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                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                                 METRICOM, INC.

                             METRICOM FINANCE, INC.

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                               February 1, 2000

     TO:  LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
          SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
          CHASE SECURITIES INC.
          HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC
          J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
          MERRILL, LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
          As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
   C/O LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
      3 World Financial Center
      New York, New York 10285

Dear Sirs:

                Metricom, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Metricom Finance, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Finance Sub" and, together with
the Company, the "Issuers"), propose to issue and sell from time to time, either
together or separately, certain of their (i) senior debt securities (the "Senior
Notes"), (ii) subordinated debt securities (the "Subordinated Notes," and
together with the Senior Notes, the "Debt Securities"), (iii) shares of the
Company's common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and/or
(iv) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (the "Warrants") in one or more
offerings on terms determined at the time of sale and set forth in a term
agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Terms Agreement"). The Debt
Securities may be convertible into shares of Common Stock as set forth in the
applicable Terms Agreement relating thereto.

                The Senior Notes are to be issued under a Senior Indenture,
dated as of December 29, 1999, to be supplemented by one or more supplemental
indentures dated subsequent to the date hereof, and may be amended and further
supplemented (the "Senior Supplemental Indenture" and, together with the Senior
Indenture, the "Senior Indenture"), between the Issuers and Bank One Trust
Company, N.A., as trustee (the "Senior Trustee"). The Subordinated Notes are to
be issued under a Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 29, 1999, to be
supplemented by one or more supplemental indentures dated subsequent to the date
hereof, and may be amended or further supplemented (the "Supplemental
Subordinated Indenture" and, together with the Subordinated Indenture, the
"Subordinated Indenture"), between the Issuers and Bank One Trust Company, N.A.,
as trustee (the "Subordinated Trustee," and together with the Senior Trustee,
the "Trustees"). The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are
collectively referred to herein as the "Indentures." The Senior Notes and the
Subordinated Notes may have varying designations, maturities, rates and times of
payment of interest, if any, selling prices, redemption terms, if any, exchange
terms, if any, conversion terms (in the case of Subordinated Notes) and other

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specific terms as set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement relating thereto.
The Senior Notes and the Subordinated Notes may be issued alone or together with
Warrants as units with such terms as set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement
relating thereto.

               The Warrants are to be issued under a Warrant Agreement, to be
dated subsequent to the date hereof (the "Warrant Agreement"), between the
Company and the warrant agent named therein (the "Warrant Agent"). The Warrants
may be issued with respect to varying numbers of shares of Common Stock and with
varying exercise prices, antidilution provisions and other specific terms as set
forth in the applicable Terms Agreement relating thereto. Warrants may be issued
alone or together with the Debt Securities as units with such terms as set forth
in the applicable Terms Agreement relating thereto.

               The Debt Securities, Warrants and Common Stock, to be issued and
sold as specified in the applicable Terms Agreement, shall collectively be
referred to herein as the "Offered Securities." As used herein, unless the
context otherwise requires, the term "Underwriters" shall mean the firm or firms
specified as Underwriter or Underwriters in the applicable Terms Agreement
relating to the Offered Securities and the term "you" shall mean the Underwriter
or Underwriters, if no underwriting syndicate is purchasing the Offered
Securities, or the representative or representatives of the Underwriters, if an
underwriting syndicate is purchasing the Offered Securities, as specified in the
applicable Terms Agreement.

               Whenever the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, determine to
make an offering of Offered Securities, the Issuers or the Company, as
applicable, will enter into a Terms Agreement providing for the sale of the
applicable Offered Securities to, and the purchase and offering thereof by, the
Underwriters. The Terms Agreement relating to the Offered Securities shall
specify the type of Offered Securities to be issued, the names of the
Underwriters participating in such offering (subject to substitution as provided
in Section 8 hereof), the principal amount or number of Offered Securities that
each such Underwriter severally agrees to purchase, the price at which the
Offered Securities are to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Issuers or
the Company, as applicable, the public offering price, the time and place of
delivery and payment and other specific terms. In addition, each Terms Agreement
shall specify whether the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have agreed to
grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase additional Offered Securities to
cover over-allotments, if any, and the amount of Offered Securities subject to
such option (the "Option Securities"). As used herein, the term "Offered
Securities" shall include the Option Securities, if any. The Terms Agreement may
take the form of an exchange of any standard form of written telecommunication
between you and the Issuers or the Company, as applicable. Each offering of
Offered Securities will be governed by this Agreement, as supplemented by the
applicable Terms Agreement, and this Agreement and such Terms Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Issuers or the Company, as
applicable, and each Underwriter participating in the offering of such Offered
Securities, except as set forth in Section 12 hereof.

                The Issuers have prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") registration statements on Form S-3 (File
Nos. 333-91359


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and 333-95669), each including a prospectus, collectively relating to the
Offered Securities and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with
Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
Such registration statements have been declared effective by the Commission. As
provided in Section 4(a), a final prospectus supplement for each applicable
prospectus reflecting the terms of the Offered Securities covered thereby, the
terms of the offering thereof and the other matters set forth therein will be
prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. Each final
prospectus supplement or prospectus supplements, in the form first filed after
the date of the applicable Terms Agreement pursuant to Rule 424, is herein
referred to as a "Prospectus Supplement." Such registration statements, as
amended at the date of the applicable Terms Agreement, including the exhibits
thereto and the documents incorporated by reference therein, are herein called
the "Registration Statements," each being called a "Registration Statement,"
which also means such registration statements as amended at the Effective Time
(as defined below). The prospectuses included in and relating to all offerings
of securities under the Registration Statements, as supplemented by any
Prospectus Supplement, are herein called the "Prospectuses", except that, if
such prospectuses are amended or supplemented on or prior to the date on which
any Prospectus Supplement is first filed pursuant to Rule 424, the term
"Prospectus" shall refer to the prospectus as so amended or supplemented and as
supplemented by any Prospectus Supplement, in either case including any
documents filed by the Issuers with the Commission pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), that are incorporated by
reference therein. As used herein, "Effective Time" means the date and the time
as of which the Registration Statements, or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereto, if any, was declared effective by the Commission; "Effective
Date" means the date of the Effective Time; "Preliminary Prospectus Supplement"
means each prospectus supplement included in such registration statement, or
amendments thereof, after the Registration Statement became effective under the
Securities Act but containing a "Subject to Completion" legend comparable to
that contained in paragraph 10 of Item 501 under Regulation S-K of the Rules and
Regulations.

                  1.    Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the
Issuers. The Issuers represent, warrant and agree that:

                        (a) The Issuers meet the requirements for use of Form
                  S-3 under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of
                  the Commission thereunder (the "Rules and Regulations"). The
                  Registration Statement (File No. 333-91359) was declared
                  effective by the Commission on December 30, 1999 and the
                  Registration Statement (File No. 333-95669) was declared
                  effective on February 1, 2000.

                      (b) Each Registration Statement and any amendments
                  thereto conformed when it became effective, and each
                  Prospectus Supplement and any further amendments or
                  supplements to the Registration Statements or any Prospectus
                  Supplement will when they were or are filed with the
                  Commission, as the case may be, conform in all respects to the
                  requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and
                  Regulations and did not, as of the applicable effective date
                  (as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto)
                  and as of the applicable filing date (as to each Prospectus
                  Supplement and any


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                  supplement thereto) contain an untrue statement of a material
                  fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
                  therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
                  case of any Prospectus Supplement, in light of the
                  circumstances under which they were made) not misleading;
                  provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made
                  as to information contained in or omitted from a Registration
                  Statement or any Prospectus Supplement in reliance upon and in
                  conformity with written information furnished to the Issuers
                  through any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.

                        (c) Each Registration Statement and any amendment
                  thereto conformed, and each Prospectus Supplement and any
                  further amendments or supplements to the Registration
                  Statements or any Prospectus Supplement will, when they were
                  or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conform
                  in all respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act
                  of 1939, as amended (the "TIA") and the rules and regulations
                  thereunder. At each Delivery Date, the applicable Indenture,
                  if any, will comply in all material respects with the
                  requirements of the TIA and the rules and regulations
                  thereunder.

                        (d) The documents incorporated by reference or deemed to
                  be incorporated in any Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement
                  pursuant to Item 12 of Registration Statements on Form S-3
                  under the Securities Act, at the time they were filed with the
                  Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects
                  with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and
                  regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "Exchange Act
                  Regulations") and, when read together and with the other
                  information in the Prospectus, as of the Effective Date of the
                  Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, did not and
                  will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
                  omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
                  necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
                  light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
                  misleading.

                        (e) The Issuers have been duly incorporated and are
                  validly existing as corporations in good standing under the
                  laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation, are
                  duly qualified to do business and are in good standing as
                  foreign corporations in each jurisdiction in which their
                  respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of
                  their respective businesses requires such qualification,
                  except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
                  material adverse effect on the business, financial condition
                  or results of operations of the Issuers, and have all power
                  and authority necessary to own or hold their respective
                  properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are
                  engaged; and none of the subsidiaries of the Company is a
                  "significant subsidiary," as such term is defined in Rule 405
                  of the Rules and Regulations.

                        (f) At each Delivery Date (as defined in Section 3), the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, will have an authorized
                  capitalization as set forth in,


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                  or included in, the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and all
                  of the issued shares of capital stock of the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, have been duly and validly authorized
                  and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and conform in
                  all material respects to the description thereof contained in
                  the Registration Statement and Prospectus; and all of the
                  issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have been duly and
                  validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
                  non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the
                  Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities
                  or claims.

                        (g) If the Offered Securities include Common Stock, such
                  shares of Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Issuers or
                  the Company, as applicable, to the Underwriters have been duly
                  and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against
                  payment therefor as provided herein and in the applicable
                  Terms Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid
                  and non-assessable and the terms of such Common Stock conform
                  in all material respects to the description thereof contained
                  in each Prospectus Supplement or contained in or incorporated
                  by reference in the Prospectus.

                        (h) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
                  and delivered by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  and upon execution and delivery of each Terms Agreement by the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, such Terms Agreement
                  shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable.

                        (i) The execution, delivery and performance of this
                  Agreement and each Terms Agreement by the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, and the consummation of the
                  transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not conflict
                  with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
                  provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
                  mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
                  instrument to which the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, or any of their subsidiaries is
                  bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, or any of their subsidiaries is
                  subject, except where such a breach, violation or default
                  would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
                  financial condition or results of operations of the Issuers,
                  nor will such actions result in any violation of the
                  provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, or any of their subsidiaries, nor will
                  such actions result in a violation of any statute or any
                  order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency
                  or body having jurisdiction over the Issuers or Company, as
                  applicable, or any of their subsidiaries or any of their
                  properties or assets, except where such a violation would not
                  have a material adverse effect on the business, financial
                  condition or results of operations of the Issuers; and except
                  for the registration of the Offered Securities under the
                  Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
                  registrations or qualifications as may be required under the
                  Exchange Act and applicable state


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                  or foreign securities laws in connection with the purchase and
                  distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters, no
                  consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or
                  registration with, any such court or governmental agency or
                  body is required for the execution, delivery and performance
                  of this Agreement or the applicable Terms Agreement by the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and the consummation of
                  the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

                        (j) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings
                  between the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and any
                  person granting such person the right (other than rights which
                  have been waived or satisfied) to require the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, to file a registration statement under
                  the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable owned or to be owned by
                  such person or to require the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, to include such securities in the securities
                  registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any
                  securities being registered pursuant to any other registration
                  statement filed by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  under the Securities Act.

                        (k) Except as described in each Prospectus Supplement,
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have not and will
                  not have as of any Delivery Date sold or issued any shares of
                  Common Stock or Debt Securities during the six-month period
                  preceding the date of such Prospectus Supplement, including
                  any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S
                  of, the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to
                  employee benefit plans, qualified stock options plans or other
                  employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding
                  options, rights or warrants.

                        (l) None of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  or any of their subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of
                  the latest financial statements included or incorporated by
                  reference in each Prospectus or subsequent Prospectus
                  Supplement, any material loss or interference with its
                  business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity,
                  whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute
                  or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise
                  than as set forth or contemplated in each Prospectus
                  Supplement; and, since such date, there has not been any
                  change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, or any of their subsidiaries or
                  any material adverse change, or any development involving a
                  prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the
                  general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders'
                  equity or results of operations of the Issuers or the Company,
                  as applicable, and their subsidiaries, otherwise than as set
                  forth or contemplated in the Prospectus or each Prospectus
                  Supplement.

                        (m) The historical and pro forma financial statements
                  (including the related notes and supporting schedules) filed
                  as part of the Registration Statement or included in, or
                  incorporated by reference in, each Prospectus or



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                  subsequent Prospectus Supplement present fairly the financial
                  condition and results of operations of the entities purported
                  to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods
                  indicated, and have been prepared in conformity with generally
                  accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
                  throughout the periods involved. The pro forma financial
                  statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with such
                  historical statements of the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, except for the pro forma adjustments specified
                  therein, and give effect to assumptions made on a reasonable
                  basis and in good faith and present fairly the historical and
                  proposed transactions contemplated by each Prospectus
                  Supplement, each applicable Terms Agreement and this
                  Agreement. The other financial and statistical information and
                  data included in each Prospectus or subsequent Prospectus
                  Supplement, historical and pro forma, have been derived from
                  the financial records of the Issuers or the Company (or its
                  predecessors), as applicable, and, in all material respects,
                  have been prepared on a basis consistent with such books and
                  records of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, (or its
                  predecessor).

                        (n) Arthur Andersen LLP, who have certified certain
                  financial statements of the Company, whose report is
                  incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
                  who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section
                  6(f) hereof, are independent public accountants as required by
                  the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

                        (o) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and each
                  of their subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee
                  simple to all real property and good and marketable title to
                  all personal property owned by them, in each case free and
                  clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as do
                  not materially affect the value of such property and do not
                  materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made
                  of such property by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  and their subsidiaries; and all real property and buildings
                  held under lease by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  and their subsidiaries are held by them under valid,
                  subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are
                  not material and do not interfere with the use made and
                  proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and their subsidiaries.

                        (p) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable and each
                  of their subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in
                  such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the
                  conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their
                  respective properties and, to the best knowledge of the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, as is customary for
                  companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

                        (q) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and each
                  of their subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use
                  all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service
                  marks, trade names, trademark registrations,


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                  service mark registrations, copyrights and licenses necessary
                  for the conduct of their respective businesses and have no
                  reason to believe that the conduct of their respective
                  businesses will conflict with, and have not received any
                  notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of
                  others.

                        (r) There are no legal or governmental proceedings
                  pending to which the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or
                  any of their subsidiaries is a party or of which any property
                  or assets of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any
                  of their subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined
                  adversely to the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any
                  of their subsidiaries, might have a material adverse effect on
                  the consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity,
                  results of operations, business or prospects of the Company,
                  and its subsidiaries; and to the best of the Company's
                  knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated
                  by governmental authorities or threatened by others.

                        (s) There are no contracts or other documents which are
                  required by the Rules and Regulations to be described in each
                  Prospectus Supplement or filed as exhibits to the Registration
                  Statement by the Securities Act or by the Rules and
                  Regulations which have not been described in such Prospectus
                  Supplement or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

                        (t) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between
                  or among the Issuers or the Company. as applicable, on the one
                  hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or
                  suppliers of the Issuers or the Company. as applicable, on the
                  other hand, which is required by the Rules and Regulations to
                  be described in each Prospectus Supplement which is not so
                  described.

                        (u) No labor disturbance by the employees of the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, exists or, to the knowledge of
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, is imminent which
                  would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
                  on the consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity,
                  results of operations, business or prospects of the Company
                  and its subsidiaries.

                        (v) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have
                  filed all federal, state and local income and franchise tax
                  returns required to be filed through the date hereof and has
                  paid all taxes due thereon, and no tax deficiency has been
                  determined adversely to the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, or any of their subsidiaries which has had (nor do
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have any knowledge
                  of any tax deficiency which, if determined adversely to the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of their
                  subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a material
                  adverse effect on the consolidated financial position,
                  stockholders' equity, results of operations, business or
                  prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries.


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                        (w) Since the date as of which information is given in
                  each Prospectus Supplement through the date hereof, and except
                  as may otherwise be disclosed in each Prospectus Supplement,
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have not (i) issued
                  or granted any securities other than options or rights granted
                  in the ordinary course of business under any existing option
                  plans or stock purchase plans or stock issued upon the
                  exercise or conversion of outstanding options, rights or
                  warrants, (ii) incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
                  contingent, other than liabilities and obligations which were
                  incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii) entered
                  into any transaction not in the ordinary course of business or
                  (iv) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock, other
                  than dividends paid on the Company's Series A1 and A2
                  Preferred Stock.

                        (x) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, (i) make
                  and keep accurate books and records and (ii) maintain internal
                  accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that
                  (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management's
                  authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to
                  permit preparation of its financial statements and to maintain
                  accountability for its assets, (C) access to its assets is
                  permitted only in accordance with management's authorization
                  and (D) the reported accountability for its assets is compared
                  with existing assets at reasonable intervals.

                        (y) None of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  (i) is in violation of its charter or by-laws, (ii) is in
                  default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse
                  of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due
                  performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition
                  contained in any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
                  loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is
                  a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its
                  properties or assets is subject, except where such a default
                  would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
                  financial condition or results of operations of the Issuers,
                  or (iii) is in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental
                  rule, regulation or court decree to which it or its property
                  or assets may be subject or has failed to obtain any material
                  license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental
                  authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its
                  property or to the conduct of its business, except where such
                  a violation would not have a material adverse effect on the
                  business, financial condition or results of operations of the
                  Issuers.

                        (z) None of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  nor to the best knowledge of the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, any of their subsidiaries, nor any director,
                  officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or
                  acting on behalf of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  has used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution,
                  gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to
                  political activity, made any direct or indirect unlawful
                  payment to any foreign or domestic government official or
                  employee from corporate funds; violated or is in


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                  violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices
                  Act of 1977, or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence
                  payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

                        (aa) None of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  nor any of their subsidiaries, or will be after the offering
                  and use of proceeds therefrom, an "investment company" within
                  the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of
                  1940 and the rules and regulations of the Commission
                  thereunder.

                        (bb) If the Offered Securities include Debt Securities,
                  such Debt Securities shall, on the date of the Terms Agreement
                  relating to such Offered Securities, be duly authorized for
                  issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when such
                  Debt Securities are duly executed, authenticated and delivered
                  pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and the
                  applicable Indenture against payment of the consideration
                  therefor in accordance with this Agreement and the applicable
                  Terms Agreement, such Debt Securities will be valid and
                  legally binding obligations of the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except
                  as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
                  insolvency or other laws relating to or affecting enforcement
                  of creditors' rights or by general equity principles and will
                  be entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture; and
                  the Indentures conform in all material respects to all
                  statements relating thereto contained in each Prospectus
                  Supplement; and, if the Offered Securities include
                  Subordinated Notes that are convertible into shares of Common
                  Stock ("Convertible Debt Securities"), then such Debt
                  Securities shall be convertible into shares of Common Stock in
                  accordance with their terms and the terms of a Convertible
                  Debt Securities Prospectus Supplement (a "Convertible
                  Prospectus Supplement").

                        (cc) If the Offered Securities include Debt Securities,
                  the applicable Indenture and any supplement thereto has been
                  duly authorized by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
                  and, when duly executed and delivered by the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, and the Trustee, will constitute a
                  valid and binding obligation of the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, enforceable against the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, in accordance with its terms, except as
                  enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
                  insolvency or other laws relating to or affecting enforcement
                  of creditors' rights or by general equity principles; and the
                  summary descriptions of the applicable Indenture set forth in
                  each Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities
                  conforms in all material respects to the provisions contained
                  in the applicable Indenture.

                        (dd) If the Offered Securities include Warrants, the
                  applicable Warrant Agreement and any supplement thereto has
                  been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed
                  and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent, will
                  constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company


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                  enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
                  except as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
                  insolvency or other laws relating to or affecting enforcement
                  of creditors' rights or by general equity principles; and the
                  summary descriptions of the applicable Warrant Agreement set
                  forth in each Prospectus Supplement relating to such Warrants
                  conforms in all material respects to the provisions contained
                  in the applicable Warrant Agreement.

                        (ee) Except for such matters as would not have a
                  material adverse effect on the Company: (i) no written notice,
                  request for information, order, complaint or penalty has been
                  received by the Company relating to any Environmental Law, and
                  there are no judicial, administrative or other actions, suits
                  or proceedings pending, nor to the knowledge of the Company,
                  threatened against the Company which allege a violation of any
                  Environmental Law; (ii) (a) the company and each of its
                  subsidiaries have all environmental permits necessary for
                  their operations to comply with all applicable Environmental
                  Laws in all material respects and are in substantial
                  compliance with the terms of such permits and (b) there are no
                  legal proceedings pending, nor to the knowledge of the
                  Company, threatened to revoke such environmental permits; and
                  (iii) there has been no written environmental audit conducted
                  within the past five years by the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries of any property currently owned or leased by the
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                        "ENVIRONMENTAL LAW" means any material federal, state or
                  local (including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule
                  or regulation, relating to the environment, natural resources,
                  or the effect of the environment on public or employee health
                  and safety and includes, but is not limited to, the
                  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
                  Liability Act ("CERCLA"), 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq., the
                  Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 1801
                  et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"),
                  42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.
                  Section 1251 et seq., the Clean Air Act, 33 U.S.C. Section
                  2601 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.
                  Section 2601 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
                  Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. Section 136 et seq., the Oil
                  Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C.Section 2701 et seq., as such
                  laws have been amended or supplemented on or prior to the
                  effective date of the Registration Statement, and the
                  regulations promulgated pursuant thereto on or prior to the
                  Registration Statement, and all analogous state or local
                  statutes.

            2.    Purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters. The
several commitments of the Underwriters to purchase Offered Securities pursuant
to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained and shall be subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein.

            In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties
herein and subject to the terms and contained herein set forth, the Issuers or
the Company, as applicable


                                       11
   12

may grant, if so provided in the Terms Agreement applicable to any Offered
Securities, an option to the Underwriters named in such Terms Agreement,
severally and not jointly, to purchase up to the amount of Option Securities set
forth therein at the same price per security as is applicable to the Offered
Securities. Such option, if granted, may be exercised in whole or in part from
time to time for the purpose of covering over-allotments as provided in Section
4 hereof. Option Securities shall be purchased severally for the account of the
Underwriters in proportion to the number of shares of Offered Securities set
opposite the name of such Underwriters in the Terms Agreement applicable to the
Offered Securities. The respective purchase obligations of each Underwriter with
respect to any Option Securities that are Common Stock shall be adjusted by the
Underwriters so that no Underwriter shall be obligated to purchase such Common
Stock other than in 100 share amounts.

            Neither the Issuers nor the Company, as applicable, shall be
obligated to deliver any of the Offered Securities to be delivered on any
Delivery Date (as hereinafter defined), as the case may be, except upon payment
for all the Offered Securities to be purchased on such Delivery Date as provided
herein.

            3.    Delivery of and Payment for the Securities. (a) Delivery of
and payment for the Offered Securities shall be made at the office of Weil,
Gotshal & Manges LLP, 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10153, at 10:00 A.M.,
New York City time, on the third full business day (unless postponed in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement) following the date of the
Terms Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be agreed upon by you
and the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, in the applicable Terms
Agreement. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the "First Delivery
Date." On the Delivery Date, the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall
deliver or cause to be delivered certificates representing the Offered
Securities to the Underwriters for the account of each Underwriter named in the
Terms Agreement applicable to the Offered Securities against payment to or upon
the order of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, of the purchase price by
wire transfer in immediately available funds. Time shall be of the essence, and
delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to the applicable Terms
Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter
thereunder. Upon delivery, the Offered Securities shall be registered in such
names and in such denominations as the Underwriters shall request in writing not
less than two full business days prior to the First Delivery Date.

            (b) Any option granted in Section 2 will expire 30 days after the
date of the applicable Terms Agreement and may be exercised in whole or in part
from time to time by written notice being given to the Issuers, or the Company,
as applicable, by the Underwriters. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate
number of Option Securities as to which the option is being exercised, the names
in which the Option Securities are to be registered, the denominations in which
the Option Securities are to be issued and the date and time, as determined by
the Underwriters, when the Option Securities are to be delivered; provided,
however, that this date and time shall not be earlier than the First Delivery
Date nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option
shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date
on which the option shall have been exercised. The date and time the Option
Securities are delivered are sometimes referred to as a "Second


                                       12
   13

Delivery Date" and the First Delivery Date and any Second Delivery Date are
sometimes each referred to as a "Delivery Date."

            (c) If applicable, delivery of and payment for the Option Securities
shall be made at the place specified in the first sentence of Section 3(a) (or
at such other place as shall be determined by agreement between the Underwriters
and the Issuers or the Company, as applicable) at 10:00 A.M., New York City
time, on such Second Delivery Date. On such Second Delivery Date, the Issuers or
the Company, as applicable, shall deliver or cause to be delivered the
certificates representing the Option Securities to the Underwriters for the
account of each Underwriter against payment to or upon the order of the Issuers
or the Company, as applicable, of the purchase price by wire transfer in
immediately available funds. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the
time and place specified pursuant to the applicable Terms Agreement shall be a
further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter thereunder. Upon
delivery, the Option Securities shall be registered in such names and in such
denominations as the Underwriters shall request in the aforesaid written notice.

            4.    Further Agreements of the Issuers. The Issuers or the Company,
as applicable, agree:

                  (a) To prepare a Prospectus Supplement in a form approved by
            the Underwriters and, not later than the Commission's close of
            business on the second business day following the execution and
            delivery of each Terms Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier
            time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Securities Act,
            to file a Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
            Securities Act; to make no further amendment to the Registration
            Statement (including any post-effective amendment) or any amendment
            or supplement to the Prospectus except as permitted herein and by
            the applicable Terms Agreement; to advise the Underwriters ,
            promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time when any
            supplement to each Prospectus Supplement has been filed and to
            furnish such Underwriters with copies thereof; to advise such
            Underwriters, promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the
            issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order
            preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus
            Supplement or any Prospectus Supplement, of the suspension of the
            qualification of the Offered Securities for offering or sale in any
            jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
            any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the
            amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or any
            Prospectus Supplement or for additional information; and, in the
            event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing
            or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or
            any Prospectus Supplement or suspending any such qualification, to
            use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

                  (b) To furnish promptly to each of the Underwriters and to
            counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration
            Statement as originally


                                       13
   14

            filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the
            Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith;

                  (c) To deliver promptly to the Underwriters such number of the
            following documents as the Underwriters shall reasonably request:
            (i) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
            filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case
            excluding exhibits other than this Agreement and the computation of
            per share earnings) and (ii) each Preliminary Prospectus Supplement,
            each Prospectus Supplement and any supplemented Prospectus
            Supplement and, if the delivery of a Prospectus Supplement is
            required at any time after the Effective Time in connection with the
            offering or sale of the Offered Securities or any other securities
            relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred
            as a result of which any Prospectus Supplement as then supplemented
            would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
            state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
            therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
            made, when such Prospectus Supplement is delivered, not misleading,
            or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to supplement any
            Prospectus Supplement in order to comply with the Securities Act, to
            notify the Underwriters and, upon their request, to prepare and
            furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in
            securities as many copies as the Underwriters may from time to time
            reasonably request of a supplemented Prospectus Supplement which
            will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

                  (d) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment to the
            Registration Statement or any supplement to each Prospectus
            Supplement that may, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuers or
            the Company, as applicable, or the Underwriters, be required by the
            Securities Act or requested by the Commission;

                  (e) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment to the
            Registration Statement or supplement to each Prospectus Supplement
            or any Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424 of the Rules and
            Regulations, to furnish a copy thereof to the Underwriters and
            counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the
            Underwriters to the filing;

                  (f) As soon as practicable (it being understood that the
            Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall have until at least 410
            or, if the fourth quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes
            the applicable effective date is the last fiscal quarter of the
            fiscal year, 455 days after the end of the current fiscal quarter),
            to make generally available to the Company's security holders, as
            applicable, and to deliver to the Underwriters, an earnings
            statement of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and their
            subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section
            11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations
            (including, at the option of the Issuers or the Company, as
            applicable, Rule 158);



                                       14
   15

                  (g) For a period of five years following the Effective Date,
            to furnish to the Underwriters copies of all materials furnished by
            the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, to its securityholders
            and all public reports and all reports and financial statements
            furnished by the Company to the Nasdaq Stock Market or the principal
            national securities exchange upon which the Common Stock may be
            listed pursuant to requirements of or agreements with Nasdaq or such
            exchange or to the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act or any
            rule or regulation of the Commission thereunder;

                  (h) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
            Underwriters may reasonably request to qualify the Offered
            Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such
            jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request and to comply with
            such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings
            therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to
            complete the distribution of the Offered Securities; provided that
            in connection therewith the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
            shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file
            a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

                  (i) For a period specified in the applicable Terms Agreement
            under the caption "Lock-up Provisions," commencing on the date of
            such Terms Agreement, not to, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for
            sale, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hedge or otherwise dispose,
            directly or indirectly, of any shares of Common Stock, Debt
            Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common
            Stock (other than the Offered Securities and shares issued pursuant
            to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other
            employee, director or consultant compensation plans existing on the
            date hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants
            or rights), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with
            respect to any shares of Common Stock, Debt Securities or securities
            convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the
            grant of options or rights pursuant to option plans or stock
            purchase plans existing on the date hereof), or (2) enter into any
            swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in
            whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership
            of such shares of Common Stock or Debt Securities, whether any such
            transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by
            delivery of Common Stock, Debt Securities or other securities, in
            cash or otherwise, or (3) publicly disclose an intention to make any
            such offer, sale, pledge, hedge, swap or other transaction, in each
            case without the prior written consent of the Underwriters named in
            the applicable Terms Agreement; and to cause each officer and
            director of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, to furnish to
            the Underwriters, prior to the First Delivery Date, a letter or
            letters, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
            Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to,
            directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or
            otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device which
            is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition
            by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common
            Stock (including, without


                                       15
   16

            limitation, shares of Common Stock that may be deemed to be
            beneficially owned by such party in accordance with the Rules and
            Regulations and shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon
            exercise of any option or warrant) or securities convertible into or
            exchangeable for Common Stock (other than any shares of Common Stock
            contemplated by a Terms Agreement) owned by such party on the date
            the letter is completed and the date of the applicable Terms
            Agreement, or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives
            transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of
            the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such shares of Common
            Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2)
            above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other
            securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case for a period
            specified in the applicable Terms Agreement, commencing on the date
            of such Terms Agreement, without the prior written consent of the
            Underwriters named in the applicable Terms Agreement;

                  (j) If and to the extent specified in the applicable Terms
            Agreement, to apply for the inclusion of the Offered Securities in
            the National Market System of the Nasdaq Stock Market and to use its
            best efforts to complete that listing, subject only to official
            notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, prior
            to the First Delivery Date;

                  (k) To take such steps as shall be necessary to ensure that
            none of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of their
            subsidiaries shall become an "investment company" within the meaning
            of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules
            and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

            5.    Expenses. The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, agree to
pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement, including (a) the costs incident
to the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities and
any taxes payable in that connection; (b) the costs incident to the preparation,
printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement and
any amendments and exhibits thereto; (c) the costs of distributing the
Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto and any
post-effective amendments thereof (including, in each case, exhibits), any
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, each Prospectus Supplement and any supplement
to any Prospectus Supplement, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the costs
of producing and distributing this Agreement and any other related documents in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the stock; (e) any
applicable listing or other fees; (f) the fees and expenses of qualifying the
Offered Securities under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as
provided in Section 4 (h) and of preparing, printing and distributing a Blue Sky
Memorandum (including related reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the
Underwriters); (g) one-half of the air transportation expenses related to the
roadshow, with the Company and the Underwriters otherwise responsible for any
other costs or expenses associated with the roadshow; and (h) all other costs
and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Issuers or
the Company, as applicable, under this Agreement; provided that, except as
provided in this Section 5 and in Section 10 the


                                       16
   17

Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and
expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Offered Securities which
they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Offered
Securities made by the Underwriters.

            6.    Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The respective
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made
and on the applicable Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of
the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, contained herein, to the performance
by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, of their obligations hereunder,
and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

                  (a) The Prospectus Supplement shall have been timely filed
            with the Commission in accordance with Section 4(a); no stop order
            suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
            part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that
            purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission;
            and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional
            information in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus
            Supplement or otherwise shall have been complied with.

                  (b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the
            Company on or prior to such Delivery Date that the Registration
            Statement or any Prospectus Supplement or any amendment or
            supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which
            shall not have been corrected on or prior to such Delivery Date in
            an amendment or supplement thereto, and which, in the reasonable
            opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel for the Underwriters,
            is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such
            counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is
            necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

                  (c) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident
            to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the
            applicable Terms Agreement, the Offered Securities, the Registration
            Statement and each Prospectus Supplement, and all other legal
            matters relating to this Agreement and the applicable Terms
            Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall
            be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for
            the Underwriters, and the Issuers or the Company, as applicable,
            shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information
            that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such
            matters.

                  (d) Cooley Godward LLP shall have furnished to the
            Underwriters their written opinion, as counsel to the Issuers or the
            Company, as applicable, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such
            Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
            Underwriters, to the effect that:

                        (i) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and each
                  of their subsidiaries have been duly incorporated and are
                  validly existing as corporations in good standing under the
                  laws of their respective


                                       17
   18

                  jurisdictions of incorporation, are duly qualified to do
                  business and are in good standing as foreign corporations in
                  each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease
                  of property or the conduct of their respective businesses
                  requires such qualification and have all power and authority
                  necessary to own or hold their respective properties and
                  conduct the businesses in which they are engaged;

                        (ii) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have an
                  authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus and
                  Prospectus Supplement, and all of the issued shares of capital
                  stock of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, (including
                  the Offered Securities being delivered on such Delivery Date)
                  have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully
                  paid and non-assessable and conform to the description thereof
                  contained in the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement; and all
                  of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, have been duly and
                  validly authorized and issued and are fully paid,
                  non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, free and clear of all
                  liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

                        (iii) There are no preemptive or other rights to
                  subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the
                  voting or transfer of, any of the Offered Securities pursuant
                  to the Issuers' or the Company's, as applicable, charter or
                  by-laws or any agreement or other instrument known to such
                  counsel;

                        (iv) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are
                  no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of their
                  subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of its
                  subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of its
                  subsidiaries, might have a material adverse effect on the
                  consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity, results
                  of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its
                  subsidiaries; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no
                  such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by
                  governmental authorities or threatened by others;

                        (v) The Registration Statement was declared effective
                  under the Securities Act as of the date and time specified in
                  such opinion, each Prospectus Supplement was filed with the
                  Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) of the
                  Rules and Regulations specified in such opinion on the date
                  specified therein and no stop order suspending the
                  effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
                  and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no


                                       18
   19

                  proceeding for that purpose is pending or threatened by the
                  Commission;

                        (vi) The Registration Statement and each Prospectus
                  Supplement and any further amendments or supplements thereto
                  made by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, prior to
                  such Delivery Date (other than the financial statements and
                  related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need
                  express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects
                  with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and
                  Regulations;

                        (vii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are
                  no contracts or other documents which are required to be
                  described in any Prospectus Supplement or filed as exhibits to
                  the Registration Statement by the Securities Act or by the
                  Rules and Regulations which have not been described or filed
                  as exhibits to the Registration Statement;

                        (viii) This Agreement and the applicable Terms Agreement
                  have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable;

                        (ix) The issue and sale of the Offered Securities being
                  delivered on such Delivery Date by the Issuers or the Company,
                  as applicable, and the compliance by the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, with all of the provisions of this
                  Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
                  contemplated hereby will not conflict with or result in a
                  breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
                  constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
                  trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known
                  to such counsel to which the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by
                  which the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of
                  their subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or
                  assets of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of
                  their subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result in
                  any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any of their
                  subsidiaries or any statute or any order, rule or regulation
                  known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or
                  body having jurisdiction over the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
                  properties or assets; and, except for the registration of the
                  Offered Securities under the Securities Act and such consents,
                  approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as
                  may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state or
                  foreign securities laws in connection with the purchase and
                  distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters, no
                  consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or
                  registration with, any such court


                                       19
   20

                  or governmental agency or body is required for the execution,
                  delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Issuers or
                  the Company, as applicable, and the consummation of the
                  transactions contemplated hereby;

                        (x) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are
                  no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, and any person granting such
                  person the right (other than rights which have been waived or
                  satisfied) to require the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, to file a registration statement under the
                  Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, owned or to be owned by such
                  person or to require the Issuer or the Company, as applicable,
                  to include such securities in the securities registered
                  pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities
                  being registered pursuant to any other registration statement
                  filed by the Issuer or the Company, applicable, under the
                  Securities Act;

                        (xi) If the Offered Securities include Debt Securities,
                  the applicable Indenture and any supplement thereto has been
                  duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and constitutes the
                  valid and binding agreement of the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
                  as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
                  insolvency or other laws relating to or affecting enforcement
                  of creditors' rights or by general equity principles;

                        (xii) If the Offered Securities include Debt Securities,
                  such Debt Securities are in the form contemplated by the
                  applicable Indenture, and have been duly and validly
                  authorized by all necessary corporate action and, when
                  executed and authenticated as specified in the applicable
                  Indenture and delivered against payment pursuant to this
                  Agreement, as supplemented by the applicable Terms Agreement,
                  will be valid and binding obligations of the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with their
                  terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by
                  bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws relating to or affecting
                  enforcement of creditors' rights or by general equity
                  principles, and except further as enforcement thereof may be
                  limited by requirements that a claim (or a foreign currency
                  judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into United
                  States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date
                  determined pursuant to applicable law, and will be entitled to
                  the benefits of the applicable Indenture;

                        (xiii) The Offered Securities and, if applicable, the
                  Indenture and the Common Stock, conform in all material
                  respects to the


                                       20
   21

                  descriptions thereof in the Prospectus and the applicable
                  Prospectus Supplement;

                        (xiv) If the Offered Securities include Debt Securities,
                  the applicable Indenture is qualified under the 1939 Act; and

                        (xv) If the Offered Securities include Convertible Debt
                  Securities or Convertible Preferred Stock, the shares of
                  Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Convertible Debt
                  Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance
                  upon such conversion by all necessary corporate action and
                  such shares, when issued upon such conversion will be duly and
                  validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable, and
                  the issuance of such shares upon such conversion will not be
                  subject to preemptive rights.

            In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that their opinion
            is limited to matters governed by the Federal laws of the United
            States of America and the General Corporation Law of the State of
            Delaware. Such counsel shall also have furnished to the Underwriters
            a written statement, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such
            Delivery Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
            Underwriters, to the effect that (x) such counsel has acted as
            counsel to the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, in connection
            with previous financing transactions and has acted as counsel to the
            Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration
            Statement, and (y) based on the foregoing, no facts have come to the
            attention of such counsel which lead them to believe that the
            Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained any
            untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
            fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
            statements therein not misleading, or that any Prospectus Supplement
            contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
            material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
            make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
            which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing opinion and
            statement may be qualified by a statement to the effect that such
            counsel does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
            completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
            Registration Statement or any Prospectus Supplement except for the
            statements made in each Prospectus Supplement under the identified
            in Section 8(d)(viii) and (ix).

                  (e) The Underwriters shall have received from Weil Gotshal &
            Manges LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions,
            dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of
            the Offered Securities, the Registration Statement, each Prospectus
            Supplement and other related matters as the Underwriters may
            reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such
            counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of
            enabling them to pass upon such matters.



                                       21
   22

                  (f) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the
            Underwriters shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter,
            in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, addressed to
            the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they
            are independent public accountants within the meaning of the
            Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable
            requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule
            2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the
            date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or
            developments since the respective dates as of which specified
            financial information is given in each Prospectus Supplement, as of
            a date not more than five days prior to the date hereof), the
            conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial
            information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants'
            "comfort letters" to underwriters in connection with registered
            public offerings.

                  (g) With respect to the letter of Arthur Andersen LLP referred
            to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Underwriters
            concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the "initial
            letter"), the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall have
            furnished to the Underwriters a letter (the "bring-down letter") of
            such accountants, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such
            Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public
            accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in
            compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the
            qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of
            the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down
            letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or
            developments since the respective dates as of which specified
            financial information is given in each Prospectus Supplement, as of
            a date not more than five days prior to the date of the bring-down
            letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to
            the financial information and other matters covered by the initial
            letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions
            and findings set forth in the initial letter.

                      (h) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall have
               furnished to the Underwriters a certificate, dated such Delivery
               Date, of its Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice
               President and its chief financial officer stating that:

                              (i) The representations, warranties and agreements
                        of the Company in Section 1 are true and correct as of
                        such Delivery Date; the Issuers or the Company, as
                        applicable, have complied in all material respects with
                        all their agreements contained herein; and the
                        conditions set forth in Subsections (a) and (i) of this
                        Section 7 have been fulfilled; and

                              (ii) They have carefully examined the Registration
                        Statement and each Prospectus Supplement and, in their
                        opinion (A) as of the Effective Date, the Registration
                        Statement and, as of the Delivery Date, the Prospectus
                        Supplement did not include any untrue



                                       22
   23

                        statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a
                        material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
                        to make the statements therein not misleading, and (B)
                        since the Effective Date, no event has occurred which
                        should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment
                        to the Registration Statement or any Prospectus
                        Supplement.

                        (i) (i) None of the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, or any of their subsidiaries shall have sustained
                  since the date of the latest financial statements included or
                  incorporated by reference in each Prospectus Supplement any
                  loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion,
                  flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance,
                  or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
                  order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
                  in each Prospectus Supplement or (ii) since such date there
                  shall not have been any change in the capital stock or
                  long-term debt of the Issuers or the Issuers or the Company,
                  as applicable, or any of their subsidiaries or any change, or
                  any development involving a prospective change, in or
                  affecting the general affairs, management, financial position,
                  stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, and their subsidiaries,
                  otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in each Prospectus
                  Supplement, the effect of which, in any such case described in
                  clause (i) or (ii), is, in the reasonable judgment of the
                  Underwriters, so material and adverse as to make it
                  impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
                  offering or the delivery of the Offered Securities being
                  delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner
                  contemplated in any Prospectus Supplement.

                        (j) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
                  Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following:
                  (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
                  Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or in the
                  over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, on any exchange or in
                  the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or
                  minimum prices shall have been established on any such
                  exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or
                  by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having
                  jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been
                  declared by Federal or state authorities, (iii) the United
                  States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall
                  have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United
                  States or there shall have been a declaration of a national
                  emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have
                  occurred such a material adverse change in general economic,
                  political or financial conditions (or the effect of
                  international conditions on the financial markets in the
                  United States shall be such) as to make it, in the judgment of
                  the Underwriters impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
                  the public offering or delivery of the Offered Securities
                  being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the
                  manner contemplated in any Prospectus Supplement.


                                       23
   24

                        (k) The Nasdaq Stock Market or such other exchange as
                  may be specified in the applicable Terms Agreement shall have
                  approved the Offered Securities for inclusion in the National
                  Market System, subject only to official notice of issuance and
                  evidence of satisfactory distribution.

                  All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned
above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with
the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

                  7.    Indemnification and Contribution.

                        (a) The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall
                  indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and
                  employees and each person, if any, who controls any
                  Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and
                  against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or
                  several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not
                  limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
                  relating to purchases and sales of Offered Securities), to
                  which that Underwriter, officer, employee or controlling
                  person may become subject, under the Securities Act or
                  otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or
                  action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue
                  statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
                  contained in the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus
                  Supplement, the Registration Statement or any Prospectus
                  Supplement or in any amendment or supplement thereto (ii) the
                  omission or alleged omission to state in the Prospectus, any
                  Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement
                  or any Prospectus Supplement, or in any amendment or
                  supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application any
                  material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
                  make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any act or
                  failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any
                  Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to,
                  the Offered Securities or the offering contemplated hereby,
                  and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss,
                  claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based
                  upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (provided
                  that neither the Issuers nor the Company, as applicable, shall
                  be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that it is
                  determined in a final judgment by a court of competent
                  jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or
                  action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act
                  undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through
                  its gross negligence or willful misconduct), and shall
                  reimburse each Underwriter and each such officer, employee or
                  controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other
                  expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, officer,
                  employee or controlling person in connection with
                  investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any
                  such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses
                  are incurred; provided, however, that (A) neither the Issuers
                  nor the Company, as applicable, shall be liable in any such
                  case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
                  liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any
                  untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
                  alleged omission made in


                                       24
   25

                  the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the
                  Registration Statement or any Prospectus Supplement, or in any
                  such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in
                  conformity with written information concerning such
                  Underwriter furnished to the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, through the Underwriters by or on behalf of any
                  Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein which
                  information will consist solely of the information specified
                  in the Terms Agreement or in writing between the Issuers or
                  the Company, as applicable, and the Underwriters, and (B) the
                  indemnification provided for in this Section 7(a) with respect
                  to any preliminary prospectus (or the Prospectus) shall not
                  inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person
                  asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
                  purchased the Offered Securities which are the subject thereof
                  (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter)
                  if at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such
                  Offered Securities a copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus
                  as amended or supplemented) was not sent or delivered to such
                  person and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact
                  contained in such preliminary prospectus (or the Prospectus)
                  was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended
                  or supplemented) and delivery of such Prospectus (or
                  Prospectus as amended or supplemented) would have eliminated
                  any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action unless the
                  failure is the result of non-compliance by the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, with Section 4(c) hereof. The
                  foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability
                  which the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, may otherwise
                  have to any Underwriter or to any officer, employee or
                  controlling person of that Underwriter.

                        (b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall
                  indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, their respective officers and employees, each of
                  their respective directors and each person, if any, who
                  controls the Issuers or Company, as applicable, within the
                  meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any loss,
                  claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
                  respect thereof, to which the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, or any such director, officer or controlling
                  person may become subject, under the Securities Act or
                  otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or
                  action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue
                  statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
                  contained (A) in the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus
                  Supplement, the Registration Statement or any Prospectus
                  Supplement or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (B)
                  in any Blue Sky Application or (ii) the omission or alleged
                  omission to state in the Prospectus, any Preliminary
                  Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement or any
                  Prospectus Supplement, or in any amendment or supplement
                  thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application any material fact
                  required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
                  statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to
                  the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue
                  statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance
                  upon and in conformity with written information concerning
                  such Underwriter furnished to the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable,


                                       25
   26

                  through the Underwriters by or on behalf of that Underwriter
                  specifically for inclusion therein, and shall reimburse the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and any such director,
                  officer or controlling person for any legal or other expenses
                  reasonably incurred by the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, or any such director, officer or controlling
                  person promptly upon demand in connection with investigating
                  or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss,
                  claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
                  incurred. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to
                  any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have to the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, or any such director,
                  officer, employee or controlling person.

                        (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
                  this Section 7 of notice of any claim or the commencement of
                  any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect
                  thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
                  this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of
                  the claim or the commencement of that action; provided,
                  however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party
                  shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have
                  under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been
                  materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided further,
                  that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not
                  relieve it from any liability which it may have to an
                  indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. If any
                  such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified
                  party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the
                  indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein
                  and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
                  similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense
                  thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
                  indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to
                  the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of
                  such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be
                  liable to the indemnified party under this Section 7 for any
                  legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the
                  indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other
                  than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however,
                  that the Underwriters shall have the right to employ counsel
                  to represent jointly the Underwriters and their respective
                  officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject
                  to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which
                  indemnity may be sought by the Underwriters against the
                  Issuers or the Company, as applicable, under this Section 7
                  if, in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriters, it is
                  advisable for the Underwriters and those officers, employees
                  and controlling persons to be jointly represented by separate
                  counsel, and in that event the fees and expenses of such
                  separate counsel shall be paid by the Issuers or the Company,
                  as applicable. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the
                  prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which
                  consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or
                  compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
                  respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
                  proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution
                  may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified
                  parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or
                  action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes
                  an unconditional release of each indemnified party from


                                       26
   27

                  all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
                  proceeding, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such
                  action effected without its written consent (which consent
                  shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the
                  consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final
                  judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying
                  party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified
                  party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
                  settlement or judgment.

                        (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section
                  7 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to
                  hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b)
                  in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any
                  action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each
                  indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such
                  indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by
                  such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage
                  or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such
                  proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
                  benefits received by the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
                  from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the
                  allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
                  applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
                  reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
                  (i) above but also the relative fault of the Issuers or the
                  Company, as applicable, on the one hand and the Underwriters
                  on the other with respect to the statements or omissions which
                  resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action
                  in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable
                  considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuers
                  or the Company, as applicable, on the one hand and the
                  Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall
                  be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
                  proceeds from the offering of the Offered Securities purchased
                  under this Agreement (before deducting expenses but after
                  deducting amounts with respect to any reserves for the payment
                  of interest in connection with Debt Securities) received by
                  the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, on the one hand,
                  and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received
                  by the Underwriters with respect to the Offered Securities
                  purchased under this Agreement, on the other hand, bear to the
                  total gross proceeds from the offering of the Offered
                  Securities under this Agreement, in each case as set forth in
                  the table on the cover page of each Prospectus Supplement. The
                  relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the
                  untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
                  omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates
                  to information supplied by the Issuers or the Company, as
                  applicable, or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and
                  their relative knowledge, access to information and
                  opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
                  The Issuers or Company, as applicable, agree that it would not
                  be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
                  Section were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if
                  the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose)
                  or by any other method of allocation which does not take into
                  account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The
                  amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
                  the loss, claim,


                                       27
   28

                  damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to
                  above in this Section shall be deemed to include, for purposes
                  of this Section 7(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably
                  incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
                  investigating or defending any such action or claim.
                  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), no
                  Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
                  excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
                  Offered Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the
                  public was offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
                  damages which such Underwriter has otherwise paid or become
                  liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue
                  statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
                  fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
                  11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution
                  from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
                  misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute
                  as provided in this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to
                  their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

                  8.    Defaulting Underwriters.

                  If, on the applicable Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults
in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the remaining
non-defaulting Underwriters participating in an offering of Offered Securities
shall be obligated to purchase the Offered Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase on such Delivery Date in the
respective proportions which the number of the Offered Securities set opposite
the name of each remaining non-defaulting Underwriter named in the applicable
Terms Agreement bears to the total number of the Offered Securities set opposite
the names of all the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters named in the
applicable Terms Agreement; provided, however, that the remaining non-defaulting
Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase any of the Offered Securities on
such Delivery Date if the total number of the Offered Securities which the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such
date exceeds 9.09% of the total number of the Offered Securities to be purchased
on such Delivery Date, and any remaining non-defaulting Underwriter shall not be
obligated to purchase more than 110% of the number of the Offered Securities
which it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the terms of
Section 3. If the foregoing maximums are exceeded, the remaining non-defaulting
Underwriters, or those other underwriters satisfactory to the Underwriters who
so agree, shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to purchase, in such
proportion as may be agreed upon among them, all the Offered Securities to be
purchased on such Delivery Date. If the remaining Underwriters or other
underwriters satisfactory to the Underwriters do not elect to purchase the
shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase on such Delivery Date, this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second
Delivery Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and of the
Issuers and the Company, as applicable, to sell, the Option Securities) shall
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the
Issuers or the Company, as applicable, except that the Issuer or the Company, as
applicable, will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses to the extent
set forth in Sections 5 and 10.



                                       28
   29

                Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter
of any liability it may have to the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, for
damages caused by its default. If other underwriters are obligated or agree to
purchase the Offered Securities of a defaulting or withdrawing Underwriter,
either the Underwriters or the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, may
postpone the Delivery Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect
any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the
Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus
Supplement or in any other document or arrangement.

                 9.    Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters
hereunder may be terminated by the Underwriters by notice given to and received
by the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, prior to delivery of and payment
for the Offered Securities if, prior to that time, any of the events described
in Sections 6(i) or 6(j), shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall
decline to purchase the Offered Securities for any reason permitted under this
Agreement.

                 10.    Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If (a) the
Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall fail to tender the Offered
Securities for delivery to the Underwriters by reason of any failure, refusal or
inability on the part of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, to perform
any agreement on its part to be performed, or because any other condition of the
Underwriters' obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by the Company is
not fulfilled, the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, will reimburse the
Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this
Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Offered Securities, and upon demand
the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall pay the full amount thereof to
the Representative(s). If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 by
reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, neither the Issuer nor the
Company, as applicable, shall be obligated to reimburse any defaulting
Underwriter on account of those expenses.

                11.     Notices, etc. All statements, requests, notices and
agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

                        (a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent
                  by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such persons as
                  are indicated in any Terms Agreement;

                        (b) if to the Issuer or the Company shall be delivered
                  or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the
                  address of the Company set forth in the Registration
                  Statement, Attention: Chief Financial Officer (Fax: (408)
                  399-8274), with a copy to Kenneth L. Guernsey, Cooley Godward
                  LLP, One Maritime Plaza, 20th Floor, San Francisco, California
                  94111 (Fax: (415) 951-3699;

provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7(c)
shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such
Underwriter at its address set forth in its acceptance telex to the
Underwriters, which address will be supplied to any


                                       29
   30

other party hereto by the Underwriters upon request. Any such statements,
requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt
thereof. The Issuers or the Company, as applicable, shall be entitled to act and
rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on by the
Underwriters.

                 12.    Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Issuers
or the Company, as applicable, and their respective successors. This Agreement
and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those
persons, except that (A) the representations, warranties, indemnities and
agreements of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, contained in this
Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the person or persons,
if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act and (B) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriters contained in
Section 7(b) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the
respective directors of the Issuers, respective officers of the Issuers who have
signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Issuers or the
Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 13 of the Securities Act.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person,
other than the persons referred to in this Section 12, any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision
contained herein.

                13.     Survival. The respective indemnities, representations,
warranties and agreements of the Issuers or the Company, as applicable, and the
Underwriters contained in this Agreement and each Terms Agreement or made by or
on behalf on them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the
delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of
them or any person controlling any of them.

                 14.    Definition of "Business Day" and "Subsidiary". For
purposes of this Agreement, (a) "business day" means each Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday or Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions
in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close and (b) "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules
and Regulations.

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

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

                 17.    Headings. The headings herein are inserted for
convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect
the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.



                                       30
   31

                                Very truly yours,


                                 METRICOM, INC.

                                 By
                                   ------------------------------------------
                                     Name:
                                     Title:

                                 METRICOM FINANCE, INC.

                                 By
                                   ------------------------------------------
                                   Name:
                                   Title:



Accepted:

For itself and as Representative of the
several Underwriters named above

By  LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.


By
   --------------------------------------
      Perry Hoffmeister
      Managing Director






                                       31
   32

                                                                       Exhibit A

                                 [UNDERWRITERS]
                              [Title of Securities]
                                 TERMS AGREEMENT

                                                                   Dated: , 200_

TO:     METRICOM, INC.
        METRICOM FINANCE, INC.

RE: UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT DATED ________, 2000.

DEAR SIRS:

        WE (THE "REPRESENTATIVE[S]") UNDERSTAND THAT METRICOM, INC., A DELAWARE
CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY") AND/OR METRICOM FINANCE, INC. ("FINANCE SUB" AND,
TOGETHER WITH THE COMPANY, THE "ISSUERS"), PROPOSE TO ISSUE AND SELL [[$
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT] OF THEIR [SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES] [AND]
[SUBORDINATED [CONVERTIBLE DEBT SECURITIES] (THE "DEBT SECURITIES")] [AND]
[_________ SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.001 PER SHARE (THE
"COMMON STOCK")]. THIS AGREEMENT IS THE TERMS AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT DATED _______________, 200_ (THE "UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT"). SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN, THE UNDERWRITERS NAMED BELOW (THE
"UNDERWRITERS") OFFER TO PURCHASE, SEVERALLY AND NOT JOINTLY, THE RESPECTIVE
[AMOUNTS OF [DEBT SECURITIES] [AND] [COMMON STOCK]] SET FORTH BELOW.



                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
        UNDERWRITER               DEBT SECURITIES              COMMON STOCK
                                 -------------------          -------------------
                                                           
        TOTAL                       $_________                   $_________



                                 DEBT SECURITIES

        TITLE OF DEBT SECURITIES: PRINCIPAL AMOUNT TO BE ISSUED: $

        SENIOR OR SUBORDINATED:

        CURRENCY:

        CURRENT RATINGS:



   33
        INTEREST RATE OR FORMULA:   %

        INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:

        DATE OF MATURITY:

        REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

        SINKING FUND REQUIREMENTS:

        INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE: % OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, PLUS ACCRUED
INTEREST, IF ANY, [OR AMORTIZED ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, IF ANY,] FROM , 200_.

        PURCHASE PRICE: % OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, PLUS ACCRUED INTEREST, IF
ANY, [OR AMORTIZED ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, IF ANY,] FROM , 200_ (PAYABLE IN
NEXT DAY FUNDS).

        LISTING REQUIREMENT: [NONE] [NASDAQ]

        CONVERTIBLE:

        CONVERSION PROVISIONS:

        DELIVERY DATE AND LOCATION:

        ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS, IF ANY:

        REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

        LOCK-UP PROVISIONS:

        SINKING FUND REQUIREMENTS:

        NUMBER OF OPTION SECURITIES, IF ANY:

        OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS:



                                  COMMON STOCK

        TITLE OF COMMON STOCK:

        NUMBER OF SHARES TO BE ISSUED:

        CURRENCY:



                                       32
   34

        ANNUAL CASH DIVIDEND RATE: %

        PAYABLE:

        LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE PER SHARE:

        INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE: %, PLUS ACCRUED INTEREST OR AMORTIZED
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, IF ANY, FROM ____________, 200_

        PURCHASE PRICE: % PLUS ACCRUED INTEREST OR AMORTIZED ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT, IF ANY, FROM _____________, 200_ (PAYABLE IN NEXT DAY FUNDS).

        LISTING REQUIREMENT: [NONE] [NASDAQ]

        CONVERTIBLE:

        INITIAL CONVERSION PRICE: $_____ PER SHARE OF [COMMON STOCK].

        OTHER CONVERSION PROVISIONS:

        DELIVERY DATE AND LOCATION:

        ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS, IF ANY:

        REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

        LOCK-UP PROVISIONS:

        SINKING FUND REQUIREMENTS:

        NUMBER OF OPTION SECURITIES, IF ANY:

        OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS:



                                       2