Document:

Exhibit 10.3

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made
and effective as of this ___ day of ________, 2001, by and between Ascent Energy
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
________________________ ("Indemnitee"). 

WITNESSETH: 

           
WHEREAS, the Company seeks to attract and retain competent
and experienced persons to serve as directors and desires to protect such
individuals by providing comprehensive liability insurance and indemnification
due to exposure to litigation costs and risks resulting from their service to
the Company; 

           
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has concluded
that to retain and attract talented and experienced individuals to serve as
directors of the Company, and to encourage such individuals to take the business
risks necessary for the success of the Company, it is necessary for the Company
to contractually indemnify its directors and to assume for itself maximum
liability for expenses and damages in connection with claims against its
directors in connection with their service to the Company; 

           
WHEREAS, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL"), under which the Company is organized, empowers the
Company to indemnify by agreement its directors and expressly provides that the
indemnification provided in the DGCL is not exclusive; and 

           
WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested the Indemnitee
to continue to serve as a director of the Company free from undue concern for
claims for damages arising out of or related to such service to the Company. 

           
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Indemnitee's
agreement to continue to serve as a director of the Company, the mutual promises
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto stipulate and
agree as follows: 

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

                       
(a)     "agent" of the Company means any person who is
or was a director of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company; or is or was
serving at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interest
of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company as a director or officer of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise or an affiliate of the Company. The term "enterprise"
includes any employee benefit plan of the Company, its subsidiaries or
affiliates. 

                       
(b)     "expenses" includes all direct and indirect
costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all
attorneys' fees and related disbursements and other out–of–pocket costs)
actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the
investigation, defense or appeal of a proceeding or establishing or enforcing a
right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, the DGCL or otherwise. 

                       
(c)     "proceeding" means any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, arbitral, investigative or any other type whatsoever. 

                       
(d)     "subsidiary" means any corporation or other
business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities is
owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, by the Company and one or more of
its subsidiaries or by one or more of the Company's subsidiaries. 

           
2.         Agreement to Serve. The Indemnitee agrees to
continue to serve as a director and agent of the Company in the capacities
Indemnitee currently serves or as he may hereafter agree to serve so long as he
is duly appointed or elected and qualified in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, or
until such time as he tenders his resignation in writing. 

           
3.         Maintenance of Liability Insurance. 

                       
(a)     The Company agrees that, as long as the Indemnitee shall
continue to serve as a director of the Company and/or as an agent in any other
capacity and thereafter for the period of five years following the termination
of service, the Company shall maintain in full force and effect directors' and
officers' liability insurance (the "D&O Insurance") in a minimum
aggregate amount of $20 million for each policy year from established and
reputable insurers on such terms as are approved from time to time by the Board
of Directors. The Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in all D&O
Insurance in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the maximum rights
and benefits available under the D&O Insurance. 

                       
(b)    Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the
contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to maintain D&O Insurance if
the Board of Directors determines in good faith that the premium costs for such
insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided or the
coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an
insufficient benefit. 

           
4.         Indemnification. To the fullest extent allowed by
law, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company
against all expense incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any proceeding to
which the Indemnitee is a party, participant or is threatened to be made a party
or participant, based upon, arising from, relating to or by reason of the fact
that the Indemnitee is, was, shall be or shall have been an agent. 

           
5.         Mandatory Advancement of Expenses. The Company
shall advance all expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the
investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any proceeding to which the
Indemnitee is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact
that the Indemnitee is or was an agent or by reason of anything done or not done
by him in any such capacity. The Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay such
amounts advanced only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be
determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company
under the provisions of this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws of the Company or the DGCL. The advances to be made hereunder shall be
paid by the Company to the Indemnitee within 20 days following the delivery of a
written request therefor by the Indemnitee to the Company. 

           
6.         Notice and other Procedures. 

                       
(a)     Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the
commencement of or the threat of commencement of any proceeding, the Indemnitee
shall, if the Indemnitee believes that indemnification with respect thereto may
be sought from the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the
commencement or threat of commencement thereof. 

                       
(b)     If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of the
commencement of a proceeding pursuant to Section 6(a), the Company has D&O
Insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of
such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in
the D&O Insurance. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or
desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all
amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of
the D&O Insurance. 

                       
(c)     If the Company is obligated to advance the expenses for
any proceeding, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the
defense of such proceeding, with counsel approved by the Indemnitee (which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), upon the delivery to the
Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such
notice, approval of such counsel by the Indemnitee and the retention of such
counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee under
this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee
with respect to the same proceeding, provided that: (i) the Indemnitee shall
have the right to employ his own counsel in any such proceeding at the
Indemnitee's expense; (ii) the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his
own counsel in connection with any such proceeding, at the expense of the
Company, if such counsel serves in a review, observer, advice and counseling
capacity and does not otherwise materially control or participate in the defense
of such proceeding; and (iii) if (A) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee
has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) the Indemnitee shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the
Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (C) the Company
shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such
proceeding, then the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee's counsel shall be at
the expense of the Company. 

           
7.         Determination of Right to Indemnification. 

                       
(a)     To the extent the Indemnitee has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding referred to in Section 4 or in
the defense of any claim, issue or matter described therein, the Indemnitee
shall be entitled to indemnification from the Company and the Company shall
indemnify the Indemnitee against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
him in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of such proceeding. 

                       
(b)     In the event that Section 7(a) is inapplicable, the
Company shall also indemnify the Indemnitee unless, and only to the extent that,
the Company shall prove by clear and convincing evidence to a forum listed in
Subsection 7(c) that the Indemnitee's acts were committed in bad faith, or
were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, and were material to the
cause of action so adjudicated and that the Indemnitee in fact personally gained
a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
Neither the failure of the Company to have made a determination prior to the
commencement of a proceeding that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper
under the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard
of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company
that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct, shall be a
defense to the action or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met
the applicable standard of conduct. 

                       
(c)     The Indemnitee shall be entitled to select the forum in
which the validity of the Company's claim under Section 7(b) hereof that the
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification will be heard from among the
following: 

                                   
    (i)     A quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of
    directors who are not parties to the proceeding for which indemnification is
    being sought or by a committee of such directors designated by a majority
    vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum; 

                                   
    (ii)     The stockholders of the Company entitled to vote in
    the election of directors; provided that the common stock of the Company is
    not listed or traded on a national securities market or Nasdaq; 

                                   
    (iii)     Legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee, and
    reasonably approved by the Board of Directors, which counsel shall make such
    determination in a written opinion; or 

                                   
    (iv)     A panel of three arbitrators, one of whom is
    selected by the Company, another of whom is selected by the Indemnitee and
    the last of whom is selected by the first two arbitrators so selected. 

                       
(d)     As soon as practicable, and in no event later than 30
days after written notice of the Indemnitee's choice of forum pursuant to
Section 7(c), the Company shall, at its own expense, submit to the selected
forum in such manner as the Indemnitee or the Indemnitee's counsel may
reasonably request, its claim that the Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification; and the Company shall act in the utmost good faith to assure
the Indemnitee a complete opportunity to defend against such claim. 

                       
(e)     After the final decision of the forum selected pursuant
to Section 7(c) is rendered, the Indemnitee and Company shall each have the
right to apply to the Court of Chancery of Delaware, the court in which that
proceeding is or was pending or any other court of competent jurisdiction, for
the purpose of appealing the decision of such forum; provided that such right is
exercised within 60 days after the final decision of such forum is rendered. 

                       
(f)     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to
the contrary, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all expenses
incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any proceeding under this Section
7 involving the Indemnitee and against all expenses incurred by the Indemnitee
in connection with any other proceeding between the Company and the Indemnitee
involving the interpretation or enforcement of the rights of the Indemnitee
under this Agreement unless a court of competent jurisdiction finds that each of
the claims and/or defenses of the Indemnitee in any such proceeding was
frivolous or made in bad faith. 

           
8.         Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement: 

                       
(a)     To indemnify or advance expenses to the Indemnitee with
respect to proceedings or claims initiated or brought voluntarily by the
Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect to proceedings
specifically authorized by the Board of Directors or brought to establish or
enforce a right to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses arising under
this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any
subsidiary or any statute or law or otherwise, but such indemnification or
advancement of expenses may be provided by the Company in specific cases if the
Board of Directors finds it to be appropriate; 

                       
(b)     To indemnify the Indemnitee hereunder for any amounts
paid in settlement of a proceeding unless the Company consents in advance in
writing to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; or 

                       
(c)     To indemnify the Indemnitee on account of any suit in
which judgment is rendered against the Indemnitee for an accounting of profits
made from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company
pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and amendments thereto or similar provisions of any federal, state or local
statutory law. 

           
9.         Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall
be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, each of
the Indemnitee's personal or legal representatives, executives,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and by each of the
Company's successors and assigns. The Company shall require any successor or
assignee (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Company and to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner that the Company would be required to perform if no
such succession or assignment had taken place. 

           
10.         Credit for Insurance; Other Indemnities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of
indemnification payable by the Company with respect to any proceeding shall be
subject to a credit for amounts actually paid to Indemnitee under or pursuant to
(a) D&O Insurance and (b) provisions providing indemnification in the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, resolutions, agreements or other
instruments of the Company or any subsidiary. 

           
11.         Deposit of Funds in Trust. If the Company
voluntarily decides to dissolve or to file a petition for relief under any
applicable bankruptcy, moratorium or similar laws, then not later than 10 days
prior to such dissolution or filing, the Company shall deposit in trust for the
sole and exclusive benefit of Indemnitee a cash amount equal to all amounts
previously authorized to be paid to Indemnitee hereunder, such amounts to be
used to discharge the Company's obligations to Indemnitee hereunder. Any
amounts in such trust not required for such purpose shall be returned to the
Company. This Section 11 shall not apply to the dissolution of the Company in
connection with a transaction as to which Section 9 applies. 

           
12.         Enforcement. 

                       
(a)     The Company has entered into this Agreement and assumed
the obligations imposed on the Company or hereby in order to induce the
Indemnitee to continue to act as an agent of the Company and acknowledges that
the Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in continuing in such capacity. 

                       
(b)     All expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection
with the preparation and submission of the Indemnitee's request for
indemnification hereunder shall be borne by the Company. If the Indemnitee has
requested payment of any amount under this Agreement and has not received
payment thereof within 20 days of such request, the Indemnitee may bring any
action to enforce rights or collect moneys due under this Agreement, and, if the
Indemnitee is successful in such action, the Company shall reimburse the
Indemnitee for all of the Indemnitee's fees and expenses in bringing and
pursuing such action. If it is determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification for part (but not all) of the indemnification so requested,
expenses incurred in seeking enforcement of such partial indemnification shall
be reasonably prorated among the claims, issues or matters for which the
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification for claims, issues or matter for which
the Indemnitee is not so entitled. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the
advancement of such amounts to the full extent contemplated by Section 5 hereof
in connection with such proceeding. 

                       
(c)     The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any
judicial proceeding commenced under this Agreement that the procedures and
presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of
this Agreement. 

           
13.         Savings Clause. If any provision of this Agreement
is determined by a court having jurisdiction over the matter to violate or
conflict with applicable law, the court shall be empowered to modify or reform
such provision so that, as modified or reformed, such provision provides the
maximum indemnification permitted by law and such provision, as so modified or
reformed, and the balance of this Agreement, shall be applied in accordance with
their terms. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any portion of
this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground, the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable
portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the full
extent permitted by law with respect to that portion that has been invalidated. 

           
14.         Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled
under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some
claims, issues or matters related to a proceeding, but not as to other claims,
issues or matters, or for some or a portion of the expenses in the
investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any proceeding, but not for the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion of such claims, issues or matters or expenses to which Indemnitee is
entitled. 

           
15.         Non–Exclusivity. 

                       
(a)     The right to indemnification provided by or granted
pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which Indemnitee is or may become entitled under any statute, provision of the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, resolution or
otherwise. 

                       
(b)     It is the intent of the Company by this Agreement to
indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law,
so that if applicable law would permit the Company to provide broader
indemnification rights than are currently permitted, the Company shall indemnify
and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law
notwithstanding that the other terms of this Agreement would provide for lesser
indemnification. 

           
16.         Confidentiality. The Company and Indemnitee shall
keep confidential to the extent permitted by law and their fiduciary obligations
all information and determinations provided pursuant to or arising out of the
operations of this Agreement and the Company and Indemnitee shall instruct their
agents and employees to do likewise. 

           
17.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all
of which taken together shall be deemed to constitute a single instrument. 

           
18.         Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of
Delaware. 

           
19.         Amendment. No amendment, modification, termination
or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing
signed by the Company and Indemnitee. Notwithstanding any amendment,
modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any portion
hereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification in accordance with the
provisions hereof with respect to any acts or omissions of Indemnitee which
occur prior to such amendment, modification, termination or cancellation. 

           
20.         Gender. All pronouns and variations thereof used
in this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter
gender, singular or plural, as the identity of the person, persons, entity or
entities referred to may require. 

           
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and signed as of the date and year first above
written.

 

                                                           
                                          
  
                        ASCENT ENERGY INC.

                         

                         

                                                           
                                          
  
                        By:
                        ____________________________________

                                                              
                                          
                               
                        Jeffrey Clark

                                                              
                                          
                                 
                        President

                         

                         

                                                           
                                          
  
                        INDEMNITEE: 

                         

                                                           
                                          
  
                        ____________________________________Exhibit 10.4

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

           
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this
"Agreement") is made and entered into as of ____________, 2001, by and
among Ascent Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Ascent"), and those
Persons whose names appear on the signature pages hereof.

           
This Agreement is made in connection with the offering by
Ascent of rights to subscribe for 

 units consisting of one share of 8% Series A
Redeemable Preferred Stock and one warrant to purchase 

 _____ shares of common
stock of Ascent (the "Rights Offering").

           
The parties hereby agree as follows:    

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

    
               
    "Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to
    such term in the recitals hereto, as constituted on the date hereof and as
    amended from time to time.

               
    "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange
    Commission, or any other federal agency then administering the Securities
    Act.

               
    "Common Stock" means the common stock of Ascent,
    par value $0.001 per share, as constituted on the date hereof, and any
    shares into which such Common Stock shall have been changed or any shares
    resulting from any reclassification of such Common Stock.

               
    "Controlling Person" shall have the meaning given
    to such term in Section 7(a).

               
    "Demand Registration" shall have the meaning given
    to such term in Section 3(a).

               
    "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act
    of 1934, as amended, or any similar Federal statute, and the rules and
    regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect
    from time to time.

               
    "Holder" means each Person listed on the signature
    pages attached hereto or otherwise party to this Agreement who as of such
    date owns outstanding shares of Registrable Securities.

               
    "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning given
    to such term in Section 7(c).

               
    "Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning given
    to such term in Section 7(c).

               
    "Losses" means all losses, claims, damages or
    liabilities (other than consequential damages or incidental lost profits)
    and all costs and expenses related thereto, including, without limitation,
    the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel.

               
    "Maximum Contribution Amount" shall have the
    meaning given to such term in Section 7(d).

               
    "NASD" means the National Association of
    Securities Dealers, Inc.

               
    "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation,
    partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint
    stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or agency or
    political subdivision thereof.

               
    "Piggyback Registration" shall have the meaning
    given to such term in a Section 4(a).

               
    "Proceeding" means any claim, suit, action or
    proceeding, including any governmental investigation or inquiry.

               
    "Qualified Holders" means any Holder or Holders
    holding at any time not less than 51% of all Registrable Securities.

               
    "Registrable Securities" means (a) the Common
    Stock held by any Holder on the date hereof or any Common Stock issuable
    pursuant to the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock or upon exercise
    of the Warrants, (b) any shares of Common Stock acquired by any Holder after
    the date hereof or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any other
    security issued by Ascent to any Holder and (c) any additional shares of
    Common Stock or other securities issued or distributed by Ascent after the
    date hereof to any Holder with respect to Common Stock, Series A Preferred
    Stock or Warrants by means of exchange, reclassification, dividend,
    distribution, split–up, combination, subdivision, recapitalization, merger,
    spin–off, reorganization or otherwise. As to any particular Registrable
    Securities, once issued such securities shall cease to be Registrable
    Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect to the sale of
    such securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such
    securities have been disposed of in accordance with such registration
    statement, (ii) they shall have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the
    Securities Act or (iii) they shall cease to be outstanding.

               
    "Rights Offering " shall have the meaning assigned
    to such term in the recitals hereto.

               
    "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended, or any similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of
    the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to
    time.

               
    "Series A Preferred Stock" means the 8% Series A
    Redeemable Preferred Stock of Ascent issued pursuant to the Rights Offering,
    as constituted on the date hereof, any shares into which such Series A
    Preferred Stock shall have been changed or any shares resulting from any
    reclassification of such Series A Preferred Stock.

               
    "Special Counsel" means counsel chosen by the
    holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to a
    registration covered by this Agreement.

               
    "Warrants" means the warrants to purchase Common
    Stock issued pursuant to the Rights Offering, a warrant issued in respect
    thereof or any Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of or in respect of
    any such warrant.

               
    Section 2.    Acknowledgement of Rights.
    Ascent will, upon request of any Holder, acknowledge in writing its
    obligations in respect of the rights to which such Holder shall be entitled
    under this Agreement; provided that the failure of such Holder to
    make any such request shall not affect the continuing obligations of Ascent
    to such Holder in respect of such rights.

           
Section 3.    Demand Registration.

    
           
(a)    At any time after [December 31, 2001 or 185 days after the date that the
      Common Stock is registered under Sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange
      Act], the Qualifying Holders may at any time and from time to time make a
      written request for registration under the Securities Act of an amount of
      Registrable Securities equal to not less than 5% of the then outstanding
      Common Stock (a "Demand Registration"); provided that Ascent
      shall not be obligated to affect more than two Demand Registrations in any
      12 month period or more than an aggregate of four Demand Registrations
      pursuant to this Section 3(a). A registration will not count as a Demand
      Registration until the registration statement filed pursuant to such
      Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and
      remains effective for the period specified in Section 5(b).
               
    (b)    If the Qualified Holders so elect, the offering of such
    Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration shall be in the
    form of an underwritten offering. The Qualified Holders shall select the
    managing underwriters and any additional investment bankers and managers to
    be used in connection with the offering; provided that such managing
    underwriters must be reasonably satisfactory to Ascent.

               
    (c)    Neither Ascent nor any of its security holders (other
    than the Holders in such capacity) shall be entitled to include any of
    Ascent's securities in a registration statement initiated as a Demand
    Registration under this Section 3(a) without the consent of the Qualified
    Holders.

    
                
    Section 4.    Piggyback Registration.

    
               
    (a)    If Ascent proposes to register Common Stock under the
    Securities Act (other than on registration statements with respect to
    corporate reorganizations or other transactions under Rule 145 under the
    Securities Act or registration statements on Form S–8), (i) for its own
    account or (ii) for the account of other holders of Common Stock (other than
    a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 3(a)), then Ascent shall give
    written notice of such proposed filing to the Holders as soon as practicable
    (but in no event later than 20 days before the filing date) and such notice
    shall offer the Holders the opportunity to register such number of shares of
    Registrable Securities as the Holders may request within 20 days after
    receipt by the holders of Ascent's notice on the same terms and conditions
    as Ascent or such holders of Common Stock (a "Piggyback
    Registration") The Holders will be permitted to withdraw all or any
    part of their Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration any time
    prior to the date the registration statement filed pursuant to such
    Piggyback Registration becomes effective with the Commission.

               
    (b)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein, if the
    Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering and the lead managing
    underwriter of such offering delivers a written opinion to Ascent that the
    size of the offering Ascent, the Holders and any other Persons who
    securities are proposed to be included in such offering propose to make
    would materially and adversely affect the offering or offering price, Ascent
    will include in such Piggyback Registration all of the Common Stock it
    proposes to offer and the Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Holders
    and any other Persons in the following order of priority: (i) first, all of
    the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders, on a pro rata basis
    based on the amount of securities sought to be so registered and (ii)
    second, securities proposed to be registered by any other Persons.

    
               
    Section 5.    Registration Procedures.
    If and whenever Ascent is required by the provisions of this Agreement to
    use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of any of the
    Registrable Securities under the Securities Act, Ascent will (except as
    otherwise provided in this Agreement):

    
               
    (a)    (i) cooperate with any underwriters for, and the selling
    Holders, and, in the event of any underwritten public offering, will enter
    into usual and customary underwriting agreements with respect thereto and
    take all such other reasonable actions as are necessary or advisable to
    permit, expedite and facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
    Securities in the manner contemplated by the related registration statement,
    and in each case to the same extent as if all the securities then being
    offered were for the account of Ascent, and (ii) provide to any selling
    Holder, any underwriter participating in any distribution thereof pursuant
    to a registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
    retained by any selling Holder or any underwriter reasonable access to
    appropriate Ascent officers and employees to answer questions and to supply
    information reasonably requested by such selling Holder, or by any such
    underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such
    registration statement;

               
    (b)    prepare and file with the Commission a registration
    statement with respect to such securities and use commercially reasonable
    efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective
    until the earlier to occur of the passage of 90 days from the date of
    effectiveness and the sale of all of the Registrable Securities registered
    under such registration statement; and prepare and file with the Commission
    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 for the time period required pursuant to
    this Agreement and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
    respect to the sale or other disposition of all securities covered by such
    registration statement whenever the selling Holders shall desire to sell or
    otherwise dispose of the same;

           
(c)    furnish to such selling Holders, who so request, (i) upon Ascent's
      receipt, a copy of the order of the Commission declaring such registration
      statement and any post–effective amendment thereto effective, (ii) such
      reasonable number of copies of such registration statement and of each
      amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including any documents
      incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits), (iii) such reasonable
      number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement
      (including each preliminary prospectus), (iv) such reasonable number of
      copies of the final prospectus as filed by Ascent pursuant to Rule 424(b)
      under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the
      Securities Act, and (v) such other documents, as any such Person may
      reasonably request. Ascent hereby consents to the use of the prospectus by
      each of the selling Holders and the underwriters or agents, if any, and
      dealers (if any), in connection with the offering and sale of the
      Registrable Securities pursuant to, such prospectus and any amendment
      thereto;
           
(d)    use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the
      securities covered by such registration statement under such other
      securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each selling Holder
      shall reasonably request, (ii) keep such registrations or qualifications
      in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
      offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for so long as
      may be necessary to enable such Holder, or any such agent or underwriter
      to complete its distribution of the securities pursuant to such
      registration statement but in no event longer than two years and (iii)
      cooperate with such Holders and each underwriter, if any, in
      connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD and do any
      and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
      advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such
      jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder;
      provided, however, that Ascent shall not be required to (A) qualify
      to do business as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in
      any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but
      for this Section 5(d) or (B) file any general consent to service of
      process;

           
(e)    notify each selling Holder and counsel for such selling Holders
      identified to Ascent and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such
      advice in writing, (i) when the registration statement has become
      effective and when any post–effective amendment thereto has been filed and
      becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission or any
      state securities authority for amendments and supplements to the
      registration statement and prospectus or for additional information after
      the registration statement has become effective, (iii) of the
      issuance by the Commission or any state securities authority of any stop
      order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the
      initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if Ascent
      receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the
      qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction
      or the initiation of any Proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the
      happening of any event during the period a registration statement is
      effective which makes any statement made in such registration statement or
      the related prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires
      the making of any changes in such registration statement or any document
      incorporated by reference therein in order to make the statements therein
      not misleading or which requires the making of any changes in the
      prospectus or documents incorporated by reference therein in order to make
      the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
      were made, not misleading and (vi) of any determination by Ascent
      that a post–effective amendment to the registration statement would be
      appropriate;

           
(f)    use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the
      effectiveness of a registration statement or of any order preventing or
      suspending the use of a prospectus or suspending the qualification (or
      exemption from qualification) of any of the securities for sale in any
      jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use commercially
      reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
      effectiveness of a registration statement at the earliest possible time
      and provide prompt notice to each selling Holder of the withdrawal of any
      such order;
    
           
    (g)    comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
    Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as
    reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at
    least twelve months, beginning with the first fiscal quarter beginning after
    the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement
    shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule
    158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act);

               
    (h)    list such securities on any securities exchange or market
    on which any stock of Ascent is then listed, if the listing of such
    securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange;

               
    (i)     if requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or
    the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being registered, (i)
    promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post–effective amendment
    such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and such Holders
    reasonably agree should be included therein to the extent required by
    applicable law and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus
    supplement or such post–effective amendment as soon as practicable after
    Ascent has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
    prospectus supplement or post–effective amendment; provided, however, that
    Ascent will not be required to take any actions under this Section 5(i) that
    are not, in the opinion of counsel for Ascent, required by applicable law;
    and

               
    (j)     enter into such agreements (including, in the event
    of an underwritten offering, an underwriting agreement in form, scope and
    substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other
    commercially reasonable actions in connection therewith (including those
    reasonably required by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
    Securities being sold or, in the event of an underwritten offering those
    requested by the managing underwriters) in order to permit the disposition
    of such Registrable Securities and in such connection, if the registration
    is an underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and
    warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and underwriters,
    if any, with respect to the business of Ascent and its subsidiaries, the
    registration statement, the prospectus and documents incorporated by
    reference or deemed incorporated by reference in the registration statement,
    if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope if and when requested;
    (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to Ascent and updates thereof (which counsel
    and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory
    to the managing underwriters, if any, and the Holders of a majority of the
    Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to such selling Holders of
    Registrable Securities and each of the, underwriters, if any, covering the
    matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings
    and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and
    underwriters, including without limitation the matters referred to in clause
    (i) above; (iii) use its reasonable commercial efforts to obtain
    "comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent
    certified public accountants of Ascent (and, if necessary, any other
    certified public accountants of any subsidiary of Ascent or of any business
    acquired by Ascent for which financial statements and financial data is, or
    is required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to
    each of the underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and
    covering matters the type customarily covered in "comfort" letters
    in connection with underwritten offerings; and (iv) deliver such documents
    and certificates as may reasonably be requested by the Holders of a majority
    of the Registrable Securities being sold, the Special Counsel and the
    managing underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the
    representations and warranties of Ascent and its subsidiaries made pursuant
    to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions
    contained in the underwriting, agreement or similar agreement entered into
    by Ascent. The foregoing actions will be taken in connection with each
    closing under such underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent
    required thereunder.

               
    From time to time after a transfer of Registrable
    Securities pursuant to a registration statement Ascent will file all reports
    required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
    Ascent may require each such Holder to agree to keep confidential any
    non–public information relating to Ascent received by such Holder and not
    disclose such information (other than to an Affiliate or prospective
    purchaser who agrees to respect the confidentiality provisions of this
    Section 5) until such information has been made generally available to the
    public unless the release of such information is required by law or
    necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities.

    
               
    Section 6.    Registration Expenses; Hold–Backs.

    
               
    (a)    In connection with any Demand Registration or any
    Piggyback Registration, Ascent shall pay the following expenses incurred in
    connection with such registration: (i) filing fees with the Commission; (ii)
    fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including
    reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky
    qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv)
    fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable
    Securities; (v) fees and expenses of counsel and independent certified
    public accountants for Ascent and (vi) the reasonable fees and expenses of
    any additional experts retained by Ascent in connection with such
    registration. In connection with the preparation and filing of a
    Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(a), Ascent will also pay the
    reasonable fees and expenses of a single legal counsel chosen by the
    Qualified Holders. The Holders shall pay any underwriting fees, discounts or
    commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities and any other
    expenses of the Holders.

               
    (b)    No person may participate in any underwritten registered
    offering contemplated hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell its
    securities on the basis provided in any underwriting agreements approved by
    the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
    completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
    underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the
    terms of such underwriting arrangements and this Agreement.

               
    (c)    The Holders agree not to effect any public sale
    (including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act) of any
    Registrable Securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
    or exercisable for such securities, during the 14 days prior to, and during
    the 90–day (180 days in the case of an initial public offering of Common
    Stock) period beginning on, the effective date of any underwritten Demand
    Registration or any underwritten Piggyback Registration (other than the
    Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement).

    
               
    Section 7.    Indemnification.

    
               
    (a)    In the event of any registration of any of its securities
    under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, to the extent permitted
    by law, Ascent shall indemnify and hold harmless the Holders, the Holders'
    directors, officers, partners, employees, representatives and agents, and
    each other person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of
    Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act (a
    "Controlling Person"), to the fullest extent possible against any
    Losses, as incurred, directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based
    upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue or alleged untrue
    statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement,
    prospectus or form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto,
    or in any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to
    state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
    make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
    they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such Losses are based upon
    information relating to such Holder and furnished in writing to Ascent by
    such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that Ascent shall
    not be liable to any Indemnified Party to the extent that any such Losses
    arise solely out of an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
    omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus if (i) such
    Indemnified Party or related Holder failed to send or deliver a copy of the
    prospectus with or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the sale
    by such Indemnified Party or the related Holder to the Person asserting the
    claim from which such Losses arise; (ii) the prospectus would have corrected
    such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
    omission; and (iii) Ascent has complied with its obligations under Section
    5(e). Ascent shall also, jointly and severally, indemnify underwriters,
    selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry
    professionals participating in the distribution and their Controlling
    Persons to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
    indemnification of the Holders.

               
    (b)    In connection with any registration statement, prospectus
    or form of prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
    preliminary prospectus in which a Holder is participating, such Holder shall
    furnish to Ascent in writing such information as Ascent reasonably requests
    for use in connection with any registration statement, prospectus or form of
    prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
    prospectus and shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold
    harmless Ascent, its Controlling Persons, and the officers, directors,
    partners, employees, representatives and agents of such Controlling Persons,
    to the fullest extent lawful, from and against all Losses arising out of or
    based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
    contained in any registration statement, prospectus or form of prospectus or
    in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or
    any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
    to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the
    light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the
    extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
    statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material
    fact is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder
    to Ascent expressly for use therein. In no event shall the liability of any
    selling Holder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds
    (net of payment of all expenses) received by such Holder upon the sale of
    the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

               
    (c)    If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against
    any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an "Indemnified
    Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the party or
    parties from which such indemnity is sought (individually, an
    "Indemnifying Party" and, collectively, the "Indemnifying
    Parties") in writing; provided, that the failure to so notify the
    Indemnifying Parties shall not relieve the Indemnifying Parties from any
    obligation or liability except to the extent that it shall be finally
    determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not
    subject to appeal) that the Indemnifying Parties have been prejudiced
    materially by such failure. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right,
    exercisable by giving written notice to an Indemnified Party, within twenty
    days after receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such
    Proceeding, to assume, at its expense, the defense of any such Proceeding;
    provided, that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
    counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof,
    but, subject to Section 6, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
    the expense of such Indemnified Party unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has
    agreed to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall
    have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding or shall have
    failed to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party;
    or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded
    parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party or
    any of its affiliates or Controlling Persons, and such Indemnified Party
    shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more defenses
    available to such Indemnified Party that are in addition to, or in conflict
    with, those defenses available to the Indemnifying Party or such affiliate
    or Controlling Person (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
    Indemnifying Parties in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at
    the expense of the Indemnifying Parties, the Indemnifying Parties shall not
    have the right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and
    expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party;
    it being understood, however, that, the Indemnifying Party shall not, in
    connection with any one such Proceeding or separate but substantially
    similar or related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the
    same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and
    expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (together with
    appropriate local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Party).

               
    No Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any settlement
    of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled
    with its written consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff
    in any such Proceeding, each Indemnifying Party jointly and severally
    agrees, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth above, to
    indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and
    all Losses by reason of such settlement or judgment. The Indemnifying Party
    shall not consent to the entry of any judgment against an Indemnified Party
    or enter into any settlement that imposes any obligation on any Indemnified
    Party that does not include as a term thereof the giving by the claimant or
    plaintiff to each Indemnified Party of a release, in form and substance
    reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, from all liability in
    respect of such Proceeding for which such Indemnified Party would be
    entitled to indemnification hereunder (regardless of whether any Indemnified
    Party is a party thereto).

               
    (d)    If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
    unavailable to an Indemnified Party or is insufficient to hold such
    Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses in respect of which this Section 7
    would otherwise apply by its terms (other than by reason of exceptions
    provided in this Section 7), then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in
    lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall have a joint and several
    obligation to contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified
    Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to
    reflect the relative fault of each Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and
    such Indemnified Party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions,
    statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other
    relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of each Indemnifying
    Party, on the one hand, and Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be
    determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or
    alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission
    to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such
    Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
    knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any
    such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified
    Party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include any legal or
    other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
    Proceeding, to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such
    fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or 7(b)
    was available to such party.

               
    The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
    equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
    rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
    account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
    preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, an
    Indemnifying Party that is a selling Holder shall not be required to
    contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of such Holder's Maximum
    Contribution Amount. A selling Holder's "Maximum Contribution
    Amount" shall equal the excess of (i) the aggregate proceeds received
    by such Holder pursuant to the sale of such Registrable Securities over (ii)
    the aggregate amount of damages that such Holder has otherwise been required
    to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
    alleged omission. 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.

               
    The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
    this Section 7 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying
    Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

    
                Section
    8.    Rule 144.
    Ascent covenants that it will file any reports required to be filed by it
    under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and that it will take such
    further action as any Holder may request to the extent required from time to
    time to enable the Holder to sell Registrable Securities without
    registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
    exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may
    be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
    adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of a Holder, Ascent will deliver
    to the Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such
    reporting requirements.
    
               
    Section 9.    Assignment of Registration Rights. A Holder may assign its
    rights hereunder to a transferee or assignee at any time such Holder
    transfers or assigns Registrable Securities representing not less than 0.5%
    of all Registrable Securities subject to this Agreement on the date hereof
    to such transferee or assignee; provided, that (a) Ascent is, within a
    reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the
    name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with
    respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; (b) such
    transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the
    terms and conditions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart signature
    page hereto; (c) such assignment of Registrable Securities is made in
    compliance with the Securities Act; and (d) such assignment shall be
    effective only if immediately following such transfer the further
    disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted
    under the Securities Act. This Agreement may not be assigned by Ascent
    without the prior written consent of the Qualified Holders.
  
  
           
  Section 10.    Miscellaneous.

  
           
(a)    Notices. All notices and other communications provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand–delivery, certified
first–class mail, return receipt requested, next–day air courier or facsimile:

                               
            (i)         if to a Holder, at the address of such Holder
            set forth on Ascent's stock records. 

                       
    (ii)        if to Ascent, at: 
                                           
            Ascent Energy, Inc.

                                           
            650 Poydras Street, Suite 2200

                                           
            New Orleans, LA 70130

                                           
            Facsimile Number: (504) 522–1796

                                           
            Attention: President

and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9(a). All such notices
and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by
hand, if personally delivered; five days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; one day after being timely delivered to a next–day
air courier; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if sent by
facsimile.

               
    (b)    Amendment and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
    the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
    supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions
    hereof may not be given, unless Ascent has obtained the written consent of
    Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal
    amount of Registrable Securities; provided, that Section 7 shall not be
    amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures
    from this proviso may not be given, unless Ascent has obtained the written
    consent of each Holder affected thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
    waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a
    matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities
    are being sold pursuant to a registration statement and that does not
    directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by
    Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
    Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such
    registration statement; provided that the provisions of this sentence may
    not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the
    provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
           
(c)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile
transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart
of this Agreement.

           
(d)    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York
without regard to rules of conflicts of laws.

           
(e)    Filing. A copy of this Agreement and of all amendments
hereto shall be filed at the principal office of Ascent.

           
(f)    Headings and Internal References. The headings in this
Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise
affect the meaning hereof. References in this Agreement to "clauses"
and "Sections" shall be understood to refer to clauses and sections of
this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

           
(g)    Remedies. In the event of a breach by Ascent of any of
its obligations under this Agreement, each Holder, in addition to being entitled
to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of
damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. Ascent agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate
compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

           
(h)    No Inconsistent Agreements. Ascent has not entered into,
as of the date hereof, and shall not enter into, after the date of this
Agreement, any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

           
(i)    Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties.

           
(j)    Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement, and is intended to be a
complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the
parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth
or referred to herein, with respect to the registration rights granted by Ascent
in respect of the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject
matter.

           
(k)    Attorneys' Fees. In any Proceeding brought to enforce any
provision of this Agreement, or where any provision hereof is validly asserted
as a defense, the prevailing party, as determined by the courts, shall be
entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to its costs and
expenses and any other available remedy.

           
(l)    Third Party Beneficiary. Ascent hereby expressly agrees
and acknowledges that the Holders are intended to be express third party
beneficiaries of this Agreement and that each Holder shall be entitled to
exercise any and all rights and remedies afforded to them under this Agreement
and the laws of the relevant jurisdiction applicable to third party
beneficiaries.

[signature pages follow]

 

                       
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.

                                             
                                     
    ASCENT ENERGY INC., a Delaware corporation

                      

                      

                                             
                                      
    By:                                        
                        

                                             
                                          
    
    Jeffrey Clarke

                                             
                                          
    
    President

                      
                                                            
                                         
                      HOLDERS:

                      
                       

                                                            
                                         
                      [To Come]

                       

ASCENT ENERGY INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

            This signature page is for the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
__________, 2001 (the "Agreement"), by and among Ascent and the
Holders, and by execution below the undersigned agrees that it shall be attached
as a signature page to such Agreement.

 

                            By:                                    
                                          
      

                                    Name:                             
                                          

                                    Title:                             
                                          
   

                                           
                            Tax I.D. No.:                                   
                  

                                           
                            Address:                                    
                        

                                                                 
                                          
           
                            

                                                                 
                                          
           
                            

                                           
                            Attention:                                   
                         

                                           
                            Fax Number:                                   
                    

                                           
                            Phone Number:

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