Underwriting Agreement

EXHIBIT 1.1

Synagro Technologies, Inc.

17,129,710 Shares

Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

dated May 10, 2006

Banc of America Securities LLC

Underwriting Agreement

May 10, 2006

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
9 West 57^th Street
New York, NY 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Introductory. Synagro Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to Banc of America Securities LLC (the “Underwriter”) an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.002 per share (the “Common Stock”); and the stockholders of the Company named in Schedule A (collectively, the “Selling Stockholders”) severally propose to sell to the Underwriter an aggregate of 15,129,710 shares of Common Stock. The 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company and the 15,129,710 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholders are collectively called the “Firm Shares.” In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriter an option to purchase up to an additional 2,000,000 shares (the “Optional Shares”) of Common Stock, as provided in Section 2. The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Optional Shares are collectively called the “Shares.”

     The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders hereby confirm their respective agreements with the Underwriter as follows:

     Section 1. A. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents, warrants and covenants to the Underwriter as follows:

     (a) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-133617), which contains a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, at each time of effectiveness under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), is 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. Any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the Shares and the offering thereof and is used prior to filing of the final prospectus is called, together with the Base Prospectus, a “preliminary prospectus.” The term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus relating to the Shares that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

     (b) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The 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 is in effect, the Commission has not issued any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus 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 the rules thereunder. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at each time of effectiveness and at the date hereof, 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 in order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date (as defined herein) and at any Subsequent Closing Date (as defined herein), 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, 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 the Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof. There is no contract or other document required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibit to the Registration Statement that has not been described or filed as required.

     The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable. Any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     (c) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, including any preliminary prospectus, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified in Schedule B hereto, (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package and (iv) a schedule indicating the number of Shares being sold and the price at which the Shares will be sold to the public. As of 7:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Applicable Time”), the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

     (d) Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement relating to the Shares that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Securities Act and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

     (e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering of Shares under this Agreement or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Underwriter as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Underwriter and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

     (f) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the last Subsequent Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriter’s distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Underwriter or included in Schedule B hereto or the Registration Statement.

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

     (h) Authorization of the Shares. The Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter 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 this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     (i) 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 Shares included in the Registration Statement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

     (j) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the preliminary 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, nor entered into any transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course; 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.

     (k) Independent Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

     (l) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and 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. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 or

incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The historical financial data set forth or incorporated by reference in the preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The Company and its subsidiaries have no material contingent obligations that are not disclosed in the Company’s financial statements in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     The pro forma financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, and the related notes thereto and other pro forma financial data, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the circumstances referred to therein (in the case of pro forma financial data).

     (m) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its significant subsidiaries (as defined in Regulation S-X of the Securities Act) 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 organization and has power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and its significant subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation 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. Except as described in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus with respect to the restrictions set forth in the Company’s senior secured credit facility, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, 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 the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (the “Annual Report”).

     (n) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be). The Common Stock (including the Shares) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including the shares of Common Stock owned by Selling Stockholders) 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 Disclosure Package and 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 or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents, in all material respects, the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

     (o) Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and NYSE Arca, subject to official notice of issuance.

     (p) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of (i) its charter or by-laws 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 (including, without limitation, the Company’s senior secured credit facility), 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 with respect to Existing Instruments as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or (ii) any law, rule or regulation, or any order of any court or of any other governmental agency or instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any of its or their respective properties or assets. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement

and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package 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 or by-laws 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 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 except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. 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 Disclosure Package 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 and from the NASD, Inc. (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.

     (q) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits 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 or, to the knowledge of the Company, with the employees of any principal supplier of the Company, exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent.

     (r) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own or have rights to use 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 the business of the Company and its subsidiaries 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 Disclosure Package and 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.

     (s) 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, 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.

     (t) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the real property and good title to all other properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(l) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and 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.

     (u) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have received timely 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 in the case where failure to file or pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change). The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(l) 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.

     (v) Additional Tax Law Requirements. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Company or sale by the Company of the Shares. There are no tax audits or investigations pending, which if adversely determined would have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Change, nor are there any material proposed additional tax assessments against the Company or any of its subsidiaries which would have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Change.

     (w) 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 2,000,000 Shares issued by the Company and application of the proceeds as described in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds” 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.

     (x) 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 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, except for any denials that would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

     (y) 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 Shares. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriter may engage in passive market making transactions in the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and NYSE Arca in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

     (z) Related Party Transactions. No business or commercial relationship or transaction, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its affiliates on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its affiliates on the other hand which is required to be described or incorporated by reference in the preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, which is not so described pursuant to Regulation S-K of the Commission.

     (aa) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

     (bb) No Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as disclosed or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

     (cc) 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 or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

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

     (ee) No Conflict with OFAC Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

     (ff) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed or incorporated by reference in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus or 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 the use and disposal of sewage sludge or biosolids, emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous, dangerous, toxic, biohazardous or infectious substances, materials, constituents or wastes or toxins, viruses, infectious disease agents, or pathogens, petroleum and petroleum products and their breakdown constituents, or any other substance exhibiting a hazardous waste characteristic including without limitation corrosivity, ignitability, toxicity, or reactivity, whether solid, gaseous or liquid in nature (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environment Concern

(collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits, licenses, registrations or other governmental authorizations (collectively, “Environmental Permits”) 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 Material 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; (iii) there are currently no, and are no foreseeable, material expenditures payable by the Company or by any of its subsidiaries, in order to maintain any Environmental Permit, comply with Environmental Laws or remediate, clean up, abate or remove any Material of Environmental Concern on any real property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by any of them; and (iv) 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.

     (gg) ERISA Compliance. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, 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, solely in the case of an employee benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance 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. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, 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. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, 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. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and, to the Company’s best knowledge, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

     (hh) 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.

     (ii) NASD. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of the NASD and any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% or greater security holders, except as set forth in the Registration Statement.

     (jj) Industry Data. The market-related and customer-related data and estimates and other industry-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.

     (kk) No Termination of Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sent or received any notice indicating the termination of or intention to terminate any of the contracts or agreements referred to, described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and no such termination has been threatened by the Company, any subsidiary or any other party to any such contract or agreement.

     (ll) No Sale or Issuance of Common Stock. Except as described in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not sold or issued

any shares of Common Stock during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including any sales pursuant to Regulation D or Regulation S of the Securities Act.

     (mm) Forward-Looking Information. The information contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding the Company’s expectations, plans and intentions, and any other information that constitutes “forward-looking” information within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act were made by the Company on a reasonable basis and reflect the Company’s good faith belief and/or estimate of the matters described therein.

     (nn) Dividend Policy and Restrictions. The statements (including the assumptions described therein) included in the Annual Report under the caption “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters—Dividend Policy” (i) are within the coverage of Rule 175(b) under the Securities Act to the extent such data constitute forward-looking statements as defined in Rule 175(c), (ii) were made by the Company with a reasonable basis and reflect the Company’s good faith estimate of the matters described therein and (iii) are based upon the Company’s assessment and analysis of all material factors it deems relevant and the application of assumptions which it deems reasonable after due and proper consideration of relevant facts.

     (oo) Backlog. The information contained under the caption “Business—Backlog” in the Annual Report is true and correct.

     (pp) No Insolvency. Immediately after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the fair value and present fair saleable value of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole will exceed its stated liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities); and the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole is not, nor will it be, after giving effect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, left with unreasonably small capital with which to carry on its business as it is proposed to be conducted, unable to pay its debts (contingent or otherwise) as they mature, or otherwise insolvent.

     (qq) Criminal or Bankruptcy Proceedings. To the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, none of the directors or officers or shareholders of the Company listed under “Selling Stockholders” in the Prospectus is or has ever been subject to prior criminal or bankruptcy proceedings in the United States or elsewhere during the past five years (excluding minor traffic violations and other similar minor offenses).

     (rr) Sarbanes-Oxley Act Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

     (ss) Description of Laws and Documents. The statements in the Annual Report or preliminary prospectus, as the case may be, under the captions “Business—Federal, State and Local Government Regulation,” “Business—Permitting Process,” “Business—Patents and Proprietary Rights,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock” and “Plan of Distribution,” insofar as they purport to describe the material provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.

     (tt) Registration and Quotation of Common Stock. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or listing of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or NYSE Arca, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or NYSE Arca is contemplating terminating such registration or quotation.

     Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters set forth therein.

     The Company acknowledges that the Underwriter and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriter, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

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

     (a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized (if applicable), executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder.

     (b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the (i) Custody Agreement signed by such Selling Stockholder and J. Paul Withrow and Alvin L. Thomas II, as custodians (each, the “Custodian”), relating to the deposit of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder (the “Custody

Agreement”) and (ii) Power of Attorney appointing J. Paul Withrow and Alvin L. Thomas II as such Selling Stockholder’s attorneys-in-fact (each, an “Attorney-in-Fact”) to the extent set forth therein relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (the “Power of Attorney”), of such Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized (if applicable), executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder.

     (c) Title to Shares to be Sold; All Authorizations Obtained. Such Selling Stockholder has, and on the Closing Date will have the legal right and power, and all authorizations and approvals required by law and under other organizational documents to enter into this Agreement and its Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder free and clear of all security interests, adverse claims and liens pursuant to this Agreement and to comply with its other obligations hereunder and thereunder. Upon payment for the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the Underwriter, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be designated by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of such Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Shares on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriter (assuming that neither DTC nor the Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”)) to such Shares), (A) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser” of such Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriter will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of such Shares and (C) no action based on any “adverse claim,” within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(1) of the UCC, to such Shares may be asserted against the Underwriter with respect to such Shares.

     (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, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney 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 charter or by-laws, or other organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder (if applicable) 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. Other than with respect to the Shares sold by a Selling Stockholder, 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 for such rights as have been exercised or waived in writing.

     (f) No Further Consents, etc. Except for the (i) exercise by such Selling Stockholder of certain registration rights described in the Prospectus (which registration rights have been duly exercised pursuant thereto) and (ii) consent of such Selling Stockholder to the respective number of Shares to be sold by all of the Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement, 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 Underwriter of any of the 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, the Prospectus or any free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (“Free Writing Prospectus”) or any amendment or supplement thereto used by the Company or the Underwriter, as the case may be, is, as of the Applicable Time, and on the Closing Date will be, true, correct and complete in all material respects, and as of the Applicable Time does not, and on the 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 preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Selling Stockholders” (both prior to and after giving effect to the sale of the 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 Shares.

     (i) Confirmation of Completeness of Disclosure. Such Selling Stockholder is not prompted to sell shares of Common Stock by any information concerning the Company which is not set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

     (j) Compliance with Registration Requirements. Such Selling Stockholder has reviewed the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and nothing has come to its attention which would lead it 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 amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and at the Closing Date (as defined herein), 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; provided, however, that no representation is made as to 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 Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus.

     (k) No Free Writing Prospectuses. Such Selling Stockholder represents that, unless it obtained the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it has not prepared or had prepared on its behalf or used or referred to, any Free Writing Prospectus, and represents that it has not distributed any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares that could otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) required to be filed with the Commission or retained under Rule 433 of the Securities Act.

     Any certificate signed by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

     Such Selling Stockholder acknowledges that the Underwriter and, for purposes of the opinion to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriter, 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 Shares.

     (a) The Firm Shares. Upon the terms herein set forth, (i) the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriter an aggregate of 2,000,000 Firm Shares and (ii) each of the Selling Stockholders severally agrees to sell to the Underwriter an aggregate of 15,129,710 Firm Shares, each Selling Stockholder selling the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name on Schedule A. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholders the number of Firm Shares set forth in the preceding sentence. The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the Underwriter to the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be $3.984 per share.

     (b) The Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of the Underwriter, 9 West 57^th Street New York, NY or Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 919 Third Avenue New York, NY (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Underwriter) at 9:00 a.m. New York time, on May 16, 2006 or such other time and date not later than 1:30 p.m. New York time, ten business days following the original contemplated Closing Date as the Underwriter shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).

     (c) The Optional Shares; the Subsequent 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 Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriter to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,000,000 Optional Shares from the Company at the purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriter for the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised from time to time upon notice by the Underwriter to the Company, 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 Shares as to which the Underwriter is exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the certificates for the Optional 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 Closing Date; and in such case the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares). Such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the Closing Date, is called a “Subsequent Closing Date” and shall be determined by the Underwriter and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. The Underwriter may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.

     (d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Underwriter hereby advises the Company and the Selling Stockholders that the Underwriter intends to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, the Shares as soon after this Agreement has

been executed and the Registration Statement has been declared effective as the Underwriter, in its sole judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.

     (e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Company shall be made at the Closing Date (and, if applicable, at any Subsequent Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders shall be made at the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Custodian.

     It is understood that the Underwriter has been authorized, for its own account, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the Underwriter has agreed to purchase.

     Each Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that (i) it will pay all stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon the sale or delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriter, or otherwise in connection with the performance of such Selling Stockholder’s obligations hereunder and (ii) the Custodian is authorized to deduct for such payment any such amounts from the proceeds to such Selling Stockholder hereunder and to hold such amounts for the account of such Selling Stockholder with the Custodian under the Custody Agreement.

     (f) Delivery of the Shares. Delivery of the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Underwriter shall otherwise instruct. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriter.

     (g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriter. Not later than 12:00 p.m. on the second business day following the date the Shares are first released by the Underwriter 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 Underwriter shall request.

     Section 3. Additional Covenants.

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

     (a) Underwriter’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period beginning on the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriter or dealer, including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (the

“Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package 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 Underwriter for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably objects.

     (b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing (i) when the Registration Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, shall have become effective, (ii) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (iii) 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, (iv) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (v) 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 the Registration Statement, 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 its reasonable best 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) and 430B, 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 Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if

in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriter or counsel for the Underwriter it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file a new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, including in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to (i) notify the Underwriter of any such event or condition and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(A)(a) and Section 3(A)(d) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriter and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

     (d) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not make, any offer relating to the Shares that constitutes or would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that otherwise constitutes or would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) or a portion thereof required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Underwriter hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule B hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriter is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

     (e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company agrees to furnish the Underwriter, 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) and the Disclosure Package as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

     (f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter to qualify or register the Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial Securities laws or other foreign laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Underwriter, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify to do business 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 Underwriter promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the 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 its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

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

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

     (i) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Underwriter an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period after the effective date of the Registration Statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

     (j) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Shares as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

     (k) Company to Provide Interim Financial Statements. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish the Underwriter, 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.

     (l) 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 the Underwriter (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Underwriter), 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 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (y) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, the restrictions imposed in this clause shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The Company will provide the Underwriter and each individual subject to the restricted period pursuant to the lockup letters described in Section 5(l) with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the restricted period.

     (m) Future Reports to the Underwriter. During the period of two years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Underwriter at its address set forth in Section 12: (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.

     (n) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the 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.

     (o) 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.

     (p) Existing Lock-Up Agreement. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to enforce all agreements 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 connection with the Company’s offering. 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.

     (q) Press Release. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will issue no press release or other communications directly or indirectly and hold no press conference with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of any of them, or the offering of the Shares, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Underwriter, such press release or communication is required by law.

     (r) Company to Perform its Obligations. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done and performed by it under this Agreement and any other related agreements prior to or after the Closing Date and the Subsequent Closing Date, if any, and to satisfy all conditions precedent on its part to the obligations of the Underwriter to purchase and accept delivery of the Shares.

     (s) Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and NYSE Arca, subject to official notice of issuance.

     (t) Compliance with Securities Law. The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and use its best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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

     (a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such Selling Stockholder will not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Underwriter), 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 Exchange Act) by such Selling Stockholder, or publicly announce such Selling Stockholder’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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (y) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, the restrictions imposed in this clause shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

     (b) Delivery of Form W-9. To deliver to the Underwriter prior to the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9.

     (c) Notification of Material Changes. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, such Selling Stockholder will advise the Underwriter promptly, and if requested by the Underwriter, will confirm such advice in writing, of (i) any change in information in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto relating to such Selling Stockholder or (ii) any new material information relating to the Company or relating to any matter stated in the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto which comes to the attention of such Selling Stockholder.

     (d) No Free Writing Prospectuses. Such Selling Stockholder agrees that, unless it obtained the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not prepare or have prepared on its behalf or use or refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus, and agrees that it will not distribute any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares.

     The Underwriter, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriter agrees not to consent to any action proposed to be taken by the Company, any Selling Stockholder or any other holder of the Company’s securities that would otherwise be prohibited by, or to waive compliance by the Company, any Selling Stockholder or any such other security holder with the provisions of, Section 3(A)(l) or 3(B)(a) above or any lock-up agreement delivered pursuant to Section 5(l) below without giving the Underwriter at least 17 days prior notice (or such shorter notice as the Underwriter may deem acceptable to permit compliance with applicable provisions of NASD Conduct Rule 2711(f) restricting publication and distribution of research and public appearances by research analysts before and after the expiration, waiver or termination of a lock-up agreement).

     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 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 of the Shares to the Underwriter, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s 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 Free Writing Prospectus, 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 Underwriter in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by the Underwriter, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriter of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriter in connection with, the NASD’s review and approval of the Underwriter’s participation in the offering and distribution of the Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with including the portion of the Shares issued by the Company on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and NYSE Arca, (ix) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the securities and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriter shall pay its own

expenses, including the fees and disbursements of its counsel and its share of road show expenses.

     The Selling Stockholders further agree with the Underwriter to pay (directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the performance of their obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise specifically provided for herein, including but not limited to expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholders to the Underwriter hereunder (which taxes, if any, may be deducted by the Custodian under the provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement).

     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 Underwriter. The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Shares as provided herein on the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, any Subsequent 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) hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Shares, as of the Subsequent 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 Underwriter shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, 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 or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     (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 Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, the Subsequent Closing Date:

     (i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430B 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 430B, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective;

     (ii) all materials required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings under such Rule 433;

     (iii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the 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

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

     (c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, the Subsequent Closing Date:

     (i) in the judgment of the Underwriter there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change;

     (ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and

     (iii) there shall not have been any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 5 which is, in the sole judgment of the Underwriter, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     (d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A.

     (e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriter. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, counsel for the Underwriter, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to the validity of the Shares and other related matters as the Underwriter reasonably may request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

     (f) Officers’ Certificate. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Underwriter shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement, to the effect set forth in subsections (b)(iii) and (c)(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;

     (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;

     (iv) all filings required to have been made pursuant to Rule 424 or 430B under the Securities Act have been made; and

     (v) they have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus and, in their opinion, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement and as of the date of such certificate, the statements contained in the Registration Statement were true and correct, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement to or

an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement or amendment.

     (g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Underwriter shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, 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 Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be.

     (h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Selling Stockholders, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B.

     (i) Opinion of General Counsel of the Company. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion of the General Counsel of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit C.

     (j) Selling Stockholders’ Certificate. On the Closing Date the Underwriter shall receive a written certificate executed by the Attorney-in-Fact of each Selling Stockholder, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:

     (i) the signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement, and that the representations, warranties and covenants of such Selling Stockholder set forth in Section 1(B) and Section 3(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 Closing Date.

     (k) Selling Stockholders’ Documents. On the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished for review by the Underwriter copies of the Powers of Attorney and Custody Agreements executed

by each of the Selling Stockholders and such further information, certificates and documents as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

     (l) Lock-Up Agreements. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriter an agreement in the form of Exhibit D hereto from each director, officer and each other beneficial owner of Common Stock listed on Schedule C hereto, and such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date.

     (m) Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and NYSE Arca, subject to official notice of issuance.

     (n) Additional Documents. On or before each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter 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 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 Underwriter by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders at any time on or prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, at any time prior to the Subsequent 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 Underwriter’s Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriter pursuant to Section 5, Section 7, Section 10 or Section 16, or if the sale to the Underwriter of the Shares on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholders to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriter, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Underwriter in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

     Section 7. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective until the later of (i) the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) notification by the Commission to the Company of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act.

     Prior to such effectiveness, this Agreement, to the extent it has been executed by the parties hereto, may be terminated by any party by notice to each of the other parties hereto, and any such termination shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the Selling Stockholders to the Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Underwriter pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) of the 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 8. Indemnification.

     (a) Indemnification of the Underwriter. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the 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 430B 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 Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any marketing materials and anything used on the road show, 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, and to reimburse the Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the 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 indemnity agreement set forth in this paragraph 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 Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this paragraph shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

     Each of the Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the 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 Selling Stockholders), 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 430B 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 Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or 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, and to reimburse the Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the 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 indemnity agreement set forth in this paragraph shall apply only with reference to information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this paragraph shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Selling Stockholders may otherwise have. The liability of each Selling Stockholder under the indemnity agreement set forth in this paragraph shall be limited to the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement received by such Selling Stockholder.

     (b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers and the Selling Stockholders. The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, the Selling Stockholders and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the 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 the Underwriter), 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 Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, 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, the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders by the Underwriter 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. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriter has furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the preliminary prospectus in the last sentence of the second to last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Shares to the public and, under the heading “Underwriting,” (i) the sentences in the third paragraph related to the offering price of the Shares to the public and concessions, (ii) the first four paragraphs under “—Stabilization” and (iii) the first five sentences of the paragraph under “—Passive Market Making”; and the Underwriter confirms that such statements are correct. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Underwriter may otherwise have.

     (c) 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 failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have for contribution or any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. 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 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 (the Underwriter in the case of Section 8(b) and Section 9), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel 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 fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

     (d) 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(c) 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, 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 Underwriter, on the other hand, from the offering of the 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 Underwriter, 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 Underwriter, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the 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 Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, 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 Underwriter, 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 Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation 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, the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by the Underwriter in connection with the 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. For purposes of this Section 9, each officer and employee of the Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. In no event shall the liability of a Selling Stockholder under this Section 9 exceed the amount that such Selling Stockholder would have been required to pay under Section 8(a) had such indemnification been available thereunder.

     Section 10. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by 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, by the Nasdaq Stock Market or by the NYSE Arca, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market, NYSE Arca or 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 or New York 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 Underwriter is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; or (iv) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the Underwriter 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 10 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the Selling Stockholders to the Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be obligated to reimburse the

expenses of the Underwriter pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, or (b) the Underwriter to the Company or the Selling Stockholders.

     Section 11. 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 Underwriter 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 the 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 Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

     Section 12. 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 Underwriter:

Banc of America Securities LLC
9 West 57^th Street
New York, NY 10019
Facsimile: (646) 313-4804
Attention: Thomas M. Morrison

     with a copy to each of:

Banc of America Securities LLC
9 West 57^th Street
New York, NY 10019
Facsimile: (212) 457-3745
Attention: Raymond P. Ko, Esq.

     and

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Facsimile: (212) 909-6836
Attention: Steven J. Slutzky, Esq.

     If to the Company:

Synagro Technologies, Inc.
1800 Bering Drive
Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77057
Facsimile: (713) 369-1751
Attention: Alvin L. Thomas, II, Esq.

     with a copy to:

Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
3400 JPMorgan Chase Tower
Houston, Texas 77002
Facsimile: (713) 223-3717
Attention: David F. Taylor, Esq.

     If to the Selling Stockholders:

Synagro Technologies, Inc.
1800 Bering Drive
Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77057
Facsimile: (713) 369-1751
Attention: Alvin L. Thomas, II, Esq.

     with a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
200 East Randolph Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
Facsimile: (312)  ###-###-####
Attention: Stephen L. Ritchie, P.C.
               Andrew J. Terry, Esq.

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

     Section 13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, 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 no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Shares as such from any of the Underwriter merely by reason of such purchase.

     Section 14. 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 15. 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.

     Section 16. Failure of One or More of the Selling Stockholders to Sell and Deliver Shares. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriter the Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholders at the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, then the Underwriter may at its option, by written notice from the Underwriter to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, either (i) terminate this Agreement without any liability on the part of the 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 Underwriter the Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement at the Closing Date, then the Underwriter shall have the right, by written notice from the Underwriter to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, to postpone the 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 17. 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 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.

     Section 18. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, and the Company and the Selling Stockholders are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction the Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or their respective affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) the Underwriter has not assumed or will not assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or the Selling Stockholders with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Selling Stockholders on other matters) and the Underwriter does not have any obligation to the Company or the Selling Stockholders with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the Underwriter and its respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Selling Stockholders and that the Underwriter does not have any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriter has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company and the Selling Stockholders have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

     The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company and the Selling Stockholders may have against the Underwriter with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company and the Custodian 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,
		SYNAGRO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
		By:		/s/ J. Paul Withrow
				Name: J. Paul Withrow
				Title: Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		GTCR FUND VII, L.P.
		GTCR CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
		GTCR CO-INVEST, L.P.
		TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE PARTNERS II, L.P.
		TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE TRUST II
		TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST, L.P.
		TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST II, L.P.
		TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST IV, L.P.
		By:		/s/ Alvin L. Thomas II
				Attorney-in-fact

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

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
		By:		/s/ Scott Flaherty
				Managing Director

SCHEDULE A

		Number of Firm
		Shares to be
Selling Stockholder		Sold
GTCR FUND VII, L.P.			12,570,122
GTCR CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.			899,984
GTCR CO-INVEST, L.P.			115,081
TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE PARTNERS II, L.P.			994,542
TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE TRUST II			241,077
TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST, L.P.			102,968
TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST II, L.P.			102,968
TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST IV, L.P.			102,968
Total			15,129,710

SCHEDULE B

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

None

SCHEDULE C

Lock-Up Signatories

1.		Robert C. Boucher
2.		Ross M. Patten
3.		Alvin L. Thomas
4.		Jeffrey Paul Withrow
5.		Richard Moro
6.		Gene Meredith
7.		Alfred Tyler, 2nd
8.		James B. Mattly