SIMPLEX SOLUTIONS INC
S-1/A, EX-1.1, 2001-01-08
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES
Previous: SIMPLEX SOLUTIONS INC, S-1/A, 2001-01-08
Next: SIMPLEX SOLUTIONS INC, S-1/A, EX-3.4, 2001-01-08



<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1


                                   [________]

                             SIMPLEX SOLUTIONS, INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT




                                                                        __, 2000



CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
ROBERTSON STEPHENS, INC.
SG COWEN SECURITIES CORPORATION
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters,
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
   Eleven Madison Avenue,
   New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

        1. Introductory. Simplex Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell - shares ("FIRM SECURITIES") of its
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, ("SECURITIES") and also proposes to
issue and sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an
aggregate of not more than - additional shares ("OPTIONAL SECURITIES") of its
Securities as set forth below. The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities
are herein collectively called the "OFFERED SECURITIES." As part of the offering
contemplated by this Agreement, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the
"DESIGNATED UNDERWRITER") has agreed to reserve out of the Firm Securities
purchased by it under this Agreement, up to - shares, for sale to the Company's
directors, officers, employees and other parties associated with the Company
(collectively, "PARTICIPANTS"), as set forth in the Prospectus (as defined
herein) under the heading "Underwriters" (the "DIRECTED SHARE PROGRAM"). The
Firm Securities to be sold by the Designated Underwriter pursuant to the
Directed Share Program (the "DIRECTED SHARES") will be sold by the Designated
Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any
Directed Shares not subscribed for by the end of the business day on which this
Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set
forth in the Prospectus. The Company hereby agrees with the several Underwriters
named in Schedule A hereto ("UNDERWRITERS") as follows:

        2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

             (a) A registration statement (No. 333- - ) relating to the Offered
        Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with the
        Securities and Exchange Commission ("COMMISSION") and either (i) has
        been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933 ("ACT") and is
        not proposed to be amended or (ii) is proposed to be amended by
        amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration statement
        ("INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT") has been declared effective, either
        (i) an additional registration statement ("ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION
        STATEMENT") relating to the Offered Securities may have been filed with
        the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) ("RULE 462(b)") under the Act
        and, if so filed, has become effective upon filing pursuant to such



                                       1
<PAGE>   2

        Rule and the Offered Securities all have been duly registered under the
        Act pursuant to the initial registration statement and, if applicable,
        the additional registration statement or (ii) such an additional
        registration statement is proposed to be filed with the Commission
        pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will become effective upon filing pursuant
        to such Rule and upon such filing the Offered Securities will all have
        been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the initial registration
        statement and such additional registration statement. If the Company
        does not propose to amend the initial registration statement or if an
        additional registration statement has been filed and the Company does
        not propose to amend it, and if any post-effective amendment to either
        such registration statement has been filed with the Commission prior to
        the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the most recent amendment
        (if any) to each such registration statement has been declared effective
        by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
        462(c) ("RULE 462(c)") under the Act or, in the case of the additional
        registration statement, Rule 462(b). For purposes of this Agreement,
        "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect to the initial registration statement or,
        if filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
        additional registration statement means (i) if the Company has advised
        the Representatives that it does not propose to amend such registration
        statement, the date and time as of which such registration statement, or
        the most recent post-effective amendment thereto (if any) filed prior to
        the execution and delivery of this Agreement, was declared effective by
        the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
        462(c), or (ii) if the Company has advised the Representatives that it
        proposes to file an amendment or post-effective amendment to such
        registration statement, the date and time as of which such registration
        statement, as amended by such amendment or post-effective amendment, as
        the case may be, is declared effective by the Commission. If an
        additional registration statement has not been filed prior to the
        execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Company has advised the
        Representatives that it proposes to file one, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with
        respect to such additional registration statement means the date and
        time as of which such registration statement is filed and becomes
        effective pursuant to Rule 462(b). "EFFECTIVE DATE" with respect to the
        initial registration statement or the additional registration statement
        (if any) means the date of the Effective Time thereof. The initial
        registration statement, as amended at its Effective Time, including all
        information contained in the additional registration statement (if any)
        and deemed to be a part of the initial registration statement as of the
        Effective Time of the additional registration statement pursuant to the
        General Instructions of the Form on which it is filed and including all
        information (if any) deemed to be a part of the initial registration
        statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b) ("RULE
        430A(b)") under the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "INITIAL
        REGISTRATION STATEMENT." The additional registration statement, as
        amended at its Effective Time, including the contents of the initial
        registration statement incorporated by reference therein and including
        all information (if any) deemed to be a part of the additional
        registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule
        430A(b), is hereinafter referred to as the "ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION
        STATEMENT." The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional
        Registration Statement are herein referred to collectively as the
        "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" and individually as a "REGISTRATION
        STATEMENT." The form of prospectus relating to the Offered Securities,
        as first filed with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with
        Rule 424(b) ("RULE 424(b)") under the Act or (if no such filing is
        required) as included in a Registration Statement, is hereinafter
        referred to as the "PROSPECTUS." No document has been or will be
        prepared or distributed in reliance on Rule 434 under the Act.

             (b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
        prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (i) on the
        Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial
        Registration Statement conformed in all respects to the requirements of
        the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission ("RULES AND
        REGULATIONS") and did not include any untrue statement of a material
        fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or



                                       2
<PAGE>   3

        necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) on the
        Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement (if any), each
        Registration Statement conformed, or will conform, in all respects to
        the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not
        include, or will not include, any untrue statement of a material fact
        and did not omit, or will not omit, to state any material fact required
        to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
        misleading and (iii) on the date of this Agreement, the Initial
        Registration Statement and, if the Effective Time of the Additional
        Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
        Agreement, the Additional Registration Statement each conforms, and at
        the time of filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no
        such filing is required) at the Effective Date of the Additional
        Registration Statement in which the Prospectus is included, each
        Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all respects
        to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and
        neither of such documents includes, or will include, any untrue
        statement of a material fact or omits, or will omit, to state any
        material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
        statements therein not misleading. If the Effective Time of the Initial
        Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of
        this Agreement: on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration
        Statement, the Initial Registration Statement and the Prospectus will
        conform in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and
        Regulations, none of such documents will include any untrue statement of
        a material fact or will omit to state any material fact required to be
        stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
        misleading, and no Additional Registration Statement has been or will be
        filed. The two preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or
        omissions from a Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon
        written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through
        the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood
        and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in
        Section 7(b) hereof.

             (c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
        corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
        with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and
        conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the Company is
        duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing
        in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property
        or the conduct of its business requires such qualification.

             (d) The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of
        capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized; all outstanding
        shares of capital stock of the Company are, and, when the Offered
        Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this
        Agreement on each Closing Date (as defined below), such Offered
        Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
        and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
        none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was
        issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any
        securityholder of the Company; and the stockholders of the Company have
        no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities.

             (e) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and
        is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the
        jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate
        and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described
        in the Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified
        to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other
        jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct
        of its business requires such qualification; all of the issued and
        outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company has been
        duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable;
        and the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly
        or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and
        defects.



                                       3
<PAGE>   4

             (f) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between
        the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against
        the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder's fee
        or other like payment in connection with this offering.

             (g) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between
        the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the
        Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to
        any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to
        require the Company to include such securities in the securities
        registered pursuant to a Registration Statement or in any securities
        being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by
        the Company under the Act that have not been validly waived or satisfied
        prior to the date hereof.

             (h) The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on The
        Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market subject to notice of issuance.

             (i) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing
        with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the
        consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in
        connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the
        Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and
        such as may be required under state securities laws.

             (j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and
        the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will not result in a
        breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute
        a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any
        governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having
        jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of
        their properties, or any agreement or instrument to which the Company or
        any such subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any such
        subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or
        any such subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of the Company
        or any such subsidiary, and the Company has full power and authority to
        authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by this
        Agreement.

             (k) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
        by the Company.

             (l) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, each of the Company and
        its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties
        and all other properties and assets owned by each of them, in each case
        free from liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect
        the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be
        made thereof by them; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the
        Company and its subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property
        under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would
        materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.

             (m) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates,
        authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or
        bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have
        not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
        modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if
        determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
        individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the



                                       4
<PAGE>   5

        condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of
        operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole
        ("Material Adverse Effect").

             (n) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any
        subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that
        might have a Material Adverse Effect.

             (o) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on
        reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to
        inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and
        other intellectual property (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
        RIGHTS") necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or
        presently employed by them, and has not received any notice of
        infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect
        to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the
        Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
        aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

             (p) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in
        violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any
        governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating
        to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or
        relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human
        exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL
        LAWS"), (ii) owns or operates any real property contaminated with any
        substance that is subject to any environmental laws, (iii) is liable for
        any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental
        laws, or (iv) is subject to any claim relating to any environmental
        laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim would
        individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the
        Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to
        such a claim.

             (q) There are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or
        affecting the Company, or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
        respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or
        any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a
        Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the
        ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement,
        or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the
        Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings are
        threatened or, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated.

             (r) The Company has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax
        returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions
        thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not
        have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes required to be
        paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it,
        to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for
        any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested
        in good faith or as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.

             (s) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial
        responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are
        prudent and customary in the businesses in which it is engaged; the
        Company has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied
        for; and the Company has no 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 result in a
        material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise),
        business, properties or results of operations of the Company.



                                       5
<PAGE>   6

             (t) The Company is not in violation of its charter or bylaws or in
        default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement,
        covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage,
        deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement
        or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it may be
        bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is
        subject.

             (u) The financial statements included in each Registration
        Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of
        the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and
        their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and
        such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the
        generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on
        a consistent basis and the schedules included in each Registration
        Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein;
        and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial statements
        included in each Registration Statement and the Prospectus provide a
        reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly
        attributable to the transactions or events described therein, the
        related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those
        assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein reflect the proper
        application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical
        financial statement amounts; and PricewaterhouseCoopers who certified
        the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the
        Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by
        the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

             (v) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries maintains a system of
        internal accounting controls sufficient to provide each of the Company
        and its subsidiaries, respectively, with reasonable assurance that (i)
        transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
        specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
        permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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.

             (w) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of the
        latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus there has
        been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving
        a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or
        other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and
        its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as disclosed in or
        contemplated by the Prospectus, there has been no dividend or
        distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any
        class of its capital stock.

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

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



                                       6
<PAGE>   7

        necessary under the securities law and regulations of foreign
        jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the
        United States.

             (z) The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to
        offer, any Offered Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed
        Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a
        customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer's or
        supplier's level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade
        journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information
        about the Company or its products.

        3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities. On the basis of
the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company, at a purchase price of $- per share, the respective Firm
Securities set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A
hereto.

             (a) The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to the
        Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters, against payment of
        the purchase price in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or
        checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to Credit
        Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC") drawn to the order of the
        Company at the office of - at 6:30 A.M., local time, on - , 2000, or at
        such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as
        CSFBC and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as
        the "FIRST CLOSING DATE." For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the
        Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the First Closing Date (if later than
        the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date
        for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered
        Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The certificates for the Firm
        Securities so to be delivered will be in definitive form, in such
        denominations and registered in such names as CSFBC requests and will be
        made available for checking and packaging at the above office of - at
        least 24 hours prior to the First Closing Date.

             (b) In addition, upon written notice from CSFBC given to the
        Company from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date
        of the Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of
        the Optional Securities at the purchase price per Security to be paid
        for the Firm Securities. The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters
        the Optional Securities specified in such notice and the Underwriters
        agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional Securities.
        Such Optional Securities shall be purchased for the account of each
        Underwriter in the same proportion as the Firm Securities set forth
        opposite such Underwriter's name bears to the total number of shares of
        Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by CSFBC to eliminate fractions)
        and may be purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of
        covering over-allotments made in connection with the sale of the Firm
        Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the
        Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and
        delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion
        thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not
        previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon
        notice by CSFBC to the Company.

             (c) Each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional
        Securities, being herein referred to as an "OPTIONAL CLOSING DATE",
        which may be the First Closing Date (the First Closing Date and each
        Optional Closing Date, if any, being sometimes referred to as a "CLOSING
        DATE"), shall be determined by CSFBC but shall be not later than five
        full business days after written notice of election to purchase Optional
        Securities is given. The Company will deliver the Optional Securities
        being purchased on each Optional Closing Date to the Representatives for
        the accounts of



                                       7
<PAGE>   8

        the several Underwriters against payment of the purchase price therefor
        in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire
        transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to CSFBC drawn to the order
        of the Company, at the above office of -. The certificates for the
        Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date will
        be in definitive form, in such denominations and registered in such
        names as CSFBC requests upon reasonable notice prior to such Optional
        Closing Date and will be made available for checking and packaging at
        the above office of - at a reasonable time in advance of such Optional
        Closing Date.

        4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as
set forth in the Prospectus.

        5. Certain Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the
several Underwriters that:

             (a) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
        prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will
        file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance
        with subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by CSFBC,
        subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier of (A) the
        second business day following the execution and delivery of this
        Agreement or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective Date of
        the Initial Registration Statement. The Company will advise CSFBC
        promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b). If the Effective
        Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and
        delivery of this Agreement and an additional registration statement is
        necessary to register a portion of the Offered Securities under the Act
        but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of such execution and
        delivery, the Company will file the additional registration statement
        or, if filed, will file a post-effective amendment thereto with the
        Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b) on or prior to
        10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier,
        on or prior to the time the Prospectus is printed and distributed to any
        Underwriter, or will make such filing at such later date as shall have
        been consented to by CSFBC.


             (b) The Company will advise CSFBC promptly of any proposal to amend
        or supplement the initial or any additional registration statement as
        filed or the related prospectus or the Initial Registration Statement,
        the Additional Registration Statement (if any) or the Prospectus and
        will not effect such amendment or supplementation without CSFBC's
        consent; and the Company will also advise CSFBC promptly of the
        effectiveness of each Registration Statement (if its Effective Time is
        subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement) and of any
        amendment or supplementation of a Registration Statement or the
        Prospectus and of the institution by the Commission of any stop order
        proceedings in respect of a Registration Statement and will use its best
        efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as
        soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

             (c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered
        Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with
        sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of
        which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an
        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 is
        necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act,
        the Company will promptly notify CSFBC of such event and will promptly
        prepare and file with the Commission, at its own expense, an amendment
        or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an
        amendment which



                                       8
<PAGE>   9

        will effect such compliance. Neither CSFBC's consent to, nor the
        Underwriters' delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall
        constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.

             (d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the Availability
        Date (as defined below), the Company will make generally available to
        its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least
        12 months beginning after the Effective Date of the Initial Registration
        Statement (or, if later, the Effective Date of the Additional
        Registration Statement) which will satisfy the provisions of Section
        11(a) of the Act. For the purpose of the preceding sentence,
        "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 45th day after the end of the fourth
        fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes such Effective
        Date, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of
        the Company's fiscal year, "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 90th day after
        the end of such fourth fiscal quarter.

             (e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of each
        Registration Statement (four of which will be signed and will include
        all exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, and, so long as a
        prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be
        delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or
        dealer, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such
        documents, in each case in such quantities as CSFBC requests. The
        Prospectus shall be so furnished on or prior to 3:00 P.M., New York
        time, on the business day following the later of the execution and
        delivery of this Agreement or the Effective Time of the Initial
        Registration Statement. All other documents shall be so furnished as
        soon as available. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and
        distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

             (f) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered
        Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC
        designates and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as
        required for the distribution.

             (g) During the period of 10 years hereafter, the Company will
        furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other
        Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year,
        a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the
        Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, a
        copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company
        filed with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
        mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other
        information concerning the Company as CSFBC may reasonably request.

             (h) The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance
        of its obligations under this Agreement, for any filing fees and other
        expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in
        connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under
        the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC designates and the printing of
        memoranda relating thereto for the filing fee incident to, and the
        reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in
        connection with, the review by the National Association of Securities
        Dealers, Inc. of the Offered Securities, for any travel expenses of the
        Company's officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company
        in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective
        purchasers of the Offered Securities and for expenses incurred in
        distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus (including any
        amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters.

             (i) For a period of 180 days after the date of the initial public
        offering of the Offered Securities, the Company will not offer, sell,
        contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of,



                                       9
<PAGE>   10

        directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration
        statement under the Act relating to, any additional shares of its
        Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
        for any shares of its Securities, or publicly disclose the intention to
        make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the
        prior written consent of CSFBC except: (i) issuances of Securities
        pursuant to the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable
        securities or the exercise of warrants or options, in each case
        outstanding on the date hereof, (ii) grants of employee stock options
        pursuant to the terms of a plan disclosed in the Prospectus and in
        effect on the date hereof, or (iii) the filing of a Registration
        Statement on Form S-8.

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

             (k) The Company will pay all fees and disbursements of counsel
        incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share
        Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if
        any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share
        Program. Furthermore, the Company covenants with the Underwriters that
        the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other
        applicable laws, rules and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in
        which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed
        Share Program.

        6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of
the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the
First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional
Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements
of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance
by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions precedent:

             (a) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the
        date of delivery thereof (which, if the Effective Time of the Initial
        Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
        Agreement, shall be on or prior to the date of this Agreement or, if the
        Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to
        the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall be prior to the
        filing of the amendment or post-effective amendment to the registration
        statement to be filed shortly prior to such Effective Time), of
        Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP that they are independent public accountants
        within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and
        Regulations thereunder and stating to the effect that:

                    (i) in their opinion the financial statements and schedules
             examined by them and included in the Registration Statements comply
             as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
             requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and
             Regulations;

                    (ii) they have performed the procedures specified by the
             American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of
             interim financial information as described in Statement of Auditing
             Standards No. 71, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited
             financial statements included in the Registration Statements;



                                       10
<PAGE>   11

                    (iii) on the basis of the review referred to in clause (ii)
             above, a reading of the latest available interim financial
             statements of the Company, inquiries of officials of the Company
             who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters and
             other specified procedures, nothing came to their attention that
             caused them to believe that:

                         (A) the unaudited financial statements included in the
                    Registration Statements do not comply as to form in all
                    material respects with the applicable accounting
                    requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and
                    Regulations or any material modifications should be made to
                    such unaudited financial statements for them to be in
                    conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

                         (B) at the date of the latest available balance sheet
                    read by such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date
                    not more than three business days prior to the date of the
                    Agreement, there was any change in the capital stock or any
                    increase in short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of the
                    Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or, at the date of
                    the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants,
                    there was any decrease in consolidated net assets, as
                    compared with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet
                    included in the Prospectus; or

                         (C) for the period from the closing date of the latest
                    income statement included in the Prospectus to the closing
                    date of the latest available income statement read by such
                    accountants there were any decreases, as compared with the
                    corresponding period of the previous year and with the
                    period of corresponding length ended the date of the latest
                    income statement included in the Prospectus, in consolidated
                    net sales or net operating income (loss) or in the total or
                    per share amounts of consolidated net income,

                except in all cases set forth in clauses (B) and (C) above for
                changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses
                have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
                letter; and

                    (iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or
             percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial
             information contained in the Registration Statements (in each case
             to the extent that such dollar amounts, percentages and other
             financial information are derived from the general accounting
             records of the Company and its subsidiaries subject to the internal
             controls of the Company's accounting system or are derived directly
             from such records by analysis or computation) with the results
             obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting
             records and other procedures specified in such letter and have
             found such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial
             information to be in agreement with such results, except as
             otherwise specified in such letter.

                For purposes of this subsection 6(a), (i) if the Effective Time
                of the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the
                execution and delivery of this Agreement, "REGISTRATION
                STATEMENTS" shall mean the initial registration statement as
                proposed to be amended by the amendment or post-effective
                amendment to be filed shortly prior to its Effective Time, (ii)
                if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
                prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement but the
                Effective Time of the Additional Registration is



                                       11
<PAGE>   12

                subsequent to such execution and delivery, "REGISTRATION
                STATEMENTS" shall mean the Initial Registration Statement and
                the additional registration statement as proposed to be filed or
                as proposed to be amended by the post-effective amendment to be
                filed shortly prior to its Effective Time, and (iii)
                "PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in the
                Registration Statements.

             (b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
        not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such
        Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York
        time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date as shall have
        been consented to by CSFBC. If the Effective Time of the Additional
        Registration Statement (if any) is not prior to the execution and
        delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time shall have occurred not
        later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or,
        if earlier, the time the Prospectus is printed and distributed to any
        Underwriter, or shall have occurred at such later date as shall have
        been consented to by CSFBC. If the Effective Time of the Initial
        Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
        Agreement, the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in
        accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) of this
        Agreement. Prior to such Closing Date, no stop order suspending the
        effectiveness of a Registration Statement shall have been issued, and no
        proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the
        knowledge of the Company or the Representatives, shall be contemplated
        by the Commission.

             (c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
        there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or
        event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or
        other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and
        its subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in the judgment of a
        majority in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives,
        is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to
        proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and
        payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating
        of any debt securities of the Company by any "nationally recognized
        statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)
        under the Act), or any public announcement that any such organization
        has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of
        the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a
        possible upgrading and no implication of a possible downgrading of such
        rating); (iii) any material suspension or material limitation of trading
        in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq
        Stock Market, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such
        exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company
        on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (iv) any banking
        moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New York authorities; or (v) any
        outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States
        is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial
        national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of a
        majority in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives,
        the effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration, calamity or
        emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion
        of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered
        Securities.

             (d) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated such
        Closing Date, of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC, counsel for the
        Company, to the effect that:

                    (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an
             existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
             of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its
             properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
             the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
             corporation in good standing in all other



                                       12
<PAGE>   13

             jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the
             conduct of its business requires such qualification;

                    (ii) The Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date
             and all other outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company
             have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
             nonassessable and conform to the description thereof contained in
             the Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company have no
             preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities;

                    (iii) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings
             known to such counsel between the Company and any person granting
             such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
             statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the
             Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the
             Company to include such securities in the securities registered
             pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being
             registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by
             the Company under the Act that have not been validly waived or
             satisfied prior to the date hereof;

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

                    (v) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
             filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is
             required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
             this Agreement in connection with the issuance or sale of the
             Offered Securities by the Company, except such as have been
             obtained and made under the Act and such as may be required under
             state securities laws;

                    (vi) The execution, delivery and performance of this
             Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will
             not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and
             provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute, any
             rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any
             court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the
             Company or any of their properties, or any agreement or instrument
             to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which
             the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
             properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, or the
             charter or bylaws of the Company or any such subsidiary, and the
             Company has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell
             the Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;

                    (vii) To the knowledge of such counsel, there is not pending
             or threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
             investigation, to which the Company is a party, or to which the
             property of the Company is subject, before or brought by any court
             or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, which might
             reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect which
             is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
             Statement or Prospectus by the Act or the rules and regulations of
             the Commission thereunder other than those described in the
             Registration Statement or Prospectus, or which might reasonably be
             expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the
             transactions contemplated in the Agreement or the performance by
             the Company of its obligations thereunder;



                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                    (viii) To the knowledge of such counsel, the Company is not
             in violation of its charter or bylaws;

                    (ix) The Initial Registration Statement was declared
             effective under the Act as of the date and time specified in such
             opinion, the Additional Registration Statement (if any) was filed
             and became effective under the Act as of the date and time (if
             determinable) specified in such opinion, the Prospectus either was
             filed with the Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule
             424(b) specified in such opinion on the date specified therein or
             was included in the Initial Registration Statement or the
             Additional Registration Statement (as the case may be), and, to the
             best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the
             effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any part thereof has
             been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
             instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Act, and each
             Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment or
             supplement thereto, as of their respective effective or issue
             dates, complied as to form in all material respects with the
             requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; such counsel
             have no reason to believe that any part of a Registration Statement
             or any amendment thereto, as of its effective date or as of such
             Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
             omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
             necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
             Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue
             date or as of such Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of
             a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in
             order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
             circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the
             descriptions in the Registration Statements and Prospectus of
             statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and contracts and
             other documents are accurate and fairly present the information
             required to be shown; and such counsel do not know of any legal or
             governmental proceedings required to be described in a Registration
             Statement or the Prospectus which are not described as required or
             of any contracts or documents of a character required to be
             described in a Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be
             filed as exhibits to a Registration Statement which are not
             described and filed as required; it being understood that such
             counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements or
             other financial data contained in the Registration Statements or
             the Prospectus; and

                    (x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
             delivered by the Company.

             (e) The Representatives shall have received from Morrison &
        Foerster LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions,
        dated such Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of the
        Company, the validity of the Offered Securities delivered on such
        Closing Date, the Registration Statements, the Prospectus and other
        related matters as the Representatives may require, and the Company
        shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for
        the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

             (f) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated
        such Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a
        principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such
        officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation,
        shall state that: the representations and warranties of the Company in
        this Agreement are true and correct; the Company has complied with all
        agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
        satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order
        suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been
        issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted



                                       14
<PAGE>   15

        or are contemplated by the Commission; the Additional Registration
        Statement (if any) satisfying the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and
        (3) of Rule 462(b) was filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment
        of the applicable filing fee in accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) under
        the Act, prior to the time the Prospectus was printed and distributed to
        any Underwriter; and, subsequent to the date of the most recent
        financial statements in the Prospectus, there has been no material
        adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective
        material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other),
        business, properties or results of operations of the Company taken as a
        whole except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus or as
        described in such certificate.

             (g) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated such
        Closing Date, of Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP which meets the
        requirements of subsection (a) of this Section, except that the
        specified date referred to in such subsection will be a date not more
        than three days prior to such Closing Date for the purposes of this
        subsection.

             (h) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Representatives
        shall have received lock-up letters from each of the executive officers
        and directors and all of the shareholders, optionholders and warrant
        holders of the Company.

The Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably
requests. CSFBC may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters
compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder,
whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or otherwise.

        7. Indemnification and Contribution.

             (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter,
        its partners, directors and officers and each person, if any, who
        controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act,
        against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
        which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise,
        insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
        respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
        alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
        Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
        thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are
        based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
        fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
        therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any
        legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in
        connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
        liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however,
        that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that
        any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon
        an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or
        alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in
        conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
        Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it
        being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by
        any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in
        subsection (b) below.

        The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated
        Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Designated
        Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
        Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the "Designated Entities"), from
        and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
        (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably
        incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action
        or claim)



                                       15
<PAGE>   16

        (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
        material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent
        of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the
        Directed Share Program or caused by 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; (ii) caused by the
        failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed
        Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to,
        arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other
        than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating
        thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from
        the bad faith or gross negligence of the Designated Entities.

             (b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and
        hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person,
        if any who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
        Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the
        Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
        losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
        arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
        statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
        the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related
        preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
        or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
        stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
        misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
        such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
        omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
        information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
        Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any
        legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
        with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability
        or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed
        that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of
        the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each
        Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the -
        paragraph under the caption "Underwriting."

             (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
        Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
        party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
        indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the
        indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to
        notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability
        which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under
        subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against
        any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the
        commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
        participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with
        any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
        thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall
        not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
        indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to
        such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof,
        the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party
        under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
        by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other
        than reasonable costs of investigation.

        Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity
        may be sought pursuant to the last paragraph in Section 7 (a) hereof in
        respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to such separate
        firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be liable
        for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm
        (in addition to any local counsel) for the Designated Underwriter for
        the defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising out
        of the Directed Share Program, and all persons, if any, who control the
        Designated Underwriter



                                       16
<PAGE>   17

        within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
        Exchange Act. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
        consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending
        or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or
        could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder
        by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an
        unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on
        any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
        include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a
        failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

             (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is
        unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
        subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall
        contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
        result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in
        subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
        reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
        and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or
        (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
        applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
        the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
        relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
        the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
        in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other
        relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
        Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be
        deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
        offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the
        total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
        Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to,
        among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
        material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material
        fact relates 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 untrue statement or omission. The
        amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
        damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this
        subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
        reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
        investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of
        this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection
        (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess
        of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities
        underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
        public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has
        otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
        untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
        fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
        Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
        guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters'
        obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in
        proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

             (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in
        addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall
        extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who
        controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the
        obligations of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition
        to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have
        and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director
        of the Company, to each officer of the Company who has signed a
        Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the
        Company within the meaning of the Act.

        8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default
in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the
First or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate



                                       17
<PAGE>   18

number of shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total
number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to
purchase on such Closing Date, CSFBC may make arrangements satisfactory to the
Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including
any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing
Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in
proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered
Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on
such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the
aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities with respect to which such
default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of Offered
Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date
and arrangements satisfactory to CSFBC and the Company for the purchase of such
Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such
default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 9
(provided that if such default occurs with respect to Optional Securities after
the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm
Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As
used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted
for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

        9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives,
officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of
and payment for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant
to Section 8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the
Underwriters is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the
expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective
obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall
remain in effect, and if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder
the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under
Section 5 shall also remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities
by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because
of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of
any event specified in clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 6(c), the Company
will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees
and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the
offering of the Offered Securities.

        10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if
sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to
the Representatives, at c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Eleven
Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: Investment Banking
Department--Transactions Advisory Group, facsimile: (212) 325-8278, with a copy
to Morrison & Foerster LLP, 755 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, Attention:
Justin L. Bastian, facsimile: (650) 494-0792, or, if sent to the Company, will
be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at 521 Almanor Avenue,
Sunnyvale, CA 94085, Attention: -, facsimile: _______; provided, however, that
any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 will be mailed, delivered or
telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter.

        11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers
and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other
person will have any right or obligation hereunder.



                                       18
<PAGE>   19

        12. Representation of Underwriters. The Representatives will act for the
several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under
this Agreement taken by the Representatives, jointly or by CSFBC will be binding
upon all the Underwriters.

        13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

        14. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

        The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.



                                       19
<PAGE>   20

        If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives'
understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the
counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the
Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       SIMPLEX SOLUTIONS, INC.

                                       By:
                                          ---------------------------------
                                           -
                                           -

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


CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION

FLEETBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS, INC.

SG COWEN SECURITIES CORPORATION


Acting on behalf of themselves and as the
Representatives of the several Underwriters

By CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION



By
   -----------------------------------



                                       20
<PAGE>   21

                                   SCHEDULE A





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           NUMBER OF
                      UNDERWRITER                                                      FIRM SECURITIES
                      -----------                                                      ---------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>
  Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation .....................................
  Fleetboston Robertson Stephens, Inc. .......................................
  SG Cowen Securities Corporation.............................................
                    Total
</TABLE>




                                       21



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission