BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC
S-3/A, EX-1.1, 2000-08-22
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                                                     Exhibit 1.1
                                3,000,000 Shares

                     BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.

                                  Common Stock

                                    [FORM OF]
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                                            _____________, 2000


CIBC World Markets Corp.
The Robinson--Humphrey Company, LLC
Tucker Anthony Cleary Gull
c/o CIBC World Markets Corp.
One World Financial Center
New York, New York  10281

On behalf of the Several
Underwriters named on
Schedule I attached hereto.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the
"Company") proposes, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, to
sell to you and the other underwriters named on Schedule I to this Agreement
(the "Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as Representatives (the
"Representatives"), an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of the
Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par value (the "Common Stock"). The respective
amounts of the Firm Shares to be purchased by each of the several Underwriters
are set forth opposite their names on Schedule I hereto. In addition, the
Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an
additional 450,000 shares (the "Option Shares") of Common Stock from it for the
purpose of covering over-allotments in connection with the sale of the Firm
Shares. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are together called the "Shares."

     1. SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE SHARES.

     On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements contained
in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement:

          (a) The Company agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each
     of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
     Company, at a price


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                                                                             2

     of $_____ per share (the "Initial Price"), the number of Firm Shares set
     forth opposite the name of such Underwriter under the column "Number of
     Firm Shares to be Purchased from the Company" on Schedule I to this
     Agreement, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

          (b) The Company grants to the several Underwriters an option to
     purchase, severally and not jointly, all or any part of the Option Shares
     at the Initial Price. The number of Option Shares to be purchased by each
     Underwriter shall be the same percentage (adjusted by the Representatives
     to eliminate fractions) of the total number of Option Shares to be
     purchased by the Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Firm
     Shares. Such option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the
     sales of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters and may be exercised in whole
     or in part at any time on or before 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
     business day before the Firm Shares Closing Date (as defined below), and
     from time to time thereafter within 30 days after the date of this
     Agreement, in each case upon written, facsimile or telegraphic notice, or
     verbal or telephonic notice confirmed by written, facsimile or telegraphic
     notice, by the Representatives to the Company no later than 12:00 noon, New
     York City time, on the business day before the Firm Shares Closing Date or
     at least two business days before the Option Shares Closing Date (as
     defined below), as the case may be, setting forth the number of Option
     Shares to be purchased and the time and date (if other than the Firm Shares
     Closing Date) of such purchase.

     2. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. Delivery by the Company of the Firm Shares to the
Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters, and payment of
the purchase price in immediately available funds by wire transfer, against
delivery of the respective certificates therefor to the Representatives, shall
take place at the offices of CIBC World Markets Corp., One World Financial
Center, New York, New York 10281, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
third business day following the date of this Agreement, or at such time on such
other date, not later than 10 business days after the date of this Agreement, as
shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives (such time and date
of delivery and payment are called the "Firm Shares Closing Date"). Time shall
be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this
Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter
hereunder.

     In the event the option with respect to the Option Shares is exercised in
whole or in part on one or more occasions, delivery by the Company of the Option
Shares to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters
and payment of the purchase price thereof in immediately available funds by wire
transfer shall take place at the offices of CIBC World Markets Corp. specified
above at the time and on the date (which may be the same date as, but in no
event shall be earlier than, the Firm Shares Closing Date) specified in the
notice referred to in Section 1(b) (such time and date of delivery and payment
are called the "Option Shares Closing Date"). The Firm Shares Closing Date and
the Option Shares Closing Date are called, individually, a "Closing Date" and,
together, the "Closing Dates."



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                                                                             3

     Certificates evidencing the Shares shall be registered in such names and
shall be in such denominations as the Representatives shall request at least two
full business days before the Firm Shares Closing Date or, in the case of Option
Shares, on the day of notice of exercise of the option as described in Section
l(b) and shall be made available to the Representatives for checking and
packaging, at such place as is designated by the Representatives, on the full
business day before the Firm Shares Closing Date (or the Option Shares Closing
Date in the case of the Option Shares).

     3. REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS; PUBLIC OFFERING. The Company has
prepared and filed in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the published rules and regulations
thereunder (the "Rules") adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined) on Form S-3 (No.
333-_____), including a preliminary prospectus relating to the Shares, and such
amendments thereof as may have been required to the date of this Agreement.
Copies of such Registration Statement (including all amendments thereof) and of
the related Preliminary Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) have heretofore been
delivered by the Company to you. The term "Preliminary Prospectus" means any
preliminary prospectus (as described in Rule 430 of the Rules) included at any
time as a part of the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission by the
Company with the consent of the Representatives pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the
Rules. The term "Registration Statement" as used in this Agreement means the
initial registration statement (including all documents, exhibits, financial
schedules and information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement
through incorporation by reference or otherwise), as amended at the time and on
the date it becomes effective (the "Effective Date") including the information
(if any) deemed to be part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule
430A of the Rules. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration
statement to register additional Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Rules
(the "462(b) Registration Statement") then any reference herein to the
Registration Statement shall also be deemed to include such 462(b) Registration
Statement. The term "Prospectus" as used in this Agreement means the prospectus
in the form included in the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness
or, if Rule 430A of the Rules is relied on, the term Prospectus shall also
include the final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
of the Rules. Reference made herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or to the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by
reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as
of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may
be, and any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any
document filed under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

     The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Shares, as set forth in and pursuant to the Prospectus, as soon
after the Effective Date and the date of this Agreement as the Representatives
deem advisable. The Company

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                                                                             4

hereby confirms that the Underwriters and dealers have been authorized to
distribute or cause to be distributed each Preliminary Prospectus and are
authorized to distribute the Prospectus (as from time to time amended or
supplemented if the Company furnishes amendments or supplements thereto to the
Underwriters).

     4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to each Underwriter as follows:

          (a) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement conformed, and
     on the date of the Prospectus, the date any post-effective amendment to the
     Registration Statement becomes effective, the date any supplement or
     amendment to the Prospectus is filed with the Commission and each Closing
     Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment
     thereof or supplement thereto) will conform, in all material respects, to
     the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules. On the Effective Date
     and the other dates referred to above neither the Registration Statement
     nor the Prospectus, nor any amendment thereof or supplement thereto,
     contained or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or will
     omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
     in order to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in
     the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
     When any related Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the Commission
     (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement or any amendment
     thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Rules) and when any amendment
     thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission, such
     Preliminary Prospectus as amended or supplemented conformed in all material
     respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and at the
     time of the filing thereof did not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
     of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the representations and warranties
     in this paragraph 4(a) shall apply to statements in, or omissions from, the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon, and in
     conformity with, information furnished in writing by the Representatives on
     behalf of the several Underwriters for use in the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges that the only information
     furnished in writing by the Representatives on behalf of the several
     Underwriters for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is the
     statements contained in the fourth and tenth paragraphs under the caption
     "Underwriting" in the Prospectus (such information, the "Underwriters'
     Information").

          (b) The Registration Statement is effective under the Securities Act
     and no stop order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or suspending or preventing the use of the
     Prospectus has been issued and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no
     proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are threatened under
     the Securities Act. Any required filing of the Prospectus and any

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                                                                             5

     supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules has been or will be
     made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b).

          (c) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus, at the time they became effective or were
     filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material
     respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as
     applicable, and, when read together and with the other information in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, do not contain an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
     misleading, in the case of the Prospectus in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, and any further documents so filed and
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
     when such documents become effective or are filed with Commission, as the
     case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of
     the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder 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, in the case of the Prospectus in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made.

          (d) The financial statements of the Company (including all notes and
     schedules thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the
     Registration Statement and Prospectus present fairly in all material
     respects the financial position, the results of operations, the statements
     of cash flows and the statements of stockholders' equity and the other
     information purported to be shown therein of the Company at the respective
     dates and for the respective periods to which they apply; and such
     financial statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared in
     all material respects in conformity with generally accepted accounting
     principles, consistently applied throughout the periods involved, and all
     adjustments necessary for a fair presentation in all material respects of
     the results for such periods have been made. The summary and selected
     financial data included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material
     respects the information shown therein as at the respective dates and for
     the respective periods specified and the summary and selected financial
     data have been presented on a basis consistent with the consolidated
     financial statements so set forth in the Prospectus and other financial
     information.

          (e) KPMG LLP, whose reports are filed with the Commission as a part of
     the Registration Statement, are and, during the periods covered by their
     reports, were independent public accountants as required by the Securities
     Act and the Rules.

          (f) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
     in good standing under the laws of the State of Massachusetts and is duly
     registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of
     1956, as amended (the "BHCA"). Each subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) has
     been duly incorporated, is validly


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                                                                             6

     existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
     incorporation. The Company and each such subsidiary or other entity
     controlled directly or indirectly by the Company (each, a "Subsidiary";
     collectively, the "Subsidiaries") is duly qualified to do business and is
     in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the
     nature of the business conducted by it or location of the assets or
     properties owned, leased or licensed by it requires such qualification,
     except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify would not
     have a material adverse effect on the assets or properties, business,
     results of operations or financial condition of the Company (a "Material
     Adverse Effect"). The deposit accounts of Boston Private Bank & Trust
     Company are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the
     "FDIC") to the fullest extent permitted by law and the rules and
     regulations of the FDIC, and no proceedings for the termination of such
     insurance are pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
     threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to or
     otherwise the subject of any consent decree, memorandum of understanding,
     written commitment or other written supervisory agreement with the Board of
     Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other federal or state
     authority or agency charged with the supervision or insurance of depository
     institutions or their holding companies. The Company and each of its
     Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power and authority, and all
     necessary authorizations, approvals, consents, orders, licenses,
     certificates and permits of and from all governmental or regulatory bodies
     or any other person or entity (collectively, the "Permits"), to own, lease
     and license its assets and properties and conduct its business, all of
     which are valid and in full force and effect, as described in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the lack of such
     Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has fulfilled and
     performed in all material respects all of its material obligations with
     respect to such Permits and no event has occurred that allows, or after
     notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or
     results in any other material impairment of the rights of the Company
     thereunder. Except as may be required under the Securities Act and state
     Blue Sky laws, no other Permits are required to enter into, deliver and
     perform this Agreement and to issue and sell the Shares.

          (g) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or possesses
     adequate and enforceable rights to use all trademarks, trademark
     applications, trade names, service marks, copyrights, copyright
     applications, licenses, know-how and other similar rights and proprietary
     knowledge (collectively, "Intangibles") described in the Prospectus as
     being owned by it necessary for the conduct of its business. Neither the
     Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of, or is not
     aware of, any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others
     with respect to any Intangibles.

          (h) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable
     title in fee simple to all items of real property and good and marketable
     title to all personal property described in the Prospectuses as being owned
     by it. Any real property and buildings described in the Prospectuses as
     being held under lease by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is held
     by it under valid, existing and enforceable leases, free and


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                                                                             7

     clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims, security interests and defects,
     except such as are described in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus or would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (i) There are no litigation or governmental proceedings to which the
     Company or its Subsidiaries is subject or which is pending or, to the
     knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries, which, individually or in the aggregate, might have a
     Material Adverse Effect, affect the consummation of this Agreement or which
     is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus that is not so disclosed.

          (j) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as described
     therein, (a) there has not been any material adverse change with regard to
     the assets or properties, business, results of operations or financial
     condition of the Company; (b) neither the Company nor any of its
     Subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its assets,
     businesses or properties (whether owned or leased) from fire, explosion,
     earthquake, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance,
     or from any labor dispute or any court or legislative or other governmental
     action, order or decree which would have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c)
     since the date of the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as
     reflected therein, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i)
     issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
     contingent, for borrowed money, except such liabilities or obligations
     incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) entered into any
     transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (iii) declared or
     paid any dividend or made any distribution on any shares of its stock or
     redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired or agreed to redeem, purchase or
     otherwise acquire any shares of its stock.

          (k) There is no document, contract or other agreement of a character
     required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or to
     be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not described
     or filed as required by the Securities Act or Rules. Each description of a
     contract, document or other agreement in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus accurately reflects in all material respects the terms of the
     underlying document, contract or agreement. Each agreement described in the
     Registration Statement and Prospectus or listed in the Exhibits to the
     Registration Statement or incorporated by reference is in full force and
     effect and is valid and enforceable against the Company or the applicable
     Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company,
     against the other parties thereto in accordance with its terms. Neither the
     Company nor such Subsidiary, if a Subsidiary is a party, nor to the
     Company's knowledge, any other party is in default in the observance or
     performance of any term or obligation to be performed by it under any such
     agreement, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or
     both would constitute such a default, in any such case which default or
     event, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse
     Effect. No default exists, and no event has occurred which with notice

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                                                                             8

     or lapse of time or both would constitute a default, in the due performance
     and observance of any term, covenant or condition, by the Company or such
     Subsidiary, if a Subsidiary is a party thereto, of any other agreement or
     instrument to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a party or by which
     it or its properties or business may be bound or affected which default or
     event, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse
     Effect.

          (l) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of
     any term or provision of its charter or by-laws. Neither the Company nor
     any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any franchise, license, permit,
     judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation, where the
     consequences of such violation, individually or in the aggregate, would
     have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (m) Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
     by the Company nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
     hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale by the Company
     of the Shares) will give rise to a right to terminate or accelerate the due
     date of any payment due under, or conflict with or result in the breach of
     any term or provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which with
     notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default) under, or
     require any consent or waiver under, or result in the execution or
     imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets
     of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of, any material
     indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to
     which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or
     any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or businesses is
     bound, or any material franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order,
     statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or
     violate any provision of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any
     Subsidiary, except for such consents or waivers which have already been
     obtained and are in full force and effect and such as may be required under
     applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws [or the rules of the National
     Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.] in connection with the offering
     and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

          (n) The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock as set
     forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus. The
     certificates evidencing the Shares are in due and proper legal form and
     have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company. All of the issued
     and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly and validly issued
     and are fully paid and nonassessable. There are no statutory preemptive or
     other similar rights to subscribe for or to purchase or acquire any shares
     of Common Stock of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any such rights
     pursuant to its charter or by-laws or any agreement or instrument to or by
     which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound. The
     Shares, when issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly and
     validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and none of them will be
     issued in violation of any preemptive or other similar right. Except as
     disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no
     outstanding option,

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                                                                             9

     warrant or other right calling for the issuance of, and there is no
     commitment, plan or arrangement to issue, any share of stock of the Company
     or its Subsidiaries or any security convertible into, or exercisable or
     exchangeable for, such stock. The Common Stock and the Shares conform in
     all material respects to all statements in relation thereto contained in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All outstanding shares of
     capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly
     issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly by the
     Company or by another wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company free and clear
     of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, other
     than those described in the Prospectus [and other than those imposed by
     applicable banking laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts] .

          (o) No holder of any security of the Company has the right to have any
     security owned by such holder included in the Registration Statement or to
     demand registration of any security owned by such holder during the period
     ending 90 days after the date of this Agreement. Each director and
     executive officer of the Company has delivered to the Representatives the
     written lock-up agreement in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit
     A ("Lock-Up Agreement").

          (p) All necessary corporate action has been duly and validly taken by
     the Company to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this
     Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company. This
     Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by
     the Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
     Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
     except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
     enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general equitable
     principles, and except to the extent that the indemnification provisions of
     Section 7 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and
     public policy considerations in respect thereof.

          (q) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is involved in any
     labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute
     threatened, which dispute would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company
     is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees
     of any of its principal suppliers or contractors which would have a
     Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not aware of any threatened or
     pending litigation between the Company or any Subsidiary and any of its
     executive officers which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be
     expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and has no reason to believe
     that such officers will not remain in the employment of the Company.

          (r) The Company has not taken, nor will it take, directly or
     indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to
     cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be
     expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of
     the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.


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                                                                            10

          (s) The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state,
     local and foreign tax returns which are required to be filed through the
     date hereof, or has received extensions thereof, and has paid all taxes
     shown on such returns and all assessments received by it to the extent that
     the same are material and have become due. There are no tax audits or
     investigations pending, which if adversely determined would have a Material
     Adverse Effect; nor are there any material proposed additional tax
     assessments against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

          (t) The Shares have been duly authorized for quotation on the National
     Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation ("Nasdaq") National
     Market System, subject to official Notice of Issuance. A registration
     statement has been filed on Form 10 pursuant to Section 12 of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which
     registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange
     Act.

          (u) The books, records and accounts of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, in all
     material respects the transactions in, and dispositions of, the assets of,
     and the results of operations of, the Company and its Subsidiaries. The
     Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal
     accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
     transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
     specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
     permit preparation of financial statements in accordance 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.

          (v) The Company and each Subsidiary is insured by insurers of
     recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in
     such amounts as are customary in the businesses in which it is engaged or
     propose to engage after giving effect to the transactions described in the
     Prospectus; all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring
     the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Company's or its
     Subsidiaries' respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and
     directors are in full force and effect; the Company and each of its
     Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and
     instruments in all material respects; and neither the Company nor any
     Subsidiary has reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its
     existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain
     similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its
     business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (w) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
     declaration or filing of, by or with any regulatory, administrative or
     other governmental body necessary

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                                                                            11

     in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this
     Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
     required to be obtained or performed by the Company (except such additional
     steps as may be required by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc. (the "NASD") or may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public
     offering by the Underwriters under the state securities or Blue Sky laws)
     has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect.

          (x) There are no affiliations with the NASD among the Company's
     officers, directors or, to the best of the knowledge of the Company, any
     five percent or greater stockholder of the Company, except as set forth in
     the Registration Statement or otherwise disclosed in writing to the
     Representatives.

          (y) (i) The Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all
     material respects with all rules, laws and regulation relating to the use,
     treatment, storage and disposal of toxic substances and protection of
     health or the environment ("Environmental Law") which are applicable to its
     business; (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any
     notice from any governmental authority or third party of an asserted claim
     under Environmental Laws; (iii) the Company and each Subsidiary has
     received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under
     applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and is in compliance
     in all material respects with all terms and conditions of any such permit,
     license or approval; (iv) to the Company's knowledge, no facts currently
     exist that will require the Company or any Subsidiary to make future
     material capital expenditures to comply with Environmental Laws; and (v) no
     property which is or has been owned, leased or occupied by the Company or
     any Subsidiary has been designated as a Superfund site pursuant to the
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation of Liability Act of
     1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601, et. seq.) or otherwise designated
     as a contaminated site under applicable state or local law. Neither the
     Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been named as a "potentially
     responsible party" under CERCLA 1980.

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

          (aa) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the Company's
     knowledge, any other person associated with or acting on behalf of the
     Company or any Subsidiary including, without limitation, any director,
     officer, agent or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary has, directly
     or indirectly, while acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary
     during the last five years (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful
     contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to
     political activity; (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic
     government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic political
     parties or campaigns from


<PAGE>

                                                                            12

     corporate funds; (iii) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt
     Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any other unlawful payment.

     5. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriters under this Agreement are several and not joint. The respective
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Shares are subject to each of
the following terms and conditions:

          (a) Notification that the Registration Statement has become effective
     shall have been received by the Representatives and the Prospectus shall
     have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 6(a)
     of this Agreement.

          (b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
     Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been or shall be in effect and no
     order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be
     in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or to
     the best knowledge of the Company threatened by the Commission, and any
     requests for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be
     included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise)
     shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Commission and the
     Representatives.

          (c) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
     this Agreement and in the certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5(d)
     shall be true and correct when made and on and as of each Closing Date as
     if made on such date. The Company shall have performed all covenants and
     agreements and satisfied all the conditions contained in this Agreement
     required to be performed or satisfied by them at or before such Closing
     Date.

          (d) The Representatives shall have received on each Closing Date a
     certificate, addressed to the Representatives and dated such Closing Date,
     of the chief executive or chief operating officer and the chief financial
     officer or chief accounting officer of the Company to the effect that (i)
     the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration
     Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement and that the representations
     and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and
     as of such Closing Date with the same effect as if made on such Closing
     Date and the Company has performed all covenants and agreements and
     satisfied all conditions contained in this Agreement required to be
     performed or satisfied by it at or prior to such Closing Date, and (ii) no
     stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
     been issued and to the best of their knowledge, no proceedings for that
     purpose have been instituted or are pending under the Securities Act.

          (e) The Representatives shall have received, at the time this
     Agreement is executed and on each Closing Date a signed letter from KPMG
     LLP addressed to the Representatives and dated, respectively, the date of
     this Agreement and each such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably
     satisfactory to the Representatives.


<PAGE>

                                                                             13

          (f) The Representatives shall have received on each Closing Date from
     Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, counsel for the Company, an opinion, addressed
     to the Representatives and dated such Closing Date, and stating in effect
     that:

               (i) The Company and each Subsidiary has been duly organized and
          is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws
          of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company and each Subsidiary
          is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation in
          each jurisdiction listed on a schedule to such opinion.

               (ii) The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company
          under the BHCA. The deposit accounts of Boston Private Bank & Trust
          Company are insured by the FDIC to the fullest extent permitted by law
          and the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceedings for the
          termination of such insurance are pending or, to the best of such
          counsel's knowledge, threatened.

               (iii) The Company and each Subsidiary has all requisite corporate
          power and authority to own, lease and license its assets and
          properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
          Statement and the Prospectus, and with respect to the Company, to
          enter into, deliver and perform this Agreement and to issue and sell
          the Shares.

               (iv) The Company has the authorized capital stock as set forth in
          the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption
          "Capitalization"; the certificates evidencing the Shares are in due
          and proper legal form and have been duly authorized for issuance by
          the Company; all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
          Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully
          paid and nonassessable and none of them was issued in violation of any
          preemptive or other similar right. The Shares when issued and sold
          pursuant to this Agreement will be duly and validly issued, fully paid
          and nonassessable and none of them will have been issued in violation
          of any preemptive or other similar right arising under applicable law,
          the Company's charter or bylaws or any agreement or instrument known
          to such counsel. There are no restrictions upon the voting or transfer
          of any securities of the Company pursuant to the Company's charter or
          by-laws or other governing documents or any agreements or other
          instruments known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or
          by which it is bound. To the best of such counsel's knowledge, except
          as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there
          is no outstanding option, warrant or other right calling for the
          issuance of, and no commitment, plan or arrangement to issue, any
          share of stock of the Company or any security convertible into,
          exercisable for, or exchangeable for stock of the Company. The Common
          Stock and the Shares conform in all material respects to the
          descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus. The issued and

<PAGE>

                                                                            14

          outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company's
          Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully
          paid and nonassessable and are owned of record by the Company or by
          another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, free and clear of any
          perfected security interest or, to the knowledge of such counsel, any
          other security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims,
          other than those contained in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus.

               (v) All necessary corporate action has been duly and validly
          taken by the Company to authorize the execution, delivery and
          performance of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Shares.
          This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and this Agreement constitutes the legal,
          valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the
          Company in accordance with its terms except as such enforceability may
          be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
          conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws
          affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by
          general equitable principles, and except to the extent that the
          indemnification provisions of Section 7 hereof may be limited by
          federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in
          respect thereof.

               (vi) Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this
          Agreement by the Company nor the consummation of any of the
          transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the
          issuance and sale by the Company of the Shares) will give rise to a
          right to terminate or accelerate the due date of any payment due
          under, or result in the breach of any term or provision of, or
          constitute a default (or any event which with notice or lapse of time,
          or both, would constitute a default) under, or require consent or
          waiver under, or result in the execution or imposition of any lien,
          charge, claim, security interest or encumbrance upon any properties or
          assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any
          indenture, mortgage, deed trust, note or other agreement or instrument
          of which such counsel is aware and to which the Company or any
          Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any
          of their respective properties or businesses is bound, or any
          franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order, Massachusetts,
          [New York] or Federal statute, rule or regulation of which such
          counsel is aware or violate any provision of the charter or by-laws of
          the Company or any Subsidiary.

               (vii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no default exists,
          and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time, or both,
          would constitute a default, in the due performance and observance of
          any term, covenant or condition by the Company of any indenture,
          mortgage, deed of trust, note or any other agreement or instrument to
          which the Company is a party or by which it or any of its assets or
          properties or businesses may be bound or affected, where the

<PAGE>

                                                                            15

          consequences of such default, individually or in the aggregate, would
          have a Material Adverse Effect.

               (viii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, neither the
          Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any term or provision of
          its charter or by-laws. To the best of such counsel's knowledge,
          neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any
          franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
          regulation, where the consequences of such violation, individually or
          in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

               (ix) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
          governmental agency or regulatory body is required for the execution,
          delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company or the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
          except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act, such as
          may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws and such as
          may be required under the NASD rules in connection with the purchase
          and distribution of the Shares by the several Underwriters.

               (x) The Registration Statement, all Preliminary Prospectuses and
          the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto (except for
          the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
          statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel expresses
          no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the
          requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and each of the
          documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, all
          Preliminary Prospectuses and the Prospectus and any further amendment
          or supplement to any such incorporated document made by the Company
          (except for the financial statements and schedules and other financial
          and statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel
          expresses no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with
          the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all
          material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the
          Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
          Commission thereunder.

               (xi) The Registration Statement is effective under the Securities
          Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
          Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
          purpose have been instituted or to the best of such counsel's
          knowledge are threatened, pending or contemplated. Any required filing
          of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b)
          under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the
          time period required by such Rule 424(b).

               (xii) The capital stock of the Company conforms in all material
          respects to the description thereof contained in the registration
          statement on Form SB-2, including all amendments and reports updating
          such description.


<PAGE>

                                                                            16

               (xiii) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
          offering and sale of the Shares and the application of proceeds
          thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
          company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

     To the extent deemed advisable by such counsel, they may rely as to matters
of fact on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public
officials. Copies of such certificates shall be furnished to the Representatives
and counsel for the Underwriters.

     In addition, such counsel shall state that (i) to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, there is no litigation or governmental or other proceeding
or formal investigation, before any court or before or by any public body or
board pending or threatened against, or involving the assets, properties or
businesses of, the Company or its Subsidiaries which would have a Material
Adverse Effect and (ii) such counsel has participated in conferences with
officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the
Representatives and representatives of the independent certified public
accountants of the Company, at which conferences the contents of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed
and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except as specified
in paragraph (iv) of the foregoing opinion), on the basis of the foregoing, no
facts have come to the attention of such counsel which lead such counsel to
believe that (i) the Registration Statement at the time it became effective
(except with respect to the financial statements and notes and schedules thereto
and other financial and statistical data, as to which such counsel need express
no belief) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented (except with respect to the financial statements, notes and
schedules thereto and other financial and statistical data, as to which such
counsel need express no belief) on the date thereof contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading or (ii) any document incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement to any such
incorporated document made by the Company, when they became effective or were
filed with the Commission (except with respect to the financial statements and
notes and schedules thereto and other financial and statistical data, as to
which such counsel need express no belief), as the case may be, contained, in
the case of a registration statement which became effective under the Securities
Act, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents which were filed
under the Exchange Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.


<PAGE>

                                                                            17

          (g) All proceedings taken in connection with the sale of the Firm
     Shares and the Option Shares as herein contemplated shall be reasonably
     satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and their counsel
     and the Underwriters shall have received from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett a
     favorable opinion, addressed to the Representatives and dated such Closing
     Date, with respect to the Shares, the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, and such other related matters, as the Representatives may
     reasonably request, and the Company shall have furnished to Simpson Thacher
     & Bartlett such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of
     enabling them to pass upon such matters.

          (h) The Representatives shall have received copies of the Lock-up
     Agreements executed by each entity or person described in Section 4(o).

          (i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the
     Representatives such further certificates or documents as the
     Representatives shall have reasonably requested.

          6 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

          (a) The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

               (i) The Company shall prepare the Prospectus in a form approved
          by the Representatives and file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule
          424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commission's close
          of business on the second business day following the execution and
          delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as
          may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Securities Act.

               (ii) The Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in
          writing (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement shall
          have become effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for any
          amendment of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for any
          additional information, (iii) of the prevention or suspension of the
          use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the issuance
          by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
          the Registration Statement or the institution or, to the extent the
          Company becomes aware of the same, threatening of any proceeding for
          that purpose and (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
          notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
          the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or, to the
          extent the Company becomes aware of the same, threatening of any
          proceeding for such purpose. The Company shall not file any amendment
          of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any
          document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or
          Prospectus unless the Company has furnished the Representatives a copy
          for its review prior to filing and shall not file any such proposed
          amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably
          object. The Company shall use its best efforts to

<PAGE>

                                                                            18

          prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain
          as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof, and to cause any
          amendments to the Registration Statement to which the Underwriters
          have not promptly objected pursuant to this paragraph to become
          effective as promptly as possible.

               (iii) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is
          required to be delivered under the Securities Act and the Rules, any
          event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or
          supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
          omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
          therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
          not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the
          Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Rules, the Company
          promptly shall prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the
          second sentence of paragraph (ii) of this Section 6(a), an amendment
          or supplement which shall correct such statement or omission or an
          amendment which shall effect such compliance.

               (iv) The Company shall make generally available to its security
          holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable, but not
          later than 45 days after the end of the 12-month period beginning at
          the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company during which the
          Effective Date occurs (or 90 days if such 12-month period coincides
          with the Company's fiscal year), an earning statement (which need not
          be audited) of the Company, covering such 12-month period, which shall
          satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act or Rule
          158 of the Rules.

               (v) The Company shall furnish to the Representatives and counsel
          for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the
          Registration Statement (including all exhibits thereto and amendments
          thereof) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration
          Statement (without exhibits thereto) and all amendments thereof and,
          so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be
          required by the Securities Act or the Rules, as many copies of any
          Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments thereof
          and supplements thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request
          provided that any such amendment or supplement made nine months or
          more after the issue date of the Prospectus shall be at such
          Underwriter's or dealer's expense.

               (vi) The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and
          their counsel in endeavoring to qualify the Shares for offer and sale
          in connection with the offering under the laws of such jurisdictions
          as the Representatives may designate and shall maintain such
          qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of
          the Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
          in connection therewith, as a condition thereof, to qualify as a
          foreign

<PAGE>

                                                                            19

          corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in
          any jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation as doing business in
          any jurisdiction.

               (vii) Without the prior written consent of CIBC World Markets
          Corp., for a period of 90 days after the date of this Agreement, the
          Company shall not issue, sell or register with the Commission (other
          than on Form S-8 or on any successor form), or otherwise dispose of,
          directly or indirectly, any equity securities of the Company (or any
          securities convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable for
          equity securities of the Company), except for the issuance of the
          Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, the issuance of shares
          pursuant to the Company's existing stock option plans or bonus plans
          and the issuance of shares in connection with the acquisition of Sand
          Hill Advisors as described in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus.

               (viii) On or before completion of this offering, the Company
          shall make all filings required under applicable securities laws and
          by the Nasdaq National Market.

               (ix) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the offering of
          the Shares in the manner set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the
          Prospectus.

          (b) The Company agrees to pay, or reimburse if paid by the
     Representatives, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
     consummated or this Agreement is terminated, all costs and expenses
     incident to the public offering of the Shares and the performance of the
     obligations of the Company under this Agreement including those relating
     to: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and distribution of the
     Registration Statement including all exhibits thereto, each Preliminary
     Prospectus, the Prospectus, all amendments and supplements to the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any document incorporated by
     reference therein, and the printing, filing and distribution of this
     Agreement; (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates for the Shares
     to the Underwriters; (iii) the registration or qualification of the Shares
     for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
     jurisdictions referred to in Section 7(a)(vi), including the reasonable
     fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with
     such registration and qualification and the preparation, printing,
     distribution and shipment of preliminary and supplementary Blue Sky
     memoranda; (iv) the furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing) to
     the Representatives and to the Underwriters of copies of each Preliminary
     Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments or supplements to the
     Prospectus, and of the several documents required by this Section to be so
     furnished, as may be reasonably requested for use in connection with the
     offering and sale of the Shares by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom
     Shares may be sold; (v) the filing fees of the NASD in connection with its
     review of the terms of the public offering and reasonable fees and
     disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
     review; (vi) inclusion of the Shares for quotation on the Nasdaq National
     Market; and (vii) all transfer taxes, if any, with respect to the sale and
     delivery

<PAGE>

                                                                            20

     of the Shares by the Company to the Underwriters. Subject to the provisions
     of Section 9, the Underwriters agree to pay, whether or not the
     transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is
     terminated, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the
     obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement not payable by the
     Company pursuant to the preceding sentence, including, without limitation,
     the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

           7 INDEMNIFICATION.

          (a) 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 Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against
     any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several
     (including any reasonable investigation, legal and other expenses incurred
     in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit
     or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which they, or any of them, may
     become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal
     or state law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
     losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or are based upon (i)
     any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
     contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or in any Blue
     Sky application or other information or other documents executed by the
     Company filed in any state or other jurisdiction to qualify any or all of
     the Shares under the securities laws thereof (any such application,
     document or information being hereinafter referred to as a "Blue Sky
     Application") or arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged
     omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in the case of any
     Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, (ii) in whole or in part upon any breach of the
     representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 hereof, or (iii) in
     whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform any of its
     obligations hereunder or under law; provided, however, that such indemnity
     shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or any person
     controlling such Underwriter) on account of any losses, claims, damages or
     liabilities arising from the sale of the Shares to any person by such
     Underwriter if such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
     statement or omission was made in such Preliminary Prospectus, the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement
     thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application in reliance upon and in conformity
     with the Underwriters' Information; and provided further that such
     indemnity with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the
     benefit of any Underwriter (or person controlling such Underwriter) from
     whom the person asserting such Loss purchased the Shares which are the
     subject thereof if at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
     such Shares a copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as then amended or
     supplemented) was not sent or delivered to such person and the untrue
     statement or omission of a material fact contained in the Preliminary
     Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as then
     amended or supplemented) unless such failure to send or deliver the
     Prospectus (or the

<PAGE>

                                                                             21

     Prospectus as then amended or supplemented) resulted from the Company's
     failure to comply with its obligations under Section 6(a)(v). This
     indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company
     may otherwise have.

          (b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
     and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the
     Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
     20 of the Exchange Act, each director of the Company, and each officer of
     the Company who signs the Registration Statement insofar as such losses,
     claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or are based upon any untrue
     statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission which was
     made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in reliance
     upon and in conformity with the Underwriters' Information.

          (c) Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified
     under this Section will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement
     of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a
     claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this
     Section, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such
     action, suit or proceeding, enclosing a copy of all papers served. No
     indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or 7(b) shall be available to
     any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section 7(c) if
     the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to
     which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the
     failure to give such notice but the omission so to notify such indemnifying
     party of any such action, suit or proceeding shall not relieve it from any
     liability that it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or
     otherwise than under this Section. In case any such action, suit or
     proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
     notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
     party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall
     wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to
     assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
     indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
     indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and the
     approval by the indemnified party of such counsel, the indemnifying party
     shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other
     expenses, except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of
     investigation subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
     with the defense thereof. The indemnified party shall have the right to
     employ its counsel in any such action, but the fees and expenses of such
     counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
     employment of counsel by such indemnified party has been authorized in
     writing by the indemnifying parties, (ii) the indemnified party shall have
     been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
     available to it which are different from or in addition to those available
     to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not
     have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the
     indemnified party) or (iii) the indemnifying parties shall not have
     employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable
     time after

<PAGE>

                                                                            22

     notice of the commencement thereof, in each of which cases the fees and
     expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying parties. An
     indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any action,
     suit, proceeding or claim effected without its written consent, which
     consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

          8 CONTRIBUTION. In order to provide for just and equitable
     contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in
     Section 7(a) or 7(b) is due in accordance with its terms but for any reason
     is held to be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
     indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b), then each indemnifying party
     shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities
     (including any investigation, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred
     in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit
     or proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting any contribution
     received by any person entitled hereunder to contribution from any person
     who may be liable for contribution) to which the indemnified party may be
     subject 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 from the offering of the Shares or, if such allocation is not
     permitted by applicable law or indemnification is not available as a result
     of the indemnifying party not having received notice as provided in Section
     7 hereof, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
     relative benefits referred to above but also the relative fault of the
     Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection
     with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims,
     damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
     considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the
     Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (x) the total
     proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts but before
     deducting expenses) received by the Company as set forth in the table on
     the cover page of the Prospectus, bear to (y) the underwriting discounts
     received by the Underwriters, as set forth in the table on the cover page
     of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company or the Underwriters
     shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue
     or alleged untrue statement of a material fact related to information
     supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties' relative
     intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
     prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree
     that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
     Section 8 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, (i) in
     no case shall any Underwriter be liable or responsible for any amount in
     excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Shares purchased by
     such Underwriter hereunder; and (ii) the Company shall be liable and
     responsible for any amount in excess of such underwriting discount;
     provided, however, that no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
     (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be
     entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
     fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person,
     if any, who controls an Underwriter within


<PAGE>

                                                                            23

     the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the
     Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
     Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
     meaning of the Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the
     Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the
     Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same
     rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clauses (i)
     and (ii) in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 8. Any party
     entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of
     commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in
     respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party
     or parties under this Section, notify such party or parties from whom
     contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify such party or
     parties from whom contribution may be sought shall not relieve the party or
     parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it
     or they may have hereunder or otherwise than under this Section. No party
     shall be liable for contribution with respect to any action, suit,
     proceeding or claim settled without its written consent. The Underwriter's
     obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in
     proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and not joint.


     9 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Shares
to be purchased on a Closing Date by the Representatives by notifying the
Company at any time:

          (a) in the absolute discretion of the Representatives at or before any
     Closing Date: (i) if on or prior to such date, any domestic or
     international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in
     the opinion of the Representatives will in the future materially disrupt,
     the securities markets; (ii) if there has occurred any new outbreak or
     material escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the effect
     of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make
     it, in the judgment of the Representatives, inadvisable to proceed with the
     offering; (iii) if there shall be such a material adverse change in general
     financial, political or economic conditions or the effect of international
     conditions on the financial markets in the United States is such as to make
     it, in the judgment of the Representatives, inadvisable or impracticable to
     market the Shares; (iv) if trading in the Shares has been suspended by the
     Commission or trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or the
     Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum
     ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges
     for prices for securities have been required, by said exchanges or by order
     of the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or
     any other governmental or regulatory authority; or (v) if a banking
     moratorium has been declared by any state or Federal authority; or (vi) if,
     in the judgment of the Representatives, there has occurred a Material
     Adverse Effect, or

          (b) at or before any Closing Date, that any of the conditions
     specified in Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required
     by this Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                                                            24


     If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to any of its provisions, the
Company shall not be under any liability to any Underwriter, and no Underwriter
shall be under any liability to the Company, except that (y) if this Agreement
is terminated by the Representatives or the Underwriters because of any failure,
refusal or inability on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to
fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the
Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of their counsel) incurred by them in connection with the proposed
purchase and sale of the Shares or in contemplation of performing their
obligations hereunder and (z) no Underwriter who shall have failed or refused to
purchase the Shares agreed to be purchased by it under this Agreement, without
some reason sufficient hereunder to justify cancellation or termination of its
obligations under this Agreement, shall be relieved of liability to the Company
or to the other Underwriters for damages occasioned by its failure or refusal.


     10 SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITERS. If one or more of the Underwriters shall
fail (other than for a reason sufficient to justify the cancellation or
termination of this Agreement under Section 9) to purchase on any Closing Date
the Shares agreed to be purchased on such Closing Date by such Underwriter or
Underwriters, the Representatives may find one or more substitute underwriters
to purchase such Shares or make such other arrangements as the Representatives
may deem advisable or one or more of the remaining Underwriters may agree to
purchase such Shares in such proportions as may be approved by the
Representatives, in each case upon the terms set forth in this Agreement. If no
such arrangements have been made by the close of business on the business day
following such Closing Date,

          (a) if the number of Shares to be purchased by the defaulting
     Underwriters on such Closing Date shall not exceed 10% of the Shares that
     all the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, then
     each of the nondefaulting Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase such
     Shares on the terms herein set forth in proportion to their respective
     obligations hereunder; provided, that in no event shall the maximum number
     of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1
     be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by more than one-ninth of such
     number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter, or

          (b) if the number of Shares to be purchased by the defaulting
     Underwriters on such Closing Date shall exceed 10% of the Shares that all
     the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, then the
     Company shall be entitled to one additional business day within which it
     may, but is not obligated to, find one or more substitute underwriters
     reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Shares upon
     the terms set forth in this Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                                                            25


     In any such case, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the
right to postpone the applicable Closing Date for a period of not more than five
business days in order that necessary changes and arrangements (including any
necessary amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus)
may be effected by the Representatives and the Company. If the number of Shares
to be purchased on such Closing Date by such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters shall exceed 10% of the Shares that all the Underwriters are
obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, and none of the nondefaulting
Underwriters or the Company shall make arrangements pursuant to this Section
within the period stated for the purchase of the Shares that the defaulting
Underwriters agreed to purchase, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to
the Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date without liability on the part of
any nondefaulting Underwriter to the Company and without liability on the part
of the Company, except in both cases as provided in Sections 6(b), 7, 8 and 9.
The provisions of this Section shall not in any way affect the liability of any
defaulting Underwriter to the Company or the nondefaulting Underwriters arising
out of such default. A substitute underwriter hereunder shall become an
Underwriter for all purposes of this Agreement.

     11 MISCELLANEOUS. The respective agreements, representations, warranties,
indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the
Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling
persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 hereof, and shall survive delivery of
and payment for the Shares. The provisions of Sections 6(b), 7, 8 and 9 shall
survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

     This Agreement has been and is made for the benefit of the Underwriters and
the Company and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent
expressed herein, for the benefit of persons controlling any of the
Underwriters, or the Company, and directors and officers of the Company, and
their respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term "successors and
assigns" shall not include any purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter merely
because of such purchase.

     All notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and mailed or
delivered or by telephone or telegraph if subsequently confirmed in writing, (a)
if to the Representatives, c/o CIBC World Markets Corp., One World Financial
Center, New York, New York 10281 Attention: ______________, with a copy to
_________________ and (b) if to the Company, to its agent for service as such
agent's address appears on the cover page of the Registration Statement with a
copy to William P. Mayer, Esq. Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, Exchange Place,
Boston, MA 02109.

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

<PAGE>

                                                                            26


     This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and
hereto were upon the same instrument.

     Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among
us.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.


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


<PAGE>

                                                                            27


Confirmed:

CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
THE ROBINSON--HUMPHREY COMPANY, LLC
TUCKER ANTHONY CLEARY GULL

Acting severally on behalf of itself
and as representative of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I annexed
hereto.

By:  CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.


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



<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE I




                                                                  NUMBER OF
NAME                                                           FIRM SHARES TO
----                                                            BE PURCHASED
                                                                ------------
CIBC World Markets Corp.
The Robinson--Humphrey Company, LLC
Tucker Anthony Cleary Gull


                                                               --------------
                                               Total               3,000,000


<PAGE>



                                                                       EXHIBIT A


                            FORM OF LOCKUP AGREEMENT



                                                              _________,__ 2000


CIBC World Markets Corp.
The Robinson--Humphrey Company, LLC
Tucker Anthony Cleary Gull

As Representative of the Several Underwriters
c/o CIBC World Markets Corp.
One World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281

Re:      PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK OF
         BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.

Gentlemen:

     The undersigned, a holder of common stock ("Common Stock") or rights to
acquire Common Stock, of Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. (the "Company")
understands that the Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") on July __, 2000 for the registration of approximately 3,450,000
shares of Common Stock (including 450,000 shares subject to an over-allotment
option on the part of the Underwriters) (the "Offering"). The undersigned
further understands that you are contemplating entering into an Underwriting
Agreement with the Company in connection with the Offering.

     In order to induce the Company, you and the other Underwriters to enter
into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Offering, the
undersigned agrees, for the benefit of the Company, you and the other
Underwriters, that should the Offering be effected the undersigned will not,
without your prior written consent, directly or indirectly, make any offer,
sale, assignment, transfer, encumbrance, contract to sell, grant of an option to
purchase or other disposition of any Common Stock beneficially owned (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by
the undersigned on the date hereof or hereafter acquired for a period of 90 days
subsequent to the date of the Underwriting Agreement, other than Common Stock to
be transferred as a gift or gifts (provided that any donee thereof agrees in
writing to be bound by the terms hereof).

     The undersigned confirms that he or she understands that the Underwriters
and the Company will rely upon the representations set forth in this agreement
in proceeding with the Offering. This agreement shall be binding on the
undersigned and his or her respective

<PAGE>


successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns. The undersigned agrees
and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's
transfer agent against the transfer of Common Stock or securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the undersigned
except in compliance with this agreement.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                               Dated:             , 2000


                                               ----------------------------
                                               Signature



                                               ----------------------------
                                               Printed Name and Title
                                               (if applicable)


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