UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

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Exhibit 1.1
to Form 8-K

5,750,000 Shares*

AXT, INC.

Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December 14, 2006

NEEDHAM & COMPANY, LLC
445 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        AXT, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell 5,750,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of the Company's Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), to you (the "Underwriter"). The Company has also agreed to grant to you an option (the "Option") to purchase up to an additional 862,500 shares of Common Stock, on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 1(b) (the "Option Shares"). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are referred to collectively herein as the "Shares."

        The Company confirms as follows its agreements with the Underwriter.

         1.    Agreement to Sell and Purchase.     

        (a)   On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (i) the Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the Underwriter and (ii) the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company the Firm Shares at the purchase price of $4.26 for each Firm Share.

        (b)   Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company grants the Option to the Underwriter to purchase up to 862,500 Option Shares at the same price per share as the Underwriter shall pay for the Firm Shares. The Option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriter and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day after the date of this Agreement upon written or telegraphic notice (the "Option Shares Notice") by the Underwriter to the Company no later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, at least two and no more than five business days before the date specified for closing in the Option Shares Notice (the "Option Closing Date"), setting forth the aggregate number of Option Shares to be purchased and the time and date for such purchase. On the Option Closing Date, the Company will issue and sell to the Underwriter the number of Option Shares set forth in the Option Shares Notice, and the Underwriter will purchase such number of Option Shares.

         2.    Delivery and Payment.     Delivery of the Firm Shares shall be made to the Underwriter against payment of the purchase price by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the order of the Company at the office of Needham & Company, LLC, 445 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third (or, if the purchase price set forth in Section 1(b) hereof is determined after 4:30 p.m., Washington D.C. time, the fourth) business day following the commencement of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, or at such time on such other date, not later than seven business days after the date of this Agreement, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriter (such date is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date").

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Plus an option to purchase up to an additional 862,500 shares to cover over-allotments.

        To the extent the Option is exercised, delivery of the Option Shares against payment by the Underwriter (in the manner specified above) will take place at the offices specified above for the Closing Date at the time and date (which may be the Closing Date) specified in the Option Shares Notice.

        Certificates evidencing the Shares shall be in definitive form and shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriter shall request at least two business days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, by written notice to the Company. For the purpose of expediting the checking and packaging of certificates for the Shares, the Company agrees to make such certificates available for inspection at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. At the written request of the Underwriter, in lieu of registered certificates referenced previously in this paragraph, such Shares may be delivered by book-entry delivery through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC").

        The cost of original issue tax stamps and other transfer taxes, if any, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Firm Shares and Option Shares by the Company to the Underwriter shall be borne by the Company. The Company will pay and save the Underwriter and any subsequent holder of the Shares harmless from any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any failure or delay in paying federal and state stamp and other transfer taxes, if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the original issuance or sale to the Underwriter of the Shares.

         3.    Representations and Warranties of the Company.     The Company represents, warrants and covenants to the Underwriter that, except as otherwise disclosed in or, in the case of the Company's capitalization, contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus (including without limitation within the documents incorporated by reference therein):

        (a)   The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 and a registration statement (Registration No. 333-135474) on Form S-3 relating to the Shares, including a base prospectus relating to the Shares (the "Base Prospectus") and such amendments thereto as may have been required to the date of this Agreement, has been prepared by the Company under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules and regulations (collectively referred to as the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, has been filed with the Commission, and has been declared effective by the Commission, and the offering of the Shares complies with Rule 415 under the Act. A final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus relating to the Shares and the offering thereof will be filed promptly by the Company with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations (such final prospectus supplement, as so filed, the "Prospectus Supplement"). Such registration statement at any given time, including the amendments thereto to such time, the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by the Rules and Regulations (including Rule 430A or Rule 430B thereof), and any registration statement relating to the offering contemplated by this Agreement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations ("Rule 462(b)"), is herein called the "Registration Statement." The term "preliminary prospectus" means any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Shares and the offering thereof as first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations ("Rule 424(b)"). The term "Prospectus" means the Base Prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement, except that if such Base Prospectus is amended or supplemented on or prior to the date on which the Prospectus Supplement was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), the term "Prospectus" shall mean the Base Prospectus as so amended or supplemented and as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms "amend," "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus shall be deemed to

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refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), after the time the Registration Statement initially became effective (the "Effective Date") and the date of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. The term "Issuer Free Writing Prospectus" means any "issuer free writing prospectus," as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations ("Rule 433"), relating to the Shares in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company's records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

        (b)   No order preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including any related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b)) or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. On the Effective Date, on the date the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus is first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (if required), at all times during the period through and including the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date and when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as amended or as supplemented if the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment or supplement thereto), including the financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, did and will comply with all applicable provisions of the Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act (the "Exchange Act Rules and Regulations"), and the Rules and Regulations and will contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations, and the Rules and Regulations. As of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement, no part of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto did or will 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. At the Effective Date, the date the Base Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Base Prospectus, including any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, is filed with the Commission, the date of first use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, and the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, the Prospectus did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

        As of the Applicable Time, neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Pricing Prospectus (as defined below) and the documents listed on Schedule I hereto, all considered together (collectively, the "General Disclosure Package"), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included 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.

        As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

        "Applicable Time" means 8:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on December 14, 2006, or such other time as agreed by the Company and Needham & Company, LLC.

        "Pricing Prospectus" means the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof. For purposes of this definition, information contained in a

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form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B shall be considered to be included in the Pricing Prospectus only if the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) is prior to the Applicable Time.

        "Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus" means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule I hereto.

        "Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus" means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

        Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Shares or until any earlier date that the issuer notified or notifies Needham & Company, LLC as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. If there occurs an event or development as a result of which the General Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter so that any use of the General Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented to correct untrue statement or omission.

        The foregoing representations and warranties in this Section 3(b) do not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the fourth and eighth through twelfth paragraphs under the heading "Underwriting" in the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to the Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

        (c)   (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the Shares and (ii) as of the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations ("Rule 405")), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

        (d)   The documents that are incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus or from which information is so incorporated by reference, when they became or become effective or were or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the Rules and Regulations or the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations, as applicable; and any documents so filed and incorporated by reference subsequent to the Effective Date shall, when they are filed with the Commission, comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the Rules and Regulations or the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations, as applicable. No such documents were filed with the Commission since the Commission's close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement and prior to the execution of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule II hereto.

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        (e)   The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity, other than the subsidiaries listed in Schedule III hereto (the "Subsidiaries"). The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by them, to own or lease all the assets owned or leased by them and to conduct their business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing as foreign corporations in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by them or the character of the assets owned or leased by them make such license or qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not materially and adversely affect the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or their respective businesses, properties, business prospects, conditions (financial or other) or results of operations, taken as a whole (such effect is referred to herein as a "Material Adverse Effect"). All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and owned by the Company free and clear of all claims, liens, charges and encumbrances; there are no securities outstanding that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for capital stock of any Subsidiary. The Company and its Subsidiaries are not engaged in any discussions or a party to any agreement or understanding, written or oral, regarding the acquisition of an interest in any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity where such discussions, agreements or understandings would require amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to applicable securities laws. Complete and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation and of the by-laws of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the Underwriter, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date or, if later, the Option Closing Date.

        (f)    The Company has authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock as set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus as of the respective dates set forth therein. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws; the Firm Shares and the Option Shares have been duly authorized and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; no preemptive or similar rights exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof. The description of the capital stock of the Company incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all respects. The Company does not have outstanding and, at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will not have outstanding, any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock, or any such warrants, convertible securities or obligations. No further approval or authority of stockholders or the Board of Directors of the Company will be required for the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein. The certificates evidencing the Shares are in due and proper legal form and have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company.

        (g)   The financial statements and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus present fairly the financial condition of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the respective periods covered thereby, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the entire period involved. No other financial statements or schedules of the Company are required by the Act, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations or the Rules and Regulations to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus.

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Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP (the "Accountants"), who have reported on such financial statements and schedules, are independent accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and Rule 3600T of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB"). The summary and selected consolidated financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements presented and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement or the General Disclosure Package regarding "non-GAAP financial measures" (as such term is defined in the Rules and Regulations) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Act, to the extent applicable.

        (h)   Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and prior to or on the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, (i) there has not been and will not have been any change in the capitalization of the Company (other than in connection with the exercise of options to purchase the Company's Common Stock granted pursuant to the Company's stock option plans from the shares reserved therefor as described in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus), or any Material Adverse Effect arising for any reason whatsoever, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred nor will any of them incur, except in the ordinary course of business as described in the Prospectus, any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries entered into nor will it enter into, except in the ordinary course of business as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, any material transactions other than pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions referred to herein and (iii) the Company has not and will not have paid or declared any dividends or other distributions of any kind on any class of its capital stock.

        (i)    The Company is not, will not become as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and will not conduct its business in a manner that would cause it to become, an "investment company" or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

        (j)    There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their officers in their capacity as such, nor any basis therefor, before or by any federal or state court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, wherein an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding might have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (k)   The Company and each Subsidiary have, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will have, performed all the obligations required to be performed by them, and are not, and at the Closing Date, and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will not be, in default, under any contract or other instrument to which they are a party or by which their respective properties are bound or affected, which default might have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, no other party under any contract or other instrument to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party is in default in any respect thereunder, which default might have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will be, in violation of any provision of its certificate or articles of organization or by-laws or other organizational documents.

        (l)    No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or any filing or declaration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company of the transactions on its part contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act or the Rules and Regulations and such as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the by-laws and

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rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriter of the Shares.

        (m)  The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms hereof. The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or conflict with or constitute a default under, or give any party a right to terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, the certificate or articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties is bound or affected, or violate or conflict with any judgment, ruling, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

        (n)   The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all properties and assets described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus as owned by them, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except those which are not material to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries have valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for the properties described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus as leased by them. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or lease all such properties as are necessary to their operations as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to so own or lease would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (o)   There is no document, contract, permit or instrument, affiliate transaction or off-balance sheet transaction (including, without limitation, any "variable interests" in "variable interest entities," as such terms are defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46) of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is not described or filed as required. All such contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or such Subsidiary, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company or such Subsidiary and are enforceable against and by the Company or such Subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof.

        (p)   No statement, representation, warranty or covenant made by the Company in this Agreement or made in any certificate or document required by Section 5 of this Agreement to be delivered to the Underwriter was or will be, when made, inaccurate, untrue or incorrect.

        (q)   The Company has not distributed and will not distribute prior to the later of (i) the Closing Date or, if later, the Option Closing Date, and (ii) completion of the distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than any preliminary prospectuses, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule I hereto, and other materials, if any, permitted by the Act and the Rules and Regulations. Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or that might reasonably be expected, to cause or result, under the Act or otherwise, in, or that has constituted, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

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        (r)   No holder of securities of the Company has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company because of the filing of the Registration Statement, which rights have not been waived by the holder thereof as of the date hereof.

        (s)   The Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and the Company has filed an application to list the Shares on the NASDAQ Global Market ("NGM"), and has received notification that the listing has been approved, subject to notice of issuance of such Shares.

        (t)    (i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or has adequate rights to use all trademarks, trade names, domain names, patents, patent rights, mask works, copyrights, technology, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), service marks, trade dress rights, and other intellectual property (collectively, "Intellectual Property") and has such other licenses, approvals and governmental authorizations, in each case, sufficient to conduct its business as now conducted and as now proposed to be conducted, and, to the Company's and its Subsidiaries' knowledge, none of the foregoing Intellectual Property rights owned or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is invalid or unenforceable, (ii) the Company has no knowledge of any infringement by it or any of its Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property rights of others, where such infringement could have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) the Company is not aware of any infringement, misappropriation or violation by others of, or conflict by others with rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to, any Intellectual Property, (iv) there is no claim being made against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, regarding Intellectual Property or other infringement that could have a Material Adverse Effect, and (v) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received any notice of infringement with respect to any patent or any notice challenging the validity, scope or enforceability of any Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case the loss of which patent or Intellectual Property (or loss of rights thereto) would have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (u)   The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign income tax returns that have been required to be filed and have paid all taxes and assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes or assessments have become due. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any tax deficiency that has been or, to the best knowledge of the Company, might be asserted or threatened against it that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (v)   The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess all authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, registrations, other certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies, necessary to conduct their respective businesses as contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, except where the failure to own or possess all such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, registrations, other certificates and permits would not have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proceeding pending or threatened (or any basis therefor known to the Company) that may cause any such authorization, approval, order, license, registration, certificate or permit to be revoked, withdrawn, cancelled, suspended or not renewed; and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are conducting their respective businesses in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable thereto (including, without limitation, all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations) except where such noncompliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (w)  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain insurance of the types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate for their respective businesses, including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.

        (x)   Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company's knowledge, any of its or their respective employees or agents at any time during the last five years has (i) made any unlawful

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contribution to any candidate for foreign office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, or (ii) made any material payment to any federal or state governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof.

        (y)   The books, records and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, 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 maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company's consolidated 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. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

        (z)   The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries is made known to the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

        (aa) No labor disturbance by the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (bb) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each "employee benefit plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) for which the Company or any member of its "Controlled Group" (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) would have any liability (each a "Plan") has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (a) no "reportable event" (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (b) no "accumulated funding deficiency" (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (c) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan) and (d) neither the Company or any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the PBGC in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a "multiemployer plan," within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and (iii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

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

        (dd) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or has failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (ee) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries reviewed or audited by the Accountants and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, (i) the Company has not been advised of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) since that date, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

        (ff)  There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company's directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

        (gg) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws") applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (ii) have not received notice of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants. There are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed; the Company and its Subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and none of the Company and its Subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.

        (hh) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of or has received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or

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pay of employees, nor any applicable federal or state wage and hour laws, nor any state law precluding the denial of credit due to the neighborhood in which a property is situated, the violation of any of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Affect.

         4.    Agreements of the Company.     The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:

        (a)   The Company will not, either prior to the Applicable Time or thereafter during such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares by the Underwriter or a dealer, file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, unless a copy thereof shall first have been submitted to the Underwriter within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof and the Underwriter shall not have objected thereto in good faith.

        (b)   The Company will notify the Underwriter promptly, and will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed, (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat thereof, (iv) of the happening of any event during the period mentioned in the third sentence of Section 4(e) that in the judgment of the Company makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading, and (v) of receipt by the Company or any representative or attorney of the Company of any other communication from the Commission relating to the Company, the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus. If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company will make reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations, the Company will comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430A or Rule 430B and notify the Underwriter promptly of all such filings. If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Company shall file a registration statement under Rule 462(b) with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for such Rule 462(b) registration statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to the Rules and Regulations.

        (c)   The Company will furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, one signed copy of each of the Registration Statement and of any pre- or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto and will furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, a copy of the Registration Statement and any pre- or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules but without exhibits.

        (d)   The Company will comply with all the provisions of any undertakings contained in the Registration Statement.

        (e)   So long as delivery of a prospectus by the Underwriter or a dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 of the Rules and Regulations), the Company will deliver to the Underwriter, without charge, as many written and

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electronic copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of each preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the Underwriter and by all dealers to which the Shares may be sold, both in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and for any period of time thereafter during which the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection therewith. If during such period of time any event shall occur that in the judgment of the Company or counsel to the Underwriter should be set forth in the Prospectus in order to make any statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will forthwith prepare and duly file with the Commission an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will deliver to the Underwriter, without charge, such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to the Prospectus as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The Company will not file any document under the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations before the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriter, if such document would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, that is not approved by the Underwriter after reasonable notice thereof. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter and, if requested by the Underwriter, will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

        (f)    Prior to any public offering of the Shares, the Company will cooperate with the Underwriter and counsel to the Underwriter in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may request; provided, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

        (g)   The Company will, so long as required under the Rules and Regulations, furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flow of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter e