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Exhibit 1.1

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
3,220,000 Shares*
Common Stock
($0.01 par value per share)


Underwriting Agreement


*
Includes 420,000 shares subject to an option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments.

            , 2006

Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc.
    as Representative of the several
    Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
c/o Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc.
1000 Wilshire Boulevard, 10th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90017

Dear Sirs:

        Willdan Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock"), and the stockholder of the Company named in Schedule II hereto (the "Selling Stockholder") proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 800,000 shares of Common Stock. The aggregate of 2,800,000 shares to be sold by the Company and the Selling Stockholder is herein called the "Firm Shares." In addition, the Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 420,000 shares (the "Optional Shares") of Common Stock from the Company for the purpose of covering over-allotments in connection with the sale of the Firm Shares. The Firm Shares and the Optional Shares which the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 3 hereof are herein collectively called the "Shares."

        The Company hereby acknowledges that, in connection with the proposed offering of the shares, it has requested Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. to administer a directed share program (the "Directed Share Program") under which up to 280,000 Firm Shares, or 10% of the Firm Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters (the "Reserved Shares"), shall be reserved for sale by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. at the initial public offering price to the Company's officers, directors, employees and consultants and other persons having a relationship with the Company as designated by the Company (the "Directed Share Participants") as part of the distribution of the Shares 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. The number of Shares available for sale to the general public will be reduced to the extent that Directed Share Participants purchase Reserved Shares. The Underwriters may offer any Reserved Shares not purchased by Directed Share Participants to the general public on the same basis as the other Shares being issued and sold hereunder. The Company has supplied Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. with the names, addresses and telephone number of the individuals or other entities which the Company has designated to be participants in the Directed Share Program. It is understood that any number of those so designated to participate in the Directed Share Program may decline to do so.



        1.    Representations and Warranties.    

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        2.    Shares Subject to Sale.    On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement:

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        The Company, as and to the extent indicated in Schedule II hereto, hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to 420,000 Optional Shares, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2, for the sole purpose of covering sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares shall be made in proportion to the maximum number of Optional Shares to be sold by the Company as set forth in Schedule II hereto. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised only by written notice (the "Election Notice") from Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement and setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery or, unless Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

        3.    Offering.    Upon the authorization by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. of the release of the Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

        4.    Closing.    Certificates in definitive form for the Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, and in such denominations and registered in such names as Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Selling Stockholder to Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds to the account specified by the Company and the Custodian, as their interests may appear, all at the office of Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc., 1000 Wilshire Boulevard, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017. The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., Eastern time, on            , 2006 or such other time and date as Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., Eastern time, on the date specified by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. in the Election Notice, or at such other time and date as Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the "First Time of Delivery," such time and

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date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the "Second Time of Delivery," and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a "Time of Delivery." Such certificates will be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to each Time of Delivery at such location as Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. may specify. If the Underwriters so elect, delivery of the Shares may be made by credit through full fast transfer to the accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc.

        5.    Covenants of the Company.    The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

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        6.    Free Writing Prospectuses.    Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc., and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc., it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a "free writing prospectus," as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc. is hereinafter referred to as a "Permitted Free Writing Prospectus." The Company represents that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an "issuer free writing prospectus," as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 165 and Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping. The Company represents that is has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.

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        7.    Expenses.    The Company and the Selling Stockholder covenant and agree with one and another and the several Underwriters that (a) the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of reproducing any Agreement Among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Blue Sky memoranda and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses and filing fees in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(c) hereof and securing any required review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Shares, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and review and in connection with any Blue Sky memoranda; (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Stock and all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares with the Nasdaq Global Market; (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vi) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the employees, officers and representatives (other than the Underwriters) of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show with the Company's consent; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company's obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section and (b) the Selling Stockholder will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Selling Stockholder's obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section, including (i) any fees and expenses of counsel for the Selling Stockholder, (ii) the fees and expenses of the Attorneys-in-Fact and the Custodian, and (iii) all expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters hereunder. In connection with clause (b)(iii) of the preceding sentence, Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. agrees to pay New York State stock transfer tax, and the Selling Stockholder agrees to reimburse Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. for associated carrying costs if such tax payment is not rebated on the day of payment and for any portion of such tax payment not rebated. It is understood, however, that the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel, except as provided in this Section, Section 9 and Section 12 hereof and stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them.

        8.    Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.    The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company and of the Selling Stockholder herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have performed all of their respective obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

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If the Company shall fail, refuse or be unable at the Time of Delivery to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder or if any other condition of the Underwriters' obligations is not fulfilled, then this Agreement shall be prevented from becoming effective without any liability on the part of any of the Underwriters. No action taken pursuant to this Section 8 shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of any default by the Company of the provisions of this Agreement which occurred prior to the Underwriters' termination.

        9.    Indemnification and Contribution.    

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        10.    Termination.    

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        11.    Survival.    The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or the Selling Stockholder or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, or any controlling person of the Selling Stockholder and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

        12.    Expenses on Termination.    If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall then have no liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Section 7 and Section 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason this Agreement is terminated, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall not have been consummated due to any of the conditions set forth in Section 8 hereof not having been met, or the Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Selling Stockholder as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc., including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have no further liability to any Underwriter in respect of the Shares not so delivered except as provided in Section 7 and Section 9 hereof.

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        13.    Notice.    In all dealings hereunder, Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters; and in all dealings with the Selling Stockholder hereunder, Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. and the Underwriters shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of the Selling Stockholder made or given by any or all of the Attorneys-in-Fact for the Selling Stockholder.

        All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the Underwriters in care of Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc., 1000 Wilshire Boulevard, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017, Attention: Equity Capital, Markets; if to the Selling Stockholder shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to counsel for the Selling Stockholder at its address set forth in Schedule II hereto; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Chief Financial Officer; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(d) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriter's Questionnaire or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. on request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

        14.    Information Provided by the Underwriters and the Selling Stockholder.    

        15.    Governing Law and Dispute Resolution.    

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        16.    Miscellaneous.    

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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        If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us three counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters and the Company, and the Selling Stockholder. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in an Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company and the Selling Stockholder for examination, upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signors thereof.

        Any person executing and delivering this Agreement as Attorney in Fact for the Selling Stockholder represents by so doing that he has been duly appointed as Attorney in Fact by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to a validly existing and binding Power-of-Attorney which authorizes such Attorney in Fact to take such action.

    Very truly yours,

 

 

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

 

 

By:

 

 
       
Name:
Title:

 

 

THE 1994 DAN W. HEIL AND LINDA LEE HEIL
REVOCABLE TRUST, as Selling Stockholder

 

 

By:

 

 
       

 

 

Name:

 

 
       
Attorney-in-Fact

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Accepted as of the date hereof
WEDBUSH MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
   

By:

 

 

 

 
   
(Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. on
behalf of each of the Underwriters)
Name:
Title:
   

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SCHEDULE I

 
  Total Number
of Firm Shares
to be Purchased

  Number of
Optional Shares
to be Purchased
if Maximum
Option Exercised

Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc.        

 

 

 

 

 
   
 
TOTAL   2,800,000   420,000

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SCHEDULE II

 
  Total Number
of Firm Shares
to be Sold

  Number of
Optional Shares
to be Sold
if Maximum
Option Exercised

The Company   2,000,000   420,000
The Selling Stockholder        
  The 1994 Dan W. Heil and Linda Lee Heil Revocable Trust(1)   800,000  
   
 
TOTAL   2,800,000   420,000
   
 

(1)
The Selling Stockholder is represented by Snell & Wilmer L.L.P., and has appointed Mallory McCamant and Win Westfall as the Attorneys-in-Fact for the Selling Stockholder. The address for the Selling Stockholder is Mrs. Linda Heil, Trustee, 1994 Dan W. Heil and Linda Lee Heil Revocable Trust, 1670 Amate Drive, La Habra Heights, California 90631.

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SCHEDULE III(a)

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SCHEDULE III(b)

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ANNEX I

Form of Warrant Agreement

Annex I1



ANNEX II

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

                        , 2006

Wedbush Morgan Securities
As Representative of the Several Underwriters
1000 Wilshire Boulevard, 10th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Each of the undersigned, a holder of common stock (the "Common Stock"), or rights to acquire Common Stock, of Willdan Group, Inc. (the "Company") understands that you, as Representative of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with the Company, providing for the public offering (the "Public Offering") by the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriters"), of shares of Common Stock of the Company. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

        In consideration of the Underwriters' agreement to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering of the Common Stock, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, each of the undersigned (sometimes referred to herein individually as a "Holder") hereby agrees for the benefit of the Company, you and the other Underwriters that, without the prior written consent of Wedbush Morgan Securities on behalf of the Underwriters, such Holder will not, commencing on the date (the "Effective Date") on which the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") declares effective the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission in connection with the Public Offering through and including the period ending 180 days (the "Lock-Up Period") after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the "Prospectus"), directly or indirectly, (1) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock (the "Securities"), (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Securities, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or any such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (3) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (1) or (2) above (any transaction specified in clause (1), (2) or (3), being a "Transfer"). In addition, each of the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Wedbush Morgan Securities on behalf of the Underwriters, such Holder will not, commencing on the date hereof through and including the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Securities. The foregoing shall not apply to (a) the sale of any Securities directly to the Company, (b) Securities to be transferred by gift, will or intestacy, (c) the sale of any Securities to be sold pursuant to the Prospectus, (d) Securities transferred to any custodian or trustee for the account of the undersigned or such undersigned's immediate family or (e) Securities transferred to partners, members, shareholders or affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned; provided that for clauses (b), (d) and (e), any transferee agrees in

Annex II-1


writing to be bound by the terms hereof. "Immediate family" as used herein shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the period that begins on the date that is 17 calendar days before the last day of the Lock-Up Period and ends on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (y) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed in this Letter Agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the date that is 18 calendar days after the date of such issuance of the earnings release or the material news or the material event occurs; provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply if the research published or distributed on the Company is compliant under Rule 139 of the Securities Act and the Company's securities are actively traded as defined in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M of the Exchange Act.

        In addition, each of the undersigned will not, commencing on the date hereof until the Effective Date, directly or indirectly Transfer any Securities to any transferee other than the Company, unless such transferee of such Transfer agrees in writing to be bound by the terms hereof.

        In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the Securities, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of Securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.

        Each of the undersigned hereby represents and warrants that such Holder has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

        Each of the undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by November 30, 2006, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement.

        Each of the undersigned, whether or not participating in the Offering, understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.

        This Letter Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The obligations of the undersigned are several and not joint.

Annex II-2



        This lock-up agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

    Very truly yours,
       
   
(Name of Stockholder—Please Print)
       
   
(Signature)
       
   
(Name of Signatory if Stockholder is an entity—Please Print)
       
   
(Title of Signatory if Stockholder is an entity—Please Print)

 

 

Address:

 
     
       
   
       
   

Annex II-3




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SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE II
SCHEDULE III(a)
SCHEDULE III(b)
ANNEX I
ANNEX II LOCK-UP AGREEMENT