter who participates in the offering
and each person, if any, who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act), from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses,
damages, expenses and judgments, joint or several, to which they or any of them
may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, including any amount
paid in settlement of any litigation commenced or threatened, and shall promptly
reimburse them, as and when incurred, for any legal or other expenses incurred
by them in connection with investigating any claim and defending any actions,
insofar as any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions shall arise
out of, or shall be based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the registration statement (or in any
preliminary or final prospectus included therein) or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that such untrue
statement of a material fact is contained in, or such material fact is omitted
from, information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by
or on behalf of such Holder specifically for use in the preparation of such
registration statement (or in any preliminary or final prospectus included
therein). The foregoing indemnity is in addition to any liability which such
Holder may otherwise have to the Company, any of its directors or officers,
underwriters of the Registrable Securities or any controlling person of the
foregoing; provided, however, that this indemnity does not apply in favor of any
underwriter or person controlling an underwriter (or if the Company offers
Registrable Securities directly without an underwriter, the Company) with
respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arising out of or based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission in any preliminary prospectus if a copy of a final prospectus was not
sent or given by or on behalf of an underwriter (or the Company, if the Company
offered the Registrable Securities directly without an underwriter) to the
person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or action at or prior to
the written confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities as required
by the Securities Act and such untrue statement or omission had been corrected
in such final prospectus.

          (c)  Each party indemnified under Paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section
8 shall, promptly after receipt of notice of any claim or the commencement of
any action against such indemnified party in respect of which indemnity may be
sought, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the
commencement thereof; provided that the failure to notify the indemnifying party
shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified
party on account of the indemnity agreement contained in paragraph (a) or (b) of
this Section 8, except to the extent the indemnifying party was materially
prejudiced by such failure, and in no event shall relieve the indemnifying party
from any other liability which it may have to such indemnified party. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any
other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided that each
indemnified party, its officers and directors, if any, and each person, if any,
who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

Act, shall have the right to employ separate counsel reasonably approved by the
indemnifying party to represent them if the named parties to any action
(including any impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and an
indemnifying party or an Affiliate of an indemnifying party, and such
indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel a conflict may exist
between such indemnified party and such indemnifying party or such Affiliate
that makes representation by the same counsel inadvisable, and in that event the
fees and expenses of one such separate counsel for all such indemnified parties
shall be paid by the indemnifying party. An indemnified party will not enter
into any settlement agreement which is not approved by the indemnifying party,
such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. The indemnifying party may not
agree to any settlement of any such claim or action which provides for any
remedy or relief other than monetary damages for which the indemnifying party
shall be responsible hereunder, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. In any
action hereunder as to which the indemnifying party has assumed the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, the
indemnified party shall continue to be entitled to participate in the defense
thereof, with counsel of its own choice, but, except as set forth above, the
indemnifying party shall not be obligated hereunder to reimburse the indemnified
party for the costs thereof. In all instances, the indemnified party shall
cooperate fully with the indemnifying party or its counsel in the defense of
such claim or action.

          (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for
any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in
respect thereof, referred to herein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu
of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable
by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability,
or action in respect thereof, in such proportion as shall be appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other with respect to the statements or omissions which
resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof,
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall
be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates
to information supplied by the indemnifying party on the one hand or the
indemnified party on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission, but not by reference to any indemnified party's stock
ownership in the Company. In no event, however, shall a Holder be required to
contribute in excess of the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder
in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities in the offering which is
the subject of such loss, claim, damage or liability. The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, referred to above in this paragraph shall be deemed
to include, for purposes of this paragraph, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnifying party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

     9.   Rule 144. The Company shall take such measures and file such
information, documents and reports as shall be required by the SEC as a
condition to the availability of Rule 144 (or any successor provision). The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause all conditions

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

to the availability of Form S-3 (or any successor form thereto) under the
Securities Act for the filing of registration statements under this Agreement to
be met as soon as possible after the completion of the Public Offering.

     10.  Holdback.

          (a)  Each Holder agrees by the acquisition of Registrable Securities,
if so required by the managing underwriter of any offering of equity securities
by the Company, not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for
the purchase of, effect any public sale or distribution of or otherwise dispose
of any Registrable Securities owned by such Holder, during the 30 days prior to
and the 90 days after the registration statement relating to such offering has
become effective (or such shorter period as may be required by the underwriter),
except as part of such underwritten offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, each Holder subject to the foregoing sentence shall be entitled to
sell during the foregoing period any securities of the Company owned by it in a
private sale. The Company may legend and may impose stop transfer instructions
on any certificate evidencing Registrable Securities relating to the
restrictions provided for in this Section 10.

          (b)  The Company agrees, if so required by the managing underwriter of
any offering of Registrable Securities, not to sell, make any short sale of,
loan, grant any option for the purchase of (other than pursuant to employee
benefit plans), effect any public sale or distribution of or otherwise dispose
of any of its equity securities during the 30 days prior to and the 90 days
after any underwritten registration pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof has become
effective, except as part of such underwritten registration and except pursuant
to registrations on Form S-4, S-8 or any successor or similar forms thereto.

     11.  Transfer of Registration Rights.

          (a)  A Holder may transfer all or any portion of its rights under this
Agreement to any transferee of Registrable Securities that represent (assuming
the conversion, exchange or exercise of all Registrable Securities so
transferred that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the
Company's Voting Stock) at least 20% of the then issued and outstanding Voting
Stock of the Company (each, a "Permitted Transferee"); provided, however, that
(i) with respect to any transferee of less than a majority but more than 30% of
the then issued and outstanding Voting Stock, the Company shall not be obligated
to file a registration statement pursuant to a registration request made by such
transferee pursuant to Section 2 hereof on more than two occasions, and (ii)
with respect to any transferee of 30% or less of the then issued and outstanding
Voting Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to file a registration
statement pursuant to a registration request made by such transferee pursuant to
Section 2 hereof on more than one occasion. No transfer of registration rights
pursuant to this Section shall be effective unless the Company has received
written notice from the Holder of an intention to transfer at least 20 days
prior to the Holder's entering into a binding agreement to transfer Registrable
Securities (10 days in the event of an unsolicited offer). Such notice need not
contain proposed terms or name a proposed Permitted Transferee. On or before the
time of the transfer, the Company shall receive a written notice stating the
name and address of any Permitted Transferee and identifying the number and/or
aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities with respect to which the
rights under this Agreement are being transferred and the scope of the rights

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16

so transferred. In connection with any such transfer, the term REI as used in
this Agreement (other than in Section 2(a)(iv)) shall, where appropriate to
assign the rights and obligations hereunder to such Permitted Transferee, be
deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee of such Registrable Securities. REI
and any Permitted Transferees may exercise the registration rights hereunder in
such priority, as among themselves, as they shall agree among themselves, and
the Company shall observe any such agreements of which it shall have notice as
provided above.

          (b)  After any such transfer, the transferring Holder shall retain its
rights under this Agreement with respect to all other Registrable Securities
owned by such transferring Holder.

          (c)  Upon the request of the transferring Holder, the Company shall
execute an agreement with a Permitted Transferee substantially similar to this
Agreement.

     12.  Miscellaneous.

          (a)  Injunctions. Each party acknowledges and agrees that irreparable
damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement was
not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached.
Therefore, each party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions hereof in any court having jurisdiction, such remedy
being in addition to any other remedy to which such party may be entitled at law
or in equity.

          (b)  Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is held
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms and provisions set forth herein shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and
each of the parties shall use its best efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term or provision.

          (c)  Further Assurances. Subject to the specific terms of this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall make, execute, acknowledge and
deliver such other instruments and documents, and take all such other actions,
as may be reasonably required in order to effectuate the purposes of this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (d)  Waivers, etc. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this
Agreement, no failure or delay on the part of either party in exercising any
power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single
or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or
discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. Except as
otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, no modification or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure therefrom shall in
any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by an
authorized officer of each of the parties, and then such waiver or consent shall
be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

          (e)  Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the final and complete
understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties, whether
written or oral, with respect to the subject matter hereof. The paragraph
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall
not affect in any manner the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement

          (f)  Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties, this Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to
be an original but all of which together shall be one and the same instrument.

          (g)  Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by a written
instrument duly executed by an authorized officer of each of the parties.

          (h)  Notices. Unless expressly provided herein, all notices, claims,
certificates, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to be duly given (i) when personally delivered or
(ii) if mailed registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, on the date the return receipt is executed or the letter refused by
the addressee or its agent or (iii) if sent by overnight courier which delivers
only upon the signed receipt of the addressee, on the date the receipt
acknowledgment is executed or refused by the addressee or its agent or (iv) if
sent by facsimile or other generally accepted means of electronic transmission,
on the date confirmation of transmission is received (provided that a copy of
any notice delivered pursuant to this clause (iv) shall also be sent pursuant to
clause (ii) or (iii)), addressed as follows or sent by facsimile to the
following number (or to such other address or facsimile number for a party as it
shall have specified by like notice):

               (i)      if to REI, to:

                        Reliant Energy, Incorporated
                        1111 Louisiana Street
                        Houston, Texas
                        Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

               (ii)     if to the Company, to

                        Reliant Resources, Inc.
                        1111 Louisiana Street
                        Houston, Texas
                        Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

               (iii)    if to a Holder of Registrable Securities, to the name
          and address as the same appear in the security transfer books of the
          Company,

or to such other address as either party (or other Holders of Registrable
Securities) may, from time to time, designate in a written notice in a like
manner.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

          (i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

          (j) Assignment. Except as specifically provided herein, the parties
may not assign their rights under this Agreement. The Company may not delegate
its obligations under this Agreement.

          (k) Conflicting Agreements. The Company shall not hereafter grant any
rights to any person to register securities of the Company, the exercise of
which would conflict with the rights granted to the Holders of the Registrable
Securities under this Agreement. The Company shall not hereafter grant to any
person demand registration rights permitting it to exclude the Holders from
including Registrable Securities in a registration on behalf of such person on a
basis more favorable than that set forth in Section 2(d) hereof with respect to
the Holders.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, REI and the Company have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their authorized representative as of the date first above
written.

                                 RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED

                                 By:____________________________________________
                                    Name:_______________________________________
                                    Title:______________________________________

                                 RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

                                 By:____________________________________________
                                    Name:_______________________________________
                                    Title:______________________________________

                                      -19-

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