4,075,000 Shares U.S. Restaurant Properties, Inc. Common Stock Underwriting Agreement dated October 13, 2003

Exhibit 99.2

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.

SOUTHWEST SECURITIES, INC.

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

4,075,000 Shares

U.S. Restaurant Properties, Inc.

Common Stock

Underwriting Agreement

dated October 13, 2003

Table of Contents

		Page
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.		3
A.	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY	3
(a)	Compliance with Registration Requirements	3
(b)	Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters	3
(c)	Distribution of Offering Material By the Company	3
(d)	The Underwriting Agreement	4
(e)	Authorization of the Common Shares	4
(f)	No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights	4
(g)	No Material Adverse Change	4
(h)	Independent Accountants	4
(i)	Preparation of the Financial Statements	4
(j)	Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries	5
(k)	Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters	5
(l)	Stock Exchange Listing	6
(m)	Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required	6
(n)	No Material Actions or Proceedings	6
(o)	Intellectual Property Rights	7
(p)	All Necessary Permits, etc	7
(q)	Title to Properties	7
(r)	Tax Law Compliance	7
(s)	Company Not an “Investment Company	8
(t)	Insurance	8
(u)	No Price Stabilization or Manipulation	8
(v)	Related Party Transactions	8
(w)	Exchange Act Compliance	8
(x)	No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments	9
(y)	Company’s Accounting System	9
(z)	Compliance with Environmental Laws	9
(aa)	Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance	10
(bb)	ERISA Compliance	10
(cc)	Brokers	10
(dd)	No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness	10
(ee)	Compliance with Laws	10
B.	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS	11
(a)	The Underwriting Agreement	11
(b)	Title to Common Shares to be Sold; All Authorizations Obtained	11
(c)	Delivery of the Common Shares to be Sold	11
(d)	Non-Contravention; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required	12
(e)	No Registration or Other Similar Rights	12
(f)	No Further Consents, etc	12
(g)	Disclosure Made by Such Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus	12

Table of Contents

(continued)

(h)	No Price Stabilization or Manipulation	12
(i)	Registration Statement and Prospectus	13

SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE COMMON SHARES		13

(a)	The Firm Common Shares	13
(b)	The First Closing Date	13
(c)	The Optional Common Shares; the Second Closing Date	13
(d)	Public Offering of the Common Shares	14
(e)	Payment for the Common Shares	14
(f)	Delivery of the Common Shares	15
(g)	Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters	15

SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS		15

A.	COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY	15
(a)	Representatives’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements	15
(b)	Securities Act Compliance	16
(c)	Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters	16
(d)	Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus	16
(e)	Blue Sky Compliance	16
(f)	Use of Proceeds	17
(g)	Transfer Agent	17
(h)	Earnings Statement	17
(i)	Periodic Reporting Obligations	17
(j)	Company to Provide Interim Financial Statements	17
(k)	Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities	17
(l)	Future Reports to the Representatives	18
(m)	Investment Limitation	18
(n)	No Manipulation of Price	18
(o)	Existing Lock-Up Agreement	18
B.	COVENANTS OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS	18
(a)	Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities	18
(b)	Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9	19
C.	WAIVER	19

SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES		19

SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS		20

(a)	Accountants’ Comfort Letter	20
(b)	Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from NASD	20
(c)	No Material Adverse Change	20
(d)	Opinion of Counsel for the Company	21
(e)	Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters	21
(f)	Officers’ Certificate	21
(g)	Bring-down Comfort Letter	21

Table of Contents

(continued)

		Page
(h)	Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders	21
(i)	Selling Stockholders’ Certificate	22
(j)	Selling Stockholders’ Documents	22
(k)	Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Security Holders of the Company	22
(l)	Additional Documents	22

SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS’ EXPENSES.		22

(a)	Reimbursement by the Company	22
(b)	Reimbursement by the Selling Stockholders	23

SECTION 7. [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK].		23

SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.		23

(a)	Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company	23
(b)	Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholders	24
(c)	Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers and the Selling Stockholders	26
(d)	Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures	26
(e)	Settlements	27

SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION.		27

SECTION 10. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS.		29

SECTION 11. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.		30

SECTION 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.		30

SECTION 13. NOTICES.		30

SECTION 14. SUCCESSORS.		32

SECTION 15. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY.		32

SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.		32

A.	GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS	32
B.	CONSENT TO JURISDICTION	32

SECTION 17. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS TO SELL AND DELIVER COMMON SHARES.		33

SECTION 18. GENERAL PROVISIONS.		33

iii

Underwriting Agreement

October 13, ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.

SOUTHWEST SECURITIES, INC.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Introductory. U.S. Restaurant Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 2,575,000 shares of its Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”); and the stockholders of the Company named in Schedule B (collectively, the “Selling Stockholders”) severally propose to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock. The 2,575,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company and the 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholders are collectively called the “Firm Common Shares.” In addition, the Selling Stockholders have granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 611,250 shares of Common Stock, each Selling Stockholder selling up to the amount set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name in Schedule B, all as provided in Section 2. The additional 611,250 shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to such options are collectively called the “Optional Common Shares.” The Firm Common Shares and, if and to the extent such options are exercised, the Optional Common Shares are collectively called the “Common Shares.” Banc of America Securities LLC (“BAS”), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc. (“MK”), and Southwest Securities, Inc. (“Southwest”) have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Common Shares.

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) registration statements on Form S-3 (File No. 333-66371 and File No. 333-108054), which contain prospectuses dated July 12, 1999, and October 1, 2003, respectively, to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Common Shares. Such registration statements, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which they were declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), all documents incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by

reference therein, including any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), are collectively called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. A prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) setting forth the terms of the offering, the plan of distribution of the Common Shares and additional information concerning the Company and its business has been or will be so prepared and will be so prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required by the Securities Act). The July 12, 1999, prospectus and the October 1, 2003, prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Common Shares, are called the “Prospectus”; provided, however, if the Company has, with the consent of BAS, elected to rely upon Rule 434 under the Securities Act, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the Company’s “prospectus subject to completion” (as defined in Rule 434(g) under the Securities Act) last provided to the Underwriters by the Company (each, a “preliminary prospectus”) dated October 1, 2003 (such preliminary prospectus is called the “Rule 434 preliminary prospectus”), together with the applicable term sheet (the “Term Sheet”) prepared and filed by the Company with the Commission under Rules 434 and 424(b) under the Securities Act and all references in this Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any revised prospectus shall be provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the Shares that differs from the prospectus referred to in the immediately preceding sentence (whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be field with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act), the term “Prospectus” shall refer to such revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use. All references in this Agreement to (i) the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Term Sheet, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“▇▇▇▇▇”).

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which are or are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

A. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇ (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), the text thereof (excluding any pictures) was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Common Shares. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times up to and on the First Closing Date (as defined below) and on any Second Closing Date (as defined below), complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any 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. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times up to and on the First Closing Date (as defined below) and on any Second Closing Date (as defined below), did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.

(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has delivered to the Representatives one complete manually signed copy of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives have reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.

(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Common Shares, any offering material in

connection with the offering and sale of the Common Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, and the Registration Statement or other materials permitted by the Securities Act.

(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(e) Authorization of the Common Shares. The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, other than the Selling Stockholders with respect to the Common Shares included in the Registration Statement, except for such rights as have been satisfied under this Agreement or have been duly waived.

(g) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

(h) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, are independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information

required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement. The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the captions “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Selected Financial Data” and “Capitalization” fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement.

(j) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation or other legal entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation and has corporate or other power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other legal entity to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock, membership interests, partnership interests or similar equity interests of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and except for the pledge to Banc of America Securities LLC of the limited partnership interests in USRP (SFGP) 2, LLC and USRP (S&C), LLC, the equity interests in each subsidiary which are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, are free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003.

(k) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. As of June 30, 2003, the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options described in the Prospectus). The Common Stock (including the Common Shares) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including the shares of Common Stock owned by Selling Stockholders and the Common Shares sold by the Company after payment for such Common Shares by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or

other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(m) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter, by-laws, certificate of formation, partnership agreement, operating agreement or similar documents or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws, certificate of formation, partnership agreement, operating agreement or similar documents of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, Debt Repayment Triggering Events (as defined below), liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of Common Shares in the manner contemplated hereby and in the Prospectus and from the NASD. As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(n) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary and

(B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent.

(o) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons, except for violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

(p) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificate, authorizations or permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.

(q) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(A) (i) above (or elsewhere in the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.

(r) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have properly requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any

related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined.

(s) Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Common Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.

(t) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(u) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Common Shares. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market making transactions in the Common Shares in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

(v) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.

(w) Exchange Act Compliance. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto become effective and at the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the 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.

(x) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.

(y) Company’s Accounting System. The Company maintains a system of 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 as applied in the United States 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.

(z) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys’ fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Materials of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries

or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.

(aa) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

(bb) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”), of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

(cc) Brokers. There is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(dd) No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of the members of any of them, except as disclosed in the Prospectus.

(ee) Compliance with Laws. The Company has not been advised, and has no reason to believe, that it and each of its subsidiaries are not conducting business in compliance with all

applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, except where failure to be so in compliance would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

B. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:

(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(b) Title to Common Shares to be Sold; All Authorizations Obtained. Such Selling Stockholder has, and on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date (as defined below) will have, good and marketable title to all of the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement on such date free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances and the legal right and power, and all authorizations and approvals required by law and under its organizational documents, if applicable, to enter into this Agreement, to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement and to comply with its other obligations hereunder.

(c) Delivery of the Common Shares to be Sold. Upon payment for the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder as provided herein, delivery of such Common Shares, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be designated by Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of such Common Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and on the Company’s share registry in accordance with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and applicable law and as required by Section 8-401 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York (the “UCC”) and an indication from DTC by book entry that in the case of each Underwriter, the Common Shares being purchased by or on behalf of such Underwriter have been credited to “securities accounts” (as defined in Section 8-501 of the UCC) of such Underwriter with DTC (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (as such phrase is defined in Section 8-105 of the UCC) to such Common Shares), (i) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser” of such Common Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”), and (ii) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, each Underwriter will acquire a valid “security entitlement” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC) to the Common Shares being so purchased by or on behalf of such Underwriter, and, to the extent governed by the UCC, no action based on any “adverse claim” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC) (a “UCC Adverse Claim”) to such Common Shares (or security entitlement with respect thereto) may properly be asserted against such Underwriter with respect to such security entitlement; it being understood that for the purpose of this representation and warranty, such Selling Stockholder may assume that when such payment, delivery, registration and crediting occur, (x) Cede or such other nominee is not a “securities intermediary” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC), (y) registration of such Common Shares in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC

is effective to register such Common Shares in the name of DTC for purposes of Section 8-106(b)(2) of the UCC, and (z) DTC is a “clearing corporation” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC).

(d) Non-Contravention; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of, and the performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, this Agreement, will not contravene or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a Default under, or require the consent of any other party to, the organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder or any other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound or under which it is entitled to any right or benefit, any provision of applicable law or any judgment, order, decree or regulation applicable to such Selling Stockholder of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental authority or agency, is required for the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD.

(e) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling Stockholder does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except rights that are waived for purposes of this offering or satisfied by this offering.

(f) No Further Consents, etc. No consent, approval or waiver is required under any instrument or agreement to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound or under which it is entitled to any right or benefit, in connection with the offering, sale or purchase by the Underwriters of any of the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder under this Agreement or the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of any of the other transactions contemplated hereby.

(g) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus. All information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is, and on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date will be, true, correct, and complete in all material respects, and does not, and on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading. Such Selling Stockholder confirms as accurate the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name in the Prospectus under the caption “Principal Stockholders” and “Selling Stockholders” (both prior to and after giving effect to the sale of the Common Shares).

(h) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Common Shares.

(i) Registration Statement and Prospectus. Such Selling Stockholder is familiar with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and has no knowledge of any material fact, condition or information not disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which has had or may have a Material Adverse Change. For purposes of the preceding sentence, knowledge shall mean the actual knowledge of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇., or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Strong. Such Selling Stockholder is not prompted to sell its Common Shares by any information concerning the Company which is not set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Any certificate signed by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby. Such Selling Stockholder acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinion to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE COMMON SHARES.

(a) The Firm Common Shares. Upon the terms herein set forth, (i) the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of 2,575,000 Firm Common Shares and (ii) the Selling Stockholders agree to sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of 1,500,000 Firm Common Shares, each Selling Stockholder selling the number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name on Schedule B. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholders the respective number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Common Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be $15.16 per share.

(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of BAS, ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m. New York time, on October 17, 2003, or such other time and date not later than 12:30 p.m. New York time, on October 22, 2003, as the Representatives shall designate by written notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “First Closing Date”). The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby acknowledge that circumstances under which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the First Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination by the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Representatives to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 10.

(c) The Optional Common Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Selling Stockholders hereby grant an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of 611,250 Optional Common Shares from the Selling Stockholders at the purchase price per share to be paid by the

Underwriters for the Firm Common Shares. The option granted hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Common Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time (but not more than once) upon written notice by the Representatives to the Selling Stockholders, which notice may be given at any time within 30 days from the date of this Agreement. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of Optional Common Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the certificates for the Optional Common Shares are to be registered and (iii) the time, date and place at which such certificates will be delivered (which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First Closing Date; and in such case the term “First Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of certificates for the Firm Common Shares and the Optional Common Shares). Such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called the “Second Closing Date” and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be earlier than three (3) nor later than five (5) full Business Days (any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in the State of New York, on which banks are open for business in New York City) after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Optional Common Shares are to be purchased, (a) each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Common Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Optional Common Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Common Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Common Shares and (b) each Selling Stockholder agrees, severally and not jointly, to sell the number of Optional Common Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Optional Common Shares to be sold as the number of Optional Common Shares set forth in Schedule B opposite the name of such Selling Stockholder bears to the total number of Optional Common Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to each of the Selling Stockholders.

(d) Public Offering of the Common Shares. The Representatives hereby advise the Company and the Selling Stockholders that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Common Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.

(e) Payment for the Common Shares. Payment for the Common Shares to be sold by the Company shall be made at the First Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company. Payment for the Common Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase Optional Common Shares, at the Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of each of the Selling Stockholders.

It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Common Shares and any Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. BAS, MK and Southwest, individually and not as the Representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any

Common Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

Each Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that it will pay all stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon the sale or delivery of the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the performance of such Selling Stockholder’s obligations hereunder.

(f) Delivery of the Common Shares. The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters certificates for the Firm Common Shares to be sold by them at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Selling Stockholders shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, certificates for the Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase from them at the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Common Shares shall be in definitive form and registered in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested at least two full business days prior to the First Closing Date (or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be) and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the First Closing Date (or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be) at a location in New York City, New York, as the Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery on the date and at the place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.

(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00 p.m. on the second business day following the date the Common Shares are first released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives shall reasonably request.

SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS.

A. Covenants of the Company. The Company further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Representatives’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During such period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First Closing Date or such date, as in the reasonable and good faith opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) or the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably objects in writing.

(b) Securities Act Compliance. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 434, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

(c) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company agrees to promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(A)(a) hereof), file with the Commission and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

(d) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(e) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Common Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws and of those jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Common Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Common Shares for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any

such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(f) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

(g) Transfer Agent. The Company shall maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

(h) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period ending September 30, 2004, that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

(i) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.

(j) Company to Provide Interim Financial Statements. Prior to the First Closing Date, the Company will furnish the Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(k) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 90th day following the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of BAS), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of the Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Common Shares); provided, however, that the Company may issue shares of its Common Stock or options to purchase its Common Stock, or Common Stock upon exercise of options, pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus or upon conversion of the shares of its series A cumulative convertible preferred stock or its series B convertible preferred stock (or upon exercise of warrants issued to the holders of any share of preferred stock), but only if the holders (other than the holders of the series A and series B preferred stock) of such shares, options, or shares issued upon exercise of such options, agree in writing not to sell, offer, dispose of or otherwise transfer any such shares or options during such 90 day period without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the BAS).

(l) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of three (3) years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives at ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, the NASD or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital stock.

(m) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Common Shares in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(n) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.

(o) Existing Lock-Up Agreement. The Company will enforce all existing agreements, if any, between the Company and any of its security holders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities. In addition, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such securities of the Company that are bound by such existing “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in such agreements.

B. Covenants of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:

(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such Selling Stockholder will not, without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by the undersigned, or publicly announce the undersigned’s intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date 90 days after the date of the Prospectus; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit transfers to an Affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) of such Selling Stockholder that agrees in writing to be bound by the foregoing restrictions. Any such transfer shall not release such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9. To deliver to the Representatives prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-United States person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder is a United States Person).

C. Waiver. BAS, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in its sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company or any Selling Stockholder of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Common Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of the Common Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and Selling Stockholders’ counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Common Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, the NASD’s review and approval of the Underwriters’ participation in the offering and distribution of the Common Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, and (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement, to the extent not already paid. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

The Selling Stockholders each further agree with each Underwriter to pay (directly or by reimbursement) all taxes incident to the sale and delivery of the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters hereunder.

This Section 4 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid agreement relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the Company, on the one hand, and the Selling Stockholders, on the other hand.

SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.

The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Common Shares as provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling Stockholders set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B), respectively, hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and the Representatives shall have received an additional two (2) conformed copies of such accountants’ letter for each of the several Underwriters).

(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from NASD. For the period from and after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date:

(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective; or, if the Company elected to rely upon Rule 434 under the Securities Act and obtained the Representatives’ consent thereto, the Company shall have filed a Term Sheet with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b);

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission; and

(iii) the NASD shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(c) No Material Adverse Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares,

the Second Closing Date, in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A (and the Representatives shall have received an additional two (2) conformed copies of such counsel’s legal opinion for each of the several Underwriters).

(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of Hunton & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, with respect to the matters customarily addressed in such transactions (and the Representatives shall have received an additional two (2) conformed copies of such counsel’s legal opinion for each of the several Underwriters).

(f) Officers’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect set forth in subsections (b)(ii) of this Section 5, and further to the effect that:

(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1(A) of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and

(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.

(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the case may be (and the Representatives shall have received an additional two (2) conformed copies of such accountants’ letter for each of the several Underwriters).

(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P., counsel for the Selling Stockholders, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B (and the Representatives shall have

received an additional two (2) conformed copies of such counsel’s legal opinion for each of the several Underwriters).

(i) Selling Stockholders’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall receive a written certificate executed by each Selling Stockholder, dated as of such First or Second Closing Date, to the effect that:

(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such Selling Stockholder set forth in Section 1(B) of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made by such Selling Stockholder on and as of such Closing Date; and

(ii) such Selling Stockholder has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such First or Second Closing Date.

(j) Selling Stockholders’ Documents. On the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished for review by the Representatives such information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(k) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Security Holders of the Company. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives an agreement in the form of Exhibit C hereto from each director and executive officer of the Company, and such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any.

(l) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, if any, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Common Shares as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders at any time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS’ EXPENSES.

(a) Reimbursement by the Company. If this agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5 (other than solely as a result of Section 5(e), (h), (i) or (j)), or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Common Shares on the First Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimbursethe Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such underwriters as have terminated this

agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Common Shares, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

(b) Reimbursement by the Selling Stockholders. If this agreement is terminated by the Representatives solely as a result of the failure of the Selling Stockholders to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 5(h), (i) or (j), or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Common Shares on the First Closing Date is not consummated solely because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Selling Stockholders to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Selling Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such underwriters as have terminated this agreement with respect to themselves), upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Common Shares, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

SECTION 7. [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK].

SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) upon any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Common Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any

loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above, provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (v) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its bad faith or willful misconduct and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by BAS) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives (or their counsel) expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided, further, that with respect to any preliminary prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense purchased Common Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus were timely delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Common Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholders. Each of the Selling Stockholders severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of such Selling Stockholder contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of such Selling Stockholder to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) upon any act or failure to act or any alleged act or

failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Common Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above, provided that the Selling Stockholders shall not be liable under this clause (v) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its bad faith or willful misconduct, and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by BAS) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, such Selling Stockholder shall not be subject to the obligations under this Section 8(b) based upon claims relating to subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 8(b) unless either ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇., or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Strong had actual knowledge of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided further, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives (or their counsel) expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided, further, that with respect to any preliminary prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense purchased Common Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus were timely delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Common Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, (1) each Underwriter agrees that the sole remedy of the Underwriter from and after the First Closing (or the Second Closing, if any, with respect to the Optional Common Shares) shall be pursuant to this Section 8(b) and Section 9, if applicable, (2) the maximum liability of each Selling Stockholder under this Section 8(b) shall be limited to an amount equal to the gross proceeds, net of underwriting commissions and discounts but before expenses, to such Selling Stockholder from the sale of its Common Shares hereunder and (3) the Company and each of the Underwriters agree that any Claims of the Underwriters against the Selling Stockholders for breach of contract, indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of expenses or otherwise pursuant to (A) subsections (i), (ii) or (v) of this Section 8(b), or (B) subsection (iii) of this Section 8(b) (but only if, and to the extent that, any Claim brought under subsection (iii) relates solely to the breach of the representation and warranty made by theSelling Stockholders in Section 1(B)(i) of this Agreement) shall first be sought by such Underwriters to be satisfied in full by the Company and shall be satisfied by the Selling

Stockholders only to the extent the Company shall not have paid such claim in full or otherwise satisfied the indemnification obligations hereunder.

(c) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers and the Selling Stockholders. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers, the Selling Stockholders and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act Section 20(a) of Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is 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 Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company (or its counsel) by the Representatives (or their counsel) expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the second and third sentences of paragraphs 3, paragraph 10 and paragraph 11 in the section entitled “Underwriting” in the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(c) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.

(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8 to the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the

indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently and reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (BAS in the case of Section 8(c) and Section 9), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(d) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.

SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION.

If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,

damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement 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 and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus (or, if Rule 434 under the Securities Act is used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet) bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Common Shares as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.

The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Common Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the

Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each officer and employee of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director and officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, the liability of each Selling Stockholder under this Section 9 shall be limited to an amount equal to the gross proceeds, net of underwriting commissions and discounts but before expenses, to such Selling Stockholder from the sale of their Common Shares hereunder.

SECTION 10. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS.

If, on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Common Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Common Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Common Shares and the aggregate number of Common Shares with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Common Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Common Shares are not made within 72 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party (other than the defaulting Underwriter who shall remain liable for any damages incurred by the Company, Selling Stockholder or other Underwriter that are occasioned by its breach or default hereunder) to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under this

Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

SECTION 11. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

Prior to the First Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by written notice given to the Company and the Selling Stockholders if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the NYSE, or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York, Texas, or Maryland authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the reasonable and good faith judgment of the Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the Selling Stockholders to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or the Selling Stockholders, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

SECTION 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.

The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers, of the Selling Stockholders and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, or the Selling Stockholders, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Common Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 13. NOTICES.

All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

If to the Representatives:

Banc of America Securities LLC

▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: Legal Department

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Hunton & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

Riverfront Plaza, East Tower

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: 804-788-8218

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.

If to the Company:

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Financial Officer

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.

If to the Selling Stockholders:

LSF 3 Capital Investments I, LLC

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇. ▇. Dell

LSF III Capital Investments, L.P.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇. ▇. Dell

with a copy to:

▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P.

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇ Early

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

SECTION 14. SUCCESSORS.

This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and Section 9, and in each case their respective successors, and personal representatives, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Common Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.

SECTION 15. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.

A. Governing Law Provisions. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

B. Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in New York City or the courts of the State of New York located in New York City (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 17. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

TO SELL AND DELIVER COMMON SHARES.

If one or more of the Selling Stockholders shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Common Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholders at the First Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, then the Underwriters may at their option, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, either (i) terminate this Agreement without any liability on the part of any Underwriter or, except as provided in Sections 4, 6, 8 and 9 hereof, the Company or the Selling Stockholders, or (ii) purchase the shares which the Company and other Selling Stockholders have agreed to sell and deliver in accordance with the terms hereof. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Common Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement at the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, to postpone the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

SECTION 18. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or employees of any Underwriter, any person controlling any

Underwriter, the Company, the officers or employees of the Company, or any person controlling the Company, any Selling Stockholder or any person controlling such Selling Stockholder, (ii) acceptance of the Common Shares and payment for them hereunder and (iii) termination of this Agreement.

Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the Selling Stockholders, the Underwriters, the Underwriters’ officers and employees, any controlling persons referred to herein, the Company’s directors and the Company’s officers and their respective successors and assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser of any of the Common Shares from any of the several Underwriters merely because of such purchase.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,
U.S. Restaurants Properties, Inc.

By:		/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

		Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
		Title: Chief Financial Officer

LSF 3 Capital Investments I, LLC

By:		/s/ ▇. ▇. Dell

		Name: ▇. ▇. Dell
		Title: President

LSF III Capital Investments, L.P. By: Lone Star Partners III, L.P., its sole general partner By: Lone Star Management Co. III, Ltd., its sole general partner


By:		/s/ ▇. ▇. Dell

		Name: ▇. ▇. Dell
		Title:

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives in New York, New York, as of the date first above written.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.

SOUTHWEST SECURITIES, INC.

Acting as Representatives of the

several Underwriters named in

the attached Schedule A.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

By:		/s/ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

		Name: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Title: Managing Director

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.

By:		/s/

		Name:

		Title:

SOUTHWEST SECURITIES, INC.

By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

	Name:	▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Senior Vice President and Managing Director

SCHEDULE A

Underwriters	Number of Firm Common Shares to be Purchased	Number of Optional Common Shares to be Purchased
Banc of America Securities LLC	2,322,750	348,420
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc.	967,800	145,170
Southwest Securities, Inc.	580,700	87,100
Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.	203,750	30,560
Total	4,075,000	611,250

SCHEDULE B

Selling Stockholder	Number of Firm Common Shares to be Sold	Maximum Number of Optional Common Shares to be Sold
LSF 3 Capital Investments I, LLC ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇	930,120	379,024

LSF III Capital Investments, L.P. ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇	569,880	232,226
Total:	1,500,000	611,250

EXHIBIT A

Opinion of counsel for the Company to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement.

References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit A include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.

(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreement.

(iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business in the State of Texas.

(iv) Each “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company, as such term is defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (each a “Subsidiary”), has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership (as appropriate) and, where applicable, is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership (as applicable) power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership (as applicable) to transact business and, if applicable, is in good standing in each jurisdiction identified on Exhibit B, with respect to each Subsidiary.

(v) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock, membership interests or partnership interests (as applicable) of each such Subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and, except for the pledge to Banc of America Securities LLC of the limited partnership interests in USRP (SFGP) 2, LLC and USRP (S&C), LLC, is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any pending or threatened claim.

(vi) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (including the Common Shares) conform to the descriptions thereof set forth or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including the Common Shares owned by Selling Stockholders and the Common Shares sold by the Company after payment for such Common Shares by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Agreement) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, have been issued in compliance with the registration and qualification requirements of federal and state securities laws.

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The form of certificate used to evidence the Common Stock is in due and proper form and complies with all applicable requirements of the charter and by-laws of the Company and the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted and exercised thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

(vii) No stockholder of the Company or any other person has any preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company arising (i) by operation of the charter or by-laws of the Company or the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland or (ii) to the best knowledge of such counsel, otherwise.

(viii) The Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles.

(ix) The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to the Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

(xi) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus including any document incorporated by reference therein, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus including any document incorporated by reference therein, as of their respective effective or issue dates (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference therein or in exhibits to or excluded from the Registration Statement, as to which we have not been requested to express, and do not express an opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act.

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(xii) The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

(xiii) The statements (i) in the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Capital Stock” and “Certain United States Income Tax Considerations,” as updated by the statements under the caption “Update of Federal Income Tax Consequences” contained in the Prospectus Supplement portion of the Prospectus, and “Underwriting” (except we offer no opinion as to the second and third sentences of paragraph 3, paragraph 10 and paragraph 11 in the “Underwriting” section) and (ii) in Item 15 of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company’s charter or by-law provisions, documents or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by such counsel and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

(xiv) To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened which are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those disclosed therein.

(xv) To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no Existing Instruments required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto; and the descriptions thereof and references thereto are correct in all material respects.

(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except as required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD and the New York Stock Exchange.

(xvii) The execution and delivery of the Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder (other than performance by the Company of its obligations under the indemnification section of the Agreement, as to which we have not been requested to express, and do not express an opinion) (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; (ii) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the respective charter, by-laws, certificate of formation, operating agreement, partnership agreement or similar agreement (as applicable) of each of the Company or any Subsidiary; (iii) will not constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002; or (iv) to the best knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation of any law,

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administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, except as such would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

(xviii) The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Common Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

(xix) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, to the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by the Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

(xx) To the best knowledge of such counsel, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of its respective charter, by-laws, certificate of formation, operating agreement or partnership agreement (as applicable) or any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary or is in Default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material Existing Instrument, except in each such case for such violations or Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

(xxi) Commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2000, through its taxable year ended December 31, 2002, the Company was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust under the Internal revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the current and proposed method of operation of the Company, as described in the Prospectus and as represented by the Company, will permit the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code for the calendar year 2003, if the Company operates in accordance with such method of operation and representations.

(xxii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Closing Date (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which we have not been requested to express, and do not express an opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in certain conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public or certified public accountants for the Company and with representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any supplements or

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amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed, and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than as specified in paragraph (xiii) above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that either the Registration Statement or any amendments thereto, at the time the Registration Statement or such amendments became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as of its date or at the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that we have not been requested to express, and do not express an opinion as to the financial statements or schedules or other financial or statistical data derived therefrom, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto).

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may qualify its opinion (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland or the federal law of the United States, that the laws of the State of New York are identical to those of the State of Texas, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

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EXHIBIT B

The opinion of such counsel pursuant to Section 5(h) shall be rendered to the Representatives at the request of the Company and shall so state therein. References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit B include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

(i) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of, and is a valid and binding agreement of, such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles.

(ii) The execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of, and the performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement will not contravene or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder, or, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, violate or contravene any provision of applicable law or regulation, or violate, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the terms of any other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound, or any judgment, order or decree applicable to such Selling Stockholder of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder.

(iii) Such Selling Stockholder has good and valid title to all of the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder under the Underwriting Agreement and has the legal right and power, and all authorizations and approvals required by law and under its organizational documents, to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Common Shares which may sold by such Selling Stockholder under the Underwriting Agreement and to comply with its other obligations under the Underwriting Agreement.

(iv) Upon payment for the Common Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders (such Common Shares, the “Subject Common shares”) as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, and an indication from DTC by book entry that, in the case of each Underwriter, the Subject Common Shares being purchased by or on behalf of such Underwriter have been credited to “securities accounts’ (as defined in Section 8-501 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York (the “NY UCC”)) of such Underwriter with DTC, under Section 8-501 of the NY UCC, each Underwriter will acquire a valid “security entitlement” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the NY UCC) to the Subject

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Common Shares being so purchased by or on behalf of such Underwriter, and, to the extent governed by the UCC, no action based on any “adverse claim” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the NY UCC) to such Subject Common Shares (or security entitlement with respect thereto) may properly be asserted against such Underwriter with respect to such security entitlement. For purposes of the opinion in this paragraph (iv), we have assumed that (a) DTC is a “clearing corporation (as defined in Section 8-102 of the NY UCC), (b) neither DTC nor any Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (as such phrase is defined in Section 8-102 of the NY UCC) to the Subject Common Shares, and (c) the agreement between each Underwriter and DTC pertaining to the securities accounts of each Underwriter with DTC specifies that it is governed by the law of the State of New York.

(v) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or governmental authority or agency, is required for the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, except as required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and from the NASD.

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EXHIBIT C

October , ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc.

Southwest Securities, Inc.

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters

c/o Banc of America Securities LLC

▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

RE:	U.S. Restaurant Properties, Inc. (the “Company”)

Ladies & Gentlemen:

The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of Common Stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry out a public offering of Common Stock (the “Offering”) for which you will act as the representatives of the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by, among other things, raising additional capital for acquisitions and its operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the Offering.

In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, (and will cause any spouse or immediate family member of the spouse or the undersigned living in the undersigned’s household not to), without the prior written consent of Banc of America Securities LLC (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by the undersigned (or such spouse or family member), or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date ninety (90) days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”). The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry, by the Company, of stop transfer instructions, which shall remain in effect only during the Lock-Up Period, with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions or with the consent of Banc of America Securities LLC; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit transfers to Affiliates, family members, charitable remainder trusts or charitable institutions that agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this letter agreement.

With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of any Common Stock owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights to receive notice of the Offering.

This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the undersigned.

Printed Name of Holder


By:

Signature

Printed Name of Person Signing

(and indicate capacity of person signing if

signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf

of an entity)

4,075,000 Shares U.S. Restaurant Properties, Inc. Common Stock Underwriting Agreement dated October 13, 2003

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