IXIA
S-1/A, EX-1.1, 2000-09-19
INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS
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                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                                      IXIA

                           (a California corporation)

                        [Number of Shares] Common Shares

                            (No par value Per Share)

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                                                   _______, 2000
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
            Securities Corporation
Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of
            Dain Rauscher Incorporated
  as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o  Merrill Lynch & Co.
     Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                 Incorporated
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York  10281-1209

Ladies and Gentlemen:

       IXIA, a California corporation (the "Company"), confirms its agreement
with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
("Merrill Lynch") and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto
(collectively, the "Underwriters", which term shall also include any underwriter
substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill
Lynch and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and Dain Rauscher
Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated, are acting as representatives
(in such capacity, the "Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by
the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, of the respective numbers of Common Shares, no par value per share, of
the Company ("Common Shares") set forth in said Schedule A, and with respect to
the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly,
of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of
[Number of over-allotment shares] additional Common Shares, from the Company to
cover over-allotments, if any. The aforesaid [Number of Shares] Common Shares
(the "Initial Securities") to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any
part of the [Number of over-allotment shares] Common Shares subject to the
option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the "Option Securities") are
hereinafter called, collectively, the



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"Securities".

       The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after
this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

       The Company and the Underwriters agree that up to _______ shares of the
Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters (the "Reserved Securities") shall
be reserved for sale by the Underwriters to certain eligible employees and
persons having business relationships with the Company, as part of the
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and all other applicable laws, rules and
regulations. To the extent that such Reserved Securities are not orally
confirmed for purchase by such eligible employees and persons having business
relationships with the Company by the end of the first business day after the
date of this Agreement, such Reserved Securities may be offered to the public as
part of the public offering contemplated hereby.

       The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-42678) covering the
registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses.
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will either
(i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A
("Rule 430A") of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act
(the "1933 Act Regulations") and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of
the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule
434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a
"Term Sheet") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). The
information included in such prospectus or in such Term Sheet, as the case may
be, that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became
effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the
time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred
to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 434 is
referred to as "Rule 434 Information." Each prospectus used before such
registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as
applicable, the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was used
after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, is herein called a "preliminary prospectus." Such registration
statement, including the exhibits thereto and schedules thereto at the time it
became effective and including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, as applicable, is herein called the "Registration Statement." Any
registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations
is herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement," and after
such filing the term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement. The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities is herein
called the "Prospectus." If Rule 434 is relied on, the term "Prospectus" shall
refer to the preliminary prospectus dated _____, 2000 together with the Term
Sheet and all references in this Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall
mean the date of the Term Sheet. For purposes of this Agreement, all references
to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the



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Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant
to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR").

       SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

       (a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Time
referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any)
referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter, as
follows:

              (i) COMPLIANCE WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. Each of the
       Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
       become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
       effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
       Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no
       proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
       the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any
       request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been
       complied with.

              At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule
       462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto
       became effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities
       are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement, the
       Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements
       thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the
       requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and did not and
       will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
       a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
       statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus, any preliminary
       prospectus and any supplement thereto or prospectus wrapper prepared in
       connection therewith, at their respective times of issuance and at the
       Closing Time, complied and will comply in all material respects with any
       applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the
       Prospectus and such preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented,
       if applicable, are distributed in connection with the offer and sale of
       Reserved Securities. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or
       supplements thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), at the time the
       Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the
       Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of
       Delivery), included or will include an untrue statement of a material
       fact or omitted or will 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. If Rule 434 is used, the Company
       will comply with the requirements of Rule 434 and the Prospectus shall
       not be "materially different", as such term is used in Rule 434, from the
       prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became
       effective. The representations and warranties in this subsection shall
       not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement
       or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
       furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through Merrill
       Lynch expressly for use in the



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        Registration Statement or Prospectus.

              Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of
       the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any
       amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act,
       complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act
       Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered
       to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was
       identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
       Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by
       Regulation S-T.

              (ii) INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. The accountants who certified the
       financial statements and supporting schedules included in the
       Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by
       the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

              (iii) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The financial statements included in
       the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related
       schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the
       financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at
       the dates indicated and the statement of operations, shareholders' equity
       and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the
       periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in
       conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied
       on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting
       schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all
       material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required to be
       stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial
       information included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material
       respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
       consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the
       Registration Statement.

              (iv) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE IN BUSINESS. Since the respective
       dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
       the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no
       material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
       the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and
       its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in
       the ordinary course of business (a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there
       have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its
       subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which
       are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered
       as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of
       any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its
       capital stock.

              (v) GOOD STANDING OF THE COMPANY. The Company has been duly
       organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
       the laws of the State of California and has corporate power and authority
       to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
       described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations
       under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
       corporation to transact



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       business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such
       qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing
       of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to
       qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse
       Effect.

              (vi) GOOD STANDING OF SUBSIDIARY. Ixia Europe Limited ("Ixia UK")
       has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
       standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has
       corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
       and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
       qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
       standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
       whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct
       of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good
       standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued
       and outstanding capital stock of Ixia UK has been duly authorized and
       validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the
       Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
       encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital
       stock of Ixia UK were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar
       rights of any securityholder of Ixia UK. Ixia UK is the only subsidiary
       of the Company.

              (vii) CAPITALIZATION. The authorized, issued and outstanding
       capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus in the
       column entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for
       subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to
       reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the
       Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of options referred to in the
       Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the
       Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid
       and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
       the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar
       rights of any securityholder of the Company. In addition, the shares of
       issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company have been issued in
       compliance, in all material respects, with all federal and state
       securities laws.

              (viii) AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement has been duly
       authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

              (ix) AUTHORIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. The Securities
       have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters
       pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
       pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth
       herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the
       Common Shares conform in all material respects to the statements relating
       thereto contained in the Prospectus and such description conforms in all
       material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the
       same; no holder of the Securities will be subject to personal liability
       by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance of the Securities is
       not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any
       securityholder of the Company.



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              (x) ABSENCE OF DEFAULTS AND CONFLICTS. Neither the Company nor
       any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or in
       default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement,
       covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage,
       deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement
       or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party
       or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the
       property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject
       (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments") except for such defaults
       that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution,
       delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
       transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement
       (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the
       proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Prospectus
       under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and compliance by the Company with
       its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary
       corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the
       giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute
       a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or
       result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
       upon any property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to,
       the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or
       defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a
       Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of
       the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary
       or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ
       or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court,
       domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any
       subsidiary or any of their assets, properties or operations (except for
       such violations of laws, statutes, rules, regulations, judgments, orders,
       writs or decrees as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect). As
       used herein, a "Repayment Event" means any event or condition which gives
       the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or
       any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the
       repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such
       indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary.

              (xi) ABSENCE OF LABOR DISPUTE. No labor dispute with the employees
       of the Company or any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the
       Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or
       imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any
       subsidiary's principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or
       contractors, which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to
       result in a Material Adverse Effect.

              (xii) ABSENCE OF PROCEEDINGS. There is no action, suit,
       proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or
       governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the
       knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or
       any subsidiary, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration
       Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which could reasonably be
       expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which could
       reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties
       or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
       this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations
       hereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings
       to which the



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       Company or any subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective
       property or assets is the subject which are not described in the
       Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation incidental
       to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
       Adverse Effect.

              (xiii) ACCURACY OF EXHIBITS. There are no contracts or documents
       which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
       Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so
       described and filed as required.

              (xiv) POSSESSION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. The Company and its
       subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
       patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how
       (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
       proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures),
       trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property
       (collectively, "Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on the
       business now operated by them (except where the failure to own or possess
       or acquire such Intellectual Property could not reasonably be expected to
       result in a Material Adverse Effect), and neither the Company nor any of
       its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any
       infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect
       to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which could
       reasonably be expected to render any Intellectual Property invalid or
       inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its
       subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject
       of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or
       inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to
       result in a Material Adverse Effect.

              (xv) ABSENCE OF FURTHER REQUIREMENTS. No filing with, or
       authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
       qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency
       is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its
       obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale
       of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions
       contemplated by this Agreement, except (i) such as have been already
       obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
       Regulations or state securities laws or by the NASD (as defined below)
       and (ii) such as have been obtained under the laws and regulations of
       jurisdictions outside the United States in which the Reserved Securities
       are offered.

              (xvi) POSSESSION OF LICENSES AND PERMITS. The Company and its
       subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and
       other authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by
       the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or
       bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them; the
       Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and
       conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so
       to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
       Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and
       effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the
       failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect
       would not have a Material Adverse



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       Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received
       any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
       any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
       subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a
       Material Adverse Effect.

              (xvii)  TITLE TO PROPERTY. The Company and its subsidiaries have
       good and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and
       its subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them, in
       each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security
       interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such
       as (a) are described in the Prospectus or (b) do not, singly or in the
       aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not
       materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such
       property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and all of the leases
       and subleases under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds
       properties described in the Prospectus, are in full force and effect
       (except where the failure to be in full force and effect would not,
       singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), and
       neither the Company nor any subsidiary has any notice of any claim or
       claims of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights
       of the Company or any subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases
       mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or
       such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased
       premises under any such lease or sublease.

              (xviii) INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. The Company is not, and upon the
       issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the
       application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus
       will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an
       "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company
       Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

              (xix)   ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. Except as described in the
       Registration Statement and except as would not, singly or in the
       aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or otherwise require
       disclosure in the Registration Statement, (A) neither the Company nor any
       of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or
       foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule
       of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof,
       including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or
       judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the
       environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
       groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including,
       without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or
       threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic
       substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products
       (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture, processing,
       distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
       Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), (B) the Company
       and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals
       required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in
       compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or
       threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits,
       demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or
       violation, investigation or proceedings



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       relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its
       subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances that might
       reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or
       remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or
       governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of
       its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental
       Laws.

              (xx) REGISTRATION RIGHTS. There are no persons with registration
       rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant
       to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company
       under the 1933 Act.

              (xxi) SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS. 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 timely preparation of financial statements in
       conformity in all material respects 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.

       (b) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to
counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by
the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

       SECTION 2. SALE AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING.

       (a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not
jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase
from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, the number of
Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such
Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such
Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of
Section 10 hereof.

       (b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations
and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally
and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [Number of over-allotment
shares] Common Shares at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, less an
amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company
and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.
The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and may be
exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering
over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and
distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representatives to the
Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several
Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time



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and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and
date of delivery (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by the
Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the
exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time, as
hereinafter defined. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the
Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly,
will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then
being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A
opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial
Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representatives in
their discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional
shares.

       (c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 300 South Grand Avenue, 34th Floor,
Los Angeles, CA 90071, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
Representatives and the Company, at 7:00 A.M. (California time) on the third
(fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day)
business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days
after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company
(such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").

       In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are
purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery
of certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned
offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives
and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the
Representatives to the Company.

       Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to
the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that
each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept
delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to
purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase
price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be
purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing
Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment
shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

       (d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial Securities
and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered
in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least one full
business day before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the
case may be. The certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option
Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and packaging by the
Representatives in The City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time)
on the business day prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery,
as the case may be.



                                       10
<PAGE>   11

       SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:

       (a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The
Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A
or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Representatives immediately, and
confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the
Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt
of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for
any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to
the Prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary
prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect the
filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b) and will take such steps as it deems
necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for
filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the
event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will
make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if
any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible
moment.

       (b) Filing of Amendments. The Company will give the Representatives
notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term Sheet or any
amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus,
will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable
amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and
will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel
for the Underwriters shall object.

       (c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or
will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without
charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of
each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by
reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of
experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a
conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each
amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of
the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the
Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof
filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.

       (d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each
Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as
such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the
use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will
furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934



                                       11
<PAGE>   12

(the "1934 Act"), such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be
identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

       (e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply
with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of
the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the
Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be
delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or
condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration
Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus
will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading
in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a
purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any
such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933
Act Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission,
subject to Section 3(b), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to
correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the
Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the
Underwriters may reasonably request.

       (f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in
cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and
sale under the applicable securities laws of such states in the United States
and such foreign jurisdictions as the Representatives and the Company may
mutually agree and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not
less than one year from the later of the effective date of the Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of
process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in
any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to
taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so
qualified, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required
by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a
period of not less than one year from the effective date of the Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.

       (g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the
1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes
of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section
11(a) of the 1933 Act.

       (h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it
from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under
"Use of Proceeds".



                                       12
<PAGE>   13

       (i) Listing. The Company will use every reasonable effort to effect and
maintain the quotation of the Securities on the Nasdaq National Market for three
years from the date hereof, and will file with the Nasdaq National Market all
documents and notices required by the Nasdaq National Market of companies that
have securities that are traded in the over-the-counter market and quotations
for which are reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

       (j) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 180 days from
the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written
consent of Merrill Lynch, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell,
contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option
or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise
transfer or dispose of any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or file any registration statement
under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any
swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in
part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the
Common Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or
(ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A)
the Securities to be sold hereunder, (B) any shares of Common Stock issued by
the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a
security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Prospectus, (C)
any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted
pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the
Prospectus, or (D) any shares of Common Stock issued as consideration in
connection with any acquisition of a business by the Company so long as such
shares are subject to lock-up agreements substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit B hereto signed by the holders of such shares following any such
acquisition.

       (k) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will
file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934
Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.

       (l) Compliance with NASD Rules. The Company hereby agrees that it will
ensure that the Reserved Securities will be restricted as 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 this Agreement. The Underwriters will notify the
Company as to which persons will need to be so restricted. At the request of the
Underwriters, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place a stop
transfer restriction upon such securities for such period of time. Should the
Company release, or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the Reserved
Securities, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable
expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable legal expenses) they incur
in connection with such release.

       (m) Compliance with Rule 463. The Company will file with the Commission
such reports as may be required pursuant to Rule 463 of the 1933 Act
Regulations.



                                       13
<PAGE>   14

       SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

       (a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this
Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be
required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery
of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the
certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or
other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale,
issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and
disbursements of the Company's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v)
subject to receipt of reasonably satisfactory documentation thereof, the
qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in
connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each
preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of the Prospectus and any amendments
or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii)
the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities,
(ix) subject to receipt of reasonably satisfactory documentation thereof, the
filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the NASD of the terms of the
sale of the Securities, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the inclusion of the Securities in the Nasdaq National Market and (xi) subject
to receipt of reasonably satisfactory documentation thereof, all costs and
expenses of the Underwriters, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with matters related to the Reserved
Securities which are designated by the Company for sale to employees and others
having a business relationship with the Company.

       (b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section
9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters; provided, however, that the Underwriters shall
provide written evidence of such expenses upon written request by the Company.

       SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of
the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof or
in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company
of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further
conditions:

       (a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement,
including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and at
Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor
initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction



                                       14
<PAGE>   15

of counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A
Information shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule
424(b) (or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been
filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A)
or, if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have
been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).

       (b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the Representatives
shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Bryan
Cave LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel
for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
for each of the other Underwriters substantially to the effect set forth in
Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may
reasonably request.

       (c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters,
together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
Underwriters with respect to the matters set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (v),
(vi) (solely as to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of
law or under the charter or by-laws of the Company), (vii) through (ix),
inclusive, (xi), (xiii) (solely as to the information in the Prospectus under
"Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock") and the penultimate paragraph of
Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to all
matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the States
of New York and California and the federal law of the United States, upon the
opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may also
state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied,
to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and
its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

       (d) Officers' Certificate. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have
received a certificate of the President or a Vice President of the Company and
of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of
Closing Time, in the name and on behalf of the Company to the effect that (i)
there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and
warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and
effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the Company has
complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or are
contemplated by the Commission.

       (e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this
Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers,
LLC a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies



                                       15
<PAGE>   16

of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

       (f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Representatives shall
have each received from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC a letter, dated as of
Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter
furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified
date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to
Closing Time.

       (g) Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Securities shall have been
approved for inclusion in the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official
notice of issuance.

       (h) No Objection. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised any
objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting
terms and arrangements.

       (i) Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the
Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit B hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto.

       (j) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the
Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase
all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties
of the Company contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished
by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company hereunder shall be true and
correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the
Representatives shall have received:

              (i) Officers' Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of
       Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of the
       chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming
       that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section
       5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

              (ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company. The favorable opinion of
       Bryan Cave LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance
       satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of
       Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date
       of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by
       Section 5(b) hereof.

              (iii) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The favorable opinion
       of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the
       Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option
       Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the
       same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.



                                       16
<PAGE>   17

              (iv) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from
       PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, in form and substance satisfactory to the
       Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the
       same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives
       pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof, except that the "specified date" in the
       letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than
       five days prior to such Date of Delivery.

       (k) Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery,
counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and
opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to
evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the
fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities
as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to
the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

       (l) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option
Securities, on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option
Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at
any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may
be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8
shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

       SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION.

       (a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act as follows:

              (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
       whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
       untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
       Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information
       and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the omission or alleged
       omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
       necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of
       any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
       included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
       amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
       therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
       therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
       not misleading;

              (ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
       expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of (A) the violation of any
       applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Reserved
       Securities have been offered and (B) any untrue statement or



                                       17
<PAGE>   18

       alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in the supplement or
       prospectus wrapper material distributed in any foreign jurisdictions in
       connection with the reservation and sale of the Reserved Securities to
       certain eligible employees and persons having business relationships with
       the Company or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material
       fact necessary to make the statements therein, when considered in
       conjunction with the Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, not
       misleading;

              (iii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
       expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
       paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding
       by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any
       claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
       such alleged untrue statement or omission or in connection with any
       violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(a)(ii)(A) hereof;
       provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is
       effected with the written consent of the Company; and

              (iv) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
       (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill
       Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
       against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
       governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
       whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
       alleged untrue statement or omission or in connection with any violation
       of the nature referred to in Section 6(a)(ii)(A) hereof, to the extent
       that any such expense is not paid under (i), (ii) or (iii) above;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

       (b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter
severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each
of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this
Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions,
or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Merrill
Lynch expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
or such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).



                                       18
<PAGE>   19

       (c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity or contribution
may be sought under Section 6 or Section 7 hereof, but failure to so notify an
indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability
hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and
in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise
than on account of this indemnity or contribution agreement. In the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified
parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties
shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its
own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel
to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified
party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel
(in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all
indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or CIRCUMSTANCES. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.

       (d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel incurred in accordance with
Section 6(a)(iv), such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(iii) effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, accompanied by
documentation thereof, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice
accurately and completely describing the terms of such settlement at least 30
days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement.

       (e) Indemnification for Reserved Securities. In connection with the offer
and sale of the Reserved Securities, the Company agrees, promptly upon a request
in writing, to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from and against any
and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by them as a
result of the failure of certain eligible employees and persons having business
relationships with the Company to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved
Securities which, by the end of the first business day following the date of
this Agreement, were subject to a properly confirmed agreement to purchase.



                                       19
<PAGE>   20

       SECTION 7. CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6
hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with
any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(a)(ii)(A) hereof, which
resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations.

       The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case
as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is used, the
corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the aggregate initial public
offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.

       The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(a)(ii)(A)
hereof.

       The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.

       Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue



                                       20
<PAGE>   21

or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

       No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

       For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in
proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

       SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE
DELIVERY. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters.

       SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.

       (a) Termination; General. The Representatives may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i)
if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse
change in the financial markets in the United States, any outbreak of
hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or
development involving a prospective change in national political, financial or
economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in
the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities or
to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any
securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the
Commission or the Nasdaq National Market, or if trading generally on the
American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National
Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices
for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by
any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other governmental
authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal
or New York authorities.

       (b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section, such termination



                                       21
<PAGE>   22

shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in
Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive
such termination and remain in full force and effect.

       SECTION 10. DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS. If one or more of
the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase
the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement
(the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives shall have the right, within
24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all,
of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the
terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have
completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

       (i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting
Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full
amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations
hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting
Underwriters, or

       (ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of
Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any
Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the
Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities to be
purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on
the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

       No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

       In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the
Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the
Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities,
as the case may be, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the
right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may
be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required
changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements. As used herein, the term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

       SECTION 11. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 3300 Hillview Avenue, Suite 150, Palo Alto, CA
94304-1203, attention of George Francisco, with a copy to Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP at 300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400, Los Angeles,
California 90071-3144, attention of Gregg A. Noel; and notices to the Company
shall be directed to it at 26601 West Agoura Road,



                                       22
<PAGE>   23

Calabasas, California 91302, attention of Errol Ginsberg with copies to Bryan
Cave LLP at 120 Broadway, Suite 300, Santa Monica, California 90401, attention
of R. Randall Wang and Katherine F. Ashton.

       SECTION 12. PARTIES. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling
persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their
heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors
and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other
person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

       SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL
OBLIGATIONS LAW. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY
REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

       SECTION 14. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Article and Section headings herein
and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.

       If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        IXIA

                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                             Title:


 CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
     as of the date first above written:


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.



                                       23
<PAGE>   24

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
 INCORPORATED

DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION

DAIN RAUSCHER WESSELS, A DIVISION OF
      DAIN RAUSCHER INCORPORATED

By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED



By
  ---------------------------------------
          Authorized Signatory



For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.



                                       24
<PAGE>   25

                                   SCHEDULE A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Number of
                                                                                    Initial
        Name of Underwriter                                                        Securities
        -------------------                                                        ----------
<S>                                                                                <C>
        Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                    Incorporated................................................
        Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
                    Securities Corporation......................................
        Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of
                    Dain Rauscher Incorporated..................................



                                                                                   ------------------
        Total ..................................................................   [Number of Shares]
                                                                                   ==================
</TABLE>



                                    Sch A-1
<PAGE>   26

                                   SCHEDULE B

                                      IXIA
                        [Number of Shares] Common Shares
                            (No par value Per Share)



       1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities,
determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $_______.

       2. The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the
several Underwriters shall be $______, being an amount equal to the initial
public offering price set forth above less $______ per share; provided that the
purchase price per share for any Option Securities purchased upon the exercise
of the over-allotment option described in Section 2(b) shall be reduced by an
amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company
and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.



                                    Sch B-1
<PAGE>   27

                                   SCHEDULE C

                      PERSONS SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDERS
------------
<S>     <C>
1.      Technology Capital Group
2.      Ginsberg, Errol and Annette R. Michelson Family Trust
3.      Weissberger, Joel
4.      Asscher, Carol
5.      Asscher, Laurent
6.      Boudry, Scott
7.      Buckly, Ronald W.
8.      Heine, Jan
9.      Rager Family Trust
10.     Oringer Family LLC
11.     Ginsberg, Errol 1999 QuickGRAT
12.     Michelson, Annette R. 1999 QuickGRAT
13.     MacWhirter, Mark
14.     Klassen, K. Manley
15.     Asscher, Jean-Claude
16.     Meyer, Raymond A.
17.     Cozlovschi, Valeriu
18.     Murga, Nelson
19.     Stone, Gary E.
20.     Tebben, Michael and Kathryn Living Trust
21.     Mallinder, Paul
22.     Soor, Hardev
23.     Stopp, Debra J.
24.     Stopp, Gene
25.     McCulloh, Pamela J.
26.     Buterbaugh, Lance
27.     Warren, Adrian
28.     Leabo, Brad
29.     Togno, Michael
30.     Giambi, Raymond
31.     Antos, Mara
32.     Kong, Edmund
33.     Zajaczkowski, Frank
34.     Bui, Daniel
35.     Jankowski, Marek
36.     Le, Peter
</TABLE>



                                    Sch C-1
<PAGE>   28

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDERS
------------
<S>     <C>
37.     Karoly, Eran
38.     Nguyen, Du
39.     Nguyen, Loc
40.     Noble, Joseph A.
41.     Tinnes, Jennifer
42.     Ubando, Fred
43.     Wolf, Michael B.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION HOLDERS
--------------
<S>     <C>
44.     Ambrose, Nick
45.     Angha, Ali
46.     Arkuszewski, Maciek
47.     Ball, Cynthia
48.     Black, Lance
49.     Carradine, Kelly
50.     Cartic, Sanjay
51.     Chorazewicz, Marek
52.     Ciros, Angelena
53.     Copp, Gary
54.     Dalmau, John
55.     De La Rosa, Tony
56.     Dizon, Richard
57.     Dollete, Ronald
58.     Duffy, Stan
59.     Faller, Jim
60.     Fatehpour, Mohammad
61.     Fuchs, Brian
62.     Hannel, Cliff
63.     Lam, Dominic
64.     Lee, John
65.     Levkovitz, David
66.     Mathieu, Carole
67.     Mazloomian, Elmira
68.     Musat, Antonio
69.     Muzaffar, Athar
70.     Nguyen, Christopher
71.     Oster, Melvin
72.     Palomera, Reina
73.     Pepper, Gerald
74.     Raya, Gerardo
75.     Schafer, Doug
76.     Schram, Bruce
77.     Thimsen, Julie
</TABLE>



                                    Sch C-2
<PAGE>   29

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION HOLDERS
--------------
<S>     <C>
78.     Trinh, Quang
79.     Valentine, Dave
80.     Wang, Xinchen
81.     Williams, Mark
82.     Yang, Kenan
83.     Hu, Xin Yu
84.     Path Communications Corporation
85.     Winslow, Mike
86.     Bass, Robert W.
87.     Brunson, J.
88.     Buckly, Renee
89.     Carpenter, Kaal
90.     Castellon, Alda
91.     Chamoun, Walid
92.     Chen, Jack
93.     Choi, Lori
94.     Do, Giang
95.     Flores, Christopher A.
96.     George, Karen M.
97.     Gordon, Barry
98.     Graves, Steve
99.     Klemm, John
100.    Kristiansen, Jesper
101.    Lace, Larry
102.    Landau, Reuven
103.    Laverick, Gordon
104.    Liu, Bing
105.    Ly, Huong
106.    Mager, Carroll
107.    Merritt, Norman S.
108.    Miller, Thomas
109.    Nguyen, Kyle
110.    Nguyen, Nam
111.    Nguyen, Phuc Van
112.    Qui, Yuhua
113.    Ray, Rick
114.    Renteria, James
115.    Robinson, Mark
116.    Schaefer, Daniel T.
117.    Schneider, David
118.    Selenkow, David
119.    Shakaryan, Hasmik
120.    Si, Huaxiao
121.    Tebben, Michael
</TABLE>



                                    Sch C-3
<PAGE>   30

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION HOLDERS
--------------
<S>     <C>

122.    Teng, Bu
123.    Heininger, Gabe
124.    Rouse, Douglas
125.    Smithson, William
126.    Sumonsavadit, Jade
127.    Trudeau, Francis
128.    Watt, Steve
129.    Zhu, Zhenyu
</TABLE>



                                    Sch C-4
<PAGE>   31

                              _____________ , 2000                     Exhibit B


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated
   as Representative(s) of the several
   Underwriters to be named in the
   within-mentioned Purchase Agreement
c/o  Merrill Lynch & Co.
   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York  10281-1209

              Re:    PROPOSED INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING BY IXIA

Dear Sirs:

              The undersigned, a shareholder and/or optionholder and/or an
officer and/or a director of Ixia, a California corporation (the "Company"),
understands that Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation and Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated,
propose to enter into a Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with the
Company providing for the initial public offering of shares of the Company=s
common stock, without par value per share (the "Common Stock"). In recognition
of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a
shareholder and/or optionholder and/or an officer and/or a director of the
Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each
underwriter to be named in the Purchase Agreement that, from the date hereof and
until 180 days after the date of the Purchase Agreement, the undersigned will
not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, directly or indirectly,
(i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or
warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the
Company=s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the
undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires
the power of disposition, or file any registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii)
enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in
whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership
of the Common Stock, whether any such swap transaction is to be settled by
delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may during such 180-day period
exercise options issued under the Company=s stock option plans; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that any shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an option will be
subject to this



                                     B - 1
<PAGE>   32

Agreement.

              Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is an
individual, he or she may transfer any shares of Common Stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Company=s Common Stock
either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to his or her
immediate family or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the
undersigned and/or a member or members of his or her immediate family; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that prior to any such transfer each transferee shall execute an
agreement pursuant to which such transferee shall agree to receive and hold such
shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for the Common Stock, subject to the provisions hereof, and shall
agree that there shall be no further transfer except in accordance with the
provisions hereof. For purposes of this paragraph, "immediate family" shall mean
spouse, parent, stepparent, grandparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in law, child, stepchild, grandchild, brother or sister
of the transferor and shall include adoptive relationships.

              In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer
agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of
shares of Common Stock if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach
of this Agreement. The undersigned expressly agrees and consents to the entry of
stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the
transfer of Common Stock or other securities of the Company held by the
undersigned except in compliance with this Agreement.

              This Agreement shall be irrevocable and shall be binding on the
undersigned and the permitted successors, heirs, personal and legal
representatives and assigns of the undersigned.

              In the event that the Purchase Agreement has not been entered into
on or before December 31, 2000, this Agreement shall be void and of no further
effect.

                                        Very truly yours,



                                        Signature



                                        Print Name



                                     B - 2
<PAGE>   33

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           PAGE
                                                                                           ----
<S>                   <C>                                                                  <C>
PURCHASE AGREEMENT...........................................................................1
        SECTION 1.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.........................................3
               (a)    Representations and Warranties by the Company..........................3
                      (i)     Compliance with Registration Requirements......................3
                      (ii)    Independent Accountants........................................4
                      (iii)   Financial Statements...........................................4
                      (iv)    No Material Adverse Change in Business.........................4
                      (v)     Good Standing of the Company...................................4
                      (vi)    Good Standing of Subsidiaries..................................5
                      (vii)   Capitalization.................................................5
                      (viii)  Authorization of Agreement.....................................5
                      (ix)    Authorization and Description of Securities....................5
                      (x)     Absence of Defaults and Conflicts..............................6
                      (xi)    Absence of Labor Dispute.......................................6
                      (xii)   Absence of Proceedings.........................................6
                      (xiii)  Accuracy of Exhibits...........................................7
                      (xiv)   Possession of Intellectual Property............................7
                      (xv)    Absence of Further Requirements................................7
                      (xvi)   Possession of Licenses and Permits.............................7
                      (xvii)  Title to Property..............................................8
                      (xviii) Investment Company Act.........................................8
                      (xix)   Environmental Laws.............................................8
                      (xx)    Registration Rights............................................9
                      (xxi)   Systems and Controls...........................................9
               (b)    Officer's Certificates.................................................9
        SECTION 2.    SALE AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING.............................9
               (a)    Initial Securities.....................................................9
               (b)    Option Securities......................................................9
               (c)    Payment...............................................................10
               (d)    Denominations; Registration...........................................10
        SECTION 3.    COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY..............................................11
               (a)    Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests........11
               (b)    Filing of Amendments..................................................11
               (c)    Delivery of Registration Statements...................................11
               (d)    Delivery of Prospectuses..............................................11
               (e)    Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.............................12
               (f)    Blue Sky Qualifications...............................................12
               (g)    Rule 158..............................................................12
</TABLE>



                                       i
<PAGE>   34

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           PAGE
                                                                                           ----
<S>                   <C>                                                                  <C>
               (h)    Use of Proceeds.......................................................12
               (i)    Listing...............................................................13
               (j)    Restriction on Sale of Securities.....................................13
               (k)    Reporting Requirements................................................13
               (l)    Compliance with NASD Rules............................................13
               (m)    Compliance with Rule 463..............................................13
        SECTION 4.    PAYMENT OF EXPENSES...................................................14
               (a)    Expenses..............................................................14
               (b)    Termination of Agreement..............................................14
        SECTION 5.    CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS...............................14
               (a)    Effectiveness of Registration Statement...............................14
               (b)    Opinion of Counsel for Company........................................15
               (c)    Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters...................................15
               (d)    Officers' Certificate.................................................15
               (e)    Accountant's Comfort Letter...........................................15
               (f)    Bring-down Comfort Letter.............................................16
               (g)    Approval of Listing...................................................16
               (h)    No Objection..........................................................16
               (i)    Lock-up Agreements....................................................16
               (j)    Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities...........................16
               (k)    Additional Documents..................................................17
               (l)    Termination of Agreement..............................................17
        SECTION 6.    INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................17
               (a)    Indemnification of Underwriters.......................................17
               (b)    Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers....................18
               (c)    Actions against Parties; Notification.................................19
               (d)    Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse....................19
               (e)    Indemnification for Reserved Securities...............................19
        SECTION 7.    CONTRIBUTION..........................................................20
        SECTION 8.    REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY........21
        SECTION 9.    TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT..............................................21
               (a)    Termination; General..................................................21
               (b)    Liabilities...........................................................21
        SECTION 10.   DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS............................22
        SECTION 11.   NOTICES...............................................................22
        SECTION 12.   PARTIES...............................................................23
        SECTION 13.   GOVERNING LAW AND TIME................................................23
        SECTION 14.   EFFECT OF HEADINGS....................................................23
</TABLE>



                                       ii
<PAGE>   35

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           PAGE
                                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                                       <C>
SCHEDULES
        SCHEDULE A - List of Underwriters..............................................Sch A-1
        SCHEDULE B - Pricing Information...............................................Sch B-1
        SCHEDULE C - List of Persons subject to Lock-up................................Sch C-1

EXHIBITS
        Exhibit B - Form of Lock-up Letter.................................................B-1
</TABLE>



                                       iii



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