
<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 1.1



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                           IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION
                           (a Delaware corporation)


                          [ ] Shares of Common Stock



                            U.S. PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                            -----------------------



Dated:  ___________, 2001


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<PAGE>

                                Table of Contents

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
<S>                                                                                                            <C>
SECTION 1.        Representations and Warranties...............................................................   3

         (a)      Representations and Warranties by the Company................................................   3
                  (i)      Compliance with Registration Requirements...........................................   3
                  (ii)     Independent Accountants.............................................................   4
                  (iii)    Financial Statements................................................................   4
                  (iv)     No Material Adverse Change in Business..............................................   5
                  (v)      Good Standing of the Company........................................................   5
                  (vi)     Good Standing of Subsidiaries.......................................................   5
                  (vii)    Restructuring.......................................................................   6
                  (viii)   Capitalization......................................................................   6
                  (ix)     Authorization of Agreement..........................................................   6
                  (x)      Authorization and Description of Securities.........................................   6
                  (xi)     Export Controls. ...................................................................   7
                  (xii)    Absence of Defaults and Conflicts...................................................   7
                  (xiii)   Absence of Labor Dispute............................................................   7
                  (xiv)    Absence of Proceedings..............................................................   7
                  (xv)     Accuracy of Exhibits................................................................   8
                  (xvi)    Possession of Intellectual Property.................................................   8
                  (xvii)   Absence of Further Requirements.....................................................   8
                  (xviii)  Possession of Licenses and Permits..................................................   8
                  (xix)    Title to Property...................................................................   9
                  (xx)     Investment Company Act..............................................................   9
                  (xxi)    Environmental Laws..................................................................   9
                  (xxii)   Registration Rights.................................................................  10
                  (xxiii)  No Stamp Taxes......................................................................  10
                  (xxiv)   Certain Relationships...............................................................  10
         (b)      Officer's Certificates.......................................................................  10

SECTION 2.        Sale and Delivery to U.S. Underwriters; Closing..............................................  10

         (a)      Initial Securities...........................................................................  10
         (b)      Option Securities............................................................................  10
         (c)      Payment......................................................................................  11
         (d)      Denominations; Registration..................................................................  11

SECTION 3.        Covenants of the Company.....................................................................  12

         (a)      Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests...............................  12
         (b)      Filing of Amendments.........................................................................  12
         (c)      Export Controls..............................................................................  12
         (d)      Delivery of Registration Statements..........................................................  12
         (e)      Delivery of Prospectuses.....................................................................  13
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                            <C>
         (f)      Continued Compliance with Securities Laws...................................................   13
         (g)      Blue Sky Qualifications.....................................................................   13
         (h)      Rule 158....................................................................................   14
         (i)      Use of Proceeds.............................................................................   14
         (j)      Listing.....................................................................................   14
         (k)      Restriction on Sale of Securities...........................................................   14
         (l)      Reporting Requirements......................................................................   14
         (m)      Compliance with NASD Rules..................................................................   15
         (n)      Compliance with Rule 463....................................................................   15

SECTION 4.        Payment of Expenses.........................................................................   15

         (a)      Expenses....................................................................................   15
         (b)      Termination of Agreement....................................................................   16

SECTION 5.        Conditions of U.S. Underwriters' Obligations................................................   16

         (a)      Effectiveness of Registration Statement.....................................................   16
         (b)      Opinion of U.S. Counsel for Company. .......................................................   16
         (c)      Opinion of Italian Counsel for Company. ....................................................   16
         (d)      Opinion of German Counsel for Company. .....................................................   16
         (e)      Opinion of Russian Counsel for Company......................................................   17
         (f)      Opinion of UK Counsel for Company...........................................................   17
         (g)      Opinion of Counsel for U.S. Underwriters....................................................   17
         (h)      Officers' Certificate.......................................................................   17
         (i)      Accountant's Comfort Letter.................................................................   18
         (j)      Bring-down Comfort Letter...................................................................   18
         (k)      Approval of Listing.........................................................................   18
         (l)      No Objection................................................................................   18
         (m)      Lock-up Agreements..........................................................................   18
         (n)      Restructuring...............................................................................   18
         (o)      Purchase of Initial International Securities................................................   18
         (p)      Conditions to Purchase of U.S. Option Securities............................................   18
                  (i)    Officer's Certificate................................................................   18
                  (ii)   Opinion of U.S. Counsel..............................................................   19
                  (iii)  Opinion of Italian Counsel...........................................................   19
                  (iv)   Opinion of German Counsel............................................................   19
                  (v)    Opinion of Russian Counsel...........................................................   19
                  (vi)   Opinion of UK Counsel................................................................   19
                  (vii)  Opinion of Counsel for U.S. Underwriters.............................................   19
                  (viii) Bring-down Comfort Letter............................................................   19
         (q)      Additional Documents........................................................................   20
         (r)      Termination of Agreement....................................................................   20
</TABLE>

                                      ii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                            <C>
SECTION 6.        Indemnification.............................................................................   20

         (a)      Indemnification of U.S. Underwriters........................................................   20
         (b)      Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers..........................................   21
         (c)      Actions against Parties; Notification.......................................................   21
         (d)      Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse..........................................   22
         (e)      Indemnification for Reserved Securities.....................................................   22

SECTION 7.        Contribution................................................................................   22

SECTION 8.        Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery..............................   24

SECTION 9.        Termination of Agreement....................................................................   24

         (a)      Termination; General........................................................................   24

SECTION 10.       Default by One or More of the U.S. Underwriters.............................................   25

SECTION 11.       Notices.....................................................................................   25

SECTION 12.       Parties.....................................................................................   25

SECTION 13.       GOVERNING LAW AND TIME......................................................................   26

SECTION 14.       Effect of Headings..........................................................................   26


SCHEDULES

         Schedule A - List of U.S. Underwriters..........................................................   Sch A-1
         Schedule B - Pricing Information................................................................   Sch B-1
         Schedule C - List of Persons Subject to Lock-up.................................................   Sch C-1

EXHIBITS

         Exhibit A - Form of Opinion of Company's U.S. Counsel to be Delivered
         Pursuant to 5(b)....................................................................................   A-1
         Exhibit B - Form of Opinion of Company's Italian Council to be Delivered
         Pursuant to 5(c)....................................................................................   B-1
         Exhibit C - Form of Opinion of Company's German Council to be Delivered
         Pursuant to 5(d)....................................................................................   C-1
         Exhibit D - Form of  Opinion of Company's Russian Council to be Delivered
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                            <C>
         Pursuant to 5(e)....................................................................................   D-1
         Exhibit E - Form of Opinion of Company's UK Council to be Delivered
         Pursuant to 5(f)....................................................................................   E-1
         Exhibit F - Form of Lock-up Letter..................................................................   F-1
</TABLE>

                                      iv
<PAGE>

                           IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION

                           (a Delaware Corporation)

                           [ ] Shares of Common Stock

                          (Par Value $.0001 Per Share)

                             U.S. PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                             -----------------------
                                                               ___________, 2001


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                Incorporated
    as U.S. Representative of the several U.S. Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
    Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                     Incorporated

North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York  10281-1209

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         IPG Photonics Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") and each of the other U.S. Underwriters
named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "U.S. Underwriters," which term
shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in
Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch is acting as representative (in such
capacity, the "U.S. Representative"), with respect to the issue and sale by the
Company and the purchase by the U.S. Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, of the respective number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.0001
per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") set forth in said Schedule A, and
with respect to the grant by the Company to the U.S. Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to
purchase all or any part of [insert overallotment] additional shares of Common
Stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The aforesaid [ ] shares of Common Stock
(the "Initial U.S. Securities") to be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters and all
or any part of the [ ] shares of Common Stock subject to the option described in
Section 2(b) hereof (the "U.S. Option Securities") are hereinafter called,
collectively, the "U.S. Securities."

         It is understood that the Company is concurrently entering into an
agreement dated the date hereof (the "International Purchase Agreement")
providing for the offering by the Company of an aggregate of [   ] shares of
Common Stock (the "Initial International Securities") through arrangements with
certain underwriters outside the United States and Canada (the "International
Managers") for which Merrill Lynch International and is acting as lead manager
(the "Lead

                                       1
<PAGE>

Manager") and the grant by the Company to the International Managers, acting
severally and not jointly, of an option to purchase all or any part of the
International Manager's pro rata portion of up to [   ] additional shares of
Common Stock solely to cover overallotments, if any (the "International Option
Securities" and, together with the U.S. Option Securities, the "Option
Securities"). The Initial International Securities and the International Option
Securities are hereinafter called the "International Securities." It is
understood that the Company is not obligated to sell and the U.S. Underwriters
are not obligated to purchase, any Initial U.S. Securities unless all of the
Initial International Securities are contemporaneously purchased by the
International Managers.

         The U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers are hereinafter
collectively called the "Underwriters," the Initial U.S. Securities and the
Initial International Securities are hereinafter collectively called the
"Initial Securities," and the U.S. Securities, and the International Securities
are hereinafter collectively called the "Securities."

         The Underwriters will concurrently enter into an Intersyndicate
Agreement of even date herewith (the "Intersyndicate Agreement") providing for
the coordination of certain transactions among the Underwriters under the
direction of Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated (in such capacity, the "Global Coordinator").

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

         [The Company and the U.S. Underwriters agree that up to [   ] shares of
the Initial U.S. Securities to be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters [and that
up to [   ] shares of the Initial International Securities to be purchased by
the International Mangers] ([collectively,] the "Reserved Securities") shall be
reserved for sale by the Underwriters to certain eligible employees and persons
having business relationships with the Company, as part of the distribution of
the Securities by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the
applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") and all other applicable laws, rules and
regulations. To the extent that such Reserved Securities are not orally
confirmed for purchase by such eligible employees and persons having business
relationships with the Company by the end of the first business day after the
date of this Agreement, such Reserved Securities may be offered to the public as
part of the public offering contemplated hereby.]

         The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-51560) covering the
registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses.
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will either
(i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A
("Rule 430A") of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act
(the "1933 Act Regulations") and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of
the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule
434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a
"Term Sheet") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). Two
forms of prospectus are to be used in connection

                                       2
<PAGE>

with the offering and sale of the Securities: one relating to the U.S.
Securities (the "Form of U.S. Prospectus") and one relating to the International
Securities (the "Form of International Prospectus"). The Form of International
Prospectus is identical to the Form of U.S. Prospectus, except for [the front
cover and back cover pages and the information under the caption "Underwriting"
and the inclusion in the Form of International Prospectus of a section under the
caption "Certain United States Tax Considerations for Non-United States
Holders."] The information included in any such prospectus or in any such Term
Sheet, as the case may be, that was omitted from such registration statement at
the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration
statement at the time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule
430A is referred to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d)
of Rule 434 is referred to as "Rule 434 Information." Each Form of U.S.
Prospectus and Form of International Prospectus used before such registration
statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as applicable, the
Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was used after such
effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is
herein called a "preliminary prospectus." Such registration statement, including
the exhibits thereto and schedules thereto at the time it became effective and
including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as applicable,
is herein called the "Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as the
"Rule 462(b) Registration Statement," and after such filing the term
"Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
The final Form of U.S. Prospectus and the final Form of International Prospectus
in the forms first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the
offering of the Securities are herein called the "U.S. Prospectus" and the
"International Prospectus," respectively, and collectively, the "Prospectuses."
If Rule 434 is relied on, the terms "U.S. Prospectus" and "International
Prospectus" shall refer to the preliminary U.S. Prospectus dated __, 2001 and
preliminary International Prospectus dated ____, 2001, respectively, each
together with the applicable Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement to
the date of such Prospectuses shall mean the date of the applicable Term Sheet.
For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus, the U.S. Prospectus, the International Prospectus or
any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be
deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR").

     SECTION 1.   Representations and Warranties.
                  ------------------------------

     (a)  Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to each U.S. Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing
Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if
any) referred to in Section 2(b), hereof and agrees with each U.S. Underwriter,
as follows:

               (i)   Compliance with Registration Requirements. Each of the
                     -----------------------------------------
         Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
         become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
         effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
         Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no
         proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
         the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and
         any request on the part of the Commission for additional information
         has been complied with.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                  At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule
         462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto
         became effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any U.S. Option
         Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration
         Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments
         and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material
         respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
         Regulations and 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 to make the statements therein not misleading, and
         the Prospectuses, any preliminary prospectuses and any supplement
         thereto or prospectus wrapper prepared in connection therewith, at
         their respective times of issuance and at the Closing Time, complied
         and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or
         regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectuses and such
         preliminary prospectuses, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
         are distributed in connection with the offer and sale of Reserved
         Securities. Neither of the Prospectuses nor any amendments or
         supplements thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), at the time the
         Prospectuses or any amendments or supplements thereto were issued and
         at the Closing Time (and, if any U.S. Option Securities are purchased,
         at the Date of Delivery), included or will include an untrue statement
         of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If Rule 434
         is used, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 434 and
         the Prospectuses shall not be "materially different," as such term is
         used in Rule 434, from the prospectuses included in the Registration
         Statement at the time it became effective. The representations and
         warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
         omissions from the Registration Statement or the U.S. Prospectus made
         in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
         Company in writing by any U.S. Underwriter through the U.S.
         Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the
         U.S. Prospectus.

                  Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectuses filed as part
         of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any
         amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act,
         complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act
         Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectuses
         delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering
         was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed
         with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted
         by Regulation S-T.

                         (ii)   Independent Accountants. The accountants who
                                -----------------------
         certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in
         the Registration Statement are independent public accountants as
         required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

                         (iii)  Financial Statements. The combined financial
                                --------------------
         statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectuses,
         together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly the
         combined financial position of the Company and its combined
         consolidated subsidiaries, NTO IRE-POLUS, IPG Laser GmbH, and IPG
         Fibertech S.r.l. at the dates indicated and the statement of
         operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows

                                       4
<PAGE>

         of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, NTO IRE-POLUS, IPG
         Laser GmbH, and IPG Fibertech S.r.l., as the case may be, for the
         periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in
         conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles
         ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.
         The supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present
         fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated
         therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial
         information included in the Prospectuses present fairly the information
         shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of
         the audited financial statements included in the Registration
         Statement.

               (iv)  No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the
                     --------------------------------------
         respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectuses, except as otherwise stated therein, (A)
         there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
         or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business
         prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
         enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business
         (a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions
         entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than
         those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with
         respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
         enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any
         kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital
         stock.

               (v)   Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly
                     ----------------------------
         organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
         under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and
         authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
         business as described in the Prospectuses and to enter into and perform
         its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified
         as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing
         in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
         whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
         conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in
         good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

               (vi)  Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each subsidiary (as such
                     -----------------------------
         [and which term shall be deemed to include NTO IRE-POLUS]) of the
         Company (each a "Subsidiary" and, collectively, the "Subsidiaries") has
         been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
         standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has
         corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
         and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectuses and is
         duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
         good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
         required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or
         the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to
         be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect;
         except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, all of the
         issued and outstanding sharecapital, capital stock, or partnership
         interest of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly
         issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company,
         directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
         interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none

                                       5
<PAGE>

     of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in
     violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such
     Subsidiary. The only Subsidiaries of the Company are (a) the Subsidiaries
     listed on Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement and (b) certain other
     Subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, do
     not constitute a "Significant Subsidiary" as defined in Rule 1.02 of the
     Regulation S-X.

          (vii)  Restructuring.  The description of the restructuring of the
                 -------------
     Company (the "Restructuring") in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
     under the caption "Transaction with Related Parties - Restructuring" is
     complete and accurate and the transactions contemplated to affect the
     Restructuring have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and
     shareholder action, as the case may be, of the parties to the Restructuring
     (collectively, the "Restructuring Parties"), does not conflict with, or
     result in a breach of or, (with or without the giving of notice, lapse of
     time, or both) constitute a default under, the charter or by-laws of the
     Company or any of the other parties to the Restructuring or any other
     material agreements to which the Company or any other party is bound and no
     other action on the part of any Restructuring Party is necessary to
     authorize the execution delivery and performance of the agreements
     affecting the Restructuring (collectively, the "Restructuring Documents")
     and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby; and, prior
     to the Closing Time, the Restructuring Documents will be duly executed and
     delivered by each Restructuring Party and, when so executed and delivered
     by each party thereto, the Restructuring Documents will be a valid and
     binding obligation of each of them enforceable against each of them in
     accordance with their terms.

          (viii) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
                 --------------
     stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectuses in the column
     entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for subsequent
     issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations,
     agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Prospectuses or
     pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to
     in the Prospectuses). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of
     the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid
     and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
     Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights
     of any securityholder of the Company.

          (ix)   Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement and the
                 --------------------------
     International Purchase Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company.

          (x)    Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities to
                 -------------------------------------------
     be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers from
     the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the U.S.
     Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and the International Managers
     pursuant to the International Purchase Agreement, respectively, and, when
     issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the
     International Purchase Agreement, respectively, against payment of the
     consideration set forth herein and the International Purchase Agreement,
     respectively, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the
     Common Stock

                                       6
<PAGE>

     conforms to all statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectuses
     and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments
     defining the same; no holder of the Securities will be subject to personal
     liability by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance of the
     Securities is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any
     securityholder of the Company.

          (xi)   Export Controls. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all
                 ---------------
     licenses, approvals and permits under the export control laws and
     regulations to which it or its Subsidiaries are subject necessary to export
     its products or disclose its technical information to foreign countries or
     citizens. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed applications to
     obtain commodity classifications necessary to export their products or
     disclose their technical information to foreign countries or citizens.

          (xii)  Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any
                 ---------------------------------
     of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or in default
     in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
     lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to
     which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is
     subject (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments") except for such
     defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the
     execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the International
     Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
     this Agreement, the International Purchase Agreement and in the
     Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities
     and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in
     the Prospectuses under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and compliance by the
     Company with its obligations under this Agreement and the International
     Purchase Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
     action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of
     notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of,
     or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the
     creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
     or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and
     Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens,
     charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse
     Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
     the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary or any applicable
     law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any
     government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign,
     having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their
     assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a "Repayment Event" means
     any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or
     other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's
     behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all
     or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary.

          (xiii) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees
                 ------------------------
     of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the
     Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or
     imminent labor disturbance by the

                                       7
<PAGE>

     employees of any of its or any Subsidiary's principal suppliers,
     manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either case, may
     reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (xiv)  Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
                 ----------------------
     inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental
     agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
     the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any
     Subsidiary, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement
     (other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to
     result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected
     to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the
     International Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Company of its
     obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or
     governmental proceedings to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party
     or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which
     are not described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine
     litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to
     result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (xv)   Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which
                 --------------------
     are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectuses or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so
     described and filed as required.

          (xvi)  Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its
                 -----------------------------------
     Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
     patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how
     (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
     proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures),
     trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property
     (collectively, "Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on the business
     now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
     has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or
     conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual
     Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any
     Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or
     conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or
     invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a
     Material Adverse Effect; and all agreements between the Company and its
     Subsidiaries for the license of Intellectual Property owned by any of them
     to each of them have been duly authorized, executed and delivered and are
     enforceable in accordance with their terms.

          (xvii) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
                 -------------------------------
     authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
     qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency
     or any stock exchange authority, domestic or foreign, (collectively,
     "Filings and Approvals") is necessary or required for the performance by
     the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering,
     issuance or sale of the Securities under this Agreement and the
     International Purchase Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement and the

                                       8
<PAGE>

     International Purchase Agreement, except (i) such as have been already
     obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
     Regulations and foreign or state securities or blue sky laws (ii) such as
     have been obtained under the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside
     the United States in which the Reserved Securities are offered (iii) such
     as have been obtained or may be required by rules and regulations of the
     NASD (iv) such as have been obtained with respect to the approval of the
     Nasdaq National Market for listing of the Securities, all of which filings
     and approvals have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

          (xviii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its
                  ----------------------------------
     Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other
     authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by the
     appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
     necessary to conduct the business now operated by them; the Company and its
     Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such
     Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not,
     singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the
     Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when
     the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such
     Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not have a
     Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its
     Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
     revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly
     or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
     finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (xix)   Title to Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good
                  -----------------
     and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and its
     Subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each
     case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests,
     claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (a) are
     described in the Prospectuses or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate,
     materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the
     use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the
     business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise,
     and under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds properties
     described in the Prospectuses, are in full force and effect, and neither
     the Company nor any Subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any
     sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company
     or any Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or
     affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such Subsidiary to
     the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such
     lease or sublease.

          (xx)    Compliance with All Applicable Laws. The Company and its
                  -----------------------------------
     Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, statutes,
     ordinances, rules or regulations, the breach or violation of which,
     individually or in the aggregate, could be reasonably expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

          (xxi)   Filing of Tax Returns. The Company and its Subsidiaries have
                  ---------------------
     filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are required
     to be filed or have duly requested extensions thereof and have paid all
     taxes required to be paid by any of them

                                       9
<PAGE>

     and any related assessments, fines or penalties, except for any such tax,
     assessment, fine or penalty that is being contested in good faith and by
     appropriate proceedings and, except where the failure to file any such
     return or pay any such tax would not, individually or in the aggregate,
     have a Material Adverse Effect; and adequate charges, accruals and reserves
     have been provided for in the financial statements referred to above in
     respect of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes for all periods as
     to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has
     not been finally determined or remains open to examination by applicable
     taxing authorities; the formation of the Company and the transfers of
     property and businesses to it in connection therewith do not give and have
     not given rise to any actual or contingent tax liability that could be to
     the Company's knowledge, there is no material proposed tax deficiency,
     assessment, charge or levy against it or any of its Subsidiaries as to
     which a reserve would be required to be established under GAAP which has
     not been so reserved.

          (xxii)  Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries carry or are
                  ---------
     entitle to the benefits of insurance in such amounts and covering such
     risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged
     in the same or similar business, and such insurance is in full force and
     effect.

          (xxiii) Internal Accounting. The Company maintains a system of
                  -------------------
     internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
     that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general
     and specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
     permit preparations of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to
     maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted
     only in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations;
     and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the
     existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
     with respect to any differences.

          (xxiv)  Investment Company Act. The Company is not, and upon the
                  ----------------------
     issuance and sale of the Securities herein contemplated and the application
     of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectuses will not be,
     an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company
     Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

          (xxv)   Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration
                  ------------------
     Statement or the Prospectuses and except as would not, singly or in the
     aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor
     any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or
     foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of
     common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof,
     including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or
     judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the
     environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
     groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including,
     without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or
     threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic
     substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products
     (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture, processing,
     distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
     Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), (B) the Company
     and its Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and

                                      10
<PAGE>

     approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in
     compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened
     administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand
     letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation,
     investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or
     circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an
     order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any
     private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any
     Environmental Laws.

          (xxvi)   Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration
                   -------------------
     Statement or the Prospectuses, there are no persons with registration
     rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant
     to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under
     the 1933 Act.

          (xxvii)  No Stamp Taxes. No stamp duty or similar tax or duty is
                   --------------
     payable by or on behalf of the U.S. Underwriters in connection with the
     issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities as contemplated by this
     Agreement or the International Purchase Agreement.

          (xxviii) Certain Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect,
                   ---------------------
     exists between or among any of the Company or any affiliate of the Company,
     on the one hand, and any director, officer, stockholder, customer or
     supplier of any of them, on the other hand, which is required by the 1933
     Act or by the 1933 Act Regulations to be described in the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectuses which is not so described or is not described
     as required.

     (b)  Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Global Coordinator, the U.S.
Representatives or to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to each U.S. Underwriter as to the
matters covered thereby.

     SECTION 2.    Sale and Delivery to U.S. Underwriters; Closing.
                   -----------------------------------------------

     (a)  Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each U.S. Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and
each U.S. Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the
Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, the number of Initial
U.S. Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such U.S.
Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial U.S. Securities which such
Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of
Section 10 hereof.

     (b)  Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations
and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the U.S. Underwriters,
severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [ ] shares of Common
Stock at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, less an amount per share
equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on
the Initial U.S. Securities but not payable on the U.S. Option Securities. The
option hereby

                                      11
<PAGE>

granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole
or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments
which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the
Initial U.S. Securities upon notice by the Global Coordinator to the Company
setting forth the number of U.S. Option Securities as to which the several U.S.
Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and
delivery for such U.S. Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery for
the U.S. Option Securities (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by the
Global Coordinator, but shall not be later than seven full business days after
the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time, as
hereinafter defined. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the
U.S. Option Securities, each of the U.S. Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of U.S. Option
Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial U.S. Securities set
forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such U.S. Underwriter bears to the
total number of Initial U.S. Securities, subject in each case to such
adjustments as the Global Coordinator in its discretion shall make to eliminate
any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

     (c)  Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Brown &
Wood LLP, One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10048, or at such other place as
shall be agreed upon by the Global Coordinator and the Company, at 9:00 A.M.
(Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M.
(Eastern time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless
postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time
not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the
Global Coordinator and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery
being herein called "Closing Time").

     In addition, in the event that any or all of the U.S. Option Securities are
purchased by the U.S. Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and
delivery of certificates for, such U.S. Option Securities shall be made at the
above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
Global Coordinator and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the
notice from the Global Coordinator to the Company.

     Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to
the U.S. Representatives for the respective accounts of the U.S. Underwriters of
certificates for the U.S. Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood
that each U.S. Underwriter has authorized the U.S. Representatives, for its
account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase
price for, the Initial U.S. Securities and the U.S. Option Securities, if any,
which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as
representative of the U.S. Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to)
make payment of the purchase price for the Initial U.S. Securities or the U.S.
Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any U.S. Underwriter whose funds
have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as
the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such U.S. Underwriter from
its obligations hereunder.

     (d)  Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial U.S.
Securities and the U.S. Option Securities, if any, shall be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the U.S. Representatives may
request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time or

                                      12
<PAGE>

the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The certificates for the
Initial U.S. Securities and the U.S. Option Securities, if any, will be made
available for examination and packaging by the U.S. Representatives in The City
of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior
to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

     SECTION 3.  Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each U.S.
                 ------------------------
Underwriter as follows:

          (a)  Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.
     The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of
     Rule 430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Global
     Coordinator immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any
     post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become
     effective, or any supplement to the Prospectuses or any amended
     Prospectuses shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments
     from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any
     amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to
     the Prospectuses or for additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by
     the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
     any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of
     the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the
     initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The
     Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b)
     and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly
     whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was
     received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it
     will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable
     effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is
     issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

          (b)  Filing of Amendments. The Company will give the Global
     Coordinator notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the
     Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term
     Sheet or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus
     included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or
     to the Prospectuses, will furnish the Global Coordinator with copies of any
     such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or
     use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to
     which the Global Coordinator or counsel for the U.S. Underwriters shall
     object.

          (c)  Export Controls. The Company will take all necessary steps to
     maintain all licenses, approvals, permits and commodity classifications
     under the export control laws and regulations to which it or its
     Subsidiaries are subject necessary to export its products or disclose its
     technical information to foreign countries or citizens.

          (d)  Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or
     will deliver to the U.S. Representatives and counsel for the U.S.
     Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement
     as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed
     therewith or incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all
     consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver

                                      13
<PAGE>

     to the U.S. Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the
     Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto
     (without exhibits) for each of the U.S. Underwriters. The copies of the
     Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the U.S.
     Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies
     thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent
     permitted by Regulation S-T.

          (e)  Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each U.S.
     Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus
     as such U.S. Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby
     consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act.
     The Company will furnish to each U.S. Underwriter, without charge, during
     the period when the U.S. Prospectus is required to be delivered under the
     1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), such
     number of copies of the U.S. Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as
     such U.S. Underwriter may reasonably request. The U.S. Prospectus and any
     amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the U.S. Underwriters will
     be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with
     the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by
     Regulation S-T.

          (f)  Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will
     comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the
     rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"),
     and the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ so as to permit the completion
     of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement,
     the International Purchase Agreement and in the Prospectuses. If at any
     time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in
     connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition
     shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel
     for the U.S. Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration
     Statement or amend or supplement any Prospectus in order that the
     Prospectuses will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or
     omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the
     time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the
     opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration
     Statement or amend or supplement any Prospectus in order to comply with the
     requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will
     promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b),
     such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement
     or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectuses
     comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the U.S.
     Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the
     U.S. Underwriters may reasonably request.

          (g)  Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts,
     in cooperation with the U.S. Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for
     offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and
     other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Global Coordinator may
     designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not
     less than one year from the later of the effective date of the Registration
     Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; provided, however,

                                      14
<PAGE>

     that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to
     service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
     securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to
     subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction
     in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the
     Securities have been so qualified, the Company will file such statements
     and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue
     such qualification in effect for a period of not less than one year from
     the effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b)
     Registration Statement.

          (h)  Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to
     the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
     securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the
     purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last
     paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

          (i)  Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received
     by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the
     Prospectuses under "Use of Proceeds."

          (j)  Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to effect and
     maintain the quotation of the Securities on the Nasdaq National Market and
     will file with the Nasdaq National Market all documents and notices
     required by the Nasdaq National Market of companies that have securities
     that are traded in the over-the-counter market and quotations for which are
     reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

          (k)  Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of [180] days
     from the date of the Prospectuses, the Company will not, without the prior
     written consent of the Global Coordinator, (i) directly or indirectly,
     offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
     purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right
     or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any share of
     Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
     exchangeable for Common Stock or file any registration statement under the
     1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap
     or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in
     part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the
     Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i)
     or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other
     securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to
     (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder or under the International Purchase
     Agreement, (B) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the
     exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
     outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Prospectuses, (C) any
     shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted
     pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in
     the Prospectuses or (D) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any
     non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan.

          (l)  Taxes and Fees. The Company and the Selling Shareholders agrees
     to indemnify and hold harmless the U.S. Underwriters against any
     documentary, stamp or similar transfer or issue tax, or fees, including any
     interest and penalties, which are or

                                      15
<PAGE>

     may be required to be paid on or in connection with the creation, offer and
     distribution of the Securities or on the execution or delivery of the U.S.
     Purchase Agreement.

          (m) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the
     Prospectuses are required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934
     Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission
     pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act
     and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

          (n) Compliance with NASD Rules. [The Company hereby agrees that it
     will ensure that the Reserved Securities will be restricted as required by
     the NASD or the NASD rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or
     hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of this
     Agreement. The Underwriters will notify the Company as to which persons
     will need to be so restricted. At the request of the Underwriters, the
     Company will direct the transfer agent to place a stop transfer restriction
     upon such securities for such period of time. Should the Company release,
     or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the Reserved Securities,
     the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable
     expenses (including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in
     connection with such release.]

          (o)  Compliance with Rule 463. The Company will file with the
     Commission such reports on Form SR as may be required pursuant to Rule 463
     of the 1933 Act Regulations.

     SECTION 4.  Payment of Expenses.
                 -------------------

          (a)  Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
     performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
     preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
     financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each
     amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the
     Underwriters of this Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such
     other documents as may be required in connection with the offering,
     purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the
     preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities
     to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any
     stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the
     Securities to the Underwriters and the transfer of the Securities between
     the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers, (iv) the fees and
     disbursements of the Company's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v)
     the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance
     with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the
     reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
     connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky
     Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the
     Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and
     of the Prospectuses and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the
     preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the
     Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of
     any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (ix) the filing fees
     incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
     Underwriters in connection with, the

                                      16
<PAGE>

     review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (x) the fees
     and expenses incurred in connection with the inclusion of the Securities in
     the Nasdaq National Market and (xi) all costs and expenses of the
     Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
     Underwriters in connection with matters related to the Reserved Securities
     which are designated by the Company for sale to employees and others having
     a business relationship with the Company.

     (b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the U.S.
Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section
9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the U.S. Underwriters for all of
their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the U.S. Underwriters.

     SECTION 5.  Conditions of U.S. Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations
                 --------------------------------------------
of the several U.S. Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof or
in certificates of any officer of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company
of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further
conditions:

               (a)  Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration
     Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
     effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
     the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
     proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any
     request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
     been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the U.S.
     Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have
     been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-
     effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and
     declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or, if
     the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have been
     filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).

               (b)  Opinion of U.S. Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
     U.S. Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
     Closing Time, of Winston & Strawn, counsel for the Company, in form and
     substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters, together with
     signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other U.S.
     Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and to such
     further effect as counsel to the U.S. Underwriters may reasonably request.

               (c)  Opinion of Italian Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
     U.S. Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
     Closing Time, of ___________, Italian counsel for the Company, in form and
     substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters, together with
     signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other U.S.
     Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to such
     further effect as counsel to the U.S. Underwriters may reasonably request.

                                      17
<PAGE>

               (d)  Opinion of German Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
         U.S. Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated
         as of Closing Time, of ___________, German counsel for the Company, in
         form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters,
         together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of
         the other U.S. Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto
         and to such further effect as counsel to the U.S. Underwriters may
         reasonably request..

               (e)  Opinion of Russian Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
         U.S. Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated
         as of Closing Time, of _______, Russian counsel for the Company, in
         form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters,
         together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of
         the other U.S. Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto
         and to such further effect as counsel to the U.S. Underwriters may
         reasonably request.

               (f)  Opinion of UK Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the U.S.
         Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
         Closing Time, of _______, UK counsel for the Company, in form and
         substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters, together
         with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
         U.S. Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit E hereto and to
         such further effect as counsel to the U.S. Underwriters may reasonably
         request.

               (g)  Opinion of Counsel for U.S. Underwriters. At Closing Time,
         the U.S. Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion,
         dated as of Closing Time, of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel for the U.S.
         Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
         for each of the other U.S. Underwriters with respect to the matters set
         forth in clauses (i), (ii), (v), (vi) (solely as to preemptive or other
         similar rights arising by operation of law or under the charter or by-
         laws of the Company), (viii) through (x), inclusive, (xii), (xiv)
         (solely as to the information in the Prospectus under "Description of
         Capital Stock--Common Stock") and the penultimate paragraph of Exhibit
         A hereto. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to all
         matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the
         State of New York and the federal law of the United States and the
         General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, upon the opinions of
         counsel satisfactory to the U.S. Representatives. Such counsel may also
         state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have
         relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers
         of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public
         officials.

               (h)  Officers' Certificate. At Closing Time, there shall not have
         been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which
         information is given in the Prospectuses, any material adverse change
         in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
         affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries
         considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary
         course of business, and the U.S. Representatives shall have received a
         certificate of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of
         the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated
         as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such
         material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in
         Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect
         as though expressly made at and as of Closing

                                      18
<PAGE>

         Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied
         all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to
         Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
         the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
         purpose have been instituted or are pending or are contemplated by the
         Commission.

               (i)  Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of
         this Agreement, the U.S. Representatives shall have received from
         Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter dated such date, in form and substance
         satisfactory to the U.S. Representatives, together with signed or
         reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other U.S.
         Underwriters containing statements and information of the type
         ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters
         with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
         information contained in the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectuses.

               (j)  Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the U.S.
         Representative(s) shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP a
         letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the
         statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (i) of
         this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a
         date not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.

               (k)  Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Securities shall
         have been approved for inclusion in the Nasdaq National Market, subject
         only to official notice of issuance.

               (l)  No Objection. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised
         any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the
         underwriting terms and arrangements.

               (m)  Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the U.S.
         Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the
         form of Exhibit F hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C
         hereto.

               (n)  Restructuring. Prior to the Closing Time, all
         authorizations, approvals and consents, governmental and otherwise,
         necessary for the consummation of the Restructuring and for the
         execution, delivery and performance of the Restructuring Documents will
         be obtained and will be in full force and effect satisfactory to
         counsel to the U.S. Underwriters.

               (o)  Purchase of Initial International Securities.
         Contemporaneously with the purchase by the U.S. Underwriters of the
         Initial U.S. Securities under this Agreement, the International
         Managers shall have purchased the Initial International Securities
         under the International Purchase Agreement.

               (p)  Conditions to Purchase of U.S. Option Securities. In the
         event that the U.S. Underwriters exercise their option provided in
         Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the U.S. Option
         Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained
         herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company
         or any Subsidiary of the Company hereunder shall be true and correct as
         of each Date of

                                      19
<PAGE>

         Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the U.S.
         Representatives shall have received:

               (i)    Officers' Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of
                      ---------------------
               Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Company and
               of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company
               confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time
               pursuant to Section 5(g) hereof remains true and correct as of
               such Date of Delivery.

               (ii)   Opinion of U.S. Counsel for Company. The favorable opinion
                      -----------------------------------
               of Winston & Strawn, counsel for the Company, in form and
               substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters,
               dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the U.S. Option
               Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise
               to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b)
               hereof.

               (iii)  Opinion of Italian Counsel for Company. The favorable
                      --------------------------------------
               opinion of ________, German counsel for the Company, in form and
               substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters,
               dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the U.S. Option
               Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise
               to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c)
               hereof.

               (iv)   Opinion of German Counsel for Company. The favorable
                      -------------------------------------
               opinion of ________, German counsel for the Company, in form and
               substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters,
               dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the U.S. Option
               Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise
               to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d)
               hereof.

               (v)    Opinion of Russian Counsel for Company. The favorable
                      --------------------------------------
               opinion of ________, Russian counsel for the Company, in form and
               substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters,
               dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the U.S. Option
               Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise
               to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(e)
               hereof.

               (vi)   Opinion of UK Counsel for Company. The favorable opinion
                      ---------------------------------
               of __________, UK counsel for the Company, in form and substance
               satisfactory to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters, dated such
               Date of Delivery, relating to the U.S. Option Securities to be
               purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same
               effect as the opinion required by Section 5(f) hereof.

               (vii)  Opinion of Counsel for U.S. Underwriters. The favorable
                      ----------------------------------------
               opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel for the U.S. Underwriters,
               dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the U.S. Option
               Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise
               to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(g)
               hereof.

               (viii) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from Deloitte & Touche
                      -------------------------
               LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the U.S.
               Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in
               the same form and substance as the letter furnished to

                                      20
<PAGE>

               the U.S. Representatives pursuant to Section 5(j) hereof, except
               that the "specified date" in the letter furnished pursuant to
               this paragraph shall be a date not more than five days prior to
               such Date of Delivery.

               (q)    Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of
         Delivery, counsel for the U.S. Underwriters shall have been furnished
         with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of
         enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as
         herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the
         representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
         conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company
         in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein
         contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the U.S.
         Representatives and counsel for the U.S. Underwriters.

               (r)    Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in
         this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be
         fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the
         purchase of U.S. Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after
         the Closing Time, the obligations of the several U.S. Underwriters to
         purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the U.S.
         Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to
         Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such
         termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party
         except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8
         shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

         SECTION 6.   Indemnification.
                      ---------------

         (a)  Indemnification of U.S. Underwriters. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each U.S. Underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any U.S. Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

               (i)    against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
         expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or
         alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
         Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule
         430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the
         omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to
         be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
         statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or
         the Prospectuses (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the
         omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in
         order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
         under which they were made, not misleading;

               (ii)   against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
         expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of (A) the violation of
         any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where
         Reserved Securities have been offered and (B) any untrue statement or
         alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in the supplement
         or prospectus wrapper material distributed in Canada in connection with
         the reservation and sale of the Reserved Securities to [eligible
         employees and ______________ of the Company] or the omission or alleged
         omission therefrom of a material fact necessary to

                                      21
<PAGE>

         make the statements therein, when considered in conjunction with the
         Prospectuses or preliminary prospectuses, not misleading;

               (iii)  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
         expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
         paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
         proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
         or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
         omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission or in
         connection with any violation of the nature referred to in Section
         6(a)(ii)(A) hereof; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any
         such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
         and

               (iv)   against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
         (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill
         Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
         against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
         governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
         whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
         such alleged untrue statement or omission or in connection with any
         violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(a)(ii)(A) hereof, to
         the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i), (ii) or (iii)
         above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
--------  -------
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
U.S. Underwriter through the U.S. Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A
Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any preliminary
prospectus or the U.S. Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

         (b)   Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each U.S.
Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a)
of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any preliminary U.S. prospectus or
the U.S. Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such U.S.
Underwriter through the U.S. Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus
or the U.S. Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

         (c)   Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party
shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be
sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not
relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the

                                      22
<PAGE>

extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event
shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on
account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by
Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b)
above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An
indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such
action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not
(except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the
indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees
and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in
respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this
Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual
or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         (d)   Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any
time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the
nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) and (iii) effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt
by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying
party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30
days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement.

         (e)   Indemnification for Reserved Securities. In connection with the
offer and sale of the Reserved Securities, the Company agrees, promptly upon a
request, in writing to indemnify and hold harmless the U.S. Underwriters from
and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by them as a result of the failure of [eligible employees and
_________________ of the Company] to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved
Securities which, by the end of the first business day following the date of
this Agreement, were subject to a properly confirmed agreement to purchase.

         SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section
                    ------------
6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and the U.S. Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement or

                                      23
<PAGE>

(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the
Company on the one hand and of the U.S. Underwriters on the other hand in
connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with any violation
of the nature referred to in Section 6(a)(ii)(A) hereof, which resulted in such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations.

         The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
U.S. Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the U.S.
Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the U.S.
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the U.S.
Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the U.S. Prospectus, or,
if Rule 434 is used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the
aggregate initial public offering price of the U.S. Securities as set forth on
such cover.

         The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the U.S.
Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the U.S. Underwriters and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section
6(a)(ii)(A) hereof.

         The Company and the U.S. Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the U.S. Underwriters were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The
aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred
by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed
to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.

         Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no U.S. Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the U.S. Securities underwritten by it and distributed to
the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which
such U.S. Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

         No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

         For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls a
U.S. Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20
of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such U.S.
Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each

                                      24
<PAGE>

officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Company. The U.S. Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial
U.S. Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto
and not joint.

          SECTION 8.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
                      -----------------------------------------------------
Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
--------
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any U.S.
Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of the Securities to the U.S. Underwriters.

          SECTION 9.  Termination of Agreement.
                      ------------------------

          (a)  Termination; General. The U.S. Representatives may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i)
if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the U.S. Prospectus, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse
change in the financial markets in the United States or the international
financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other
calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change
in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in
each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the U.S.
Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts
for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the
Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Nasdaq
National Market, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the
New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or
materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or
maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by
such system or by order of the Commission, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other governmental authority, or (iv) if a
banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

          (b)  Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections
1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and
effect.

          SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the U.S. Underwriters. If one or
                      -----------------------------------------------
more of the U.S. Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of Delivery
to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this
Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the U.S. Representatives shall have the
right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting U.S. Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all,

                                      25
<PAGE>


but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be
agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the U.S.
Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:

          (a)  if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
     number of U.S. Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-
     defaulting U.S. Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly,
     to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their
     respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting
     obligations of all non-defaulting U.S. Underwriters, or

          (b)  if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number
     of U.S. Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with
     respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the
     obligation of the U.S. Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell
     the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery
     shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting U.S.
     Underwriter.

     No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting U.S.
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

     In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing
Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the U.S.
Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant U.S. Option
Securities, as the case may be, either the U.S. Representatives or the Company
shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery,
as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any
required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term "U.S. Underwriter" includes
any person substituted for a U.S. Underwriter under this Section 10.

     SECTION 11.  Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
                  -------
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the U.S.
Underwriters shall be directed to the U.S. Representatives at North Tower, World
Financial Center, New York, New York 10281-1201, attention of ______________;
and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at _________, attention of
______________.

     SECTION 12.  Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and
                  -------
be binding upon the U.S. Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the U.S.
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling
persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their
heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the U.S. Underwriters and the Company and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors
and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other

                                      26
<PAGE>


person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any U.S.
Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

     SECTION 13.  GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
                  ----------------------
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

     SECTION 14.  Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein
                  ------------------
and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.

                                      27
<PAGE>


     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between
the U.S. Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION



                                                By______________________________
                                                  Title:


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
 as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
 INCORPORATED

By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
    INCORPORATED

By____________________________________________
              Authorized Signatory

For itself and as U.S. Representatives of the
other U.S. Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

                                      28
<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE A

                                                                   Number of
                                                                   Initial U.S.
      Name of U.S. Underwriter                                      Securities
      ------------------------                                      ----------

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated......................................
Robertson Stephens, Inc.......................................
CIBC World Markets Corp.......................................
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc................................
Wit SoundView Corporation.....................................
                                                                    ----------

Total.........................................................      ==========

                                   Sch A - 1
<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE B

                           IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION

                          [ ] Shares of Common Stock

                         (Par Value $.0001 Per Share)

     1.   The initial public offering price per share for the Securities,
determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $_________.

     2.   The purchase price per share for the U.S. Securities to be paid by the
several U.S. Underwriters shall be $_________, being an amount equal to the
initial public offering price set forth above less $_________ per share;
provided that the purchase price per share for any U.S. Option Securities
purchased upon the exercise of the over-allotment option described in Section
2(b) shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or
distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial U.S. Securities
but not payable on the U.S. Option Securities.

                                   Sch B - 1
<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE C

                         List of persons and entities
                              subject to lock-up

                                   Sch C - 1
