-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Sj++9LLLQHw7irv9N+t2nkbnc/RBE+hm42wAAwpu6vYYoCFd5P4PKCNtr8L6O5Eg stxvaIj9XgqnRrGOhJhfIw== 0000912057-01-544393.txt : 20020413 0000912057-01-544393.hdr.sgml : 20020413 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000912057-01-544393 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20011221 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20011221 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WESTERN GAS RESOURCES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000856716 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION [4922] IRS NUMBER: 841127613 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-75732 FILM NUMBER: 1821126 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 12200 N PECOS ST CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80234-3439 BUSINESS PHONE: 3034525603 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 12200 NORTH PECOS ST CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80234 S-8 1 a2066444zs-8.htm FORM S-8 Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2001

Registration No.    



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


WESTERN GAS RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE   84-1127613
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

12200 North Pecos Street
Denver, Colorado 80234
(303) 452-5603
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number
of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)


SHARES ISSUABLE TO PETER A. DEA UPON EXERCISE OF OUTSTANDING
STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED PURSUANT TO
AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
(Full Title of the Plan)


John C. Walter, Esq.
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Western Gas Resources, Inc.
12200 North Pecos Street
Denver, Colorado 80234
(303) 452-5603
(Name, Address and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Securities To Be Registered   Amount To Be
Registered(1)
  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per Share
  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price
  Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, including Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchase rights attached thereto(2)   300,000 shares(3)   $25.016(4)   $7,504,800(4)   $1,793.65

(1)
This registration statement, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), covers any additional shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share ("Common Stock"), of Western Gas Resources, Inc. (the "Registrant"), which become issuable under the stock option agreement set forth in note (3) below by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, exchange of shares or other similar transaction.

(2)
On March 22, 2001, the Board of Directors of the Registrant declared a dividend distribution of one Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchase right for each outstanding share of Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 9, 2001 (the "Record Date"). The description and terms of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchase rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated as of March 22, 2001, between the Registrant and Fleet National Bank, as Rights Agent. Until the occurrence of certain prescribed events, the rights are not exercisable, are evidenced by the certificates for the Common Stock and will be transferred only with the Common Stock. The value attributable to such rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of the Common Stock. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, such rights will also be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock that the Registrant issues after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (each as defined in the Rights Agreement). In respect of shares of Common Stock of the Registrant issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Rights Agreement states that the Registrant will, provided that certain circumstances are not present, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.

(3)
These shares of Common Stock are issuable to Peter A. Dea upon exercise of outstanding stock options granted pursuant to an employment agreement and a stock option agreement, each entered into between Peter A. Dea and the Registrant, at a per share exercise price of $25.016, which is $5.00 below the closing price per share for the Common Stock on October 15, 2001, the effective date of the employment agreement.

(4)
The proposed maximum offering price per share was estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h)(1) under the Act and was based on the price at which the options may be exercised pursuant to the employment agreement and the stock option agreement entered into between Peter A. Dea and the Registrant.





EXPLANATORY NOTE

    The Registrant has prepared this registration statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8 under the Act, to register shares of its Common Stock. Under cover of this Form S-8 is a reoffer prospectus that the Registrant prepared in accordance with Part I of Form S-3 under the Act. The reoffer prospectus may be utilized for reofferings and resales of up to 300,000 shares of common stock acquired by Peter A. Dea, the prospective selling stockholder, under an employment agreement and a stock option agreement, each entered into between Peter A. Dea and the Registrant. (In the event of a future anti-dilution adjustment relating to the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the options, the number of shares set forth in the reoffer prospectus will be appropriately adjusted.) The reoffer prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement, certain items of which are contained in schedules and exhibits to the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements contained in the reoffer prospectus as to the contents of any agreement, instrument or other document are not necessarily complete. With respect to each such agreement, instrument or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved, and each such statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such reference.

Reoffer Prospectus


300,000 Shares

Western Gas Resources, Inc.

Common Stock

    This reoffer prospectus relates to 300,000 shares of Western Gas Resources, Inc.'s common stock, par value $.10 per share, which may be offered for sale from time to time by the selling stockholder named herein. The selling stockholder may acquire the common stock in connection with an employment agreement and a stock option agreement. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by the selling stockholder.

    You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision. The prospectus supplement will describe the means of distribution for any shares of common stock sold by the selling stockholder. For general information about the distribution of the common stock offered, please see "Plan of Distribution" in this prospectus.

    Western's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "WGR".

    Investing in the common stock involves risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3.

    Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this Reoffer Prospectus is December 21, 2001.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE COMPANY

RISK FACTORS

USE OF PROCEEDS

SELLING STOCKHOLDER

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

LEGAL MATTERS

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

INDEMNIFICATION

    You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the selling stockholder have authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provided you with additional or different information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor the selling stockholder are making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate only as of their respective dates and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

    Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to "we," "us," and "our" refer to Western Gas Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries as a consolidated entity, while references to "Western" refer only Western Gas Resources, Inc. on a nonconsolidated basis.


THE COMPANY

    We are an independent gas gatherer and processor and an energy marketer providing a full range of services to our customers from the wellhead to the delivery point. We design, construct, own and operate natural gas gathering, processing, treating and storage facilities in major gas-producing basins in the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent, Gulf Coast and Southwestern regions of the United States. We connect producers' wells to our gathering systems for delivery to our processing or treating plants, process the natural gas to extract natural gas liquids ("NGLs") and treat the natural gas in order to meet pipeline specifications. We are a nationwide marketer of natural gas, NGLs and wholesale electric power, providing a full range of services including risk management, storage, transportation, scheduling and peaking services to a variety of customers. Western was incorporated in Delaware in 1989. Its principal offices are located at 12200 North Pecos Street, Denver, Colorado 80234-3439, and its telephone number is (303) 452-5603.


RISK FACTORS

    Prospective investors should carefully review the following factors together with the other information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement prior to making an investment decision.

Our future financial condition and results of operations are affected by volatile product prices and hedging transactions.

    Our future financial condition and results of operations will depend significantly upon the prices received for our natural gas and NGLs. Prices for natural gas and NGLs are subject to fluctuations in response to changes in supply, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control. These factors include the level of domestic production, the availability of imported oil and gas, actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations, the availability of transportation systems with adequate capacity, the availability of competitive fuels, fluctuating and seasonal demand for oil, gas and NGLs, conservation and the extent of governmental regulation of production and the overall economic environment. A substantial or extended decline in gas and/or NGL prices would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and access to capital.

    Our risk management policy is to enter into futures, swaps and option contracts primarily to reduce risk and lock-in profit margins on our marketing and storage activities. Over-the-counter derivatives, with creditworthy counterparties, also permit us to offer our gas customers alternate pricing and delivery mechanisms meeting their specific needs. To ensure a known price for future equity production and a fixed margin between gas injected into storage and gas withdrawn from storage, we typically will sell a futures contract and related basis swap and thereafter, either (i) make physical delivery of our product to comply with such futures contract and settle our basis swap or (ii) buy matching futures and basis position contracts to unwind our position and sell our production to a customer in the cash market. We also may contract to sell future production to a customer at a fixed price and then purchase futures contracts to lock-in a margin. These same techniques also may be utilized to manage price risk for product purchased from marketing customers. Such contracts may expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances where production is less than expected, our customers fail to purchase or deliver the contracted quantities of natural gas or NGLs or credit risk with derivatives counterparties. Furthermore, to the extent that we engage in hedging activities, we may be prevented from realizing the benefits of price increases above the levels of such hedges.

The uncertainties of gas supply may affect our ability to replace dedicated reserves.

    We must continually connect new wells to our gathering systems in order to maintain or increase throughput levels to offset natural declines in dedicated volumes. Historically, while certain individual plants have experienced declines in dedicated reserves, we have been successful in connecting additional reserves to more than offset the natural declines and reserves dedicated to existing facilities. There is no assurance that we will continue to be successful in replacing the dedicated reserves processed at our facilities.

Our estimates of oil and gas reserves are subject to numerous uncertainties.

    Our reserve estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved and probable reserves, the projection of future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures. The accuracy of such estimates is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Reserve estimates are imprecise and should be expected to change as additional information becomes available. Results of subsequent drilling, testing and production may cause either upward or downward revisions of previous estimates. In addition, the estimates of future net revenues from our proved reserves and the present value thereof are based upon certain assumptions about production levels, prices and costs, which may not be correct. Further, the volumes considered to be commercially recoverable fluctuate with changes in prices and operating costs. The meaningfulness of such estimates is highly dependent upon the accuracy of the assumptions upon which they were based. Actual results may differ materially from the results estimated. Our estimates of reserves dedicated to our gathering and processing facilities are calculated by our reservoir engineering staff and are based on publicly available data. These estimates may be less reliable than the reserve estimates made for our own producing properties since the data available for estimates of our own producing properties also includes our proprietary data.

Our ability to pay fixed charges and common stock dividends depends on many factors.

    Our financial and operational performance depends in part on prevailing economic conditions and on various financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our cash flows and capital resources will be sufficient to pay our fixed charges, including interest expense and common stock dividends.

Opportunities for expansion and availability of related financing are uncertain.

    In order for us to expand our business through either the purchase or construction of new gathering and processing facilities, we will be required to identify expansion opportunities and to finance such activities, using cash flow, equity or debt financing or a combination thereof. No assurance can be given that appropriate opportunities for expansion at levels of profitability which satisfy our target rates can be obtained or that financing on terms acceptable to us can be obtained. Natural gas and oil price volatility make it difficult to estimate the value of acquisitions and to budget and forecast the return on our projects. In addition, unusually volatile prices often disrupt the market for gas and oil properties, as buyers and sellers have more difficulty agreeing on the purchase price of properties.

The natural gas gathering, processing, treating and marketing businesses are highly competitive, and there can be no assurance that we can compete successfully with other companies in the industry.

    We compete with other companies in the gathering, processing, treating and marketing businesses both for supplies of natural gas and for customers for our natural gas and NGLs, and for the acquisition of leaseholds. Competition for natural gas supplies is primarily based on the efficiency and reliability of our services, the availability of transportation and the ability to obtain a satisfactory price for natural gas and NGLs. Our competitors for obtaining additional gas supplies, for gathering and

processing gas and for marketing gas and NGLs include national and local gas gatherers, brokers, marketers and distributors of various sizes, financial resources and experience. For marketing customers that have the capability of using alternative fuels, such as oil and coal, we also compete based primarily on price and availability of such alternative fuels. Our competitors for obtaining leaseholds include major and large independent oil companies as well as smaller independent oil companies and brokers. Competition for sales customers is primarily based upon reliability and price of deliverable natural gas and NGLs. We have experienced narrowing margins related to third-party sales due to the increasing availability of pricing information in the natural gas industry. Suppliers in our gas marketing transactions may request additional security such as letters of credit that are not required of certain of our competitors. If the additional security is required, our marketing margins and volumes may be adversely impacted.

The construction and operation of our gathering systems, plants and other facilities are subject to environmental laws and regulations that could affect our financial position or results of operations.

    The construction and operation of our gathering systems, plants and other facilities used for the gathering, transporting, processing, treating or storing of natural gas and NGLs are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those that can impose obligations to clean-up hazardous substances at our facilities or at facilities to which the we send wastes for disposal. In most instances, the applicable regulatory requirements relate to water and air pollution control or waste management. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with applicable material environmental laws and regulations. Environmental regulation can increase the cost of planning, designing, constructing and operating our facilities or well sites.

    Under the Clean Air Act, as amended, individual states are required to adopt regulations to implement the operating permit program. We do not believe that compliance with the Clean Air Act will require any material capital expenditures, although it will cause increased permitting costs in future years and will increase certain operating costs, such as emissions fees, on an on-going basis. We do not believe that such cost increases will have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

    We believe that it is reasonably likely that the trend in environmental legislation and regulation will continue to be towards stricter standards. We are unaware of future environmental standards that are reasonably likely to be adopted that will have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations, but cannot rule out that possibility.

Our business is subject to numerous other operational risks.

    Numerous risks affect drilling activities, including the risk of drilling non-productive wells or dry holes. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells and of installing production facilities and pipelines is often uncertain. Also, our drilling operations could diminish or cease because of any of the following:

    title problems;

    weather conditions;

    noncompliance with or changes in governmental requirements or regulations;

    shortage or delays in the delivery or availability of equipment; and

    failure or delays in obtaining permits from regulatory agencies, such as those issued by the Bureau of Land Management and various state agencies, for our operations in a timely manner.

Regulations may have a significant impact upon our overall operations.

    Many aspects of our gathering, processing, marketing and transportation of natural gas and NGLs are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations which can have a significant impact upon our overall operations. As a processor and marketer of natural gas and NGLs, we depend on the transportation and storage services offered by various interstate and intrastate pipeline companies for the delivery and sale of our own gas supplies as well as those we process and/or market for others. Both the performance of transportation and storage services by interstate pipelines and the rates charged for such services are subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state regulatory agencies. An inability to obtain transportation and/or storage services at competitive rates can hinder our processing and marketing operations and/or affect our sales margins.

    In addition, the construction of additional gathering and processing facilities and the development of natural gas reserves require permits from several federal, state and local agencies. In the past we have been successful in receiving all permits necessary to conduct our operations. There can be no assurance, however, that permits in the future will be obtainable or issued in a timely fashion or that the terms of any permits will be compatible with our business plans.

Operational risks may result in curtailment or suspension of operations.

    We are subject to various hazards which are inherent in the industry in which we operate such as explosions, product spills, leaks and fires, acts of sabotage or terrorism, each of which could cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment, and pollution or other environmental damage, and may result in curtailment or suspension of operations at the affected facility. We maintain physical damage, comprehensive general liability, workers' compensation and business interruption insurance. Such insurance is subject to deductibles that we consider reasonable. We are not fully insured against all risks in our business, however, we believe that the coverage we maintain is adequate and consistent with other companies in the industry. Consistent with insurance coverage typically available to the natural gas industry, our insurance policies do not provide coverage for losses or liabilities relating to pollution, except for sudden and accidental occurrences.


USE OF PROCEEDS

    All proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered hereby will be for the account of the selling stockholder. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale from time to time of the common stock offered hereby. All expenses of registration incurred in connection with this offering are being borne by us, but all selling and other expenses incurred by the selling stockholder will be borne by such selling stockholder.


SELLING STOCKHOLDER

    The table below presents information with respect to the selling stockholder, Peter A. Dea, who is Western's Chief Executive Officer and President and a member of its Board of Directors. The table sets forth the number of shares of common stock that such selling stockholder may (i) acquire through exercise of stock options granted under an employment agreement and a stock option agreement, each entered into between the selling stockholder and Western, and (ii) offer for sale under this prospectus. Information regarding the selling stockholder, including the number of shares offered for sale, may change from time to time and any changed information will be set forth in a prospectus supplement to the extent required. The address of the selling stockholder is in care of Western at 12200 North Pecos Street, Denver, Colorado 80234-3439.

Name of Selling Stockholder

  Beneficial Ownership
Before Offering

  Percentage of
Outstanding(1)

  Number of Shares of
Common Stock Covered by
This Reoffer Prospectus

Peter A. Dea   300,000   0.92 % 300,000

(1)
Beneficial ownership is based upon 32,669,888 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 1, 2001, as reported in Western's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.

    The selling stockholder may from time to time sell under this prospectus any or all of the shares of common stock owned by him. Because the selling stockholder is not obligated to sell the shares of common stock held by him, we cannot estimate the number of shares of common stock that the selling stockholder will beneficially own after this offering.


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    The shares of common stock covered by this reoffer prospectus are being registered by us for the account of the selling stockholder.

    The selling stockholder may sell the shares in one or more transactions (which may involve one or more block transactions) on the New York Stock Exchange, in sales occurring in the public market off such system, in privately negotiated transactions or in a combination of such transactions. Each such sale may be made either at market prices prevailing at the time of such sale or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholder may sell some or all of the shares in transactions involving broker-dealers, who may act as agent or acquire the shares as principal. Any broker-dealer participating in such transactions as agent may receive commissions from the selling stockholder (and, if they act as agent for the purchaser of such shares, from such purchaser). The selling stockholder will pay usual and customary brokerage fees. Broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified number of shares at a stipulated price per share and, to the extent such a broker-dealer is unable to do so acting as agent for the selling stockholder, to purchase as principals any unsold shares at the price required to fulfill the respective broker-dealer's commitment to the selling stockholder. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principals may thereafter resell such shares from time to time in transactions (which may involve cross and block transactions and which may involve sales to and through other broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above) in the over-the-counter market, negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices, and in connection with such resales may pay to or receive from the purchasers of such shares commissions.

    To our knowledge, there is currently no agreement with any broker or dealer respecting the sale of the shares offered hereby. Upon the sale of any such shares, the selling stockholder or anyone effecting sales on behalf of the selling stockholder may be deemed an underwriter, as that term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    We will pay all costs relating to the registration of the shares of common stock and the preparation and reproduction of this reoffer prospectus. However, any commissions or other fees payable to broker-dealers in connection with any sale of the shares will be borne by the selling stockholder or other party selling such shares. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by the selling stockholder.

    In order to comply with certain states' securities laws, if applicable, the shares will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In certain states the shares may not be sold unless the shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state, or unless an exemption form registration or qualification is available and is obtained.


LEGAL MATTERS

    John C. Walter, who is giving an opinion regarding the legality of the securities registered hereby, is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Western Gas Resources, Inc. As of December 21, 2001, Mr. Walter owned 41,887 shares of Western's common stock and options to purchase 68,900 shares of Western's common stock.


INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

    The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Western Gas Resources, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2000, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.


AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    Western is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy and information statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such reports, proxy and information statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Western. Western's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. These reports, proxy and information statements and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

    The SEC allows "incorporation by reference" into this prospectus of information that Western files with the SEC. This permits Western to disclose important information to you by referencing these filed documents. Any information referenced in this way is considered part of this prospectus, and any information filed with the SEC subsequent to the date of this prospectus will automatically be deemed to update and supersede this information. Western incorporates by reference the following documents which have been filed with the SEC:

    Registration Statement on Form 8-A relating to registration of shares of Western's common stock and Registration Statement on Form 8-A relating to registration of Western's Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchase rights;

    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000;

    Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2001, June 30, 2001 and September 30, 2001;

    Current Reports on Form 8-K dated March 22, 2001 and October 17, 2001; and

    Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 18, 2001.

    Western incorporates by reference the documents listed above and any future filings made with the SEC in accordance with Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.

    Western will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference herein (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to John C. Walter, Executive Vice President, Western Gas Resources, Inc., 12200 North Pecos Street, Denver, Colorado 80234-3439 (telephone (303) 452-5603).


INDEMNIFICATION

    Western's Bylaws incorporate substantially the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware providing for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees, and agents against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of Western. In addition, Western is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers providing mandatory indemnification to them to the maximum extent permissible under Delaware law. Western has entered into such an indemnification agreement with the selling stockholder.

    As permitted under Delaware law, Western's Certificate of Incorporation provides for the elimination of the personal liability of a director to the corporation and its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of the director's fiduciary duty of care. The provision is limited to monetary damages, applies only to a director's actions while acting within his capacity as a director, and does not entitle Western to limit director liability for any judgment resulting from (a) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to Western or its stockholders; (b) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (c) paying an illegal dividend or approving an illegal stock repurchase; or (d) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. In addition, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides generally that a person sued as a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation may be indemnified by the corporation for expenses, including counsel fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if in the case of other than derivative suits, the person has acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation (and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct was unlawful). In the case of a derivative suit, a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation who is not protected by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be indemnified by the corporation for expenses, including counsel fees, actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person has acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in the case of a derivative suit in respect of any claim as to which a director, officer, employee or agent has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for proper expenses. Indemnification is mandatory in the case of a present or former director or officer who is successful on the merits in defense of a suit against such person.

    Western also maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance. Such coverage is limited by the specific terms and provisions of the insurance policies.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to directors, officers and persons controlling Western pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Western has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Western of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Western in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Western will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

    The following documents are incorporated by reference in this registration statement:

    (a) The Registrant's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").

    (b) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual report referred to in (a) above.

    (c) The descriptions of the Common Stock and Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchase rights which are contained in the Registrant's registration statements filed under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.

    All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

    Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

    John C. Walter, who is giving an opinion regarding the legality of the securities registered hereby, is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Registrant. As of December 21, 2001, Mr. Walter owned 41,887 shares of Common Stock and options to purchase 68,900 shares of Common Stock.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

    The Registrant's Bylaws incorporate substantially the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware providing for indemnification of directors, officers, employees, and agents of the Registrant against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of the Registrant. In addition, the Registrant is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers providing mandatory indemnification to them to the maximum extent permissible under Delaware law. The Registrant has entered into such an indemnification agreement with the selling stockholder.

    As permitted under Delaware law, the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides for the elimination of the personal liability of a director to the corporation and its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of the director's fiduciary duty of care. The provision is limited to monetary damages, applies only to a director's actions while acting within his capacity as a director, and does not entitle the Registrant to limit director liability for any judgment resulting from (a) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders; (b) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (c) paying an illegal dividend or approving an illegal stock repurchase; or (d) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. In addition, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides generally that a person sued as a director, officer, employee or agent of a

corporation may be indemnified by the corporation for expenses, including counsel fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if in the case of other than derivative suits, the person has acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation (and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct was unlawful). In the case of a derivative suit, a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation who is not protected by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be indemnified by the corporation for expenses, including counsel fees, actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person has acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in the case of a derivative suit in respect of any claim as to which a director, officer, employee or agent has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for proper expenses. Indemnification is mandatory in the case of a present or former director or officer who is successful on the merits in defense of a suit against such person.

    The Registrant also maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance. Such coverage is limited by the specific terms and provisions of the insurance policies.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

    Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

    The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement.

Exhibit Number
  Description
4.1   The Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-31604, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2

 

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-31604, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3

 

Certificate of Designation of 7.25% Cumulative Senior Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-43077, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.4

 

Certificate of Designation of the $2.28 Cumulative Preferred Stock of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit 3.6 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-53786, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.5

 

Certificate of Designation of the $2.625 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant (Filed under cover of Form 8-K, dated February 24, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.6

 

The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, adopted on October 12, 2001, and in effect on the date hereof (Filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.7

 

Rights Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2001, between the Registrant and Fleet National Bank (f/k/a Bank Boston, NA), as Rights Agent, including the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock as Exhibit C. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, printed Rights Certificates will not be mailed until after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) (Filed as Exhibit 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (No. 001-10389), dated March 29, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).

5.1

 

Opinion of John C. Walter, as to the legality of the Common Stock offered hereby.

23.1

 

Consent of John C. Walter (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

23.2

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney.

99.1

 

Employment Agreement, as amended, dated October 15, 2001, between the Registrant and Peter A. Dea, including the Stock Option Agreement attached as an exhibit thereto (included as part of Exhibit 99.1 hereto).

Item 9. Undertakings.

    (a)
    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

    (1)
    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement:

    (i)
    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

    (ii)
    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and

    (iii)
    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

    provided, however, that paragraph (a)(1)(i) and (a) (1) (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

      (2)
      That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)
      To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

    (b)
    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (c)
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed in its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on this 21st day of December, 2001.

    WESTERN GAS RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ 
JOHN C. WALTER   
Name: John C. Walter
Title: Executive Vice President

    KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature to this Registration Statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints John C. Walter and William J. Krysiak, or either of them, as such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to the Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and does hereby grant unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any substitute therefor, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ PETER A. DEA   
Peter A. Dea
  Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   December 21, 2001

/s/ 
BRION G. WISE   
Brion G. Wise

 

Chairman of the Board and Director

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
WALTER L. STONEHOCKER   
Walter L. Stonehocker

 

Vice Chairman of the Board and Director

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
WILLIAM J. KRYSIAK   
William J. Krysiak

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
LANNY F. OUTLAW   
Lanny F. Outlaw

 

Director

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
DEAN PHILLIPS   
Dean Phillips

 

Director

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
JOSEPH E. REID   
Joseph E. Reid

 

Director

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
RICHARD B. ROBINSON   
Richard B. Robinson

 

Director

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
WARD SAUVAGE   
Ward Sauvage

 

Director

 

December 21, 2001

/s/ 
JAMES A. SENTY   
James A. Senty

 

Director

 

December 21, 2001


EX-5.1 3 a2066444zex-5_1.htm EXHIBIT 5.1 Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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EXHIBIT 5.1

Western Gas Resources, Inc.
12200 N. Pecos Street
Denver, CO 80234

                        December 21, 2001

Western Gas Resources, Inc.
12200 North Pecos Street
Denver, Colorado 80234

Gentlemen:

    I am the general counsel for Western Gas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and am delivering this opinion in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of the Corporation (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), relating to the registration by the Corporation of an aggregate of 300,000 shares of the Corporation's common stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Common Stock"), to be issued pursuant to options granted under the Employment Agreement, dated October 15, 2001, between Peter A. Dea and the Corporation (the "Employment Agreement") and the Stock Option Agreement, dated November 1, 2001, between Peter A. Dea and the Corporation (the "Option Agreement" and, together with the Employment Agreement, the "Agreements").

    This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601 (b) (5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.

    In connection with this opinion, I have examined the originals or copies certified or otherwise authenticated to my satisfaction of such corporate records of the Corporation, of certificates of public officials and of officers of the Corporation, and of other agreements, instruments or documents as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions contained herein. I have also reviewed the Registration Statement.

    In my examination, I have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making my examination of documents executed by parties other than the Corporation, I have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and that such documents constitute valid and binding obligations of such parties. As to any facts material to this opinion that I did not independently establish or verify, I have relied upon certificates, statements and representations of officers, trustees and other representatives of the Corporation and others.

    I am a member of the Bar of the State of Colorado and do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other state or jurisdiction. Insofar as opinions herein expressed relate to matters governed by Delaware law, I have relied solely upon a reading of applicable statutes and records of the Corporation and certificates of public officials.

    Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, I advise you that, in my opinion:

    1.  The Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

    2.  The shares of Common Stock initially issuable pursuant to the Agreements have been duly authorized by the Corporation and, when issued and sold by the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the Agreements, will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable.

    I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the reference to me under the heading "Legal Matters" and under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. As of December 21, 2001, I owned 41,887 shares of Common Stock and options to purchase 68,900 shares of Common Stock.

                        Respectfully submitted,
                        /s/ John C. Walter, Esquire



                        John C. Walter, Esquire
                        General Counsel



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EX-23.2 4 a2066444zex-23_2.htm EXHIBIT 23.2 Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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EXHIBIT 23.2


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

    We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 23, 2001 relating to the financial statements, which appear in Western Gas Resources, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Independent Accountants" in such Registration Statement.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Denver, Colorado
December 21, 2001



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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
EX-99.1 5 a2066444zex-99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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EXHIBIT 99.1


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

    THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement is made effective as of the October 15, 2001, by and between Western Gas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation" or "Company"), and Peter A. Dea, (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee").

WITNESSETH:

    A.  The Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates (the "Western Companies") acquire, design, construct and operate natural gas gathering and processing facilities, market, store and transport natural gas, natural gas liquids and sulfur, market electrical power and explore for, develop, and produce oil and gas.

    B.  The Corporation desires to employ Employee as its Chief Executive Officer and President and Employee has agreed to accept such position upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

    1.  Employment. Corporation hereby employs the Employee and the Employee hereby accepts such employment with the Corporation upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. The Employee's employment shall commence on November 1, 2001, and continue until May 31, 2005 unless it is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 12 hereof. Employee's employment may be extended, from time to time, by a written agreement signed by both parties.

    2.  Powers, Duties and Responsibilities.

        a.  Employee shall devote his full time, attention and effort to the business of the Western Companies during the Corporation's normal business hours and during such other times as are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of his responsibilities hereunder, provided that Employee may serve as an outside director for Echo Star, and as a committee member, director, or trustee of selected nonprofit organizations, as long as such activities don't interfere with the performance of his duties under this Agreement.

        b.  Employee's primary duties shall be to act as Chief Executive Officer and President and shall perform the duties customarily associated with such position.

        c.  The Employee shall perform his duties at the Corporation's headquarters in Denver, Colorado.

    3.  Compensation and Bonus.

        a.  For all of the services rendered by Employee pursuant to this Agreement, the Corporation shall pay the Employee an annual base salary of not less than $475,000 (hereinafter referred to as ("Compensation"), payable in accordance with the Corporation's normal pay practices during the term of Employee's employment. In no event shall Employee's current annual base salary be decreased, but it may, from time to time be increased at the discretion of Corporation during the term of this Agreement. The Compensation shall be paid on a calendar-year basis, and shall be pro rated for any partial year.

        b.  In addition to the Employee's Compensation, the Corporation shall pay to the Employee a bonus (the "Incentive Bonus") for each calendar year during the term of his employment, of between fifty-five percent (55%) and one hundred ten percent (110%) of Employee's

    Compensation paid for such calendar year. The payment of any bonus will be dependent upon whether the actual financial performance of the Corporation meets the budget projections adopted by the Board of Directors for such calendar year. If the Corporation fails to meet its minimum budget expectations, Employee will not receive any Incentive Bonus for that calendar year. Except in the case of death or disability, Employee must be employed by the Corporation at the end of the calendar year (or May 31, 2005, in the case of the last year of this Agreement) in order to receive an Incentive Bonus for that year. The Incentive Bonus for calendar year 2001 shall be based on the Compensation paid to Employee in such year. The criteria for determining the amount of the Incentive Bonus shall be determined by mutual agreement between the Employee and the Board of Directors within 60 days of the effective date of this Agreement. The bonus shall be paid within 60 days following the end of the calendar year.

    4.  Officer Insurance Coverage—Costs of Defense. During the term of Employee's employment and for two (2) years thereafter, the Corporation shall provide to Employee officer liability insurance coverage to cover any claims that may be made arising from his past, present, or future activities on behalf of the Western Companies, in the same manner as such insurance is provided to the other officers of the Corporation, provided that such insurance coverage is available to the Corporation at a reasonable cost. Thereafter, if the Employee wants continuing officer liability insurance coverage, he shall be responsible for the cost thereof.

    5.  Cooperation With Respect to Investigations, Claims or Litigation. During the term of Employee's employment and at all times thereafter, should a Western Company become involved in any investigation, claim, or litigation relating to or arising out of Employee's past, present, or future duties with a Western Company or with respect to any matters which the Employee has knowledge, Employee agrees to fully, and in good faith, cooperate with the Corporation with respect to such investigation, claim, or litigation. The Corporation shall reimburse Employee for his reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred to provide such cooperation.

    6.  Indemnification Agreement. Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference is an Indemnification Agreement by and between the Corporation and the Employee. The Corporation and the Employee each agree to execute and deliver such Indemnification Agreement concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement. To the extent any provision set forth in the Indemnification Agreement is in conflict with any provision set forth in this Agreement, the provision set forth in the Indemnification Agreement shall govern.

    7.  Employee Benefits.

        a.  During the term of employment, Employee shall be eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans maintained by the Corporation, in accordance with the provisions of such plans, as such plans may be changed from time to time. Employee shall receive five (5) weeks of paid vacation per year, to be taken at such time and manner as to not unreasonably interfere with the performance of his duties. Employee shall have all other benefits provided to or received by other executives of the Company.

        b.  Pursuant to, and as more fully explained in, the stock option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B and executed herewith, Corporation will provide Employee with 300,000 stock options to purchase common stock of the Corporation, at an exercise price equal to five dollars ($5.00) below the closing price for the Company's stock on the effective date of this Employment

    Agreement (October 15, 2001), with vesting of the stock options to occur over a four year period, in accordance with the following schedule:

Year of Service
Completed

  Percentage of
Options Vested

 
1   25 %
2   25 %
3   25 %
4   25 %

For these purposes, a Year of Service shall be 12 months of full-time employment with the Company during a period beginning September 1, and ending August 31. Employee must be employed on the last day of any such 12-month period in order to have completed a year of service. The Employee hereby agrees and acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement guarantees him the right to any additional grant of stock options. However, the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may grant additional stock options to Employee. Employee shall receive registered stock upon the exercise of his options.

    8.  Confidential Information. Employee acknowledges that pursuant to the employment hereunder, Employee occupies a position of trust and confidence. Accordingly, in order to facilitate the performance of this Agreement and the activities contemplated by this Agreement, the Western Companies may disclose to Employee or Employee may develop or obtain certain proprietary or confidential information of the Western Companies. During Employee's employment hereunder and for a period of one (1) year therefrom, Employee hereby agrees not to use or to disclose to any person, other than in the discharge of his duties under this Agreement, any "proprietary or confidential" information of the Western Companies, including, but not limited to, any information concerning the business operations, business strategies, or internal structure of the Western Companies, the customers or clients of the Western Companies, any acquisition strategies of the Western Companies, the gas and other products, marketing or transportation strategies of the Western Companies, its subsidiaries or affiliates, the terms of any gas gathering, processing, marketing, or transportation contracts entered into by the Western Companies, past, present or future research done by the Western Companies respecting the business or operations of the Western Companies, or customers or clients or potential customers or clients of the Western Companies, personnel data of the Western Companies, product or process knowledge, the Employee's work performed for, or relating to or for, any customer or client of any Western Company or the gas or other product pricing for any customer or client of any Western Company, any method or procedure relating or pertaining to projects developed by any Western Company or contemplated by any Western Company to be developed, or any gas gathering, processing, drilling, marketing, transportation project which any Western Company is developing, or any plans or strategy related to the foregoing Information shall not be deemed to be Confidential Information for purposes of this Agreement which: (i) is or hereafter becomes publicly known through no act or omission of the Employee; (ii) is received by Employee without restriction on disclosure from a third party who disclosed the information without violating any restriction on confidentiality or disclosure; (iii) is independently developed by Employee without reference to the Confidential Information and without violation of any confidentiality restriction; or (iv) is divulged by Employee pursuant to statute, regulation, or the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that Employee previously notifies the Corporation so as to allow the Corporation to take appropriate protective measures.

    If the Employee violates this agreement of confidentiality, the Corporation shall, in addition to any other remedy provided by law, be permitted to pursue an action for injunctive relief, monetary damages, or both. The Employee acknowledges that all such information constitutes confidential and/or proprietary information of the Western Companies and agrees that such information shall be kept confidential, such information shall be used solely for the purpose of performing the obligations

hereunder or activities contemplated by this Agreement, and that he shall not otherwise disclose or make use of such information, except in response to a court order.

    9.  Non-Solicitation. During Employee's employment hereunder and for a period of six (6) months thereafter, Employee shall not engage in any of the following: (a) hire, offer to hire (or participate in the hiring or offer to hire of) any officer or employee of any Western Company; or (b) directly solicit any current customer of the Corporation at any time during Employee's term of employment with the Corporation. Provided, however, these restrictions shall not apply after a Change of Control, as defined in paragraph 15(a)(2) or as provided in paragraph 17(a). This provision, however, shall not be construed to require the Employee to violate any law forbidding anti-competitive practices or any law regarding anti-trust.

    In addition, nothing contained herein shall prevent Employee from hiring any officer or employee of any Western Company as a result of a general solicitation in a publicly-available publication, including the internet. In the event Employee violates this non-solicitation provision, the Western Company shall, in addition to any other remedy provided by law, be permitted to pursue an action for injunctive relief, monetary damages, or both.

    10. Ownership of Documents. All information, drawings, documents and materials whether in writing, on computer disks, computer hard drive, on magnetic tape or otherwise prepared by the Employee in connection with his employment, or which Employee obtains in the course of or as result of his employment by the Corporation shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation and will be delivered to the Corporation by the Employee on the earlier of a demand by the Corporation or promptly after termination of his employment hereunder, together with all written, computer, magnetic tape or other evidence of the information, drawings, document and materials, if any, furnished by any Western Company to the Employee in connection with the Employee's employment.

    11. Agreement Not To Compete. The parties hereto recognize that the Employee is retained by the Corporation as part of a professional, management and executive staff of the Corporation whose duties include the formulation and execution of management policy. Therefore, the Employee hereby agrees that during the term of his employment hereunder and for a period of six (6) months after the termination of employment, he shall not act or engage in material competition with the activities of or plans of any Western Company as they exist up to the time of the Employee's termination of employment; provided, however, that this agreement not to compete shall terminate in the event of a Change of Control of the Corporation or as provided in paragraph 17. Material competition by the Employee shall mean that the Employee is involved in any business or investment activity, in any capacity including but not limited to an employee, consultant, advisor, agent, shareholder, independent contractor, investor, partner, member, owner or otherwise, which activity directly competes with or has a material adverse economic effect on any of the material business activities or business plans of any Western Company. Material competition shall not include any activity involving the gathering and processing business that is not within 25 miles of one of the Western Companies' existing or planned gathering, processing or generation facilities; an activity involving the storage or hub business for natural gas or natural gas liquids that is not within 100 miles of an existing or planned storage facility of any Western Company; and/or an activity involving the purchase of oil or gas leases, the farming in of such leases or any similar arrangement, that is not within five (5) miles of the boundaries of an existing oil or gas lease of any Western Company. In the event the Employee violates this agreement not to compete, the Corporation shall, in addition to any other remedies provided by law, be permitted to pursue an action for injunctive relief (preliminary or permanent), monetary damages, or both. Provided, however, these restrictions shall not apply after a Change of Control, as defined in paragraph 15(a)(2) or as set forth in paragraph 17.

    12. Termination of Employment. Employee's employment pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate upon the first to occur of the following events:

        a.  The Employee's death.

        b.  The Employee's disability, as that term is defined pursuant to the Corporation's disability insurance plan covering its officers.

        c.  The Employee's written election to terminate employment, to be effective ninety (90) days thereafter unless an earlier effective date is specified by the Corporation, with or without Good Reason.

        d.  The Corporation's written election to terminate Employee's employment without "cause."

        e.  The Corporation's written election to terminate the Employee's employment "for cause."

    Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, a termination of employment is for "Cause" if the Employee has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude or the termination is evidenced by a resolution adopted in good faith by two-thirds of the Board that the Employee (a) intentionally and continually failed substantially to perform his reasonably assigned duties with the Company (other than a failure resulting from the Employee's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or from the Employee's assignment of duties that would constitute "Good reason" as hereinafter defined) which failure continued for a period of at least thirty days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been delivered to the Employee specifying the manner in which the Employee has failed substantially to perform, or (b) intentionally engaged in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company; provided, however, that no termination of the Employee's employment shall be for Cause until (x) there shall have been delivered to the Employee a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Employee was guilty of the conduct set forth in this section and specifying the particulars thereof in detail, and (y) the Employee shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard in person by the Board (with the assistance of the Employee's counsel if the Employee so desires). Neither an act nor a failure to act, on the Employee's part shall be considered "intentional" unless the Employee has acted or failed to act with a lack of good faith and with a lack of reasonable belief that the Employee's action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no failure to perform by the Employee if Employee has terminated for good reason shall constitute Cause for purposes of this Agreement.

    13. [Section Intentionally Omitted].

    14. Employee's Rights and Obligations Upon Death or Disability. If the Employee's employment is terminated as a result of death or disability, then the Employee shall be entitled to the following in full satisfaction of all of his rights under this Agreement or at law:

        a.  Employee's Right to Compensation and Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to the pro-rata share of Compensation and employee benefits, if any, which have been earned but not paid through the date of Employee's death or disability. Employee shall only be entitled to such additional bonus, if any, which has been previously authorized by the Board of Directors, but has not been paid as of the date of Employee's death or disability. For purposes of this Agreement, a bonus shall be deemed to be authorized on the date that the Board of Directors fixes the criteria to be met in order for the Employee to earn his bonus.

        b.  Employee's Obligations. Notwithstanding such termination of employment, if the Employee is terminated as a result of disability, Employee shall remain bound by the provisions of paragraphs 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof.

    15. Employee's Rights and Obligations Upon Termination of Employment By the Corporation Without Cause or By Employee for Good Reason. If Employee's employment is terminated by the Corporation without cause pursuant to Section 12(d) herein or by the Employee for Good Reason, then Employee shall be entitled to the following in full satisfaction of his rights under this Agreement or at law:

        a.  Severance Pay.

          (1) Employee shall be entitled to severance pay in an amount equal to his most recent Compensation, plus his Incentive Bonus for the calendar year preceding such termination of employment. Such severance pay will be payable in accordance with the Corporation's normal pay practices over the 12 months following such termination of employment.

          (2) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, in the event Employee's employment is terminated without cause within one year after a Change of Control of the Corporation (as hereinafter defined), then the Employee shall be entitled to severance pay equal to the sum of three times his most recent Compensation and three times his Incentive Bonus for the calendar year preceding such termination of employment, reduced by any Compensation or severance pay paid or earned but not yet paid to the Employee after the date the Change of Control of the Corporation occurred and before the date of termination of employment. Severance pay pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the Employee in a lump sum within 60 days following termination without cause following Change of Control of the Corporation.

          (3) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, in the event Employee's employment is terminated without cause within one year after a Change of Control of the Corporation (as hereinafter defined), then Employee shall receive either of the following for unvested stock options previously granted to Employee:

            (i)  in the event of a Change of Control in which the Corporation is acquired in a cash purchase, then Employee shall receive a lump sum payment constituting the positive difference between the exercise price of unvested stock options previously granted to Employee and the transaction price of common stock to be paid at Closing; or

            (ii) in the event of a Change of Control in which the Corporation is acquired in a stock purchase, then Employee's stock options which have not vested prior to termination without cause shall be converted to an amount of unqualified options of the acquiring corporation's stock at the original grant price to Employee based upon the conversion rate of the acquiring corporation's stock on the acquisition date, provided such option plan contains the same material terms and conditions as the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto.

          (4) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, in the event Employee's employment is terminated without cause within sixty (60) days prior to the release of a press release, regarding a Change of Control of the Corporation, then the Employee shall be entitled to severance pay equal to three times his Compensation and Incentive Bonus for the preceding 12-month period, reduced by any Compensation or severance pay paid or payable to the Employee after the date of termination and before the date the Change of Control of the Corporation occurred. Severance pay pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable to the Employee within 60 days following such termination of employment, but before the date of the Change of Control of the Corporation).

          (5) For purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control of the Corporation" means the acquisition by any person or persons acting in concert (including corporations, partnerships, associations or unincorporated organizations), of legal ownership or beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission

      and now in effect under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended), of a number of voting shares of capital stock of the Corporation greater than the number of voting shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are then owned, both legally and beneficially (as defined above), by Brion G. Wise, Bill M. Sanderson, Walter L. Stonehocker, Dean Phillips, Ward Sauvage, their immediate families and the companies through which they and their immediate families hold ownership in the Corporation ("the Founders"). None of the Founders shall be counted among those persons acting in concert to acquire ownership unless such Founder, acting in concert with an acquiring person or group (an "Acquiring Group Founder"), votes against the other Founders in an election for the Board of Directors or the modification of the Corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws or in the vote to accept or reject a plan of merger, sale of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or similar proposal. The shares of an Acquiring Group Founder shall be counted in the acquiring group's shares and shall not be counted in the shares of the Founders who are not Acquiring Group Founders.

    "Change of Control" shall also be deemed to have occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 20% or more of the total voting power represented by the Corporation's then outstanding Voting Securities, or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Corporation and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (ether by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Corporation of (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets.

    For purposes of this paragraph, the term Voting Securities means any securities of the Corporation which vote generally in the election of directors.

          (6) In the event of a Change of Control of the Corporation which is not followed by a termination of the Employee without cause, Employee shall continue to serve the Corporation by the performance of the job and duties described in paragraph 2 hereof, and the Employee shall be employed in the Corporation's offices in Denver, Colorado.

        b.  Employee's Right to Compensation and Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to the pro rata share of Compensation and employee benefits, if any, which have been earned but not paid through the date of termination of employment. Employee shall only be entitled to such additional bonus, if any, which has been previously authorized by the Board of Directors, but has not been paid as of the date of termination of employment.

        c.  Employee's Obligations. Notwithstanding such termination of employment, Employee shall remain bound by the provisions of paragraphs 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof; provided, however, that the Agreement Not to Compete in paragraph 11 shall not apply if there has been a Change of Control.

        d.  Stock Options. Employee's nonvested stock options shall become one hundred percent (100%) vested upon a termination of employment by the Corporation without cause or by Employee with Good Reason. Employee shall have in all events three (3) months in which to exercise his options in the event of his termination unless he is terminated for cause by the Corporation or unless Employee terminates this Agreement without Good Reason.

        e.  Golden Parachute Payments. In the event that there is a Determination (as defined below) that Employee is subject to any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or otherwise by reason of (a) any payment or distribution by the Company or its affiliated companies to or for the benefit of Employee (b) the vesting of any stock options awarded to or for the benefit of Employee by the Company or any of its affiliated companies, (c) any other fact or circumstance arising in connection with this Agreement or Employee's employment with the Company (such excise tax, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect thereto, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall make a payment to Employee (the "Grossed-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by Employee of all taxes (including any interest and penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including without limitation, any income taxes and excise taxes, imposed upon the Grossed-Up Payment the Employee shall retain an amount of the Grossed-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax. The Company shall engage at its expense an outside accounting firm to determine whether Employee is subject to an Excise Tax, the amount of such Excise Tax, and the amount of any Grossed-Up Payment due to Employee pursuant to this paragraph, as well as the underlying assumptions used to make these determinations (the "Determination"). This Determination shall be made within 10 business days of the receipt of notice from Employee or the Corporation that there may have been an event giving rise to a liability for Excise Tax, and the Corporation shall pay the Employee the Grossed-Up Payment within five days of the receipt of the Determination. If any of the assumptions used in making the Determination subsequently proves to be incorrect, inaccurate, or otherwise in error, and if by reason thereof Employee is obligated to pay more in taxes, interest and penalties, than was assumed in the Determination, Employee shall notify the Corporation of such fact, and the Corporation shall request the outside accounting firm to recompute the amount of the Grossed-Up Payment due to Employee using the correct facts (the "Revised Determination"). This Revised Determination shall be made within 10 business days of the receipt of the notice from Employee, and the Corporation shall pay the Employee the difference between the Grossed-Up Payment as computed under the Revised Determination, and the Grossed-Up Payment as computed under the original Determination, within five days of the receipt of the Revised Determination with the result that Employee is held harmless on an after-tax basis for any excise or income tax (including resulting interest and penalties).

        e.  "Good Reason" shall mean any of the following events which have not been cured by the Corporation within 30 days of the Corporation's receiving notice thereof from Employee: (i) any material breach by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement, including the failure of the Corporation to pay Employee the salary or bonus, if any, or to provide the benefits, if any, in accordance with this Agreement; (ii) any material diminishment in Employee's status, title, duties, functions, responsibilities or authority or a change that requires Employee to report to someone other than the Board, or a material reduction of base salary or benefits; or (iii) the Corporation's requiring Employee to be based anywhere other than within twenty-five (25) miles of Employee's current principal place of employment, except for required travel on the business of the Corporation, or, in the event Employee consents to such relocation, the failure of the

    Corporation to pay or reimburse Employee for the reasonable costs incurred by Employee in connection with such relocation.

    16. Employee's Rights and Obligations Upon Termination of Employment by the Corporation With Cause. If Employee's employment is terminated by the Corporation with cause pursuant to paragraph 12(e) herein, then the Employee shall be entitled to the following in full satisfaction of all of his rights under this Agreement or at law.

        a.  Severance Pay. Employee shall not be entitled to any severance pay.

        b.  Employee's Rights to Compensation and Benefits. Employee shall only be entitled to the pro rata share of Compensation and Employee Benefits, if any, earned but not paid through the date of termination of employment. Employee shall only be entitled to such additional bonus, if any, which has been previously authorized by the Board of Directors, but has not been paid as of the date of termination of employment.

        c.  Employee's Obligations. Notwithstanding such termination of employment, Employee shall remain bound by the provisions of paragraphs 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof.

    17. Employee's Rights and Obligations Upon Termination of Employment By Employee. If Employee's employment is terminated by the Employee pursuant to paragraph 12(c) herein, then the Employee shall be entitled to the following in full satisfaction of all of his rights under this Agreement or at law:

        a.  Severance Pay. Employee shall be entitled to no severance pay; provided, however, that if the Company gives Employee written notice of its election to enforce the Agreement Not to Compete in paragraph 11 hereof within thirty (30) days of such termination of employment, then Employee shall be entitled to severance pay in an amount equal to the sum of his most recent Compensation and fifty percent (50%) of his Incentive Bonus, for the calendar year preceding such termination of employment. Such severance pay will be payable in accordance with the Corporation's normal pay practices over the 12 months following such termination of employment.

        b.  Employee's Rights to Compensation and Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to the pro rata share of Compensation and Employee Benefits, if any, which have been earned but not paid through the effective date of such termination of employment. Employee shall only be entitled to such additional bonus, if any, which has been previously authorized by the Board of Directors, but has not been paid as of the date of termination of employment.

        c.  Employee's Obligations. Notwithstanding such termination of employment, Employee shall remain bound by the provisions of paragraphs 5, 8, 9, and 10 hereof. In addition, the provisions of paragraph 11 shall apply only if the Company has made the election described in paragraph 17(a).

    18. Directorship. Upon the effective date of this Agreement, Employee shall be elected as a member of the Company's Board of Directors and shall serve in such capacity during the term of his employment with the Company. Upon Employee's termination of employment, for any reason, Employee agrees to resign immediately from his position as a Director of Corporation.

    19. Benefit. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Corporation, its successors and assigns, including, but not limited to (i) any corporation which may acquire all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets and business, (ii) any corporation with or into which the Corporation may be consolidated or merged, or (iii) any corporation that is the successor corporation in a share exchange, and the Employee, his heirs, guardians and personal and legal representatives.

    20. Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when sent postage prepaid by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and, if intended for the Corporation, shall be addressed to it, to the attention of its President, at:

          Western Gas Resources, Inc.
          12200 North Pecos Street
          Denver, Colorado 80234

or at such other address which the Corporation shall have given notice to the Employee in the manner herein provided, and if intended for the Employee, shall be addressed to him at his last known residence, or at such other address at which the Employee shall have given notice to the Corporation in the manner provided herein:

          Employee: Peter A. Dea
          Address:

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

    22. Severability. In the event one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement, or any application thereof, shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or any other application or modification thereof, shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The parties further agree that any such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or restriction shall be deemed modified so that it shall be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law, and to the extent that any court of competent jurisdiction determines any provision or restriction herein to be overly broad, or unenforceable, such court is hereby empowered and authorized to limit such provisions or restriction so that it is enforceable for the longest duration of time, within the largest geographical area and with the broadest scope.

    23. Miscellaneous.

        a.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in more than one copy, each copy of which shall serve as an original for all purposes, but all copies shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

        b.  Assignment. This Agreement is personal to each of the parties hereto, and neither party may assign nor delegate any of such party's rights or obligations hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the other party.

        c.  Headings. All headings set forth in this Agreement are intended for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement or of any of the provisions hereof.

        d.  Gender, Plurals and Pronouns. Throughout this Agreement, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, wherever the context and facts require such construction.

        e.  Binding Arbitration, Attorney's Fees and Expenses. If any dispute arises between the parties to this Agreement with respect to any amounts due hereunder to any one of the parties (but not as to whether the Corporation is obligated to provide legal representation to the Employee pursuant to Section 4 hereof), then both parties shall submit the dispute to binding arbitration. Both parties agree to be bound by the decision of such arbitration. The obligation to submit to binding arbitration shall not prevent either party from seeking a court order or an injunction enforcing the term of this Agreement. In the event of any binding arbitration between the parties, or any litigation to enforce any provision of this Agreement or any right of either party, the

    unsuccessful party to such arbitration or litigation shall pay the successful party all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred.

        f.   Waiver of Breach. The waiver by any party hereto of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by any party.

        g.  Entire Agreement. Except for the Indemnification Agreement, this Agreement contains all agreements, understandings, and arrangements between the parties hereto and no other exists. Except for the Indemnification Agreement, all previous agreements, understandings, and arrangements between the parties relating to employment are terminated by this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended, waived, changed, modified, extended or rescinded only by a writing signed by the party against whom such amendment, waiver, change, modification, extension or rescission is sought.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto set their hands as of the date first written above.


 

 

CORPORATION:
    WESTERN GAS RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

By

/s/ 
LANNY F. OUTLAW   
Lanny F. Outlaw
Lanny F. Outlaw, authorized on behalf of the Board of Directors

 

 

EMPLOYEE:

 

 

 

/s/ 
PETER A. DEA   
Peter A. Dea


Exhibit A


INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

    THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), effective as of November 1, 2001, between Western Gas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Peter A. Dea (the "lndemnitee").

    WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as officers and directors the most capable persons available;

    WHEREAS, Indemnitee is the Chief Executive Officer, President and director of the Company;

    WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors of public companies in today's environment;

    WHEREAS, the Bylaws of the Company require the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its officers and directors to the full extent permitted by law and the Indemnitee has been serving and continues to serve as an officer or director of the Company in part in reliance on such Bylaws;

    WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's continued service to the Company in an effective manner and Indemnitee's reliance on the aforesaid Bylaws, and in part to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the protection promised by such Bylaws will be available to Indemnitee (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of such Bylaws, or any change in the composition of the Company's Board of Directors or acquisition transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance policies;

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request, another enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.
Certain Definitions:

(a)
Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities, or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting

power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all the Company's assets.

    (b)
    Claim: any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted by the Company or any other party, that Indemnitee in good faith, believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other.

    (c)
    Expenses: include attorneys' fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event.

    (d)
    Indemnifiable Event: any event or occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity.

    (e)
    Independent Legal Counsel: an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 3, who shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last five years (other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements).

    (f)
    Potential Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control; (iii) any person, other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, who is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 9.5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities, increases his beneficial ownership of such securities by five percentage points (5%) or more over the percentage so owned by such person; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

    (g)
    Reviewing Party: any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or members of the Company's Board of Directors or any other person or body appointed by the Board who is not a party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal Counsel.

    (h)
    Voting Securities: any securities of the Company which vote generally in the election of directors.

2.
Basic Indemnification Arrangement.

(a)
In the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to

the fullest extent permitted by law as soon as practicable but in any event no later than thirty days after written demand is presented to the Company, against any and all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement) of such Claim. If so requested by Indemnitee, the Company shall advance (within two business days of such request) any and all Expenses to Indemnitee (an "Expense Advance").

(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 3 hereof is involved) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law.

(c)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court, of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).

(d)
If there has not been a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 3 hereof.

(e)
If there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee. substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in any court in the States of Colorado or Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper seeking an initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee.

(f)
Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, in no event shall Indemnitee be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement for any Claims that relate to liability: (i) under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) under federal or state securities laws for "insider trading"; (iii) conduct finally adjudged as constituting active or deliberate dishonesty or willful fraud or illegality; (iv) conduct finally adjudged as producing an unlawful personal benefit to Indemnitee; or (v) prior to a Change of Control, under any Claim initiated by the Indemnitee unless the Board of Directors of the Company shall have authorized or consented to such Claim.

3.
Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board

of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) then with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement or Company Bylaw now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events, the Company shall seek legal advice only from Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent the Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

4.
Establishment of Trust.

(a)
In the event of a Potential Change in Control, the Company shall: (i) upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust for the benefit of Indemnitee, with the trustee chosen by Indemnitee; (ii) from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee, fund such trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all Expenses reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for and defending any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts of any and all Claims relating to an Indemnifiable Event from time to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated or proposed to be paid.

(b)
Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, in no event shall the Company be required to deposit more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in any trust created hereunder in excess of amounts deposited in respect of reasonably anticipated Expenses.

(c)
The amount or amounts to be deposited in the trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by the Reviewing Party, in any case in which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above is involved.

(d)
The terms of the trust shall provide that upon a Change in Control (i) the trust shall not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee, (ii) the trustee shall advance, within two business days of a request by the Indemnitee, any and all Expenses to the Indemnitee (and the Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the trust under the circumstances under which the Indemnitee would be required to reimburse the Company under Section 2(b) of this Agreement), (iii) the trust shall continue to be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligation set forth herein, (iv) the trustee shall promptly pay to Indemnitee all amounts for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, and (v) all unexpended funds in such trust shall revert to the Company upon a final determination by the Reviewing Party or a court of competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement.

5.
Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees) and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within two business days of such request) advance such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other agreement or Company Bylaw now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events and/or (ii) recovery under any directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

6.
Partial Indemnity. Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith.

7.
Burden of Proof. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.

8.
No Presumptions. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief.

9.
Nonexclusivity. Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Company's Bylaws or the Delaware General Corporation Law or otherwise. To the extent that a change in the Delaware General Corporation Law (whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the Company's Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.

10.
Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company director or officer.

11.
Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee's spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.

12.
Amendments. Etc. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

13.
Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all

papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

14.
No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

15.
Binding Effect. Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer or director of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company's request.

16.
Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable in any respect, and the validity and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

17.
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of November 1, 2001.

    WESTERN GAS RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ 
LANNY F. OUTLAW   
Lanny F. Outlaw, authorized on behalf of the Board of Directors

 

 

INDEMNITEE:

 

 

By:

/s/ 
PETER A. DEA   
Peter A. Dea


EXHIBIT B


WESTERN GAS RESOURCES, INC.
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

    THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), effective as of November 1, 2001, by and between Western Gas Resources, Inc. and its successors and assigns (hereinafter called the "Corporation"), a Delaware corporation, and Peter A. Dea, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation (hereinafter called the "Optionee").

R E C I T A L S:

    A.  The Optionee is eligible for stock options pursuant to an employment agreement effective October 15, 2001 ("Employment Agreement") by and between Optionee and Corporation under the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement and this Agreement.

    B.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation considers it desirable and in the Corporation's best interests that the Optionee be given an opportunity to purchase shares of its Common Stock in order to provide incentive for the Optionee to remain with the Corporation and to promote the success of the Corporation.

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises exchanged herein, it is agreed as follows:

    1.  Grant of Option. The Corporation hereby grants as of November 1, 2001, (the "Grant Date") to the Optionee the right, privilege and option to exercise 300,000 shares ("Option") of the Common Stock, par value $0.10 (the "Common Stock") of the Corporation, at an exercise price equal to five dollars ($5.00) below the closing price per share for the Common Stock on the effective date of the Employment Agreement in the manner and subject to the conditions hereafter provided.

    2.  Period of Exercise of Option. This Option may be exercised in whole or in part, or in installments, from time to time, with respect to the shares covered hereby, in the amounts and at the times specified below. The Option or any portion thereof, once it becomes exercisable as specified below, shall remain exercisable until it shall expire in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

    a.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Option or portion thereof granted under this Agreement may be exercised after the earlier of (i) five (5) years after the date the Optionee has the right to exercise such Option or portion thereof, in accordance with paragraph 2(b), below; or (ii) ten (10) years after the date the Option is granted.

    b.  Except as expressly provided in Section 2(e), below, Optionee shall become entitled to exercise that portion of the Option and to purchase the percentage of the Common Stock subject to the Option in accordance with the following schedule:

        (1) Commencing one (1) year from the Grant Date, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option and to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of the Common Stock subject to the Option.

        (2) Commencing two (2) years from the Grant Date, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option and to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of the Common Stock subject to the Option.

        (3) Commencing three (3) years from the Grant Date, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option and to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of the Common Stock subject to the Option.

        (4) Commencing four (4) years from the Grant Date, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option and to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of the Common Stock subject to the Option.

    The Optionee's right to purchase Shares subject to the Option shall be cumulative, so that four (4) years from the Grant Date, the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise one hundred percent (100%) of the Option and to purchase all of the Common Stock subject to the Option, subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement.

    c.  Except as provided in Sections 2(d), 2(e) 2(f) and 2(g), Optionee may exercise an Option only if, at the time such Option is exercised, such Optionee is Chief Executive Officer and President of, and has continuously been employed since the grant of the Option, as the Chief Executive Officer and President by the Corporation.

    d.  If Optionee's employment is terminated without cause or by Optionee for Good Reason (as those terms are defined in the Employment Agreement) and Optionee ceases to be the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation, all of the Options granted to such Optionee shall become one hundred percent (100%) exercisable, without regard to the provisions of Section 2(b) above; provided, however, that no such Option may be exercised after three (3) months from the later of such Optionee's date of termination or the date Optionee ceases to be the Chief Executive Officer and President. Upon expiration of said period, all unexercised Options, or portions thereof, shall terminate, be forfeited, and shall lapse.

    e.  If Optionee dies while he is Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation, or ceases to be the Chief Executive Officer and President as a result of disability, all of the Options granted to such Optionee shall become one hundred percent (100%) exercisable, without regard to the provisions of Section 2(b) above. In such event, the Options may be exercised by the disabled Optionee, or in the event of death, the person or persons to whom his rights under the Option shall pass by will, or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that no such Option may be exercised after one hundred eighty (180) days from the later of such Optionee's date of death, or the date Optionee ceases to be the Chief Executive Officer and President as a result of disability, whichever is applicable. Upon expiration of said period, all unexercised Options, or portions thereof, shall terminate, be forfeited, and shall lapse.

    f.   If Optionee's employment is terminated by the Corporation for cause or by Optionee without good reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement) Optionee may, within three (3) months thereafter, subject to provisions of Sections 2 (a), (b) and (c), exercise the Option to the extent that the Option was exercisable as of the date of termination for cause. All unexercised Options, or portions thereof, shall terminate, be forfeited, and shall lapse.

    g.  Notwithstanding the provision of Section 2(b), above, in the event (1) there is a "Change of Control" of the Corporation as defined in the Employment Agreement; and (2) the Optionee is terminated as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation without cause or terminated by Optionee with Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then all of the Options granted to such Optionee under this Agreement shall become one hundred percent (100%) exercisable, subject to the other provisions of this Section 2. All unexercised Options, or portions thereof, shall terminate, be forfeited, and shall lapse upon expiration of a three (3) month period, for any of the reasons set forth herein.

    3.  Method of Exercise. To exercise an Option, the Optionee, or his successors, shall give written notice to the Treasurer of the Corporation at its principal office. Said notice shall be accompanied by full payment of the shares being purchased. If the option is exercised by the successor of the Optionee following his death, proof shall also be submitted of the right of the successor to exercise the option. The Corporation shall not be required to transfer or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares

purchased upon any such exercise of said option: (a) until after compliance with all then applicable requirements of law; and (b) prior to admission of such shares to listing on any stock exchange on which the stock may then be listed. In no event shall the Corporation be required to issue fractional shares to the Optionee.

    4.  Limitation Upon Exercise. The option is not transferable by the Optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and is exercisable, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

    5.  Limitation Upon Transfer. Except as otherwise provided herein, the option and all rights granted hereunder shall not be transferred by the Optionee, and may not be assigned, pledged, or hypothecated in any way and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer the option, or to assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of such option or of any rights granted hereunder, contrary to the provisions hereof, or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process upon such option or such rights, such option and such rights shall immediately become null and void.

    6.  Stock Adjustment. In the event of any change in Common Stock of the Corporation by reason of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange of shares, or other transaction, the number of shares remaining subject to the option and the option price per share shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board of Directors.

    7.  Corporate Reorganization. If there shall be any capital reorganization or consolidation or merger of the Corporation with another corporation or corporations, or any sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation's properties and assets to any other corporations, the Corporation shall take such action as may be necessary to enable the Optionee to receive upon any subsequent exercise of such option, in whole or in part, in lieu of shares of Common Stock, securities or other assets as were issuable or payable upon such reorganization, consolidation, merger or sale in respect of, or in exchange for such shares of Common Stock.

    8.  Rights of Stockholder. Neither the Optionee, his legal representative, nor other persons entitled to exercise the option shall be or have any rights of a stockholder in the Corporation in respect of the shares issuable upon exercise of the option granted hereunder, unless and until certificates representing such shares shall have been delivered pursuant to the terms hereof.

    9.  Rights of Optionee. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer upon Optionee any right to continue to remain as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation.

    10. Stock Reserved. The Corporation shall at all times during the term of this Agreement reserve and keep available such number of shares of its Common Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the terms of this Agreement.

    11. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor or successors of the Corporation.

    12. Incorporation of Employment Agreement by Reference. This Stock Option Agreement is subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in the Employment Agreement, a copy of which has been furnished to the Optionee.

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

    WESTERN GAS RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ 
LANNY F. OUTLAW   
Lanny F. Outlaw, authorized on behalf of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

/s/ 
PETER A. DEA   
Optionee



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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
WESTERN GAS RESOURCES, INC. STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
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