Exhibit 10.4 SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT __________________________ THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNTIL THE HOLDER THEREOF PROVIDES EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER (WHICH, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE ISSUER, MAY INCLUDE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER) THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE, TRANSFER, OR OTHER DISPOSITION WILL NOT VIOLATE APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS. This Subscription Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into by and between Miller Exploration Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and the undersigned (the "Purchaser") who is subscribing hereby for 370,370 shares (the "Shares") of the Corporation's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"). In consideration of the Corporation's agreement to sell the Preferred Shares to the Purchaser, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Purchaser agrees and represents and warrants to the Corporation as follows: A. Subscription. ------------ 1. The Purchaser hereby subscribes for the Shares and for the total dollar amount (the "Purchase Price") set forth on the signature page below, which Purchase Price shall be payable in cash by check or by wire transfer (or by such other form of cash payment as the Corporation desires to accept). 2. The Purchaser understands, acknowledges, and agrees that: a. In reliance upon applicable exemptions, the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder or any state securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. b. No federal or state agency has made any finding or determination as to the fairness of this Offering for investment or any recommendation or endorsement of the Shares. c. Since the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws, the economic risk of the investment must be borne 1 indefinitely by the Purchaser, and the Shares cannot be sold, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws, or an exemption from such registration is available, and there is compliance with the requirements of this Agreement; such registration under the Securities Act and such laws is unlikely at any time in the future; and the Corporation is not obligated to file a notification under Regulation A of the Securities Act or a registration statement under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. d. No assignment, sale, pledge, hypothecation, transfer, exchange, or other disposition, or offer, of the Shares can be made without the prior written approval of the Corporation. No transfer will be permitted by the Corporation, which, in the view of the Corporation, would jeopardize the Corporation's compliance with federal or state securities laws. e. The Shares are speculative investments which involve a high degree of risk of loss by the Purchaser. f. Due to the high degree of risk of loss, Shares only may be sold to persons who understand the nature of the Corporation and who are "Accredited Investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act). B. Representations, Warranties, and Agreements. ------------------------------------------- 1. The Purchaser hereby represents, warrants, and agrees that: a. The Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for his own account for investment, and not with a view to distribution, resale, subdivision, or fractionalization thereof; and the undersigned has no present plans to enter into any contract, undertaking, agreement, or arrangement for distribution, resale, subdivision, or fractionalization of any of the Shares. In order to induce the Corporation to issue and sell the Shares subscribed for hereby to the undersigned, it is agreed that the Corporation will have no obligation to recognize the ownership, beneficial or otherwise, of the Shares comprising such Shares by anyone but the undersigned. b. (i) The Purchaser can bear the economic risk of losing his entire investment; (ii) his overall commitment to investments which are not readily marketable is not disproportionate to his net worth, and his investment in the Shares will not cause such overall commitment to become excessive; (iii) he has adequate means of providing for his current needs and personal contingencies and has no need for liquidity in his investment in the Shares; and (iv) he has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he is capable of evaluating the risks and merits of this investment. 2 c. The Purchaser has carefully read or reviewed and is familiar with the Corporation's (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (the "10-K") and (ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2000. The Corporation has made available to the Purchaser and/or his attorney and/or his accountant all agreements, documents, records, and books that he or they have requested relating to an investment in the Corporation. The Purchaser and/or his attorney and/or his accountant all have had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Corporation, or a person or persons acting on its behalf, concerning the terms and conditions of this investment, and answers have been provided to all of his or their questions concerning an investment in the Corporation. In evaluating the suitability of an investment in the Corporation, the Purchaser has not been furnished and has not relied upon any representations or other information (whether oral or written) other than as contained in any documents, information, or answers to questions so furnished to him by the Corporation. d. The Purchaser recognizes that investment in the Corporation involves certain risks, and he has taken full cognizance of and understands all of the risk factors related to the purchase of the Shares, including, but not limited to, those set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the 10-K. e. The Purchaser has discussed with his professional legal, tax, and financial advisors the suitability of the investment in the Corporation for his particular tax and financial situation. All information which the Purchaser has provided to the Corporation concerning himself and his financial position is correct and complete as of the date set forth below, and, if there should be any material change in such information prior to the acceptance of the Purchaser's subscription and the sale of the Shares, he will immediately provide such information to the Corporation. f. If this Agreement is executed and delivered on behalf of a partnership, corporation, trust, pension plan, estate, or other entity, (i) the person signing this Agreement on behalf of such entity has been duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and all other instruments executed and delivered on behalf of such partnership, corporation, trust, pension plan, estate, or other entity in connection with the purchase of the Shares; (ii) the signature of the person signing this Agreement is binding upon such partnership, corporation, trust, pension plan, estate, or other entity; and (iii) the Purchaser was not organized for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares. g. The address set forth below is the Purchaser's true and correct residence or principal place of business, and the Purchaser has no present intention of becoming a resident of any other state or jurisdiction or moving its principal place of business. h. The undersigned Purchaser is an "Accredited Investor" (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act). 3 i. The undersigned understands and agrees, and acknowledges that it has been disclosed to him, that the following restrictions and limitations are applicable to the undersigned's purchase and resales, pledges, hypothecations, or other transfers of the Shares, and, therefore, that the undersigned must bear the economic risk of investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time as described in subparagraph A. 4. h.: (i) The Shares have not been registered, as described in subparagraph A. 4. f. above and, therefore, cannot be sold, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred unless they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. (ii) A legend has been placed on the certificates representing the Shares in substantially the following form: THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNTIL THE HOLDER HEREOF PROVIDES EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER (WHICH, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE ISSUER, MAY INCLUDE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER) THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE, TRANSFER, OR OTHER DISPOSITION WILL NOT VIOLATE APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS. (iii) Stop transfer instructions have been or will be placed with respect to the Shares so as to restrict the resale, pledge, hypothecation, or other transfer thereof. (iv) The legend and stop transfer instructions described in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) above will be placed with respect to any new certificate issued upon presentment by the undersigned of a certificate for transfer for so long as such legend and instructions are deemed advisable by the Corporation. j. It has never been represented, guaranteed or warranted to the undersigned by the Corporation, its agents or employees, or any other person, expressly or by implication, any of the following: (i) The appropriate or exact length of time that the undersigned will be required to remain as owner of the undersigned's Shares. OR -- 4 (ii) The percentage of profit and/or amount or type of consideration, profit, or loss (including tax writeoffs and/or tax benefits) to be realized, if any, as a result of this investment. k. If the undersigned Purchaser is an individual, initial below: - ----- (i) The net worth (i. e., total assets minus total Initial if liabilities) at the date hereof of the undersigned, or joint Applicable net worth with the undersigned's spouse, exceeds $ 1,000,000. OR -- - ----- (ii) The undersigned had individual income (not including Initial if spouse's income) in excess of $200,000 in each of the two Applicable most recent years or joint income with spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and reasonably expects to reach the same income level in the current year. The undersigned's United States social security number is ---_____________. l. If the undersigned Purchaser is an entity, initial below: - ----- (i) Each of the equity owners of the undersigned is an Initial if individual and satisfies at least one of the tests set forth Applicable in subparagraphs (k)(i) or (k)(ii) above. (If this item has been initialed, have each of such equity owners execute and furnish a Certificate of Financial Position in the form of Schedule 1 hereto). OR -- 5 - ----- (ii) The entity is an organization described in section Initial if 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Applicable corporation, a Massachusetts or similar business trust, or a partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000. The undersigned's United States employer identification number is ____________________. The undersigned's place of incorporation or organization is ___________________. 2. The foregoing representations and warranties are true and accurate as of the date hereof and shall be true and accurate as of the date of the acceptance hereof by the Corporation and the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser. If in any respect such representations and warranties shall not be true and accurate prior thereto, the Purchaser will give written notice of such fact to the Corporation specifying which representations and warranties are not true and accurate and the reasons therefor. C. Miscellaneous. ------------- 1. All pronouns and any variations thereof used herein shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, or plural as the identity of the person or persons may require. 2. Notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be sufficiently given when personally delivered or when sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, (i) if to the Purchaser, at the address set forth on the signature page hereof, and (ii) if to the Corporation, at 3104 Logan Valley Road, Traverse City, Michigan 49685, as either of such addresses may be changed from time to time by notice given in accordance with this paragraph. 3. Failure of the Corporation to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or any other agreement between the Corporation and the Purchaser, or otherwise, or delay by the Corporation in exercising same, will not operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver by the Corporation will be effective unless and until it is in writing and signed by the Corporation. 4. This Agreement shall be enforced, governed, and construed in all respects in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. This Agreement and the rights, powers, and duties set forth herein shall be binding upon the Purchaser, his heirs, estate, legal representatives, successors, and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Corporation, its successors, and assigns. In the event that any 6 provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. 5. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by a writing executed by all parties. 7 _________________ Subscription Agreement SIGNATURE PAGE IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Purchaser has executed this Agreement as of the 11th day of July, 2000. Number of Preferred Shares Ecco Investments, L.L.C. subscribed for at ------------------------------------ $1.35 per Share: Print name(s) of Purchaser(s) ------------------------------------ 370,370 Total Purchase Price: By: ------------------------------- Signature(s) of $499,999.50 ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Robert M. Boeve, Member ------------------------------------ Print title of person signing, if signing as an authorized representative of Purchaser Make check payable to the order of: Address of Purchaser's residence or Miller Exploration Company principal place of business (Please print or type): ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ___ Individual Ownership ___ Trust ___ Separate Property ___ Corporation ___ Community Property ___ Pension Plan ___ Joint Tenancy(1) ___ Estate ___ Tenancy in Common(1)(2) X Other (please ___ indicate L.L.C. ______ - ---------------------- (1) Each person involved is be required to be an "Accredited Investor." (2) Both husband and wife must sign. - ------------------------------------------------------ 8 Subscription for 370,370 Shares at $1.35 per Share, for a total of $499,999.50, accepted as of July 11, 2000. MILLER EXPLORATION COMPANY By: _______________________ Name:_______________________ Title:______________________ 9 INDIVIDUAL, JOINT OR PARTNER ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATE OF _______________________ COUNTY OF ______________________ The undersigned Notary Public does hereby certify that on this _____ day of _______________, 2000, personally appeared _________________________* known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, who, being by me duly sworn, declared and acknowledged to me that the same was his free act and deed and that he executed and delivered same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed and in the capacity therein stated, and that the statements therein contained are true. ----------------------------- Notary Public My Commission Expires: ------- - ---------- * Insert name of individual or joint tenant or partner executing on behalf of partnership. ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY HUSBAND AND WIFE AS TENANTS IN COMMON STATE OF _______________________ COUNTY OF ______________________ The undersigned Notary Public does hereby certify that on this _____ day of ________________, 2000, personally appeared __________________________ and _________________________* known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, who, being by me duly sworn, declared and acknowledged to me that the same were their free acts and deeds and that they executed and delivered such instrument for the purposes and consideration therein expressed and in the capacity therein stated, and that the statements contained therein are true. ----------------------------- Notary Public My Commission Expires: ------- - ---------- * Insert names of husband and wife. 10 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATE OF _______________________ COUNTY OF ______________________ On this 11th day of July, 2000, before me appeared Robert M. Boeve to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, declared and acknowledged to me that he is a member of Ecco Investments, L.L.C. and that the foregoing instrument was executed and delivered on behalf of said limited liability company by authority of the members and said Robert M. Boeve acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said limited liability company, and that the statements therein contained are true. ----------------------------- Notary Public My Commission Expires: ------- - ---------- TRUST, PENSION PLAN, OR ESTATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATE OF _______________________ COUNTY OF ______________________ On this _____ day of ________________, 2000, before me appeared __________________________* to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, declared and acknowledged to me that he is the Trustee, Administrator, or Executor of the _________________________** and that the foregoing instrument was executed and delivered on behalf of said Trust, Pension Plan, or Estate by authority of its Trustee, Administrator, or Executor and said __________________________* acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said Trust, Pension Plan, or Estate, and that the statements therein contained are true. ----------------------------- Notary Public My Commission Expires: ------- - ---------- * Insert name of Trustee, Administrator, or Executor. ** Insert name of Trust, Pension Plan, or Estate. 11 SCHEDULE 1 CERTIFICATE OF FINANCIAL POSITION This Certificate of Financial Position is provided by the undersigned pursuant to subparagraph B.1.1.(i) of the Subscription Agreement (the "Subscription Agreement") executed by the Purchaser named below relating to a subscription for Miller Exploration Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"). The undersigned represents and warrants to the Corporation that: - ----- (i) The net worth (i.e., total assets minus total liabilities) Initial if at the date hereof of the undersigned, or joint net worth with Applicable the undersigned's spouse, exceeds $1,000,000. The undersigned undertakes to inform the Corporation immediately if such net worth is less than $1,000,000 prior to the acceptance by the Corporation of the Purchaser's subscription. OR -- - ----- (ii) The undersigned had individual income (not including Initial if spouse's income) in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most Applicable recent years or joint income with spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and reasonably expects to reach the same income level in the current year. The undersigned undertakes to inform the Corporation immediately if this representation and warranty becomes untrue prior to the acceptance by the Corporation of the Purchaser's subscription. Dated: - ----- ------------------------------- (Signature) Name: ------------------------ (Please Print) ------------------------------- Relationship to Purchaser ------------------------------- Name of Purchaser 12