240,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT CAL DIVE INTERNATIONAL, INC. 3.25 % CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2025 Purchase Agreement dated March 23, 2005

EXHIBIT 4.4

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

$240,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

CAL DIVE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

3.25 % CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2025

Purchase Agreement

dated March 23, 2005

 i

 ii

 iii

Purchase Agreement

March 23, 2005

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
As Representative of the several Initial Purchasers
          c/o BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
          ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
          ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Cal Dive International, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several purchasers named in Schedule A (the “Initial Purchasers”) $240,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Firm Notes”). In addition, the Company has granted to the Initial Purchasers an option to purchase up to an additional $60,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Optional Notes” and, together with the Firm Notes, the “Notes”), solely to cover over-allotments. The Notes will be redeemable at the Company’s option at any time after December 20, 2012. Banc of America Securities LLC (“BAS”) has agreed to act as representative of the several Initial Purchasers (in such capacity, the “Representative”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

     The Notes will be convertible into fully paid, non-assessable shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). The Notes will be convertible into cash, and in certain circumstances, stock, initially at a conversion rate of 15.56 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Indenture (as defined below). As used herein, “Conversion Shares” means the shares of Common Stock into which the Notes are convertible. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be dated as of the First Closing Date (as defined in Section 2), between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

     The Notes will be offered and sold to the Initial Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”), in reliance upon an exemption therefrom.

     Holders of the Notes (including the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees) will be entitled to the benefits of a Resale Registration Rights Agreement, dated the First Closing Date, between the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the

  2

“Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the “Registration Statement”) covering the resale of the Notes and the Conversion Shares, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective. This Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement are referred to herein collectively as the “Operative Documents.”

     The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Notes on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Offering Memorandum (as defined below) and agrees that the Initial Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Notes to purchasers (the “Subsequent Purchasers”) at any time after the date of this Agreement. The Notes are to be offered and sold to or through the Initial Purchasers without being registered with the Commission under the Securities Act in reliance upon exemptions therefrom. The terms of the Notes and the Indenture will require that investors that acquire Notes expressly agree that Notes (and any Conversion Shares) may only be resold or otherwise transferred, after the date hereof, if such Notes (or Conversion Shares) are registered for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the exemption afforded by Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) thereunder).

     The Company has prepared an offering memorandum dated the date hereof setting forth information concerning the Company, the Notes, the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below) and the Common Stock in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers. As used in this Agreement, “Offering Memorandum” means, collectively, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum dated as of March 22, 2005 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”) and the offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “Final Offering Memorandum”), each as amended or supplemented by the Company. As used herein, each of the terms “Offering Memorandum”, “Preliminary Offering Memorandum” and “Final Offering Memorandum” shall include in each case the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

     The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Initial Purchasers as follows:

     Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

     The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Initial Purchaser as follows:

     (a) No Registration. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers contained in Section 6 and their compliance with the agreements set forth therein, it is not necessary, in connection with the issuance and sale

  3

of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers, the offer, resale and delivery of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers and the conversion of the Notes into Conversion Shares, in each case in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture and the Offering Memorandum, to register the Notes or the Conversion Shares under the Securities Act or to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”)

     (b) No Integration. Other than to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, about which no representation is made by the Company, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, directly or through any agent, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any “security” (as defined in the Securities Act) that is or will be integrated with the sale of the Notes or the Conversion Shares in a manner that would require registration under the Securities Act of the Notes or the Conversion Shares.

     (c) Rule 144A. No securities of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act) as the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), or quoted on an automated inter-dealer quotation system. The Company is subject to and in full compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

     (d) Offering Memorandum. The Company hereby confirms that it has authorized the use of the Offering Memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers. Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum complied or will comply when it is filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum does not contain and the Final Offering Memorandum in the form used by the Initial Purchasers to confirm sales as of each Closing Date (as defined in Section 2), will not contain, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty as to information contained in or omitted from the Offering Memorandum in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on the behalf of the Initial Purchasers specifically for inclusion therein.

     (e) Offering Materials Furnished to Initial Purchasers. The Company has delivered to the Representative Preliminary Offering Memorandums and Final Offering Memorandums, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representative has reasonably requested for each of the Initial Purchasers.

     (f) Authorization of the Purchase Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

  4

     (g) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; on the First Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (b) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief are subject to certain equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum.

     (h) Authorization of the Notes. The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company; when the Notes are executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement on the respective Closing Date (assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee), the Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (b) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief are subject to certain equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; and the Notes will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum.

     (i) Authorization of the Conversion Shares. The shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Notes have been duly authorized and reserved and, when issued upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

     (j) Authorization of the Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized and will be duly executed and delivered by the Company.

     (k) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the

  5

ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction or agreement; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

     (l) Independent Accountants. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Young LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) included in or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum, are independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

     (m) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements included in or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The financial data set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the captions “Summary—Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information of Cal Dive International, Inc.” and “Capitalization” fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Offering Memorandum. The Company’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in the Offering Memorandum have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

     (n) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim, except as disclosed in the Offering

  6

Memorandum. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

     (o) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Offering Memorandum or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the Offering Memorandum). The Common Stock (including the Conversion Shares) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Offering Memorandum. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Offering Memorandum accurately and fairly presents and summarizes such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

     (p) No Stamp or Transfer Taxes. There are no stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties or other similar fees or charges required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Securities or upon the issuance of Common Stock upon the conversion thereof.

     (q) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

     The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Documents and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and by the Offering Memorandum (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the

  7

Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Documents and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and by the Offering Memorandum, except (i) with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, as may be required under the Securities Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”). As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

     (r) No Material Actions or Proceedings. There are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or with the employees of any principal supplier of the Company, exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent.

     (s) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all trademarks, trade names, copyrights, domain names, licenses, trade secrets and patent rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Change. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no

  8

material infringement by third parties of any Intellectual Property Rights owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Offering Memorandum if it were a registration statement on Form S-3 (including through incorporation by reference) and are not described in all material respects. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.

     (t) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

     (u) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned by each of them in the financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.

     (v) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have filed all material federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the financial statements included in the Offering Memorandum in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined.

     (w) Company Not Required to Register as an “Investment Company”. The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). The Company is not, and,

  9

after receipt of payment for the Notes and application of the proceeds as described in the Offering Memorandum, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.

     (x) Compliance with Reporting Requirements. The Company is subject to and in full compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

     (y) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of terrorism or vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

     (z) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Notes, the Conversion Shares or any other security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes. The Company acknowledges that the Initial Purchasers may engage in stabilization transactions as described in the Offering Memorandum.

     (aa) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the Offering Memorandum if it were a registration statement on Form S-3 (including through incorporation by reference) which have not been described as required.

     (bb) No Restriction on Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

     (cc) Recent Sales. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Company has not sold or issued any shares of Common Stock, any security convertible

  10

into shares of Common Stock or any security of the same class as the Notes during the six-month period preceding the date of the Offering Memorandum, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A or under Regulations D or S of the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to the Company’s stock plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants, and within the last six months the Company has not offered or sold any such securities in a manner that would be integrated with offering contemplated hereunder.

     (dd) No General Solicitation. None of the Company or any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act (“Regulation D”)), has, directly or through an agent, engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising in connection with the offering of the Notes or the Conversion Shares (as those terms are used in Regulation D) under the Securities Act or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act; the Company has not entered into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Notes or the Conversion Shares except for this Agreement, and the Company will not enter into any such arrangement except for the Registration Rights Agreement and as may be contemplated thereby.

     (ee) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

     (ff) Internal Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, each as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act.

     (gg) No Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

     (hh) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or protection of wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to

  11

the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or other third party, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) there is (A) no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority; (B) no investigation by any third party with respect to which the Company has received written notice and (C) no written notice received by, or to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in each case that alleges potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys’ fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), and in each case that is pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no past, present or anticipated future actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditure to be incurred pursuant to Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened proceeding under Environmental Law to which a governmental authority is a party and which is reasonably likely to result in monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more.

     (ii) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs

  12

and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

     (jj) ERISA Compliance. None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company; or (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company, in each case, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (B) a material increase in the Company’s “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (C) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA; or (D) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company related to their employment, in each case, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Company may have any liability.

     (kk) No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of the members of any of their families, except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum.

     (ll) Compliance with Laws. The Company has not been advised, and has no reason to believe, that it and each of its subsidiaries are not conducting business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, except where failure to be so in compliance would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

     (mm) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful

  13

expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; or (iii) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

     (nn) No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

     (oo) No Conflict with OFAC Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

     (pp) Reserves. The Company’s estimates of oil and natural gas reserves in or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum were prepared in good faith and with a reasonable basis; the information used to arrive at such estimates was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; other than normal production of reserves and intervening spot market product price fluctuations, and except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would result in a materially adverse change in such estimates in the aggregate, or the aggregate present value of future net cash flows therefrom, as described in the Offering Memorandum; and estimates of such reserves and the present value of the future net cash flows therefrom as described in the Offering Memorandum comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The information provided to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc. (“▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.”) for purposes of reviewing the reserve report referenced in or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum (the “Reserve Report”) was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; to the best of the Company’s knowledge, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. was, as of the date of the Reserve Report reviewed by it, and are, as of the date hereof, independent petroleum engineers with respect to the Company.

     (qq) Registration Rights. Except as publicly disclosed, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such

  14

person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Conversion Shares registered pursuant to a registration statement. All such rights to require the Company to include securities with the Conversion Shares registered pursuant to a registration statement have been validly waived pursuant to the terms of any such agreement or understanding.

          Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.

          The Company acknowledges that the Initial Purchasers and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial Purchasers, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

     Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Notes.

     (a) The Firm Notes. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Initial Purchasers the Firm Notes upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite their names under the heading “Aggregate Principal Amount of Firm Notes to be Purchased” on Schedule A at a purchase price of 97.5% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

     (b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Notes to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Initial Purchasers) at 10:00 a.m. New York time, on March 30, 2005 (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time and date not later than 10:00 a.m. New York time, on April 6, 2005 as the Representative shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “First Closing Date”). The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Representative may provide notice to postpone the First Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination by the Company or the Representative to recirculate copies of an amended or supplemented Offering Memorandum or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 10.

     (c) The Optional Notes; Subsequent Closing Dates. In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the

  15

several Initial Purchasers to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to $60,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Optional Notes from the Company at the same price as the purchase price to be paid by the Initial Purchasers for the Firm Notes. The option granted hereunder is for use by the Initial Purchasers solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Notes. The option granted hereunder may be exercised in whole or in part at any time or from time to time upon notice by the Representative to the Company, which notice may be given prior to, and any Subsequent Closing Dates must occur, within 13 days from the date of the First Closing Date. Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount (which shall be an integral multiple of $1,000 in aggregate principal amount) of Optional Notes as to which the Initial Purchasers are exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the Optional Notes are to be registered and (iii) the time, date and place at which such Notes will be delivered (which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First Closing Date; and in such case the term “First Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Notes and the Optional Notes). Such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called a “Subsequent Closing Date” (each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date shall also be referred to herein individually as a “Closing Date”) and shall be determined by the Representative. Such date may be the same as the First Closing Date but not earlier than the First Closing Date nor later than 10 business days after the date of such notice. If any Optional Notes are to be purchased, each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the principal amount of Optional Notes (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional amounts as the Representative may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total principal amount of Optional Notes to be purchased as the principal amount of Firm Notes set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Initial Purchaser bears to the total principal amount of Firm Notes. The Representative may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.

     (d) Payment for the Notes. Payment for the Notes shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at any Subsequent Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company.

     It is understood that the Representative has been authorized, for its own account and the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Notes and any Optional Notes the Initial Purchasers have agreed to purchase. BAS, individually and not as the Representative of the Initial Purchasers, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Notes to be purchased by any Initial Purchaser whose funds shall not have been received by the Representative by the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Initial Purchaser, but any such payment shall not relieve such Initial Purchaser from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

     (e) Delivery of the Notes. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representative for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers the Firm Notes in

  16

the form of one or more permanent global securities in definitive form (the “Global Notes”), deposited with the Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representative for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers, the Optional Notes in the form of Global Notes, deposited with the Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, which the Initial Purchasers has agreed to purchase at the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Notes shall be registered in such names and denominations as the Initial Purchasers shall have requested at least two full business days prior to the First Closing Date (or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be) and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the First Closing Date (or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be) at a location in New York City as the Initial Purchasers may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers.

     Section 3. Additional Covenants of the Company.

     The Company further covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows:

     (a) Representative’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During such period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date which is the earlier of nine months after the date hereof or the completion of the resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers (as notified by the Initial Purchasers to the Company), prior to amending or supplementing the Offering Memorandum, the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not print or distribute such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.

     (b) Amendments and Supplements to the Offering Memorandum and Other Securities Act Matters. If, at any time prior to the earlier of nine months after the date hereof or the completion of the resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers (as notified by the Initial Purchasers to the Company), any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum in order that the Offering Memorandum will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representative or counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Company shall promptly notify the Initial Purchasers and prepare, subject to Section 3(a) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission.

 17

     (c) Copies of Offering Memorandum. The Company agrees to furnish the Representative, without charge, until the earlier of nine months after the date hereof or the completion of the resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers (as notified by the Initial Purchasers to the Company) as many copies of the Offering Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representative may request.

     (d) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representative and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request from time to time, to qualify or register the Notes for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Representative, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Notes. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representative promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Notes for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

     (e) Rule 144A Information. For so long as any of the Notes are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Company shall provide to any holder of the Notes or to any prospective purchaser of the Notes designated by any holder, upon request of such holder or prospective purchaser, information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) of the Securities Act if, at the time of such request, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

     (f) Legends. Each of the Notes will bear, to the extent applicable, the legend contained in “Notice to Investors” in the Offering Memorandum for the time period and upon the other terms stated therein.

     (g) No General Solicitation. Except following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), the Company will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell the Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

     (h) No Integration. The Company will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any “security” (as defined in the Securities Act) in a transaction that could be integrated with

 18

the sale of the Notes in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the Notes.

     (i) Rule 144 Tolling. During the period of two years after the last Closing Date, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any of the Notes which constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 that have been reacquired by any of them.

     (j) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Memorandum.

     (k) Transfer Agent. The Company shall maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

     (l) Company to Provide Interim Financial Statements. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish the Initial Purchasers, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Offering Memorandum.

     (m) Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes Oxley Act, and use its best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act.

     (n) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 90th day following the date of the Final Offering Memorandum, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of BAS), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of the Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Notes); provided, however, that the Company may (i) issue shares of its Common Stock or options to purchase its Common Stock, or Common Stock upon exercise of options, pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Final Offering Memorandum, and (ii) may issue shares of its Common Stock pursuant to options, warrants or agreements outstanding on the date hereof that require delivery of shares and described in the Offering Memorandum.

 19

     (o) Future Reports to the Representative. During the period of five years after the First Closing Date the Company will furnish to the Representative at ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇ (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report and other communication (financial or otherwise) of the Company mailed generally to the holders of the Company’s capital stock or Nasdaq or such other any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company may be listed other than (A) materials filed with the Commission and (B) listing applications and routine reports and certifications provided to Nasdaq or such other national securities exchange and (ii) from time to time such other information concerning the Company and the subsidiaries as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.

     (p) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Notes in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

     (q) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.

     (r) Existing Lock-Up Agreements. The Company will enforce all existing agreements between the Company and any of its security holders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities.

     (s) Quotation of Conversion Shares. The Company will use its best efforts to have the Conversion Shares approved by the Nasdaq National Market (“Nasdaq”) for quotation prior to the First Closing Date, if required.

     (t) Available Common Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of pre-emptive rights, the full number of Shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities.

     (u) Conversion Price. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Company will not do or authorize any act or thing that would result in an adjustment of the conversion price.

     Section 4. Payment of Expenses.

     The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Notes (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes to the Initial

 20

Purchasers, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, shipping and distribution of the Offering Memorandum, all amendments and supplements thereto and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Initial Purchasers in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Notes for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada and, if requested by the Initial Purchasers, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Initial Purchasers of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the expenses of the Company and the Initial Purchasers in connection with the marketing and offering of the Notes, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with including the Conversion Shares on the Nasdaq National Market and (ix) all expenses and fees in connection with admitting the Notes for trading in the NASD PORTAL Market (“PORTAL”). Except as provided in this P Section 7, Section 10 and Section 11 hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

     Section 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchaser.

     The obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Notes as provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Notes, any Subsequent Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Notes, as of any Subsequent Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

     (a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representative shall have received from Ernst & Young, LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to Initial Purchasers, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Offering Memorandum.

     (b) No Material Adverse Change or Rating Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Notes, any Subsequent Closing Date:

     (i) in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and

21

     (ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in the rating outlook for the Company and its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.

     (c) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of (i) the Company’s special counsel, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, (ii) the Company’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, III and (iii) Fulbright & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P. counsel for the Company, each dated as of such Closing Date, the forms of which are attached as Exhibits A-1, A-2 and A-3, respectively.

     (d) Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers. On each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.

     (e) Officers’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect set forth in subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 5, and further to the effect that:

     (i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

     (ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and

     (iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.

     (f) Bring-Down Comfort Letter. On each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Representative shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of

22

procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be.

     (g) Registration Rights Agreement. The Company and the Initial Purchasers shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement (in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers), and the Registration Rights Agreement shall be in full force and effect.

     (h) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Securityholders of the Company. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative an agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto from each of the executive officers and directors of the Company, and such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date.

     (i) PORTAL Designation. The Notes shall have been designated PORTAL-eligible securities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD.

     (j) Certificate of Engineering Consultant. On each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by an executive officer of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc., independent petroleum engineering consultants, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that (i) it consents to the incorporation by reference into the Offering Memorandum of its report letter dated February 10, 2005 concerning the proved reserves as of December 31, 2004 attributable to Energy Resource Technology, Inc., (ii) since the date of the report letter, it has not been provided any additional information by the Company that would cause the results set forth in the report letter to be misleading as of December 31, 2004 and (iii) as of such Closing Date, nothing has come to its attention which would cause it to revise by any material amount any statement made or opinion expressed by them in the report letter with respect to its estimates of the oil and gas reserves and future net revenues attributable to the interests of the Company in such properties.

     (k) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representative and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

     If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Notes, at any time prior to any Subsequent Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4,

23

Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

     Section 6. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Initial Purchasers.

     Each of the Initial Purchasers represents and warrants that it is a “qualified institutional buyer” (“QIB”), as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities Act, or an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1) under the Securities Act. The Initial Purchasers agree with the Company that:

     (a) The Notes and the Conversion Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act in connection with the initial offering of the Notes.

     (b) The Initial Purchasers are purchasing the Notes pursuant to a private sale exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

     (c) The Notes have not been and will not be offered or sold by such Initial Purchasers or its affiliates acting on its behalf except in accordance with Rule 144A.

     (d) The Initial Purchasers will not offer or sell the Notes in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D, including (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising in the United States.

     (e) The Initial Purchasers have not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, any Notes except to persons whom they reasonably believe to be a QIB.

     Section 7. Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers’ Expenses.

     If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 5, Section 10 or Section 11, or if the sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Notes on the First Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representative and the other Initial Purchasers (or such Initial Purchasers as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representative and the Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Notes, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

     Section 8. Indemnification.

 24

     (a) Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Initial Purchaser or such controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, in each case, necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to reimburse the Initial Purchaser and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by BAS) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representative expressly for use in the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Initial Purchaser), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representative expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer or

25

controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Initial Purchasers have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in Schedule B; and the Initial Purchasers confirm that such statements are correct. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Initial Purchaser may otherwise have.

     (c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof may be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have for contribution or any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (BAS in the case of Section 8(b) and Section 9), representing the

26

indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

     (d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

     Section 9. Contribution.

     If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Notes

27

pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total discount received by the Initial Purchasers bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Notes. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

     The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.

     The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, the Initial Purchaser shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes purchased by it and distributed to investors were offered to investors exceeds the amount of any damages which the Initial Purchaser 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 Initial Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each officer and employee of an Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

     Section 10. Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers.

 28

     If, on the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the several Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Notes which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased on such date, the other Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representative with the consent of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes and the aggregate principal amount of Notes with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representative and the Company for the purchase of such Notes are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party (other than a defaulting Initial Purchaser) to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Offering Memorandum or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

     As used in this Agreement, the term “Initial Purchaser” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Initial Purchaser under this Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.

     Section 11. Termination of this Agreement.

     On or prior to the First Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the Nasdaq National Market, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq National Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any federal or New York authority; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of

29

the Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Notes in the manner and on the terms described in the Offering Memorandum or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representative there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the Representative may, singly or in the aggregate, interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Initial Purchaser, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representative and the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 4 and 7 hereof, (b) any Initial Purchaser to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

     Section 12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery.

     The respective indemnities, contribution, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to the result hereof, made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, (ii) acceptance of the Notes and payment for them hereunder and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

     Section 13. Notices.

     All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

  If to the Representative:
        Banc of America Securities LLC
        ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
        ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
        Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
        Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇

  with a copy to:
        ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
        ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
        ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
        Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
        Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.

  If to the Company:
        Cal Dive International, Inc.

 30

        ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
        ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
        Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
        Attention: General Counsel

  with a copy to:
        Fulbright & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P.
        ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
        ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
        Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
        Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.

  Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

     Section 14. Successors.

     This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and Section 9, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Initial Purchasers and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 8 and 9 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Notes as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by reason of such purchase.

     Section 15. Partial Unenforceability.

     The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

     Section 16. Governing Law Provisions; Consent to Jurisdiction.

 31

     (a) Governing Law Provisions

          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

     (b) Consent to Jurisdiction

          Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

     Section 17. General Provisions.

     This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto. The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

     Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Offering Memorandum (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

32

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

     The foregoing Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representative as of the date first above written.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
Acting as Representative of the several Initial
Purchasers named in the attached Schedule A

SCHEDULE A

2

SCHEDULE B

Information the Initial Purchasers have furnished to the Company for use in the Offering Memorandum:

     (a) The last sentence of the text on the cover page of the Offering Memorandum, concerning delivery of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers;

     (b) The names and corresponding amounts set forth in the table of Initial Purchasers in the first paragraph of text under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Offering Memorandum;

     (c) The statements set forth under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Offering Memorandum describing market making.

     (d) The statements set forth under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Offering Memorandum describing short sales and stabilizing transactions.

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF OPINION OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

     (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota.

     (ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.

     (iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

     (iv) The Company’s authorized capitalization is as set forth in the Offering Memorandum. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (including the Common Stock) conform to the descriptions thereof set forth in the Offering Memorandum. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

     (v) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

     (vi) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

     (vii) The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company.

     (viii) The shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Notes have been duly authorized and reserved and, when issued upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

     (ix) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

     (x) No stockholder of the Company or any other person has any preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company arising by operation of the charter or by-laws of the Company or the Minnesota Business Corporation Act.

A1 -1

     (xi) The execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and (ii) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary.

     In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York or the State of Minnesota or the federal law of the United States, to the extent he deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchaser, shall expressly state that the Initial Purchasers may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Initial Purchasers) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Initial Purchaser are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials

A1 -2

EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF OPINION OF ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, III

     (i) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

     (ii) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim or, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, any pending or threatened claim.

     (iii) After due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary and (B) if such action, suit or proceeding were so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (iv) The execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, or to the knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary.

     In addition, such counsel shall state that he has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent

A2-1

public or certified public accountants for the Company and with representatives of the Initial Purchasers at which the contents of the Offering Memorandum, and any supplements or amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Offering Memorandum (other than as specified above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, and the information disclosed to him, no facts have come to his attention that cause him to believe that either the Offering Memorandum or any amendments thereto, as of its date or at the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to the financial statements or schedules or other financial or statistical data set forth or referred to in the Offering Memorandum or any amendments or supplements thereto).

     In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Texas or the federal law of the United States, to the extent he deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchaser, shall expressly state that the Initial Purchasers may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Initial Purchasers) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Initial Purchaser are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

A2-2

EXHIBIT A-3

FORM OF OPINION OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P.

     (i) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (b) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief are subject to certain equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; and the Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum.

     (ii) Assuming the due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee, the Notes constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (b) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief are subject to certain equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; and the Notes will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum.

     (iii) It is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Notes to the Initial Purchaser or the offer and resale by the Initial Purchaser of such Notes, in the manner provided for by the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum, to register the Notes under the Securities Act or to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. Such counsel need express no opinion, however, as to any subsequent offers or sales.

     (iv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by, or the execution, delivery and performance of the Company’s obligations under, the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or the Notes, except as required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD.

     (v) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering of the Notes and application of the proceeds as described in the Offering Memorandum, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

A3-1

     (vi) Each document incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data included therein as to which we express no opinion) complied when so filed as to form in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     (vii) The statements in the Offering Memorandum under the captions “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Capital Stock” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the documents referred to therein, accurately present, in all material respects, the information called for with respect to such documents and accurately summarize, in all material respects, such documents.

     (viii) The statements in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as such statements constitute a summary of U.S. federal income tax laws (it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion as to statements of facts), and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein, accurately summarize in all material respects the U.S. federal income tax laws referred to therein.

     In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public or certified public accountants for the Company and with representatives of the Initial Purchaser at which the contents of the Offering Memorandum, and any supplements or amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Offering Memorandum (other than as specified above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, and the information disclosed to them, no facts have come to their attention that cause them to believe that either the Offering Memorandum or any amendments thereto, as of its date or at the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to the financial statements or schedules or other financial or statistical data set forth or referred to in the Offering Memorandum or any amendments or supplements thereto).

     In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the First Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchaser, shall expressly state that the Initial Purchaser may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Initial Purchaser) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchaser; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they

A3-2

believe that they and the Initial Purchaser are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

A3-3

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

March ľ, 2005

Banc of America Securities LLC
As Representative of the several Initial Purchasers

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry out an offering of Convertible Senior Notes (the “Offering”) for which you will act as the representative (the “Representative”) of the initial purchasers of the Offering. The Convertible Senior Notes will be convertible into shares of Common Stock. The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other initial purchasers are relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the Offering.

In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, (and will cause any spouse or immediate family member of the spouse of the undersigned living in the undersigned’s household not to), without the prior written consent of Banc of America Securities LLC (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by the undersigned (or such spouse or family member), or publicly

B-1

announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date 90 days after the date of the purchase agreement between the Company and the initial purchasers with respect to the Offering (the “Purchase Agreement”). The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to any Rule 10b5-1 plans existing on the date of the Purchase Agreement, (ii) the establishment after the date hereof of any new 10b5-1 plan or (iii) sales pursuant to existing forward sale arrangements between the undersigned and each of UBS Warburg LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston and Citibank NA; provided that, in the case of clause (ii), (a) no filing by any party under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such any such establishment and (b) no sale thereunder may be made during the lockup period. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

     This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the undersigned.

(and indicate capacity of person signing if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)

B-2