3,000,000] Shares1 Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. PURCHASE AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 1.1

[3,000,000] Shares¹

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

October [3], 2006

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ASSOCIATES, INC.

As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto
c/o ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

     Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Hallmark Financial Services, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) proposes to sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of [3,000,000] shares (the “Firm Shares”) of Common Stock, $0.18 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company. The Firm Shares consist of [3,000,000] authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Company. The Company has also granted to the several Underwriters an option to purchase up to [450,000] shares of Common Stock, on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 3 hereof (the “Option Shares”). The Firm Shares and any Option Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement are herein collectively called the “Securities.”

     The Company hereby confirms its agreement with respect to the sale of the Securities to the several Underwriters, for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”).

     1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-136414) with respect to the Securities, including a preliminary form of prospectus, has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the rules and regulations (“Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder and has been filed with the Commission; one or more amendments to such registration statement have also been so prepared and have been, or will be, so filed; and, if the Company has elected to

rely upon Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations to increase the size of the offering registered under the Act, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such increase pursuant to Rule 462(b). Copies of such registration statement(s) and amendments and each related preliminary prospectus have been delivered to the Underwriters.

     Promptly after execution of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) that discloses the information previously omitted from the prospectus in reliance upon Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations. Each part of such registration statement as amended at the time it is or was declared effective by the Commission, and, in the event of any amendment thereto after the effective date, each part of such registration statement as so amended (but only from and after the effectiveness of such amendment), including a registration statement (if any) filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations increasing the size of the offering registered under the Act, and information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rules 430A(b) of the Rules and Regulations, is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement.” The prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it is or was declared effective by the Commission is hereinafter called the "Prospectus,” except that if any prospectus filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or any other such prospectus provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the Securities (whether or not required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, but not including a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) differs from the prospectus on file at the time the Registration Statement is or was declared effective by the Commission, the term “Prospectus” shall refer to such differing prospectus from and after the time such prospectus is filed with the Commission or transmitted to the Commission for filing pursuant to such Rule 424(b) or from and after the time of its first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations. The term “Preliminary Prospectus” as used herein means any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes or became effective under the Act and any prospectus subject to completion as described in Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“▇▇▇▇▇”).

     2. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

          (a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters as follows:

     (i) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof or the time of first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act

and the Rules and Regulations and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; except that the foregoing shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or by any Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

     (ii) As of the time any part of the Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereto, including a registration statement (if any) filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations increasing the size of the offering registered under the Act) became effective, upon the filing or first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations of the Prospectus (or any supplement to the Prospectus) and at the First Closing Date and Second Closing Date (each as hereinafter defined), (A) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (in each case, as so amended and/or supplemented) conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, (B) the Registration Statement (as so amended) did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (C) the Prospectus (as so supplemented) did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are or were made, not misleading; except that the foregoing shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any such document in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or by any Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, specifically for use in the preparation thereof. If the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

     (iii) Neither (A) the Issuer General Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Time of Sale, and the Statutory Prospectus, all considered together (collectively, the “Time of Sale Disclosure Package”), nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, includes or included as of the Time of Sale any untrue statement of a material fact or omit or omitted as of the Time of Sale 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 preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Statutory Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or by any Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ specifically for use therein. As used in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Agreement:

(1) “Time of Sale” means [___]:00 **[a/p]m (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.

(2) “Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the initial effective date. For purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act.

(3) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, relating to the Securities that (A) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, or (B) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) under the Act or pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(i), in each case 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) under the Act.

(4) “Issuer General 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 III to this Agreement.

(5) “Issuer Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Free Writing Prospectus. The term Issuer Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus also includes any “road show,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations, that is not required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(i).

     (iv) (A) 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 Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in Section 4(a)(iii)(B), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or by any Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ specifically for use therein.

     (B) (1) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (2) at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, including the Company or any subsidiary in the preceding three

years not having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order as described in 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), nor an “excluded issuer” as defined in Rule 164 under the Act.

     (C) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus satisfied, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities, all other conditions to use thereof as set forth in Rules 164 and 433 under the Act.

     (v) The financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes, and the financial statements of Texas General Agency, Inc., together with the related notes, each as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus, comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and fairly present the financial condition of the Company and Texas General Agency, Inc., respectively, as of the dates indicated and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods therein specified in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein. No other financial statements or schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. To the Company’s knowledge, KPMG LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules, including, without limitation, the financial statements and schedules of Texas General Agency, Inc., filed as a part of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is (x) an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, (y) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 (the “▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act”)) and (z) not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act.

     (vi) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect upon the business, prospects, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Effect”).

     (vii) Except as contemplated in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given therein, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; and there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock, of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any material adverse change in the general affairs, condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, property, operations or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Change”) or any development known to the Company involving a prospective Material Adverse Change.

     (viii) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company is the subject before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, which, individually or in the aggregate, might result in any Material Adverse Change.

     (ix) There are no statutes, regulations, contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement by the Act or by the Rules and Regulations that have not been so described or filed.

     (x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute, any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property is subject, the Company’s charter or by-laws, or any order, rule, regulation or decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any court or governmental agency or body is

required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Registration Statement, including the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company, except such as may be required under the Act or state securities or blue sky laws; and the Company has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to authorize, issue and sell the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.

     (xi) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including the outstanding shares of Common Stock, are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities that have not been waived in writing (a copy of which has been delivered to counsel to the Representatives), and the holders thereof are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and the capital stock of the Company, including the Common Stock, conforms to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus. The Company has taken all requisite action and received all necessary approvals and consents to effectuate the six-to-one reverse stock split of its Common Stock. Except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s charter, by-laws or any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus and except for any directors’ qualifying shares, the Company owns of record and beneficially, free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens, proxies, equities or other encumbrances, all of the issued and outstanding shares of such stock. Except as described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, there are no options, warrants, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company or any subsidiary of the Company any shares of the capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. The Company has an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

     (xii) The Company and each of its subsidiaries holds, and is operating in compliance in all material respects with, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, including insurance licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates and orders of any governmental or self-regulatory body (including, without limitation, of the insurance regulatory agencies of the various jurisdictions where it conducts its business) required for the conduct of its business and all such franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certifications and orders are valid and in full force and effect; the Company and each of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, orders and decrees; there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation that would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation, termination or suspension of any franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, or certificates that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and no insurance regulatory agency or body has issued, or commenced any proceeding for the issuance of, any order or decree impairing, restricting or prohibiting the payment of dividends by a subsidiary to the Company.

     (xiii) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all property (whether real or personal) described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus as being owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects except such as are described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus. The property held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries is held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions with respect to any particular lease as do not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries.

     (xiv) Except as set forth on Schedule 2(a)(xiv), the Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or possesses all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, trademark registrations, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and rights necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus; except as stated in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, no name which the Company or any of its subsidiaries uses and no other aspect of the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, trademark registrations, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets or other similar rights of others material to the business or prospects of the Company and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee.

     (xv) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in breach of or otherwise in default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default in the performance of any material obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note, indenture, loan agreement or any other material contract, lease or other instrument to which it is subject or by which any of them may be bound, or to which any of the material property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject.

     (xvi) The Company and its subsidiaries have timely filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed and are not in default in the payment of any taxes which were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto, other than any which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is contesting in good faith.

     (xvii) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or other materials permitted by the Act to be distributed by the Company; provided, however, that, except as set forth on Schedule III, the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, except in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(a)(xvii) of this Agreement.

     (xviii) The Securities have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Market upon official notice of issuance and, on each date the Registration Statement became effective, (i) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A or other applicable form under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), became or will become effective and (ii) the Company will comply with the Rules and Regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers as if the Company were not a “controlled company” under National Association of Securities Dealers Rule 4350(c)(5).

     (xix) Other than the subsidiaries of the Company listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement, the Company, directly or indirectly, owns no capital stock or other equity or ownership or proprietary interest in any corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity.

     (xx) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (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 existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, 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, and since the end of the latest audited fiscal year, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

     (xxi) Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (xxii) The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

     (xxiii) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     (xxiv) The Company is in compliance with all applicable provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     (xxv) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act) and such controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information relating to the Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer. The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in preparing and evaluating the disclosures in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

     (xxvi) The Company has received no written comments from the SEC staff regarding its periodic or current reports under the 1934 Act that remain unresolved and have not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus.

     (xxvii) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand and any director, officer or shareholder of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any member of his or her immediate family, or any customers or suppliers on the other hand, which is required

to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which is not so described in compliance with such requirement. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any member of their respective immediate families, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Since December 31, 2004, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through any subsidiary, (A) extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company or any subsidiary, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company or any subsidiary; or (B) made any material modification, including any renewal thereof, to any term of any personal loan to any director or executive officer of the Company or any subsidiary or any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer.

     (xxviii) To the knowledge of the Company, no change in any laws or regulations is pending which could reasonably be expected to be adopted and if adopted, could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with all such changes, a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in each of the Regulation Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

     (xxix) No insurance agent appointed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries has ceased selling insurance policies on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries or has indicated an interest in decreasing or ceasing the amount of insurance it sells on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries or otherwise modifying its relationship with the Company or its subsidiaries, other than (A) in the normal and ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or (B) that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

      (xxx) All reinsurance treaties and similar arrangements (including placement slips) to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party are in full force and effect and neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of, or in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of, any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained therein; neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice from any of the other parties to such treaties or arrangements that such other party intends not to perform such treaty or arrangement and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the other parties to such treaties or arrangements will be unable to perform such treaty or arrangement except to the extent adequately and properly reserved for in the audited historical financial statements of the Company included in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

     (xxxi) Except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries have made no material change in their insurance reserving practices since December 31, 2005.

     (xxxii) The reserves reflected on the statutory statements of each of American Hallmark Insurance Company, Phoenix Indemnity Insurance Company and Gulf States Insurance Company (collectively, the “Insurance Subsidiaries”), as of the dates specified in such statements, (A) were computed in accordance with presently accepted actuarial standards consistently applied and are fairly stated, in accordance with sound actuarial principles; (B) were based on actuarial assumptions that produce reserves at least as great as those called for in any contract provision as to reserve basis and method, and are in accordance with all other contract provisions; (C) met the requirements of the applicable insurance laws, rules and regulations of the States of Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma, respectively, and are at least as great as the minimum aggregate amounts required by applicable law; and (D) included provision for all actuarial reserves and related statement items which should be established.

     (xxxiii) The statutory financial statements of the Insurance Subsidiaries are prepared for each relevant period in conformity with statutory accounting principles or practices required or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and by the appropriate insurance department of the jurisdiction of domicile of each Insurance Subsidiary, respectively, and such statutory accounting practices have been applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may otherwise be indicated therein or in the notes thereto, and present fairly in all material respects the statutory financial position of each Insurance Subsidiary as of the dates thereof, and the statutory basis results of operations of each Insurance Subsidiary for the periods covered thereby.

     (xxxiv) No transaction has occurred between or among the Company and any of its officers or directors or beneficial owners of 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (the “5% Shareholders”) or any affiliate or affiliates of any such officer or director or 5% Shareholders that is required to be described in and is not described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

     (xxxv) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% Shareholders, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package or Prospectus or disclosed to the Underwriters in the July 20, 2006 NASD Response Letter from the General Counsel of the Company to Underwriter’s counsel.

     (xxxvi) The Company and each subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all currently applicable provisions of the

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (herein called “ERISA”); with respect to each “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), the Company and each subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all currently applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder; to the knowledge of the Company, no “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) for which the Company or any subsidiary would have any liability; neither the Company nor any subsidiary has incurred, and does not expect to incur, liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Code; and each “pension plan” sponsored by the Company or any subsidiary that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable letter of determination from the Internal Revenue Service as to its qualified status within the last three years, and nothing has occurred, to Company’s knowledge, since such date, whether by action or failure to act, that would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

     (xxxvii) The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

     (xxxviii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been or is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, which, to the Company’s knowledge, will use such proceeds for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

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

     3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Securities.

          (a) 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 issue and sell the Firm Shares to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule II hereto. The purchase price for each Firm Share shall be $[ ] per share. In making this Agreement, each Underwriter is contracting severally and not jointly. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 3 and in Section 8 hereof, the agreement of each Underwriter is to purchase only the respective number of Firm Shares specified in Schedule II.

          The Firm Shares will be delivered by the Company to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company, at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 9:00 a.m. Central time on the third (or if the Securities are priced, as contemplated by Rule 15c6-1(c) under the Exchange Act, after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the fourth) full business day following the date hereof, or at such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, such time and date of delivery being herein referred to as the “First Closing Date.” If the Representatives so elect, delivery of the Firm Shares may be made by credit through full fast transfer to the accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Representatives. Certificates representing the Firm Shares, in definitive form and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least two business days’ prior notice to the Company, will be made available for checking and packaging not later than 10:30 a.m., Central time, on the business day next preceding the First Closing Date at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable.

          (b) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company, with respect to the Option Shares, hereby grants to the several Underwriters an option to purchase all or any portion of the Option Shares at the same purchase price as the Firm Shares, for use solely in covering any over-allotments made by the Underwriters in the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) within 30 days after the effective date of this Agreement upon notice (confirmed in writing) by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be registered and the date and time, as determined by the Representatives, when the Option Shares are to be delivered, such time and date being herein referred to as the “Second Closing” and “Second Closing Date”, respectively; provided, however, that the Second Closing Date shall not be earlier than the First Closing Date nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. If the option is exercised, the obligation of each Underwriter shall be to purchase

from the Company the Option Shares or any portion of the Option Shares, on a pro rata basis. The number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of Option Shares to be purchased by the several Underwriters as the number of Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter is of the total number of Firm Shares to be purchased by the several Underwriters, as adjusted by the Representatives in such manner as the Representatives deem advisable to avoid fractional shares. No Option Shares shall be sold and delivered unless the Firm Shares previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered.

          The Option Shares will be delivered by the Company to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable at 9:00 a.m., Central time, on the Second Closing Date. If the Representatives so elect, delivery of the Option Shares may be made by credit through full fast transfer to the accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Representatives. Certificates representing the Option Shares in definitive form and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives have set forth in the Representatives’ notice of option exercise will be made available for checking and packaging not later than 10:30 a.m., Central time, on the business day next preceding the Second Closing Date at the office of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable.

          (c) It is understood that you, individually and not as Representatives of the several Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment to the Company, on behalf of any Underwriter for the Securities to be purchased by such Underwriter. Any such payment by you shall not relieve any such Underwriter of any of its obligations hereunder. Nothing herein contained shall constitute any of the Underwriters an unincorporated association or partner with the Company.

     4. Covenants.

          (a) The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters as follows:

     (i) If the Registration Statement has not already been declared effective by the Commission, the Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto to become effective as promptly as possible; the Company will notify the Representatives promptly of the time when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement to the Prospectus has been filed, the receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package or Prospectus and the receipt of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or

Prospectus or for additional information; the Company will prepare and file a Prospectus containing the information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations with the Commission within the time period required by, and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of, Rules 424(b) and 430A of the Rules and Regulations; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations to increase the size of the offering registered under the Act, the Company will prepare and file a registration statement with respect to such increase with the Commission within the time period required by, and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of, Rule 462(b); the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Representatives’ request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package or Prospectus that, in the Representatives’ opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters; and the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package or Prospectus to which the Representatives shall reasonably object by notice to the Company after having been furnished a copy a reasonable time prior to the filing.

     (ii) The Company will advise the Representatives, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and the Company will promptly use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430A, as applicable, under the Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b), Rule 433 or Rule 462 were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

     (iii) (A) Within the time during which a prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a)) relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will comply as far as it is able with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) would include an 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 then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective investors, the Time

of Sale Disclosure Package) to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

     (B) 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, any Statutory Prospectus, or the Prospectus relating to the Securities 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 has promptly notified or promptly will notify the Representatives and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

     (iv) The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any state.

     (v) The Company will furnish to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement (three of which will be signed and will include all consents and exhibits filed therewith), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request.

     (vi) During a period of five years commencing with the date hereof, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, and to each Underwriter who may so request in writing, copies of all periodic and special reports furnished to the stockholders of the Company and all information, documents and reports filed with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the NASDAQ Global Market or any securities exchange (other than any such information, documents and reports that are filed with the Commission electronically via ▇▇▇▇▇ or any successor system).

     (vii) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period beginning after the effective date of the Registration

Statement that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.

     (viii) The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is prevented from becoming effective under the provisions of Section 9(a) hereof or is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (A) all expenses (including transfer taxes allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the delivery to the Underwriters of the Securities, (B) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and counsel but, except as otherwise provided below, not including fees and expenses of the Underwriters’ counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Securities, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and the printing, delivery, and shipping of this Agreement and other underwriting documents, including Blue Sky Memoranda (covering the states and other applicable jurisdictions), (C) all filing fees and fees and disbursements of the Underwriters’ counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale by the Underwriters or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions which the Representatives shall designate, (D) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (E) the filing fees and fees and disbursements of the Underwriters’ counsel incident to any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (F) listing fees of the American Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Global Market, if any, and (G) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated by reason of action by the Company pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof which prevents this Agreement from becoming effective, or by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform any agreement on its part to be performed, or because any other condition of the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by the Company is not fulfilled, the Company will reimburse the several Underwriters for all out-of-pocket disbursements (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with their investigation, preparing to market and marketing the Securities or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder. The Company shall not in any event be liable to any of the Underwriters for loss of anticipated profits from the transactions covered by this Agreement.

     (ix) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities to be sold by it hereunder for the purposes set forth in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus and will file such reports with the Commission with respect to the sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 of the Rules and Regulations.

     (x) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., from the date of execution of this Agreement and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”) offer for sale, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option for the sale of, enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate, or otherwise issue or dispose of, directly or indirectly (or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, grant, issuance or other disposition), any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options or rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock, except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement. The Company agrees not to accelerate the vesting of any option or warrant or the lapse of any repurchase right prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period. If (1) during the period that begins on the date that is 18 calendar days before the last day of the Lock-Up Period and ends on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, (a) the Company issues an earnings release, (b) the Company publicly announces material news or (c) a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions in this Agreement, unless otherwise waived by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. in writing, shall continue to apply until the expiration of the date that is 18 calendar days after the date on which (a) the Company issues the earnings release, (b) the Company publicly announces material news or (c) a material event relating to the Company occurs. The Company will provide the Representatives, any co-managers and each shareholder subject to the Lock-Up Agreement (as defined below) with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to the extension of the Lock-Up Period.

     (xi) The Company has caused to be delivered to the Representatives prior to the date of this Agreement a letter agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, from each of the Company’s directors and officers and each of the persons listed on Schedule IV hereto stating that such person agrees that he or she will not, without ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇’▇ prior written consent, offer for sale, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, as set forth in such letter, any shares of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock, except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for a period of 180 days after commencement of the public offering of the Securities by the Underwriters (each a “Lock-Up Agreement”). The Company will enforce the terms of each Lock-Up Agreement and issue stop-transfer instructions to the transfer agent for the Common Stock with respect to any transaction or contemplated transaction that would constitute a breach of or default under the applicable Lock-Up Agreement.

     (xii) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any

security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities, and has not effected any sales of Common Stock which are required to be disclosed in response to Item 701 of Regulation S-K under the Act which have not been so disclosed in the Registration Statement.

     (xiii) The Company will not incur any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (xiv) The Company will file with the Commission such periodic and special reports as required by the Rules and Regulations.

     (xv) The Company and its subsidiaries will maintain such controls and other procedures, including without limitation those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, to ensure that material information relating to Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities.

     (xvi) The Company and its subsidiaries will comply with all effective applicable provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act.

     (xvii) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., and each Underwriter severally represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, required to be filed with the Commission; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectuses included in Schedule III. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any

Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping. The Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.

     5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and at each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date (as if made at such Closing Date), of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

          (a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 p.m., Central time, on the date of this Agreement, or such later time and date as the Representatives of the several Underwriters shall approve and all filings required by Rules 424, 430A and 433 of the Rules and Regulations shall have been timely made (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)); no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ satisfaction.

          (b) No Underwriter shall have advised the Company that the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Representatives’ opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Representatives’ opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

          (c) Except as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given therein, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; and there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt of the Company, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), that, in Representatives’ judgment,

makes it impractical or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

          (d) On or after the Time of Sale (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities or preferred stock by any “nationally recognized statistical organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities or preferred stock;

          (e) As of the date hereof, A.M. Best Company has assigned a financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) to the Company’s individual and pooled Insurance Subsidiaries. On or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading or other negative development shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s or any of the Insurance Subsidiaries financial strength by A.M. Best Company or any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the SEC for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act (whether or not such negative development has been publicly announced by A.M. Best Company), and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s or any of its Insurance Subsidiaries’ financial strength.

          (f) On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representatives of the several Underwriters the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C., counsel for the Company, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, to the effect that:

     (i) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than the Insurance Subsidiaries) has been duly incorporated or, if such entity is not a corporation, has been duly formed, and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than the Insurance Subsidiaries) has full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (ii) The capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.” All of the Securities have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The Securities to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized

and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. Except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s charter, by-laws or any agreement or other instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound. To such counsel’s knowledge, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company.

     (iii) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such counsel’s knowledge, except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, the Company owns of record and beneficially, free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens, proxies, equities or other encumbrances, all of the issued and outstanding shares of such stock. To such counsel’s knowledge, except as described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, there are no options, warrants, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company or any subsidiary any shares of the capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.

     (iv) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the knowledge of such counsel, threatened by the Commission.

     (v) The descriptions in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus of statutes, regulations, legal and governmental proceedings, contracts and other documents (other than insurance policies issued by the Insurance Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their respective businesses) are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown; provided, however, for the purposes of this clause (v) such counsel shall not be required to opine as to statutes, regulations, legal or governmental proceedings specifically relating to insurance matters required to be described in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus.

     (vi) Such counsel does not know of any statutes, regulations, legal or governmental proceedings or contracts or other documents required to be described in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus or included as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or included as required.

     (vii) The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity); the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute, rule or regulation, any agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property is subject, the Company’s charter or by-laws, or any order or decree known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its respective properties; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any court or governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company, except such as may be required under the Act or state securities laws.

     (viii) The Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus included in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, comply, and as of their respective effective or issue dates (including without limitation each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to the Rules and Regulations) complied, as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations (except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements, schedules, notes or other financial data or statistical data derived therefrom); and on the basis of conferences with officers of the Company, examination of documents referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such other procedures as such counsel deemed appropriate, nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that causes such counsel to believe that (a) any part of the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof (including any information omitted from the Registration Statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A), when such part became effective (including each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to the Rules and Regulations) and as of such Closing Date (including any Registration Statement filed under Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations), contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (b) the documents specified in a schedule to such counsel’s letter, consisting of those included in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package as of the Time of Sale and as of such Closing Date, included or includes any untrue statement of material fact or omitted or omits to state a

material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (c) the Prospectus (as of its issue date and as of such Closing Date), as amended or supplemented, included or includes any untrue statement of material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements, schedules, notes or other financial data or statistical data derived therefrom included in any of the documents mentioned in this clause.

          In rendering such opinion such counsel may rely (i) as to matters of law other than Texas and federal law, upon the opinion or opinions of local counsel provided that the extent of such reliance is specified in such opinion and that such counsel shall state that such opinion or opinions of local counsel are satisfactory to them and that they believe they and the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems reasonable, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries provided that the extent of such reliance is specified in such opinion.

          (g) On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representatives of the several Underwriters the opinions of Low & Childers, P.C., Akin Gump ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP and Kerr, Irvine, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, A Professional Corporation, special counsel to the Company and the appropriate Insurance Subsidiary, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, to the effect that:

     (i) The respective Insurance Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing (or the equivalent) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The respective Insurance Subsidiary has full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

     (ii) With regard to the respective Insurance Subsidiary, the descriptions in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus of statutes, regulations, legal and governmental proceedings specifically related to insurance matters are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown.

          In rendering such opinion such counsel to the Insurance Subsidiaries may rely (i) as to matters of law other than [appropriate jurisdiction] and federal law, upon the opinion or opinions of local counsel provided that the extent of such reliance is specified in such opinion and that such counsel shall state that such opinion or opinions of local counsel are satisfactory to them and that they believe they and the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems reasonable upon certificates of officers of the Insurance Subsidiaries provided that the extent of such reliance is specified in such opinion.

          (h) On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representatives of the several Underwriters the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, General Counsel of the Company, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, to the effect that:

     (i) The descriptions in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus of insurance policies issued by the Insurance Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their respective businesses are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown.

     (ii) Each Insurance Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (iii) The descriptions in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus of statutes, regulations, legal and governmental proceedings specifically related to insurance matters are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown.

          (i) On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representatives of the several Underwriters such opinion or opinions from Sidley Austin, LLP, counsel for the several Underwriters, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, with respect to the matters the Representatives reasonably may request (in rendering such opinion, Sidley Austin, LLP may rely as to matters involving the application of the laws of the State of Nevada on ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇), and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters and in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness and satisfaction of the representations, warranties and conditions herein contained.

          (j) Immediately prior to execution hereof and on each Closing Date the Representatives of the several Underwriters shall have received a letter of KPMG LLP, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and stating, as of the date of such letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, as of a date not prior to the date hereof or more than five days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter delivered to the Underwriters concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and the effect of the letter so to be delivered on such Closing Date shall be to confirm the conclusions and findings set forth in such prior letter.

          (k) On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representatives of the Underwriters, a certificate, dated such Closing Date and addressed to Underwriters, signed by the principal executive officer and by the principal financial officer of the Company, to the effect that:

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

     (ii) No stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof or the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body; and

     (iii) The signers of said certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, and (A) each part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto contain, and contained when such part of the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, became effective, all statements and information required to be included therein, the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, does not contain and did not contain when such part of the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, became effective, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, does not include and did not include as of its date or the time of first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations, any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state and did not omit to state as of its date or the time of first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (B) neither (1) the Time of Sale Disclosure Package nor (2) any individual Issuer Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, include, nor included as of the Time of Sale any untrue statement of a material fact or omits, or omitted as of the Time of Sale, 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, (C) since the Time of Sale there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented prospectus which has not been so set forth, (D) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution

of any kind with respect to its capital stock, and except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock, of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, or any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), and (E) except as stated in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, there is not pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change.

          (l) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters such additional documents, certificates and evidence as the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters may have reasonably requested.

          (m) The Common Stock has been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the 1934 Act, and the Shares have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

          (n) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters all of the duly and validly executed letter agreements referred to in Section 4(a)(xi) hereof.

          All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters. The Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as they shall reasonably request.

     6. Indemnification and Contribution.

          (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430C of the Rules and Regulations, if applicable, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the

Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Common Stock (“Marketing Materials"), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) 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 it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or by any Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

          In addition to its other obligations under this Section 6(a), the Company agrees that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon any statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in this Section 6(a), the Company will reimburse each Underwriter on a monthly basis for all reasonable legal fees or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the Company’s obligation to reimburse the Underwriters for such expenses and the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, the Underwriter that received such payment shall promptly return it to the party or parties that made such payment, together with interest, compounded daily, determined on the basis of the prime rate (or other commercial lending rate for borrowers of the highest credit standing) announced from time to time by [___] (the “Prime Rate"). Any such interim reimbursement payments which are not made to an Underwriter within 30 days of a request for reimbursement shall bear interest at the Prime Rate from the date of such request. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liabilities which the Company may otherwise have.

          (b) Each Underwriter, on a several but not joint basis, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing 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, 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 the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or by such Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, specifically for use in the preparation thereof, and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

          (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that if, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, it is advisable for the Underwriters to be represented as a group by separate counsel, the Representatives shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent the Representatives and all Underwriters who may be subject to liability arising from any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Underwriters under subsection (a) of this Section 6, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the Underwriters as incurred (in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph in subsection (a) above). An indemnifying party shall not be obligated under any settlement agreement relating to any action under this Section 6 to which it has not agreed in writing.

     (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 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 that 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, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. 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’ relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d). 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 against 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 that 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 6 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 6 shall be in addition to any liability that the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the Company (including any person who, with his consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company), to each officer of the Company who has signed the Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

     (f) The Underwriters severally confirm that the statements with respect to the public offering of the Securities by the Underwriters set forth in (i) the third, fourth, fifth and sixth sentences of the second paragraph, (ii) the sixth paragraph, (iii) the seventh paragraph, (iv) the first and fourth sentences of the eighth paragraph and (v) the tenth paragraph of the “Underwriting” section of the Registration Statement (the “Underwriters’ Information”) are

correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ Information set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

     7. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, and the agreements of the several Underwriters, the Company contained in Section 6 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, or any controlling person thereof, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Securities to and by the Underwriters hereunder.

     8. Substitution of Underwriters.

          (a) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail to take up and pay for the amount of Securities agreed by such Underwriter or Underwriters to be purchased hereunder, upon tender of such Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and the amount of Securities not purchased does not aggregate more than 10% of the total amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated to take up and pay for (in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations hereunder as set forth in Schedule II hereto except as may otherwise be determined by the Representatives) the Securities that the withdrawing or defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase.

          (b) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail to take up and pay for the amount of Securities agreed by such Underwriter or Underwriters to be purchased hereunder, upon tender of such Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and the amount of Securities not purchased aggregates more than 10% of the total amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives for the purchase of such Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours thereafter, this Agreement shall terminate. In the event of any such termination the Company shall not be under any liability to any Underwriter (except to the extent provided in Section 4(a)(viii) and Section 6 hereof) nor shall any Underwriter (other than an Underwriter who shall have failed, otherwise than for some reason permitted under this Agreement, to purchase the amount of Securities agreed by such Underwriter to be purchased hereunder) be under any liability to the Company (except to the extent provided in Section 6 hereof).

          If Securities to which a default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters or by any other party or parties, the Representatives or the Company shall have the

right to postpone the First Closing Date for not more than seven business days in order that the necessary changes in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, in the Prospectus or in any other documents, as well as any other arrangements, may be effected. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 8.

     9. Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination.

          (a) This Agreement shall become effective at 10:00 a.m., Central time, on the first full business day following the effective date of the Registration Statement, or at such earlier time after the effective time of the Registration Statement as the Underwriters in their discretion shall first release the Securities for sale to the public; provided, that if the Registration Statement is effective at the time this Agreement is executed, this Agreement shall become effective at such time as the Underwriters in their discretion shall first release the Securities for sale to the public. For the purpose of this Section, the Securities shall be deemed to have been released for sale to the public upon release by the Representatives of an electronic communication authorizing commencement of the offering of the Securities for sale by the Underwriters or other securities dealers. By giving notice as hereinafter specified before the time this Agreement becomes effective, the Representatives of the several Underwriters, or the Company, may prevent this Agreement from becoming effective without liability of any party to any other party, except that the provisions of Section 4(a)(viii) and Section 6 hereof shall at all times be effective.

          (b) The Representatives of the several Underwriters shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice as hereinafter specified at any time at or prior to the First Closing Date, and the option referred to in Section 3(b), if exercised, may be cancelled at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, if (i) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable, at or prior to such Closing Date, to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder, (ii) any other condition of the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder is not fulfilled, (iii) trading on the NASDAQ Global Market, New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange shall have been wholly suspended, (iv) minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the NASDAQ Global Market, New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange, by such Exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction, (v) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, or (vi) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the Representatives’ reasonable judgment, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the sale of and payment for the Securities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4(a)(viii) and Section 6 hereof shall at all times be effective.

          (c) If the Representatives elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming effective or to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section, the Company shall be notified promptly by the Representatives by telephone, confirmed by letter. If the Company

elects to prevent this Agreement from becoming effective, the Representatives shall be notified by the Company by telephone, confirmed by letter.

     10. Default by the Company. If the Company shall fail at the First Closing Date to sell and deliver the number of Securities which it is obligated to sell hereunder, then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting party.

          No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company in respect of such default, if any.

     11. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriters, shall be mailed or delivered to the Representatives c/o ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, except that notices given to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 6 hereof shall be sent to such Underwriter at the address stated in the Underwriters’ Questionnaire furnished by such Underwriter in connection with this offering; if to the Company, shall be mailed or delivered to it at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C., 3550 Lincoln Plaza, ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing. Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

     12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 6. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Securities from any of the several Underwriters.

     13. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Representatives have been retained solely to act as an underwriter in connection with the sale of the Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Representatives have been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Representatives have advised or are advising the Company on other matters; (b) the price and other terms of the Securities set forth in this Agreement were established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representatives and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) it has been advised that the Representatives and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Representatives have no obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; (d) it has been advised that the Representatives are acting, in respect of the

transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Representatives and the other Underwriters, and not on behalf of the Company; (e) it waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agrees that the Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

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

     15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

     Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

Confirmed as of the date first
above mentioned, on behalf of
themselves and the other several
Underwriters named in Schedule II
hereto.

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.

 

By                                         

Managing Director

SCHEDULE I

[RESERVED]

SCHEDULE II

Underwriter		Number of Firm Shares (1)
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. [     ]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, L.L.C. [     ]
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc. [     ]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc. [     ]
Total			[   3,000,000   ]

SCHEDULE III

Issuer General Free Writing Prospectuses

SCHEDULE IV

Non-Officer/Director Persons Delivering a Lock-up Agreement

Newcastle Partners, L.P.
Newcastle Special Opportunity Fund I, L.P.
Newcastle Special Opportunity Fund II, L.P.

Exhibit A

Form of Lock-up Agreement

(attached)