TRIPATH TECHNOLOGY INC
S-1/A, EX-1.1, 2000-06-07
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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                            Tripath Technology, Inc.

                                     Shares(1)

                              Class A Common Stock

                                 (No par value)

                             Underwriting Agreement

                                                              New York, New York
                                                                          , 2000

Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
Dain Rauscher Incorporated
As Representatives of the several Underwriters,
c/o Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Tripath Technology, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware (the "Company"), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom you (the "Representatives") are
acting as representatives, shares of Common Stock, no par value ("Common Stock")
of the Company (said shares to be issued and sold by the Company being
hereinafter called the "Underwritten Securities"). The Company also proposes to
grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to __________ additional
shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments (the "Option Securities"; the
Option Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, being hereinafter
called the "Securities"). To the extent there are no additional Underwriters
listed on Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein
shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters
shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. Certain terms
used herein are defined in Section 17 hereof.

         As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Salomon Smith
Barney Inc. has agreed to reserve out of the Securities set forth opposite its
name on the Schedule II to this Agreement, up to _______ shares, for sale to the
Company's employees, officers, and directors and other parties associated with
the Company (collectively, "Participants"), as set forth in the Prospectus under
the heading "Underwriting" (the "Directed Share Program"). The Securities to be
sold by Salomon Smith Barney Inc. pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the
"Directed Shares") will be sold by Salomon Smith Barney Inc. pursuant to this
Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed
for purchase by any Participants


---------
         (1) Plus an option to purchase from the Company, up to ___________
additional Securities to cover over-allotments.



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by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be
offered to the public by Salomon Smith Barney Inc. as set forth in the
Prospectus.

                  1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this
Section 1.

                  (a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a
         registration statement (file number 333- ) on Form S-1, including a
         related preliminary prospectus, for registration under the Act of the
         offering and sale of the Securities. The Company may have filed one or
         more amendments thereto, including a related preliminary prospectus,
         each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will
         next file with the Commission either (1) prior to the Effective Date of
         such registration statement, a further amendment to such registration
         statement (including the form of final prospectus) or (2) after the
         Effective Date of such registration statement, a final prospectus in
         accordance with Rules 430A and 424(b). In the case of clause (2), the
         Company has included in such registration statement, as amended at the
         Effective Date, all information (other than Rule 430A Information)
         required by the Act and the rules thereunder to be included in such
         registration statement and the Prospectus. As filed, such amendment and
         form of final prospectus, or such final prospectus, shall contain all
         Rule 430A Information, together with all other such required
         information, and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree
         in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in
         the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent
         not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific
         additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the
         latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to
         the Execution Time, will be included or made therein.

                  (b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did or
         will, and when the Prospectus is first filed (if required) in
         accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein)
         and on any date on which Option Securities are purchased, if such date
         is not the Closing Date (a "settlement date"), the Prospectus (and any
         supplements thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the
         applicable requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder; on the
         Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement
         did not or will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and,
         on the Effective Date, the Prospectus, if not filed pursuant to Rule
         424(b), will not, and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b)
         and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus
         (together with any supplement thereto) will not, include any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
         in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; PROVIDED,
         HOWEVER, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to
         the information contained in or omitted from the Registration
         Statement, or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance
         upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
         Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives
         specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).



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                  (c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
         jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with full corporate
         power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate
         its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus,
         and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
         good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such
         qualification.

                  (d) The Company's authorized equity capitalization is as set
         forth in the Prospectus; the capital stock of the Company conforms in
         all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
         Prospectus; the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly and
         validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; the
         Securities have been duly and validly authorized, and, when issued and
         delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this
         Agreement, will be fully paid and nonassessable; the certificates for
         the Securities are in valid and sufficient form; the holders of
         outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled to
         preemptive or other rights to subscribe for the Securities; and,
         except as set forth in the Prospectus, no options, warrants or other
         rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights
         to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares
         of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company are
         outstanding.

                  (e) There is no franchise, contract or other document of a
         character required to be described in the Registration Statement or
         Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not
         described or filed as required.

                  (f) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
         offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds
         thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
         company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  (g) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order
         of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection
         with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been
         obtained under the Act and such as may be required under the blue sky
         laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and
         distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner
         contemplated herein and in the Prospectus.

                  (h) Neither the issue and sale of the Securities nor the
         consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor
         the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a
         breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
         upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
         pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease,
         mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other
         agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its
         or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule,
         regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative




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         agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
         jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its
         or their properties.

                  (i) No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the
         registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.

                  (j) The consolidated historical financial statements and
         schedules of the Company included in the Prospectus and the
         Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the
         financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
         Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to
         form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have
         been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
         principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
         involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The selected financial
         data set forth under the caption "Selected Financial Information" in
         the Prospectus and Registration Statement fairly present, on the basis
         stated in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the
         information included therein. The pro forma financial statements
         included in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement include
         assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the
         significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and
         events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give
         appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments
         reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical
         financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements
         included in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement. The pro
         forma financial statements included in the Prospectus and the
         Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with
         the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act
         and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the
         historical amounts in the compilation of those statements.

                  (k) No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or
         governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending
         or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could
         reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
         performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the
         transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected
         to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
         otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company
         and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
         transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
         or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
         thereto).

                  (l) The Company owns or leases all such properties as are
         necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted.

                  (m) The Company is not in violation or default of (i) any
         provision of its charter or bylaws, (ii) the terms of any indenture,
         contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan
         agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or
         instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is
         subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order
         or decree of any court, regulatory body,



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<PAGE>

         administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority
         having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, as
         applicable.

                  (n) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain
         financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
         and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated
         financial statements and schedules included in the Prospectus, are
         independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the
         meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations
         thereunder.

                  (o) There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or
         charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political
         subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
         execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Company
         or sale by the Company of the Securities.

                  (p) The Company has filed all foreign, federal, state and
         local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested
         extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file
         would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
         otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company
         and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
         transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
         or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto)
         and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other
         assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any
         of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment,
         fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as
         would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
         otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company
         and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
         transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
         or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
         thereto).

                  (q) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent,
         and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor
         disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries'
         principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a
         material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
         prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
         transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
         or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
         thereto).

                  (r) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial
         responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are
         prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; all
         policies of insurance insuring the Company or its respective
         businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force
         and effect; the Company is in compliance with the terms of such
         policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no
         claims by the Company under any such policy or instrument as to which
         any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a
         reservation of rights clause; the Company has not been refused any
         insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company has not any
         reason to believe that it will not be




                                       5
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         able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage
         expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be
         necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a
         material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
         prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company, taken as a
         whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course
         of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus
         (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

                  (s) The Company possesses all licenses, certificates, permits
         and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or
         foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its businesses, and
         the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the
         revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or
         permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
         unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse
         effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings,
         business or properties of the Company, taken as a whole, whether or not
         arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as
         set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
         supplement thereto).

                  (t) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting
         controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
         transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
         specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
         permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
         accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability;
         (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
         management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
         accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at
         reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to
         any differences.

                  (u) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any
         action that has constituted or that was designed to or might reasonably
         be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise,
         the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
         Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

                  (v) The Company is (i) in compliance with any and all
         applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
         relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment
         or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
         ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) has received and is in compliance with
         all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under
         applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses
         and (iii) has not received notice of any actual or potential liability
         for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of
         hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants,
         except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to
         receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability
         would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
         change in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings,
         business or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from
         transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
         or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
         thereto). Except as set forth in the Prospectus, the has not been named
         as




                                       6
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         a "potentially responsible party" under the Comprehensive Environmental
         Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

                  (w) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company
         periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business,
         operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the
         course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and
         liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating
         expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance
         with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any
         related constraints on operating activities and any potential
         liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company
         has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities
         would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect
         on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings,
         business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course
         of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus
         (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

                  (x) The Company has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under
         the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States
         Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and the
         regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to
         each "plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and such regulations
         and published interpretations) in which employees of the Company and
         its subsidiaries are eligible to participate and each such plan is in
         compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable
         provisions of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations.
         The Company has not incurred any unpaid liability to the Pension
         Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in
         the ordinary course) or to any such plan under Title IV of ERISA.

                  (y) The Company owns, possesses, licensees or has other rights
         to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade
         and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names,
         copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how
         and other intellectual property (collectively, the "Intellectual
         Property") necessary for the conduct of the Company's business as now
         conducted or as proposed in the Prospectus to be conducted. Except as
         set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Business--Intellectual
         Property," (a) to the Company's best knowledge, there are no rights of
         third parties to any such Intellectual Property; (b) to the Company's
         best knowledge, there is no material infringement by third parties of
         any such Intellectual Property; (c) there is no pending or, to the
         Company's best knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim
         by others challenging the Company's rights in or to any such
         Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which
         would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (d) to the Company's
         best knowledge, there is no pending or threatened action, suit,
         proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any
         such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts
         which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (e) there is no
         pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened action, suit,
         proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes or otherwise
         violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other
         proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other
         fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (f) to the
         Company's knowledge, there




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         is no U.S. patent or published U.S. patent application which contains
         claims that dominate or may dominate any Intellectual Property
         described in the Prospectus as being owned by or licensed to the
         Company or that interferes with the issued or pending claims of any
         such Intellectual Property; and (g) there is no prior art of which the
         Company is aware that may render any U.S. patent held by the Company
         invalid or any U.S. patent application held by the Company unpatentable
         which has not been disclosed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

                  (z) The statements contained in the Prospectus under the
         captions "Risk Factors -- Our business depends in part on our ability
         to obtain and preserve intellectual property rights" and "Business --
         Intellectual Property," insofar as such statements summarize legal
         matters, agreements, documents, or proceedings discussed therein, are
         accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements,
         documents or proceedings.

                  Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to
each Underwriter.

                  Furthermore, the Company represents and warrants to Salomon
Smith Barney Inc. that (i) the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any
preliminary prospectus comply, and any further amendments or supplements
thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign
jurisdictions in which the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with
the Directed Share Program, and that (ii) no authorization, approval,
consent, license, order, registration or qualification of or with any
government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have
been obtained, is necessary under the securities laws and regulations of
foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the
United States.

         2. PURCHASE AND SALE. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in
         reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth,
         the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter
         agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at
         a purchase price of $    per share, the amount of the Underwritten
         Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule I
         hereto.

                  (b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance
         upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
         Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to
         purchase, severally and not jointly, up to         Option Securities
         at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay
         for the Underwritten Securities. Said option may be exercised only
         to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Securities
         by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in
         part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day
         after the date of the Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice
         by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of
         shares of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters
         are exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of
         Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the
         same percentage of the total


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         number of shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the
         several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the
         Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in your
         absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

            3. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. Delivery of and payment for the
Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for
in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third
Business Day prior to the Closing Date) shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York
City time, on __________, 2000, or at such time on such later date not more
than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives
shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between
the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such
date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called
the "Closing Date"). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the
Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters
against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of
the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire
transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company.
Delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities shall be
made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the
Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

            If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised
after the third Business Day prior to the Closing Date, the Company will
deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the Company) to the
Representatives, at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, on the date
specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days
after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the
Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by
the Company. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing
Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date
for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase
the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental
opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions,
certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6
hereof.

            4. OFFERING BY UNDERWRITERS. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth
in the Prospectus.

            5. AGREEMENTS. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters
that:

            (a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
         Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, and any amendment
         thereof, to become effective. Prior to the termination of the offering
         of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the
         Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule
         462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a
         copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such
         proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object.
         Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration Statement has
         become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A, or filing of the
         Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will
         cause the




                                       9
<PAGE>

         Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed
         with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b)
         within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence
         satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company
         will promptly advise the Representatives (1) when the Registration
         Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, shall have become
         effective, (2) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall
         have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule
         424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been
         filed with the Commission, (3) when, prior to termination of the
         offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement
         shall have been filed or become effective, (4) of any request by the
         Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration
         Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any
         supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (5) of
         the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
         effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or
         threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (6) of the receipt
         by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of
         the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
         institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The
         Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
         stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued,
         to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

            (b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is
         required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of
         which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall
         be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the
         Prospectus to comply with the Act or the rules thereunder, the Company
         promptly will (1) notify the Representatives of any such event, (2)
         prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of
         paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which will
         correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (3)
         supply any supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may
         reasonably request.

            (c) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally
         available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
         earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
         which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule
         158 under the Act.

            (d) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for
         the Underwriters signed copies of the Registration Statement (including
         exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the
         Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as
         delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by
         the Act, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and the
         Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may
         reasonably request.

            (e) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of
         the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
         Representatives may designate and will maintain such qualifications in
         effect so long as required for the distribution of the




                                       10


<PAGE>

         Securities; PROVIDED that in no event shall the Company be obligated to
         qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
         qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of
         process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale
         of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

            (f) The Company will not, and the Company will cause its officers,
         directors and shareholders not to, without the prior written consent of
         Salomon Smith Barney Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or
         otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed
         to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition
         (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to
         cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the
         Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of
         the Company) directly or indirectly, including the filing (or
         participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the
         Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent
         position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the
         meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Common
         Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or
         exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an
         intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days
         after the date of the Underwriting Agreement, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
         the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to any employee
         stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan
         of the Company in effect at the Execution Time and the Company may
         issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of securities or the
         exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution Time.

            (g) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
         designed to or which has constituted or which might reasonably be
         expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in
         stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
         Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

            (h) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the
         following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and
         filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including
         financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary
         Prospectus, the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of
         them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including
         postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of
         such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus,
         the Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as
         may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with
         the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation,
         printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the
         Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with
         the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or
         reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum
         and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and
         delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) the
         registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing
         of the Securities on [the Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National
         Market]; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for
         offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several
         states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of
         counsel for the




                                       11
<PAGE>

         Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification); (vii)
         any filings required to be made with the National Association of
         Securities Dealers, Inc. (including filing fees and the reasonable fees
         and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings);
         (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf
         of Company representatives in connection with presentations to
         prospective purchasers of the Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of
         the Company's accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel
         (including local and special counsel) for the Company; and (x) all
         other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of
         its obligations hereunder.

            (i) The Company will pay all fees and disbursements of counsel
         incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share
         Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if
         any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share
         Program.

            (j) In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company will
         ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent
         required by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
         "NASD") or the NASD rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or
         hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of the
         effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
         will notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so
         restricted. The Company will direct the removal of such transfer
         restrictions upon the expiration of such period of time.

            Furthermore, the Company covenants with Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
that the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other
applicable laws, rules and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which
the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

            6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and
the Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy
of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained
herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date
pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the
Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following
additional conditions:

            (a) If the Registration Statement has not become effective prior to
         the Execution Time, unless the Representatives agree in writing to a
         later time, the Registration Statement will become effective not later
         than (i) 6:00 PM New York City time on the date of determination of the
         public offering price, if such determination occurred at or prior to
         3:00 PM New York City time on such date or (ii) 9:30 AM on the Business
         Day following the day on which the public offering price was
         determined, if such determination occurred after 3:00 PM New York City
         time on such date; if filing of the Prospectus, or any supplement
         thereto, is required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the Prospectus, and any
         such supplement, will be filed in the manner and within the time period
         required by Rule 424(b); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
         of the




                                       12
<PAGE>

         Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for
         that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

            (b) The Company shall have requested and caused Wilson Sonsini
         Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporation, counsel for the Company, to
         have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing
         Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:

                (i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
            existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
            jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with full
            corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be,
            and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described
            in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
            corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
            jurisdiction which requires such qualification;

                (ii) the Company's authorized equity capitalization is as set
            forth in the Prospectus; the capital stock of the Company conforms
            in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
            Prospectus; the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly
            and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
            nonassessable; the Securities have been duly and validly authorized,
            and, when issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters
            pursuant to this Agreement, will be fully paid and nonassessable;
            the certificates for the Securities are in valid and sufficient
            form; the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the
            Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe
            for the Securities; and, except as set forth in the Prospectus, no
            options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other
            obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or
            exchange any securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership
            interests in the Company are outstanding;

                (iii) to the knowledge of such counsel, there is no pending or
            threatened action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or
            governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving
            the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property of a
            character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement
            which is not adequately disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no
            franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be
            described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be
            filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as
            required;

                (iv) the Registration Statement has become effective under the
            Act; any required filing of the Prospectus, and any supplements
            thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and
            within the time period required by Rule 424(b); to the knowledge of
            such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
            Registration Statement has been issued, no proceedings for that
            purpose have been instituted or threatened and the Registration
            Statement and the Prospectus (other than the financial statements
            and other financial information contained therein, as to which such
            counsel need express no opinion) comply as to


                                       13
<PAGE>

            form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
            the Act and the rules thereunder; and such counsel has no reason to
            believe that on the Effective Date or the date the Registration
            Statement was last deemed amended the Registration Statement
            contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
            state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
            to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus
            as of its date and on the Closing Date included or includes any
            untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
            material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
            of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (in
            each case, other than the financial statements and other financial
            information contained therein, as to which such counsel need express
            no opinion;

                (v) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
            delivered by the Company;

                (vi) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
            and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds
            thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment
            company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
            amended;

                (vii) no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order
            of any court or governmental agency or body is required in
            connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as
            have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required under
            the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the
            purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in
            the manner contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus and
            such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been
            obtained;

                (viii) neither the issue and sale of the Securities, nor the
            consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated
            nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result
            in a breach or violation of or imposition of any lien, charge or
            encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its
            subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company
            or its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract,
            lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or
            other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to
            which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to
            which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law,
            rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the
            Company or its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
            administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other
            authority having jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries
            or any of its or their properties; and

                (ix) no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the
            registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.

            In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
Delaware or the Federal laws of the




                                       14
<PAGE>

United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion,
upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be
reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to
matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials. References to the Prospectus in
this paragraph (b) include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

            (c) The Representatives shall have received from Brobeck Phleger &
         Harrison LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions,
         dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with
         respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration
         Statement, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and
         other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require,
         and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as
         they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such
         matters.

            (d) The Company shall have requested and caused Townsend and
         Townsend and Crew, intellectual property counsel for the Company, to
         have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing
         Date and addressed to the Representatives to the effect that:

                (i) As to the statements under the captions "Risk Factors -- Our
            business depends in part on our ability to obtain and preserve
            intellectual property rights" and "Business -- Intellectual
            Property," nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which
            caused them to believe that the above-mentioned sections of the
            Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto made
            available and reviewed by such counsel, at the time the Registration
            Statement became effective and at all times subsequent thereto up to
            and on the Closing Date and on any later date on which Option Stock
            are to be purchased, contained any untrue statement of a material
            fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
            therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
            circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

                (ii) Such counsel knows of no material action, suit, claim or
            proceeding relating to patents, patent rights or licenses,
            trademarks or trademark rights, copyrights, collaborative research,
            licenses or royalty arrangements or agreements or trade secrets,
            know-how or proprietary techniques, including processes and
            substances, owned by or affecting the business or operations of the
            Company which are pending or threatened against the Company or any
            of its officers or directors.

                (iii) The Company is listed in the records of the United States
            Patent and Trademark Office as the holder of record of the patents
            listed on a schedule to such opinion (the "Patents") and each of the
            applications listed on a schedule to such opinion (the
            "Applications"). To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no
            claims of third parties to any ownership interest or lien with
            respect to any of the Patents or Applications. Such counsel is not
            aware of any material defect in form in the preparation or filing of
            the Applications on behalf of the Company. To the knowledge of such
            counsel, the Applications are being pursued by the




                                       15
<PAGE>

            Company. To the knowledge of such counsel, the Company owns as its
            sole property the Patents and pending Applications;

                (iv) The Company is listed in the records of the appropriate
            foreign offices as the sole holder of record of the foreign patents
            listed on a schedule to such opinion (the "Foreign Patents") and
            each of the applications listed on a schedule to such opinion (the
            "Foreign Applications"). Such counsel knows of no claims of third
            parties to any ownership interest or lien with respect to the
            Foreign Patents or Foreign Applications. Such counsel is not aware
            of any material defect of form in the preparation or filing of the
            Foreign Applications on behalf of the Company. To the knowledge of
            such counsel, the Foreign Applications are being pursued by the
            Company. To the knowledge of such counsel, the Company owns as its
            sole property the Foreign Patents and pending Foreign Applications;
            and

                (v) Such counsel knows of no reason why the Patents or Foreign
            Patents are not valid as issued. Such counsel has no knowledge of
            any reason why any patent to be issued as a result of any
            Application or Foreign Application would not be valid or would not
            afford the Company useful patent protection with respect thereto.

            (e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a
         certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or the
         President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such
         certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the
         Prospectus, any supplements to the Prospectus and this Agreement and
         that:

                (i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
            Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of
            the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date
            and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied
            all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
            prior to the Closing Date;

                (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
            Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
            purpose have been instituted or, to the Company's knowledge,
            threatened; and

                (iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements
            included in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto),
            there has been no material adverse effect on the condition
            (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or
            properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
            whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
            business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus
            (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

            (f) The Company shall have requested and caused
         PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, at
         the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, letters, dated respectively
         as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form




                                       16
<PAGE>

         and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they
         are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the
         applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder
         and that they have performed a review of the unaudited interim
         financial information of the Company for the three-month period ended
         March 31, 2000, and as at March 31, 2000, in accordance with Statement
         on Auditing Standards No. 71 and stating in effect that:

                (i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and
            financial statement schedules included in the Registration Statement
            and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all
            material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
            Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;

                (ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial
            statements made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; their
            limited review, in accordance with standards established under
            Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71, of the unaudited interim
            financial information for the    -month period ended March 31, 2000,
            and as at March 31, 2000; carrying out certain specified procedures
            (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted
            auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of
            significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter;
            a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders,
            directors and compensation and audit committees of the Company and
            the Subsidiaries; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company
            who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the
            Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events
            subsequent to March 31, 2000, nothing came to their attention which
            caused them to believe that:

                    (1) any unaudited financial statements included in the
                Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to
                form in all material respects with applicable accounting
                requirements of the Act and with the related rules and
                regulations adopted by the Commission with respect to
                registration statements on Form S-1; and said unaudited
                financial statements are not in conformity with generally
                accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially
                consistent with that of the audited financial statements
                included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

                    (2) with respect to the period subsequent to March 31, 2000,
                there were any changes, at a specified date not more than five
                days prior to the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of
                the Company and its subsidiaries or capital stock of the Company
                or decreases in the stockholders' equity of the Company or
                decreases in working capital of the Company as compared with the
                amounts shown on the March 31, 2000 consolidated balance sheet
                included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or
                for the period from April 1, 2000 to such specified date there
                were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in
                the preceding




                                       17
<PAGE>

                quarter in net revenues or income before income taxes or in
                total or per share amounts of net income, operating income, and
                net interest income after provision for loan losses of the
                Company, except in all instances for changes or decreases set
                forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be
                accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the
                significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed
                necessary by the Representatives; or

                    (3) the information included in the Registration Statement
                and Prospectus in response to Regulation S-K, Item 301 (Selected
                Financial Data), Item 302 (Supplementary Financial Information),
                Item 402 (Executive Compensation) and Item 503(d) (Ratio of
                Earnings to Fixed Charges) is not in conformity with the
                applicable disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K.

                (iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as
            a result of which they determined that certain information of an
            accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to
            accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the
            general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries) set
            forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including
            the information set forth under the captions "Summary Consolidated
            Financial Data" and "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" in the
            Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of the Company and
            its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation;
            and

                (iv) References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (f) include
            any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.

            The Company shall have received from PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP
(and furnished to the Representatives) a report with respect to a review of
unaudited interim financial information of the Company for the eight quarters
ending December 31, 1999, in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 71.

            The Company shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
(and furnished to the Representatives) an examination report with respect to
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations of the Company for the three fiscal years ending December 31,
1999, and a review report with respect to Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company for
the three-month period ending March 31, 2000, and the corresponding period
for the prior fiscal year, each in accordance with Statement on Standards for
Attestation Engagements No. 8 issued by the Auditing Standards Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and such examination
report shall be included in the Registration Statement.

            (g) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as
of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any
amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto),
there shall not have been


                                       18
<PAGE>

            (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters
                referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 6 or (ii) any
                change, or any development involving a prospective change, in
                or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise),
                earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
                subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
                transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as
                set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of
                any supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case
                referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole
                judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as
                to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the
                offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the
                Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof)
                and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

            (h) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished
            to the Representatives such further information, certificates and
            documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

            If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the
Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters
hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by
the Representatives. Notice of such cancelation shall be given to the Company
in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

            The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be
delivered at the office of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, counsel for the
Underwriters, at One Market Plaza, Spear Street Tower, San Francisco,
California 94105, on the Closing Date.

            7. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If the sale of the
Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied,
because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally through Salomon Smith Barney on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been
incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the
Securities.

            8. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

            (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
         Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each
         Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the
         meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all
         losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they
         or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
         other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
         otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
         actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
         statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
         the




                                       19
<PAGE>

         registration statement for the registration of the Securities as
         originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any Preliminary
         Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement
         thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
         omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
         or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees
         to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or
         other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
         investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
         action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company will not be liable in any
         such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
         arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged
         untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in
         reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
         the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
         Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity
         agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
         otherwise have.

            (b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify
         and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
         officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who
         controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
         Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
         Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written
         information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or
         on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically
         for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity.
         This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any
         Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the
         statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding
         delivery of the Securities and, under the heading "Underwriting" or
         "Plan of Distribution," (i) the list of Underwriters and their
         respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (ii) the
         sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (iii) the
         paragraph related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and
         penalty bids in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
         constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of
         the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus or
         the Prospectus.

            (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
         Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
         party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
         indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party
         in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify
         the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under
         paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
         otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the
         forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses
         and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from
         any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification
         obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying
         party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party's
         choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the indemnified
         party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case
         the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees
         and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party
         or parties except as set forth below); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
         counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party.




                                       20


<PAGE>

         Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to
         represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party
         shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local
         counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees,
         costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel
         chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party
         would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual
         or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both
         the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified
         party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses
         available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different
         from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii)
         the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to
         the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a
         reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv)
         the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ
         separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An
         indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
         indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of
         any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action,
         suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution
         may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are
         actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such
         settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of
         each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim,
         action, suit or proceeding. Notwithstanding anything contained herein
         to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(e)
         hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to
         such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party
         shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than
         one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for Salomon Smith
         Barney Inc., the directors, officers, employees and agents of Salomon
         Smith Barney Inc., and all persons, if any, who control Salomon Smith
         Barney Inc. within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act
         for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising
         out of the Directed Share Program.

            (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
         of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
         indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters
         severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages
         and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
         in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively
         "Losses") to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may
         be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
         benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the
         Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities;
         PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may
         be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the
         offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of
         the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities
         purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by
         the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the
         Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such
         proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits
         but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the
         Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
         omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant




                                       21
<PAGE>

         equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
         deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before
         deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the
         Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting
         discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page
         of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to,
         among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement
         of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
         material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one
         hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and
         their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
         correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and
         the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if
         contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method
         of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
         considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of
         this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
         (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
         contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
         misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who
         controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the
         Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an
         Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such
         Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the
         meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the
         Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each
         director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as
         the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and
         conditions of this paragraph (d).

            (e) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Salomon Smith
         Barney Inc., the directors, officers, employees and agents of Salomon
         Smith Barney Inc. and each person, who controls Salomon Smith Barney
         Inc. within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act ("Salomon
         Smith Barney Inc. Entities"), from and against any and all losses,
         claims, damages and liabilities to which they may become subject under
         the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or
         regulation, at common law or otherwise (including, without limitation,
         any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
         defending or investigating any such action or claim), insofar as such
         losses, claims damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
         (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
         untrue statement of a material fact contained in the prospectus wrapper
         material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for
         distribution in foreign jurisdictions in connection with the Directed
         Share Program attached to the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus,
         or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
         state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statement therein, when considered in conjunction
         with the Prospectus or any applicable preliminary prospectus, not
         misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for
         and accept delivery of the securities which immediately following the
         Effective Date of the Registration Statement, were subject to a
         properly confirmed agreement to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising
         out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, provided
         that, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent
         that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
         based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
         omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in




                                       22
<PAGE>

         conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on
         behalf of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. specifically for inclusion therein.

            9. DEFAULT BY AN UNDERWRITER. If any one or more Underwriters shall
fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by
such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up
and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of
Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the
Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that the aggregate amount of
Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in
Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase
all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities,
and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this
Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or
the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this
Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding
five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the
required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any
other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to
the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its
default hereunder.

            10. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in
the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company
prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to
such time (i) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have been suspended by
the Commission or the Nasdaq National Market or trading in securities generally
on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market shall have been
suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on either of
such Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (ii) a banking moratorium shall
have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii)
there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration
by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis
the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole
judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the
offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Prospectus
(exclusive of any supplement thereto).

            11. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in
Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or
cancelation of this Agreement.



                                       23
<PAGE>

            12. NOTICES. All communications hereunder will be in writing and
effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed,
delivered or telefaxed to the Salomon Smith Barney Inc. General Counsel (fax
no.: (212) 816-7912) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Salomon Smith Barney
Inc., at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: General
Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to
(408) 567-3003 and confirmed to it at (650) 493-6811, attention of the Legal
Department.

            13. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in
Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation
hereunder.

            14. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement will be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts
made and to be performed within the State of New York.

            15. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

            16. HEADINGS. The section headings used herein are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

            17. DEFINITIONS. The terms which follow, when used in this
Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

            "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

            "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or
a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are
authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

            "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

            "Effective Date" shall mean each date and time that the Registration
Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement became or become effective.

            "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

            "Execution Time" shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is
executed and delivered by the parties hereto.





                                       24
<PAGE>

            "Preliminary Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary prospectus
referred to in paragraph 1(a) above and any preliminary prospectus included in
the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits Rule 430A
Information.

            "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus relating to the Securities
that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time or, if no
filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is required, shall mean the form of final
prospectus relating to the Securities included in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date.

            "Registration Statement" shall mean the registration statement
referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial
statements, as amended at the Execution Time (or, if not effective at the
Execution Time, in the form in which it shall become effective) and, in the
event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such
registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
as the case may be. Such term shall include any Rule 430A Information deemed to
be included therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A.

            "Rule 424", "Rule 430A" and "Rule 462" refer to such rules under the
Act.

            "Rule 430A Information" shall mean information with respect to the
Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the
Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.

            "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement" shall mean a registration
statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to
the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a)
hereof.

            If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the
Company and the several Underwriters.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            Tripath Technology, Inc.

                                            By:________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:




                                       25
<PAGE>


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

Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
Dain Rauscher Incorporated

By: Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

By: _______________________________
    Name:
    Title:

For themselves and the other several
Underwriters named in Schedule I to
the foregoing Agreement.




                                       26
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I
                                   ----------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                       NUMBER OF UNDERWRITTEN
               UNDERWRITERS                         SECURITIES TO BE PURCHASED
               ------------                         --------------------------
<S>                                               <C>

Salomon Smith Barney Inc........................
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc...................
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc..................
Dain Rauscher Incorporated......................

                                                           ---------------
Total...........................................
                                                           ===============
</TABLE>




                                       S-1
<PAGE>


                        [LETTERHEAD OF OFFICER, DIRECTOR OR MAJOR SHAREHOLDER OF
                        TRIPATH TECHNOLOGY INC.]


                             TRIPATH TECHNOLOGY INC.
                         PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK

                                                               ____________ , 20

Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
Dain Rauscher Incorporated
As Representatives of the several Underwriters,
c/o Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  This letter is being delivered to you in connection with
the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"), between
Tripath Technology Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and each of
you as representatives of a group of Underwriters named therein, relating to
an underwritten public offering of Common Stock, $      par value (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company.

                  In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter
into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior
written consent of Salomon Smith Barney Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell,
pledge or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed
to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by
actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or
otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in
privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or
indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing of) a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect
of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease
a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any
shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or
exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, or publicly announce an
intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days after the
date of the final prospectus, other than shares of Common Stock disposed of as
bona fide gifts approved by Salomon Smith Barney Inc.




                                       1

<PAGE>

                  If for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be
terminated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement),
the agreement set forth above shall likewise be terminated.

                                        Yours very truly,


                                        __________________________________












                                        2





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