SEABRIGHT INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.
                        7,500,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                                                January __, 2005

         FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY & CO., INC.
         PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.
         COCHRAN, CARONIA & CO.
         as Representatives of the several Underwriters
         c/o Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.
         1001 19th Street North
         Arlington, Virginia 22209

         Dear Sirs:

                  SeaBright Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
         (the "Company"), confirms its agreement with each of the Underwriters
         listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively the "Underwriters"), for whom
         Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., Piper Jaffray & Co. and
         Cochran, Caronia & Co. are acting as Representatives (in such capacity,
         the "Representatives"), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company of
         an aggregate 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
         share, of the Company ("Common Stock") (the "Initial Shares"), and the
         purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
         respective number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the
         names of the Underwriters in Schedule I hereto, and (ii) the grant of
         the option described in Section 1(b) hereof to purchase all or any part
         of 1,125,000 additional shares of Common Stock to cover
         over-allotments, if any, from the Company (the "Option Shares"), to the
         Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, in the respective
         numbers of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the names of the
         Underwriters in Schedule I hereto. The Initial Shares and all or any
         part of the Option Shares of Common Stock subject to the option
         described in Section l(b) hereof are hereinafter called, collectively,
         the "Shares."

                  The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make
         a public offering of the Shares as soon as the Underwriters deem
         advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

                  The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange
         Commission (the "Commission"), a registration statement on Form S-1
         (No. 333-119111) and a related preliminary prospectus for the
         registration of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
         (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder (the
         "Securities Act Regulations"). The Company has prepared and filed such
         amendments thereto, if any, and such amended preliminary prospectuses,
         if any, as may have been




         required to the date hereof, and will file such additional amendments
         thereto and such amended prospectuses as may hereafter be required. The
         registration statement has been declared effective under the Securities
         Act by the Commission. The registration statement as amended at the
         time it became effective (including all information deemed to be a part
         of the registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant
         to Rule 430A(b) of the Securities Act Regulations) is hereinafter
         called the "Registration Statement," except that, if the Company files
         a post-effective amendment to such registration statement which becomes
         effective prior to the Closing Time (as defined below), "Registration
         Statement" shall refer to such registration statement as so amended.
         Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the
         Securities Act Regulations is hereinafter called the "Rule 462(b)
         Registration Statement," and after such filing the term "Registration
         Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The
         preliminary prospectus dated January 3, 2005 relating to the Shares, as
         filed with the Commission and as amended and supplemented prior to the
         date of the Prospectus, is hereinafter called the "Preliminary
         Prospectus." The term "Prospectus" means the final prospectus, as first
         filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act
         Regulations, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto. The
         Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of
         the Preliminary Prospectus.

                  The Company and the Underwriters agree as follows:

1.       Sale and Purchase:

         (a) Initial Shares. Upon the basis of the warranties and
         representations and other terms and conditions herein set forth, at the
         purchase price per share of $________, the Company agrees to sell to
         the Underwriters the Initial Shares, and each Underwriter agrees,
         severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the number of
         Initial Shares set forth in Schedule I opposite such Underwriter's
         name, plus any additional number of Initial Shares which such
         Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions
         of Section 8 hereof, subject in each case, to such adjustments among
         the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall
         make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

         (b) Option Shares. In addition, upon the basis of the warranties and
         representations and other terms and conditions herein set forth, at the
         purchase price per share set forth in paragraph (a), the Company hereby
         grants an option to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly,
         to purchase all or any part of the Option Shares, plus any additional
         number of Option Shares which each such Underwriter may become
         obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 hereof.
         The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and
         may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the
         purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection
         with the offering and distribution of the Initial Shares upon notice by
         the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option
         Shares as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the
         option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option
         Shares. Any such time and date of delivery (a "Date of


                                      -2-

         Delivery") shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be
         later than three full business days (or earlier than two full business
         days, without the consent of the Company) after the exercise of such
         option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time, as hereinafter
         defined. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the
         Option Shares, the Company will sell the total number of Option Shares
         then being purchased and each of the Underwriters, acting severally and
         not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of
         Option Shares then being purchased which the number of Initial Shares
         set forth in Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to
         the total number of Initial Shares, subject in each case to such
         adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole
         discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional
         shares.

2.       Payment and Delivery

         (a) Initial Shares. Delivery to the Underwriters of the Initial Shares
         shall be made in book-entry form through the facilities of the
         Depository Trust Company (the "DTC") for the account of such
         Underwriters against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriters of
         the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of federal (same-day)
         funds to the account specified to the Representatives by the Company
         upon at least 48 hours' prior notice. The time and date of such
         delivery and payment shall be 9:30 a.m. New York City time, on the
         third full business day (fourth, if pricing occurs after 4:30 p.m. New
         York City time) following the date hereof (unless another time and date
         shall be agreed to by the Representatives and the Company). The time at
         which such payment and delivery are actually made is hereinafter
         sometimes called the "Closing Time" and the date of delivery of both
         Initial Shares and Option Shares is hereinafter sometimes called the
         "Date of Delivery." The closing shall take place at the offices of
         Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP, 115 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois
         60603, or such other place as the Company and the Representatives may
         agree.

         (b) Option Shares. Delivery to the Underwriters of any Option Shares to
         be purchased by the several Underwriters shall be made in book-entry
         form through the facilities of DTC for the account of such Underwriters
         against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriters of the purchase
         price therefor by wire transfer of federal (same-day) funds to the
         account specified to the Representatives by the Company upon at least
         48 hours' prior notice. The time and date of such delivery and payment
         shall be 9:30 a.m., New York City time on the date specified by the
         Representatives in the notice given by the Representatives to the
         Company of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Option Shares or
         on such other time and date as the Company and the Representatives may
         agree upon in writing (the "Option Closing Time").

         (c) Manner of Delivery. Unless the Representatives request otherwise,
         the Initial Shares and the Option Shares shall be delivered in global
         form and shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered
         in the name of DTC's nominee. If, at the request of the
         Representatives, the Initial Shares or the Option Shares are delivered
         in definitive form, certificates for such Shares shall be registered in
         such names and in such

                                      -3-


         denominations as the Representatives shall request upon at least 48
         hours prior notice to the Company preceding the Closing Time or the
         Option Closing Time, as the case may be. Such certificates shall be
         made available to the Representatives for inspection and packaging not
         later than at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Time or the Option
         Closing Time, as the case may be.

         (d) Directed Shares. It is understood that approximately 375,000 shares
         of the Initial Shares ("Directed Shares") initially will be reserved by
         the Underwriters for offer and sale to employees and persons having
         business relationships with the Company ("Directed Share Participants")
         upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and in
         accordance with the rules and regulations of the National Association
         of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "Directed Share Program"). Under no
         circumstances will the Representatives or any Underwriter be liable to
         the Company for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith
         in connection with such Directed Share Program. To the extent that any
         Directed Shares are not affirmatively reconfirmed for purchase by any
         Directed Share Participant on or immediately after the date of this
         Agreement, such Directed Shares may be offered to the public as part of
         the public offering contemplated herein.

3.       Representations and Warranties of the Company:

                  The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters that:

         (a) the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
         Prospectus; the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and
         each subsidiary of the Company (each, a "Subsidiary") have been duly
         and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
         non-assessable, and all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
         the Subsidiaries are directly or indirectly owned of record and
         beneficially by the Company; except as disclosed in the Prospectus,
         there are no outstanding (i) securities or obligations of the Company
         or any of the Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for any
         capital stock of the Company or any such Subsidiary, (ii) warrants,
         rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company or any
         such Subsidiary any such capital stock or any such convertible or
         exchangeable securities or obligations, or (iii) obligations of the
         Company or any such Subsidiary to issue any shares of capital stock,
         any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or any
         such warrants, rights or options; the description of the Company's
         stock option and stock purchase plans and the options or other rights
         granted and exercised thereunder set forth in the Prospectus accurately
         and fairly presents in all material respects the information required
         by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations to be shown
         with respect to such plans, options and rights;

         (b) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (all of which are named in
         Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement) has been duly incorporated
         and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
         laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation with full
         corporate power and authority to own its respective properties and to
         conduct its respective businesses as described in the Registration
         Statement and Prospectus and, in

                                      -4-


         the case of the Company, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
         consummate the transactions contemplated herein;

         (c) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified or
         licensed and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it
         conducts its respective business or in which it owns or leases real
         property or otherwise maintains an office and in which the failure,
         individually or in the aggregate, to be so qualified or licensed would
         not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
         assets, business, operations, earnings or condition (financial or
         otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole (any
         such effect or change, where the context so requires, is hereinafter
         called a "Material Adverse Effect" or "Material Adverse Change"); each
         Subsidiary holds such licenses, certificates, permits, consents,
         orders, approvals and other authorizations from governmental
         authorities (including, without limitation, from the insurance
         regulatory agencies of the various jurisdictions where it conducts
         business) ("Permits") and has made all necessary filings required under
         any federal, state or local law, regulation or rule and has obtained
         all necessary authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons
         required in order to conduct its respective business as described in
         the Prospectus, except where the failure to hold any such Permit or
         make such filings required under any federal, state or local law,
         regulation or rule or obtain such authorizations, consents and
         approvals from other persons would not reasonably be expected to result
         in a Material Adverse Effect; each such Permit is valid and in full
         force and effect, except where the failure of such Permit to be valid
         or in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of the
         Subsidiaries is in violation of, in default under, or has received any
         written notice regarding or alleging a violation of or default under or
         revocation of any Permit or a violation of any federal, state or local
         law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to
         the Company or any of the Subsidiaries the effect of which, in each
         case, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
         Effect; except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the authority of each
         Subsidiary to write or produce the classes and lines of insurance
         authorized by such Permit is unrestricted and no such Permit contains a
         materially burdensome restriction that is not adequately disclosed in
         the Prospectus; neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is a
         party to any agreement, formal or informal, with any regulatory
         official or other person limiting the ability of the Company or any
         Subsidiary of the Company from making full use of the Permits issued to
         it; except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no Subsidiary is prohibited
         or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the
         Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to such
         Subsidiary's capital stock or from repaying to the Company or any other
         Subsidiary any amounts which may from time to time become due under any
         loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or such other
         Subsidiary, or from transferring any such Subsidiary's property or
         assets to the Company or to any other Subsidiary; other than as
         disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company does not own, directly or
         indirectly, more than 5% of any capital stock or other equity
         securities of any other corporation or any ownership interest of more
         than 5% in any partnership, joint venture or other association;

                                      -5-



         (d) the Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all
         applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees and judgments,
         including those relating to transactions with affiliates, except where
         such non-compliance, individually or in the aggregate, would not
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (e) except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and SeaBright
         Insurance Company ("SBIC") have made no material change in their
         insurance reserving practices since December 31, 2003;

         (f) all reinsurance treaties and arrangements to which the Company or
         any Subsidiary is a party are in full force and effect and neither the
         Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of, or in default in the
         performance, observance or fulfillment of, any obligation, agreement,
         covenant or condition contained therein, except where the failure of
         such reinsurance treaties and arrangements to be in full force and
         effect or where such violation or default would not, individually or in
         the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
         Effect; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written
         notice from any of the other parties to such treaties, contracts or
         agreements, or otherwise has knowledge, that such other party will be
         unable to perform such treaty or arrangement except to the extent
         adequately and properly reserved for in the audited historical
         financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus, except
         where such nonperformance would not reasonably be expected,
         individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (g) the statutory financial statements of SBIC from which certain
         ratios and other statistical data filed as part of the Registration
         Statement have been derived have been prepared for each relevant period
         in conformity with statutory accounting principles or practices
         required or permitted by the National Association of Insurance
         Commissioners, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
         Regulation - Division of Insurance and the California Department of
         Insurance, and such statutory accounting practices have been applied on
         a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may
         otherwise be indicated therein or in the notes thereto, and present
         fairly in all material respects the statutory financial position of
         SBIC as of the dates thereof, and the statutory basis results of
         operations of SBIC for the periods covered thereby;

         (h) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in breach of or in
         default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of
         time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under), its
         respective organizational documents, or in the performance or
         observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
         contained in any license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or
         credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company
         or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or their
         respective properties is bound, except for such breaches or defaults
         which would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and
         consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict
         with, or result in any breach of, or

                                      -6-


         constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice,
         lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under):
         (i) any provision of the organizational documents of the Company or any
         Subsidiary, (ii) any provision of any license, indenture, mortgage,
         deed of trust, loan or credit agreement or other agreement or
         instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by
         which any of them or their respective properties may be bound or
         affected, or under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation
         or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company or
         any Subsidiary, or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any
         lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any property or asset of the
         Company or the Subsidiaries; except in the case of this clause (ii) and
         (iii) for such breaches, defaults, liens, charges, claims or
         encumbrances that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect;

         (j) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
         the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company
         enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
         affecting creditors' rights generally, and by general equitable
         principles, and except to the extent that the indemnification and
         contribution provisions of Section 9 hereof may be limited by federal
         or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect
         thereof;

         (k) no approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any
         federal, state or local governmental or regulatory commission, board,
         body, authority or agency is required to be obtained by the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Company's execution,
         delivery and performance of this Agreement, its consummation of the
         transactions contemplated herein, and its sale and delivery of the
         Shares, other than (A) such as have been obtained, or will have been
         obtained at the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the
         case may be, under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (B) such approvals as have
         been obtained in connection with the approval of the listing of the
         Shares on the Nasdaq National Market and (C) any necessary
         qualifications under the securities or blue sky laws of the various
         jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by the
         Underwriters;

         (l) the Registration Statement has become effective under the
         Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
         been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that
         purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the
         Company, are threatened by the Commission, and the Company has complied
         to the Commission's satisfaction with any request on the part of the
         Commission for additional information;

         (m) the Preliminary Prospectus and the Registration Statement complies,
         and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements thereto
         will comply, when they have become effective or are filed with the
         Commission, as the case may be, in all material respects with the
         requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act

                                      -7-



         Regulations; the Registration Statement did not, and any amendment
         thereto will not, in each case as of the applicable effective date,
         contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading; and the Preliminary Prospectus does
         not, and the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto will
         not, as of the applicable filing date and at the Closing Time and on
         each Date of Delivery, contain an untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
         under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
         Company makes no warranty or representation with respect to any
         statement contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in
         reliance upon and in conformity with the information concerning the
         Underwriters and furnished in writing by or on behalf of the
         Underwriters through the Representatives to the Company expressly for
         use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (that information
         being limited to that described in the second to last sentence of the
         first paragraph of Section 9(b) hereof);

         (n) the Preliminary Prospectus was and the Prospectus delivered to the
         Underwriters for use in connection with this offering will be identical
         to the versions of the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus created to
         be transmitted to the Commission for filing via the Electronic Data
         Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System ("EDGAR"), except to the extent
         permitted by Regulation S-T or Rule 424 of the Securities Act
         Regulations;

         (o) except as disclosed in the prospectus, there are no actions, suits,
         proceedings, inquiries or investigations pending or, to the knowledge
         of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or any
         of their respective officers and directors or to which the properties,
         assets or rights of any such entity are subject, at law or in equity,
         before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or
         regulatory commission, board, body, authority, arbitral panel or agency
         which would reasonably be expected to result in a judgment, decree,
         award or order having a Material Adverse Effect;

         (p) the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the
         combined financial statements of Eagle Pacific Insurance Company,
         Pacific Eagle Insurance Company and PointSure Insurance Services, Inc.
         (which are collectively referred to as "Predecessor"), in each case
         including the notes thereto, included in the Registration Statement and
         the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated
         and combined financial position of the Company and the Predecessor,
         respectively, as of the dates indicated and the consolidated and
         combined results of operations and changes in financial position and
         cash flows of the Company and the Predecessor, respectively, for the
         periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in
         conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in
         the United States and on a consistent basis during the periods involved
         and in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission;
         the financial statement schedules included in the Registration
         Statement and the amounts in the Prospectus under the captions
         "Prospectus Summary - Summary Financial Information," "Unaudited Pro
         Forma Financial Information" and "Selected Financial Information"
         fairly present the information shown therein and have been

                                      -8-


         compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements included
         in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; the unaudited pro
         forma financial information (including the related notes) included in
         the Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus complies as to form in
         all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
         the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and management
         of the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the pro forma
         adjustments are reasonable; such pro forma adjustments have been
         properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of the
         information and such information fairly presents with respect to the
         Company and the Subsidiaries, the financial position, results of
         operations and other information purported to be shown therein at the
         respective dates and for the respective periods specified;

         (q) KPMG LLP, whose reports on the consolidated financial statements of
         the Company and the Subsidiaries are filed with the Commission as part
         of the Registration Statement and Prospectus, is and was during the
         periods covered by its reports, independent public accountants as
         required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and
         their appointment has been ratified by the Audit Committee of the
         Company's board of directors, which is comprised entirely of
         independent directors as defined under the applicable standards of the
         Nasdaq Stock Market and the applicable rules and regulations of the
         Commission;

         (r) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
         in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as may be
         otherwise stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, there has
         not been (A) any Material Adverse Change or any development that would
         reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, whether
         or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) any transaction
         or agreement in principle that is material to the Company and the
         Subsidiaries taken as a whole, entered into by the Company or any of
         the Subsidiaries, (C) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, directly
         or indirectly incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary that is
         material to the Company and Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (D) any
         dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
         Company on any class of its capital stock;

         (s) the Shares conform in all material respects to the description
         thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

         (t) except as described in the Prospectus, there are no persons with
         registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
         securities, including securities which are convertible into or
         exchangeable for equity securities, registered pursuant to the
         Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the
         Securities Act;

         (u) the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and duly
         delivered against payment therefor as contemplated by this Agreement,
         will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear
         of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and
         the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company is not subject to

                                      -9-


         preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under
         the organizational documents of the Company or under any agreement to
         which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or otherwise that is not
         described in the Prospectus; and no further approval or authority of
         the stockholders or the board of directors of the Company will be
         required for the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold by the
         Company as contemplated herein;

         (v) the Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq National
         Market, subject only to official notice of issuance, and the Company is
         in compliance in all material respects with all applicable listing
         standards of the Nasdaq National Market;

         (w) the Company has not taken, and will not take, directly or
         indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or
         which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization
         or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
         facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares;

         (x) neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (i) is required to
         register as a "broker" or "dealer" in accordance with the provisions of
         the Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder (the
         "Exchange Act Regulations"), or (ii) directly, or indirectly through
         one or more intermediaries, controls or has any other association with
         (within the meaning of Article I of the By-Laws and the applicable
         rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
         "NASD")) any member firm of the NASD, other than certain affiliates of
         Summit Partners, which hold 2,443,519 shares of convertible preferred
         stock of optionsXpress, Inc., constituting an approximately 32%
         interest;

         (y) the Company has not relied upon the Representatives or legal
         counsel for the Representatives for any legal, tax or accounting advice
         in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares;

         (z) the form of certificate used to evidence the Common Stock complies
         in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements,
         any applicable requirements of the organizational documents of the
         Company and the requirements of the Nasdaq National Market;

         (aa) neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries own any real property.
         The Company and the Subsidiaries have good title to all personal
         property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens,
         security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and
         defects, except such as are disclosed in the Prospectus or such as
         would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
         any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company or any
         Subsidiary are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with
         such exceptions as are disclosed in the Prospectus or would not
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (bb) the descriptions in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
         of the legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases and other
         legal documents therein described

                                      -10-


         present fairly in all material respects the information required to be
         described by the Securities Act or by the Securities Act Regulations;
         all agreements between the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries
         and third parties expressly referenced in the Prospectus have been duly
         authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or one or more of its
         Subsidiaries and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the
         Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance
         with their respective terms, except where the failure of any such
         agreement to be duly authorized, executed and delivered would not,
         individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect or to the extent enforceability may be limited
         by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
         affecting creditors' rights generally and by general equitable
         principles; such contracts are in full force and effect on the date
         hereof except where the failure of any such contracts to be in full
         force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate,
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither
         the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company's
         knowledge, any other party thereto, is in breach of or default under
         any of such contracts, except for such breaches or defaults that would
         not result in a Material Adverse Change;

         (cc) the Company and each Subsidiary owns or possesses adequate
         licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks,
         trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets,
         manufacturing processes, other intangible property rights and know-how
         (collectively "Intangibles") necessary to entitle the Company and each
         Subsidiary to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and
         neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of
         infringement of or conflict with (and the Company does not know of any
         such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with
         respect to any Intangibles which would have a Material Adverse Effect;
         (dd) the Company and each of the Subsidiaries maintains a system of
         internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
         that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's
         general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as
         necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity
         with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United
         States and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is
         permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
         authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
         compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
         appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and the
         Company shall maintain a system of information disclosure controls and
         procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
         by the Company in its periodic filings with the Commission is recorded,
         processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by
         the Commission;

         (ee) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has filed on a timely
         basis all necessary federal, state, local and foreign income and
         franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof,
         each of which has been true and correct in all material respects, and
         has paid all taxes shown as due thereon; and no tax deficiency has been
         asserted against any such entity, nor does any such entity know of any
         tax deficiency which is

                                      -11-


         likely to be asserted against any such entity which, if determined
         adversely to any such entity, would reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect;

         (ff) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries maintains insurance
         (issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility) of the
         types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate for their respective
         businesses and consistent with insurance coverage maintained by similar
         companies in similar businesses, including, but not limited to,
         insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the
         Company and the Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts
         of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of
         which insurance is in full force and effect, it being understood that
         no representation is made in this subsection (ff) as to the reinsurance
         obtained by the Company or the Subsidiaries;

         (gg) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation,
         or has received notice, of any violation with respect to any applicable
         environmental, safety or similar law applicable to the business of the
         Company or any of the Subsidiaries; the Company and the Subsidiaries
         have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them
         under applicable federal and state occupational safety and health and
         environmental laws and regulations to conduct their respective
         businesses, and the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with
         all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval,
         except any such violation of law or regulation, failure to receive
         required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with
         the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals which
         would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
         Adverse Change;

         (hh) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of or has
         received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state
         law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of
         employees, nor any applicable federal or state wages and hours law, nor
         any applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security
         Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published
         interpretations thereunder, the violation of any of which would
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (ii) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor any officer or
         director purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any of the
         Subsidiaries has at any time (i) made any contributions to any
         candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any such
         contributions, in violation of law; (ii) made any payment to any state,
         federal or foreign governmental officer or official, or other person
         charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments
         required or allowed by applicable law; (iii) engaged in any
         transactions, maintained any bank account or used any corporate funds
         except for transactions, bank accounts and funds which have been and
         are reflected in the normally maintained books and records of the
         Company and the Subsidiaries;

         (jj) there are no outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees
         of indebtedness by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to or for the
         benefit of any of the executive

                                      -12-


         officers or directors of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any
         of the members of the families of any of them;

         (kk) all securities issued by the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or
         any trusts established by the Company or any Subsidiary, have been
         issued and sold in compliance with (i) all applicable federal and state
         securities laws, (ii) the laws of the applicable jurisdiction of
         incorporation of the issuing entity and, (iii) to the extent applicable
         to the issuing entity, the requirements of the Nasdaq National Market;

         (ll) in connection with this offering, the Company has not offered and
         will not offer its Common Stock or any other securities convertible
         into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock in a manner in
         violation of the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. The
         Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering
         material other than the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in
         connection with the offer and sale of the Shares;

         (mm) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, the Company
         has not incurred any liability for any finder's fees or similar
         payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated;

         (nn) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists and no transaction has
         occurred between or among the Company or any of the Subsidiaries on the
         one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or
         suppliers of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries on the other hand,
         which is required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act
         Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus and which is not so described;

         (oo) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or, after
         giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will be an
         "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment
         company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of
         1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act");

         (pp) there are no existing or, to the knowledge of the Company,
         threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company or any of
         the Subsidiaries which are likely to have individually or in the
         aggregate a Material Adverse Effect;

         (qq) no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification
         with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is
         required in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any
         jurisdiction where the Directed Shares are being offered. The Company
         has not offered, or caused the Representatives to offer, Shares to any
         person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent
         to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to
         alter the customer's or supplier's level or type of business with the
         Company or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish
         favorable information about the Company or its products; and



                                      -13-

         (rr)     the Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that,
         upon and at all times after the effectiveness of the Registration
         Statement, it will be in compliance in all material respects with all
         applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
         "Sarbanes-Oxley Act") and the related rules and regulations of the
         Commission that are then in effect and is actively taking steps to
         ensure that it will be in compliance in all material respects with
         other applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the related
         rules and regulations of the Commission not currently in effect upon
         and at all times after the effectiveness of such provisions.

4.       Certain Covenants by the Company:

                  The Company hereby agrees with each Underwriter:

         (a)      to furnish such information as may be required and
         otherwise to cooperate in qualifying the Shares for offering and sale
         under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions (both
         domestic and foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to
         maintain such qualifications in effect as long as requested by the
         Representatives for the distribution of the Shares, provided that the
         Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, to
         subject itself to taxation or to consent to the service of process
         under the laws of any such state (except service of process with
         respect to the offering and sale of the Shares);

         (b)      if, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered,
         it is necessary for a post-effective amendment to the Registration
         Statement to be declared effective before the offering of the Shares
         may commence, the Company will endeavor to cause such post-effective
         amendment to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable and
         will advise the Representatives promptly and, if requested by the
         Representatives, will confirm such advice in writing, when such
         post-effective amendment has become effective;

         (c)      to prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the
         Underwriters and file such Prospectus (or a term sheet as permitted by
         Rule 434) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
         Securities Act not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time), on the
         business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
         on such other day as the parties may mutually agree and to furnish
         promptly (and with respect to the initial delivery of such Prospectus,
         not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the second business
         day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or on such
         other day as the parties may mutually agree, to the Underwriters copies
         of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if
         the Company shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after
         the effective date of the Registration Statement) in such quantities
         and at such locations as the Underwriters may reasonably request for
         the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act Regulations, which
         Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the
         Underwriters will be identical to the versions created to be
         transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the
         extent permitted by Regulation S-T and Rule 424 of the Securities Act
         Regulations;

                                      -14-




         (d)      to advise the Representatives promptly and (if requested
         by the Representatives) to confirm such advice in writing, when the
         Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective
         amendment thereto becomes effective under the Securities Act
         Regulations;

         (e)      to advise the Representatives immediately, confirming such
         advice in writing, of (i) the receipt of any comments from, or any
         request by, the Commission for amendments or supplements to the
         Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information with
         respect thereto, or (ii) the issuance by the Commission of any stop
         order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of
         any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary
         Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification
         of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the
         initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes
         and, if the Commission or any other government agency or authority
         should issue any such order, to make every reasonable effort to obtain
         the lifting or removal of such order as soon as possible; to advise the
         Representatives promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the
         Registration Statement or Prospectus and to file no such amendment or
         supplement to which the Representatives shall reasonably object;

         (f)      to furnish to the Underwriters for a period of five years
         from the date of this Agreement (i) as soon as available, copies of all
         annual, quarterly and current reports or other communications supplied
         to holders of shares of Common Stock, (ii) as soon as practicable after
         the filing thereof, copies of all reports filed by the Company with the
         Commission, the Nasdaq National Market or any securities exchange and
         (iii) such other non-confidential information concerning the business
         and financial condition of the Company as the Underwriters may
         reasonably request regarding the Company and the Subsidiaries; provided
         that the Company shall not be required to furnish reports,
         communications or information that are otherwise available on EDGAR or
         other publicly available electronic means;

         (g)      to advise the Underwriters promptly of the happening of any
         event known to the Company within the time during which a Prospectus
         relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities
         Act Regulations which, in the judgment of the Company or in the
         reasonable opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the
         Underwriters, would require the making of any change in the Prospectus
         then being used so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
         light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
         or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement
         or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act and the
         Securities Act Regulations and, during such time, to promptly prepare
         and furnish to the Underwriters copies of the proposed amendment or
         supplement before filing any such amendment or supplement with the
         Commission and thereafter promptly furnish at the Company's own expense
         to the Underwriters and to dealers, copies in such quantities and at
         such locations as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably
         request of an appropriate amendment

                                      -15-



         to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that
         the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
         light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
         and so that the Prospectus will comply with the Securities Act and the
         Securities Act Regulations;

         (h)      to file promptly with the Commission any amendment to the
         Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any supplement to the
         Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Company or in the
         reasonable opinion of the Representatives, be required by the
         Securities Act or requested by the Commission;

         (i)      prior to filing with the Commission any amendment to the
         Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any
         Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, to furnish a
         copy thereof to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters,
         and not to file any amendment to the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus or any supplement to the Prospectus to which the
         Representatives reasonably object in writing;

         (j)      to furnish promptly to each Representative a signed copy of
         the Registration Statement, as initially filed with the Commission, and
         of all amendments or supplements thereto (including all exhibits filed
         therewith or incorporated by reference therein);

         (k)      to apply the net proceeds of the sale of the Shares in
         accordance with its statements under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in
         the Prospectus and in a manner such that the Company will not become an
         "investment company" as that term is defined in the Investment Company
         Act;

         (l)      to make generally available to its security holders and to the
         Representatives as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
         the end of the fiscal quarter first occurring after the first
         anniversary of the effective date of the Registration Statement an
         earnings statement complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of
         the Securities Act (in form, at the option of the Company, complying
         with the provisions of Rule 158 of the Securities Act Regulations)
         covering a period of 12 months beginning after the effective date of
         the Registration Statement;

         (m)      to use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the Shares
         on the Nasdaq National Market and to file with the Nasdaq National
         Market all documents and notices required thereby of companies that
         have securities for which quotations are reported by the Nasdaq
         National Market;

         (n)      to engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and
         transfer agent for the Shares;



                                      -16-




         (o)      except with respect to the Shares to be sold hereunder,
         during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the
         180-day anniversary of the date of the Prospectus, (1) not to offer,
         pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
         purchase, not to purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any
         option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose
         of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any
         securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any
         shares of Common Stock (whether such shares or any such securities are
         now owned by the undersigned or are hereafter acquired), or (2) enter
         into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole
         or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
         Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2)
         above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other
         securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that
         notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be permitted to grant
         options to purchase Common Stock or issue shares of restricted stock or
         other equity-based awards pursuant to the Company's benefit and equity
         incentive plans described in the Registration Statement, and may issue
         shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of outstanding options,
         provided that in the event any holder of such shares would become a 1%
         or greater stockholder as a result of such issuance, the Company shall
         cause such holder to furnish the Representatives a letter substantially
         similar to Exhibit A hereto;

         (o)      not to, and to use its best efforts to cause its officers,
         directors and affiliates not to, (i) take, directly or indirectly prior
         to termination of the underwriting syndicate contemplated by this
         Agreement, any action designed to stabilize or manipulate the price of
         any security of the Company, or which may cause or result in, or which
         might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the
         stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
         Company, to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii)
         sell, bid for, purchase or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting
         purchases of the Shares or (iii) pay or agree to pay to any person any
         compensation for soliciting any order to purchase any other securities
         of the Company;

         (p)      to cause each 1% or greater stockholder, officer and director
         of the Company to furnish to the Representatives, prior to the first
         Date of Delivery, a letter or letters, substantially in the form of
         Exhibit A hereto;

         (q)      during the 30-day period after the Registration Statement
         becomes effective, subject to the Company's obligations under
         applicable law and listing requirements, the Company will provide the
         Representatives the opportunity to review any press release or other
         public statement within a reasonable time prior to its release;

         (r)      that the Company (i) shall comply with all applicable
         securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, including
         without limitation, the rules and regulations of the NASD, in each
         jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection
         with the Directed Share Program and (ii) shall pay all reasonable fees
         and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection
         with the Directed

                                      -17-




         Share Program and any stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other
         taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the
         Directed Share Program.

5.       Payment of Expenses:

         (a)      The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to
         the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not
         the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this
         Agreement is terminated, including expenses, fees and taxes in
         connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration
         Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any
         amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of
         copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and to dealers (including
         costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the preparation, issuance and
         delivery of the certificates for the Shares to the Underwriters,
         including any stock or other transfer taxes or duties payable upon the
         sale of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iii) the printing of this
         Agreement and any dealer agreements and furnishing of copies of each to
         the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing and
         shipment), (iv) the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale
         under state and foreign laws that the Company and the Representatives
         have mutually agreed are appropriate and the determination of their
         eligibility for investment under such laws as aforesaid, including the
         legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel for the
         Underwriters assuming that the Common Stock is approved for listing on
         the Nasdaq National Market, and the printing and furnishing of copies
         of any blue sky or foreign securities law surveys or legal investment
         surveys to the Underwriters and to dealers; (v) filing for review of
         the public offering of the Shares by the NASD (including the filing
         fees and other disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters relating
         thereto), (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar
         for the Shares and miscellaneous expenses referred to in the
         Registration Statement, (vii) the fees and expenses incurred in
         connection with the inclusion of the Shares for listing on the Nasdaq
         National Market, (viii) the cost and expenses of making road show
         presentations with respect to the offering of the Shares (but excluding
         the costs and expenses of travel and accommodations for the
         Underwriters); and (ix) the performance of the Company's other
         obligations hereunder. Upon the request of the Representatives, the
         Company will provide funds in advance for filing fees.

         (b)      In addition to the expenses to be paid by the Company
         pursuant to subsection (a) above, upon consummation of the sale of the
         Initial Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Company agrees to
         reimburse the Representatives for their reasonable out-of-pocket
         expenses in connection with the performance of its activities under
         this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses of
         the Underwriters' outside legal counsel and any other advisors,
         accountants, appraisers, etc., up to $250,000 (two hundred fifty
         thousand dollars).

         (c)      If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or
         any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the
         Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of
         this Agreement to be fulfilled by it, or if for any reason

                                      -18-




         the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
         Agreement, the Company also shall reimburse the Underwriters or such
         Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to
         themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (such as
         printing, facsimile, courier service, direct computer expenses,
         accommodations, travel and the fees and disbursements of Underwriters'
         counsel and any other advisors, accountants, appraisers, etc.)
         reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this
         Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.

6.       Conditions of the Underwriters' Obligations:

         (a)      The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder to purchase
         Shares at the Closing Time or on each Date of Delivery, as applicable,
         are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on
         the part of the Company hereunder on the date hereof and at the Closing
         Time and on each Date of Delivery, as applicable, the performance by
         the Company of its obligations hereunder and the satisfaction of the
         following further conditions at the Closing Time or on each Date of
         Delivery, as applicable:

         (b)      The Company shall furnish to the Underwriters at the Closing
         Time and on each Date of Delivery an opinion of Drue Wax, Counsel for
         the Company and the Subsidiaries, addressed to the Underwriters and
         dated the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery and in form and
         substance reasonably satisfactory to Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP, counsel
         for the Underwriters, in substantially the form attached.

         (c)      The Company shall furnish to the Underwriters at the Closing
         Time and on each Date of Delivery an opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP,
         counsel for the Company and the Subsidiaries, addressed to the
         Underwriters and dated the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery and
         in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lord, Bissell & Brook
         LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in substantially the form attached.

         (d)      The Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP letters
         dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement, the Closing Time
         and each Date of Delivery, as the case may be, addressed to the
         Representatives, in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Representatives, relating to the financial statements of the Company
         and the Subsidiaries, including any pro forma financial statements, and
         such other matters customarily covered by comfort letters issued in
         connection with registered public offerings.

                  In the event that the letters referred to above set forth any
         change in the capital stock, increase in long-term debt or any
         decreases in stockholders' equity, operating income or net income of
         the Company, it shall be a further condition to the obligations of the
         Underwriters that such changes, decreases or increases do not, in the
         sole judgment of the Representatives, make it impractical or
         inadvisable to proceed with the purchase and delivery of the Shares as
         contemplated by the Registration Statement.


                                      -19-




         (e)      The Representatives shall have received at the Closing Time
         and on each Date of Delivery the favorable opinion of Lord, Bissell &
         Brook LLP, dated the Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, addressed
         to the Representatives and in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Representatives.

         (f)      No amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
         Prospectus shall have been filed to which the Underwriters shall have
         objected in writing prior to its filing.

         (g)      Prior to the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery (i) no
         stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
         or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary
         Prospectus or Prospectus has been issued, and no proceedings for such
         purpose shall have been initiated or threatened, by the Commission, and
         no suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale
         in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any
         proceedings for any of such purposes, has occurred; (ii) the Company
         shall have responded to all comments of the Commission to the
         Registration Statement to the reasonable satisfaction of the
         Representatives; and (iii) the Registration Statement or any amendment
         thereto, in each case as of their respective effective dates, shall not
         contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading, and the Preliminary Prospectus, the
         Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the
         applicable filing dates and at the Closing Time and each Date of
         Delivery, shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
         under which they were made, not misleading.

         (h)      All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the
         Securities Act to have been filed by the Closing Time shall have been
         made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by
         such Rule.

         (i)      Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the
         Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, there shall not have
         been any Material Adverse Change and no transaction which is material
         and unfavorable to the Company shall have been entered into by the
         Company or any of the Subsidiaries, in each case, which in the
         Representatives' sole judgment, makes it impracticable or inadvisable
         to proceed with the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by
         the Registration Statement.

         (j)      The Shares shall have been approved for inclusion in the
         Nasdaq National Market.

         (k)      The NASD shall have confirmed in writing that it has decided
         to raise no objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness
         of the underwriting terms and arrangements and shall not have raised
         any such objection after the date of such confirmation.

         (l)      The Representatives shall have received lock-up agreements
         from each officer, director, 1% or greater stockholder of the Company
         and holder of a security convertible


                                      -20-



         or exercisable into 1% or more of the Company's Common Stock, in the
         form of Exhibit A attached hereto, and such letter agreements shall be
         in full force and effect.

         (m)      The Company will, at the Closing Time and on each Date of
         Delivery, deliver to the Underwriters a certificate of its Chief
         Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to the effect that:

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

                  (ii) subsequent to the respective dates as of which
                       information is given in the Registration Statement and
                       Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital
                       stock or increase in the outstanding indebtedness of the
                       Company or any Subsidiary that is material to the Company
                       and the Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

         (n)      The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters such
         other documents and certificates as to the accuracy and completeness of
         any statement in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the
         representations, warranties and statements of the Company contained
         herein, the performance by the Company of its covenants contained
         herein, and the fulfillment of any conditions contained herein, as of
         the Closing Time or any Date of Delivery, as the Underwriters may
         reasonably request.

7.       Termination:

                  The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder shall
         be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the
         Representatives, at any time prior to the Closing Time or any Date of
         Delivery, (i) if any of the conditions specified in Section 6 shall not
         have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be
         fulfilled, or (ii) if there has been since the respective dates as of
         which information is given in the Registration Statement, any (A)
         Material Adverse Change, (B) development involving a prospective
         Material Adverse Change other than as set forth or contemplated in the
         Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the effect of which is such
         as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or
         inadvisable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of
         the Shares, or (C) material change in management of the Company or any
         Subsidiary, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,
         or (iii) if there has occurred any outbreak or escalation of
         hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis or
         change in economic, political or other conditions the effect of which
         on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in
         the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Shares
         or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, or (iv) if trading in
         any securities of the Company has been suspended by the Commission or
         by the Nasdaq National Market, or if trading generally


                                      -21-


         on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq over-the-counter market
         has been suspended (including an automatic halt in trading pursuant to
         market-decline triggers, other than those in which solely program
         trading is temporarily halted), or limitations on prices for trading
         (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) have
         been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been
         required, by such exchange or the NASD or the over-the-counter market
         or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority, or
         (v) if there has been any downgrade in the ratings of the Company or
         its Subsidiaries by A.M. Best Company, or (vi) any federal or state
         statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental
         authority has been enacted, published, decreed or otherwise promulgated
         which, in the reasonable opinion of the Representatives, materially
         adversely affects or will materially adversely affect the business or
         operations of the Company.

                  If the Representatives elect to terminate this Agreement as
         provided in this Section 7, the Company and the Underwriters shall be
         notified promptly by telephone, promptly confirmed by facsimile or
         e-mail.

                  If the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares, as contemplated
         by this Agreement, is not carried out by the Underwriters for any
         reason permitted under this Agreement or if such sale is not carried
         out because the Company shall be unable to comply in all material
         respects with any of the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall not
         be under any obligation or liability under this Agreement (except to
         the extent provided in Sections 5 and 9 hereof) and the Underwriters
         shall be under no obligation or liability to the Company under this
         Agreement (except to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof) or to one
         another hereunder.

8.       Increase in Underwriters' Commitments:

                  If any Underwriter shall default at the Closing Time or on a
         Date of Delivery in its obligation to take up and pay for the Shares to
         be purchased by it under this Agreement on such date, the
         Representatives shall have the right, within 36 hours after such
         default, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting
         Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less
         than all, of the Shares which such Underwriter shall have agreed but
         failed to take up and pay for (the "Defaulted Shares"). Absent the
         completion of such arrangements within such 36-hour period, (i) if the
         total number of Defaulted Shares does not exceed 10% of the total
         number of Shares to be purchased on such date, each non-defaulting
         Underwriter shall take up and pay for (in addition to the number of
         Shares which it is otherwise obligated to purchase on such date
         pursuant to this Agreement) the portion of the total number of Shares
         agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter on such date in
         the proportion that its underwriting obligations hereunder bears to the
         underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters; and (ii)
         if the total number of Defaulted Shares exceeds 10% of such total, the
         Representatives may terminate this Agreement by notice to the Company,
         without liability of any party (other than any defaulting underwriter)
         to any other party except that


                                      -22-





         the provisions of Sections 5 and 9 hereof shall at all times be
         effective and shall survive such termination.

                  Without relieving any defaulting Underwriter from its
         obligations hereunder, the Company agrees with the non-defaulting
         Underwriters that it will not sell any Shares hereunder on such date
         unless all of the Shares to be purchased on such date are purchased on
         such date by the Underwriters (or by substituted Underwriters selected
         by the Representatives with the approval of the Company or selected by
         the Company with the approval of the Representatives).

                  If a new Underwriter or Underwriters are substituted for a
         defaulting Underwriter in accordance with the foregoing provision, the
         Company or the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the right to
         postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery for a period
         not exceeding five business days in order that any necessary changes in
         the Registration Statement and Prospectus and other documents may be
         effected.

                  The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall refer
         to and include any Underwriter substituted under this Section 8 with
         the same effect as if such substituted Underwriter had originally been
         named in this Agreement.

9.       Indemnity and Contribution by the Company and the Underwriters:

         (a)      The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
         each Underwriter and any person who controls any Underwriter within the
         meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
         Exchange Act, from and against any loss, expense, liability, damage or
         claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly
         or severally, any such Underwriter or controlling person may incur
         under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as
         such loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is
         based upon (A) any failure on the part of the Company to comply with
         any applicable law, rule or regulation relating to the offering of
         securities being made pursuant to the Prospectus, (B) any untrue
         statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
         the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended
         by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Company), the Prospectus
         (the term Prospectus for the purpose of this Section 9 being deemed to
         include the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Prospectus
         as amended or supplemented by the Company), (C) any application or
         other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the
         Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of
         the Company filed in any jurisdiction (domestic or foreign) in order to
         qualify the Shares under the securities or blue sky laws thereof or
         filed with the NASD or the Nasdaq Stock Market (each an "Application"),
         (D) any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required
         to be stated in any such Registration Statement or necessary to make
         the statements made therein not misleading, or (E) any omission or
         alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in any
         such Prospectus or necessary to make the statements made therein, in
         light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
         except insofar as any such

                                      -23-







         loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is based
         upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
         alleged omission of a material fact contained in and in conformity with
         information furnished in writing by the Underwriters through the
         Representatives to the Company expressly for use in such Registration
         Statement, Prospectus or Application; provided, further, that with
         respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or
         omission or alleged omission from the Preliminary Prospectus the
         foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any
         Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, expenses,
         liabilities, damages or claims purchased the Shares, or any person
         controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then
         amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any
         amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on
         behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to
         have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the
         sale of the Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended
         or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such
         losses, expenses, liabilities, damages or claims, unless such failure
         is the result of noncompliance by the Company in furnishing copies of
         the Prospectus (or amendments or supplements thereto) pursuant to
         Section 4(c) hereof. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section
         9(a) shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may
         otherwise have.

                  If any action is brought against an Underwriter or controlling
         person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company
         pursuant to subsection (a) above, such Underwriter shall promptly
         notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action, and
         the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the
         employment of counsel and payment of expenses; provided, however, that
         any failure or delay to so notify the Company will not relieve the
         Company of any obligation hereunder, except to the extent that its
         ability to defend is actually impaired by such failure or delay. Such
         Underwriter or controlling person shall have the right to employ its or
         their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such
         counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling
         person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized
         in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such
         action, or the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge
         of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of
         the institution of such action is given by the Underwriter or
         controlling person or such indemnified party or parties shall have
         reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that there may be
         defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional
         to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not
         have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the
         indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and
         expenses shall be borne by the Company and paid as incurred (it being
         understood, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the
         expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for the
         Underwriters or controlling persons in any one action or series of
         related actions in the same jurisdiction (other than local counsel in
         any such jurisdiction) representing the indemnified parties who are
         parties to such action).

                                      -24-






         Anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company
         shall not be liable for any settlement of any such claim or action
         effected without its consent.

         (b)      Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
         indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, the Company's
         directors, the Company's officers that signed the Registration
         Statement, and any person who controls the Company within the meaning
         of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
         from and against any loss, expense, liability, damage or claim
         (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or
         severally, the Company or any such person may incur under the
         Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, but only insofar as such
         loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is based
         upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
         fact contained in and in conformity with information furnished in
         writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives to the Company
         expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration
         Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the
         Company), the Prospectus, or any Application, (B) any omission or
         alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such
         information required to be stated in such Registration Statement or
         necessary to make such information not misleading, or (C) any omission
         or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such
         information required to be stated in such Prospectus or any Application
         or necessary to make such information, in light of the circumstances
         under which they were made, not misleading. The concession and
         reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph and the
         statements set forth in the seventh, tenth, twelfth and fourteenth
         paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting" in the Preliminary
         Prospectus and the Prospectus (to the extent such statements relate to
         the Underwriters) constitute the only information furnished by or on
         behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives to the Company
         for purposes of Section 3(m) and this Section 9. The indemnity
         agreement set forth in this Section 9(b) shall be in addition to any
         liabilities that such Underwriters may otherwise have.

                  If any action is brought against the Company or any such
         person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any
         Underwriter pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the Company or such
         person shall promptly notify the Representatives in writing of the
         institution of such action and the Representatives, on behalf of the
         Underwriters, shall assume the defense of such action, including the
         employment of counsel and payment of expenses. The Company or such
         person shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case,
         but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
         the Company or such person unless the employment of such counsel shall
         have been authorized in writing by the Representatives in connection
         with the defense of such action or the Representatives shall not have
         employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a
         reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action is given
         by the Company or such indemnified party or parties shall have
         reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that there may be
         defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional
         to those available to the Underwriters (in which case the
         Representatives shall not have the right to direct the


                                      -25-








         defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties),
         in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such
         Underwriter and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that
         the Underwriters shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
         separate firm of attorneys in any one action or series of related
         actions in the same jurisdiction (other than local counsel in any such
         jurisdiction) representing the indemnified parties who are parties to
         such action). Anything in this paragraph to the contrary
         notwithstanding, no Underwriter shall be liable for any settlement of
         any such claim or action effected without the written consent of the
         Representatives.

         (c)      If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is
         unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
         subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 9 in respect of any losses,
         expenses, liabilities, damages or claims referred to therein, then each
         applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
         party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
         indemnified party as a result of such losses, expenses, liabilities,
         damages or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
         the relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters from
         the offering of the Shares or (ii) if (but only 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 of the Underwriters in connection with the statements
         or omissions which resulted in such losses, expenses, liabilities,
         damages or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable
         considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the
         Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total
         proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and
         commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear
         to the underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
         Underwriters. The relative fault of the Company and of the Underwriters
         shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
         untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
         omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the
         Company or by the Underwriters 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 and liabilities referred to above
         shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses
         reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or
         defending any claim or action.

         (d)      The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not
         be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were
         determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
         treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
         allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
         referred to in subsection (c)(i) and, if applicable (ii), above.
         Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall
         be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting
         discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by such
         Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent
         misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
         Securities Act) shall be

                                      -26-





         entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
         fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to
         contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to
         their respective underwriting commitments and not joint.

         (e)      The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
         Underwriter and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls
         each Underwriter and its affiliates within the meaning of either
         Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
         from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
         (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably
         incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action
         or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
         statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or
         with the consent of the Company for distribution to participants in
         connection with the Directed Share Program, or caused by any omission
         or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading; (ii) as a result of the failure of any participant to pay
         for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the participant has
         agreed to purchase, except to the extent such Directed Shares are
         offered to the public and purchased as part of the public offering
         contemplated herein; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in
         connection with the Directed Share Program; provided, however, that the
         Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that
         a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final
         judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted
         directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to
         be taken by any Underwriter through its bad faith or willful
         misconduct.

10.      Survival:

                  The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section
         9 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the Company
         contained in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of this Agreement shall remain in full
         force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf
         of any Underwriter, or any person who controls any Underwriter within
         the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
         Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the Company, its directors and
         officers, or any person who controls the Company within the meaning of
         Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and
         shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the sale and
         delivery of the Shares. The Company and each Underwriter agree promptly
         to notify the others of the commencement of any litigation or
         proceeding against it and, in the case of the Company, against any of
         the Company's officers and directors, in connection with the sale and
         delivery of the Shares, or in connection with the Registration
         Statement or Prospectus.

11.      Notices:

                  Except as otherwise provided herein, all statements, requests,
         notices and agreements shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriters,
         shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission in care of
         Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., 1001


                                      -27-

         19th Street North, Arlington, Virginia 22209, Attention: Syndicate
         Department; facsimile number 703-469-1131; if to the Company, shall be
         delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the offices of
         the Company at 2101 4th Avenue, Suite 1600, Seattle, Washington 98121;
         Attention: John G. Pasqualetto; facsimile number 206-269-8901.

12.      Governing Law; Headings:

                 THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
         ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
         CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES. The section headings in this Agreement
         have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not
         a part of this Agreement.

13.      Parties at Interest:

                 The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for
         the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling
         persons, directors and officers referred to in Sections 9 and 10
         hereof, and their respective successors, assigns, executors and
         administrators. No other person, partnership, association or
         corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of the
         Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of
         this Agreement.

14.      Counterparts and Facsimile Signatures:

                 This Agreement may be signed by the parties in counterparts
         which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the
         parties. A facsimile signature shall constitute an original signature
         for all purposes.

                 If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among
         the Company and the Underwriters, please so indicate in the space
         provided below, whereupon this Agreement shall constitute a binding
         agreement among the Company and the Underwriters.

                                Very truly yours,

                                SEABRIGHT INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.


                                By:_____________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:




                                      -28-










Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY & CO., INC.
PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.
COCHRAN, CARONIA & CO.

As Representatives of the other Underwriters named on Schedule I hereto.

        By:   FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY & CO., INC.

              By: _______________________________________
                      Name:_______________________________
                      Title:________________________________






                                      -29-








                                   Schedule I

                                                            Number of Initial             Maximum Number
                                                             Shares to be              of Option Shares to
                     Underwriter                               Purchased                  be Purchased
- ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
                                                                             

Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.                            [   ]                      [   ]
                                                                   ---                        ---
Piper Jaffray & Co.                                               [   ]                      [   ]
                                                                   ---                        ---
Cochran, Caronia & Co.                                            [   ]                      [   ]
                                                                   ---                        ---

Total                                                                                        [   ]
                                                                                              ---








                                    EXHIBIT A

                             FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER



                                                              January ___, 2005



FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY & CO., INC.
PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.
COCHRAN, CARONIA & CO.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.
1001 19th Street North
Arlington, Virginia  22209

Dear Sirs:

         The undersigned understands that Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Company,
Inc., Piper Jaffray & Co. and Cochran, Caronia & Co. (the "Representatives")
propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
as Representatives of several underwriters (the "Underwriters"), with SeaBright
Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), providing for
the public offering (the "Public Offering") by the Underwriters of shares (the
"Shares") of Common Stock of the Company (the "Common Stock").

         To induce the Underwriters to continue their efforts in connection with
the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the
prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not, during the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180-day anniversary of the date
of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the "Prospectus"), (1)
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for any shares of Common Stock (whether such shares or any such
securities are now owned by the undersigned or are hereafter acquired), or (2)
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or
in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock,
whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be
settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise, excluding any Shares to be sold under the Underwriting Agreement. In
addition, the undersigned agrees that, without prior written consent of the
Representatives, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof
and ending on the 180-day anniversary of the date of the Prospectus, make any
demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration under the
Securities Act






of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of any shares of Common Stock or any
security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the
Undersigned's Shares (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee
or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth
herein, (ii) to any trust, partnership, corporation or other entity formed for
the direct or indirect benefit of the transferor or the immediate family of the
transferor, provided that a duly authorized officer, representative or trustee
of the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the restrictions set forth
herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a
disposition for value, (iii) if the transfer occurs by operation of law, such as
rules of descent and distribution, statutes governing the effects of a merger or
a qualified domestic order, provided that the transferee executes an agreement
acknowledging that the transferee is receiving and holding the shares subject to
the provisions hereof, (iv) to an affiliate (as that term is defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) of the undersigned, provided that such affiliate
agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, or (v) with
the prior written consent of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. on behalf of
the Underwriters. For purposes of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement, "immediate
family" shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more
remote than first cousin.

         In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent are
hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer
would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

         The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters will
proceed with the Public Offering in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

         Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number
of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to
agreement between the Company and the Representatives. The terms of this Lock-Up
Letter Agreement shall expire in the event the Public Offering of the firm
Shares is not consummated on or before March 1, 2005.

         If (A) the Company (i) withdraws the registration statement registering
the Shares (the "Registration Statement") or (ii) deregisters all of the Shares
covered by the Registration Statement or (B) the Underwriting Agreement is
executed but is terminated by the Representatives prior to payment for and
delivery of any of the Shares, the undersigned will be released from the
undersigned's obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

         The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has
full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that,
upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents reasonably
necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the
undersigned shall be








binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the
undersigned.

                                               Very truly yours,

Dated:
      --------------------------

                                               -------------------------------
                                               (Signature)

                                               -------------------------------
                                               (Printed or Typed Name)