FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

EX-1.1 3 dex11.htm FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

4,000,000 Shares*

AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION

Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

October , 2003

NEEDHAM & COMPANY, INC.

WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

RBC DAIN RAUSCHER INC.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Needham & Company, Inc.

445 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

American Superconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell 4,000,000 shares (the “Firm Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, $.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), to you and to the several other Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”). The Company has also agreed to grant to you and the other Underwriters an option (the “Option”) to purchase up to an additional 600,000 shares of Common Stock, on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 1(b) (the “Option Shares”). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are referred to collectively herein as the “Shares.”

The Company confirms as follows its agreement with the Representatives and the several other Underwriters:

1. Agreement to Sell and Purchase.

(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (i) the Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the several Underwriters and (ii) each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite that Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto, at the purchase price of $ for each Firm Share.

*Plus an option to purchase up to an additional 600,000 shares from the Company to cover over-allotments.

(b) Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company grants the Option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to the maximum number of Option Shares set forth in the first paragraph hereof, at the same price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Firm Shares. The Option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day after the date of this Agreement upon written or telegraphic notice (the “Option Shares Notice”) by the Representatives to the Company no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, at least two and no more than five business days before the date specified for closing in the Option Shares Notice (the “Option Closing Date”), setting forth the aggregate number of Option Shares to be purchased and the time and date for such purchase. On the Option Closing Date, the Company will issue and sell to the Underwriters the number of Option Shares set forth in the Option Shares Notice, and each Underwriter will purchase such percentage of the Option Shares as is equal to the percentage of Firm Shares that such Underwriter is purchasing, as adjusted by the Representatives in such manner as they deem advisable to avoid fractional shares.

2. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of the Firm Shares shall be made to the Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters against payment of the purchase price by certified or official bank checks or by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the order of the Company at the office of Needham & Company, Inc., 445 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third (or, if the purchase price set forth in Section 1(b) hereof is determined after 4:30 p.m., New York City time, the fourth) business day following the execution of this Agreement, or at such time on such other date, not later than seven business days after the date of this Agreement, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”).

To the extent the Option is exercised, delivery of the Option Shares against payment by the Underwriters (in the manner specified above) will take place at the offices specified above for the Closing Date at the time and date (which may be the Closing Date) specified in the Option Shares Notice.

Certificates evidencing the Shares shall be in definitive form and shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request at least two business days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, by written notice to the Company. For the purpose of expediting the checking and packaging of certificates for the Shares, the Company agrees to make such certificates available for inspection at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

The cost of original issue tax stamps and other transfer taxes, if any, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Firm Shares and Option Shares by the Company to the respective Underwriters shall be borne by the Company. The Company will pay and save each Underwriter and any subsequent holder of the Shares harmless from any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any failure or delay in paying Federal and state stamp and other transfer taxes, if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the original issuance or sale to such Underwriter of the Shares.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter that:

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 and a registration statement (Registration No. 333-108347) on Form S-3 relating to the Shares, including a Preliminary Prospectus and such amendments to such registration statement as may have been required to the date of this

Agreement, has been prepared by the Company under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the rules and regulations (collectively referred to as the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) promulgated thereunder, and has been filed with the Commission. The term “Preliminary Prospectus” as used herein means a preliminary prospectus as contemplated by Rule 430 of the Rules and Regulations included at any time as part of the registration statement. Copies of such registration statement and amendments and of each related Preliminary Prospectus have been delivered to the Representatives. If such registration statement has not become effective, a further amendment to such registration statement, including a form of final prospectus, necessary to permit such registration statement to become effective will be filed promptly by the Company with the Commission. If such registration statement has become effective, a final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations will be filed by the Company with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations. The term “Registration Statement” means the registration statement as amended at the time it becomes or became effective (the “Effective Date”), including financial statements and all exhibits and any information deemed to be included by Rule 430A and includes any registration statement relating to the offering contemplated by this Agreement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations. The term “Prospectus” means the prospectus as first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or, if no such filing is required, the form of final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date.

(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including any related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act) or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. On the Effective Date, the date the Prospectus is first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (if required), at all times subsequent to and including the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date and when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as amended or as supplemented if the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment or supplement thereto), including the financial statements included in the Prospectus, did and will comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and will contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Rules and Regulations. On the Effective Date and when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, and as to the Preliminary Prospectus on the date or dates on which it was filed, neither the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, nor the Preliminary Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto did or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Effective Date, the date the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the Commission and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, the Prospectus did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing representations and warranties in this Section 3(b) do not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

(c) Except for the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, as amended (the “Subsidiaries”), the Company does not own, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will be, a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will have, full power and authority to conduct its business as contemplated by the Prospectus, to own or lease all the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will be, duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or a foreign limited liability company in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased by it makes such license or qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not result in any effect, event or condition, individually or in the aggregate, which would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the the business, properties, business prospects, condition (financial or other) or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”). All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or limited liability company interests of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of all claims, liens, charges and encumbrances; there are no securities outstanding that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for capital stock of any Subsidiary. The Company is not, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will not be, engaged in any discussions or a party to any agreement or understanding, written or oral, regarding the acquisition of an interest in any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity where such discussions, agreements or understandings would require amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to applicable securities laws. Complete and correct copies of the charter and of the by-laws of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and all amendments thereto have been delivered or made available to the Representatives, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date or, if later, the Option Closing Date.

(d) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws; the Shares have been duly authorized and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; no preemptive or similar rights exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof. The Underwriters will receive good and valid title to the Shares purchased from the Company, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, preemptive rights, stockholders’ agreements and voting trusts and other defects in title. The description of the capital stock of the Company in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will be, complete and accurate in all material respects. Except as set forth in the Prospectus and except for options granted under the Company’s stock plans in the ordinary course of business, the Company does not have outstanding, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will not have outstanding, any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock, or any such warrants, convertible securities or obligations. No further approval or authority of stockholders or the Board of Directors of the Company will be required for the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein.

(e) The financial statements, notes and schedules included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods covered thereby, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the entire period involved, except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus. No other financial statements, notes or schedules of the Company are required by the Act or the Rules and Regulations to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the “Accountants”), who have reported on such financial statements and schedules, are independent accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The summary consolidated and selected consolidated financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein.

(f) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and prior to the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, except as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been and will not have been any change in the capitalization of the Company (other than in connection with the grant or exercise of options to purchase the Company’s Common Stock granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan from the shares reserved therefor as described in the Registration Statement) or Material Adverse Effect arising for any reason whatsoever, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, nor will any of them incur, except in the ordinary course of business, any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries entered into nor will it enter into, except in the ordinary course of business, any material transactions other than pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions referred to herein and (iii) the Company has not and will not have paid or declared any dividends or other distributions of any kind on any class of its capital stock.

(g) The Company is not, will not become as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and does not intend to conduct its business in a manner that would cause it to become, an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(h) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers in their capacity as such, nor any basis therefor, before or by any Federal or state court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, wherein an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding might result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will have, performed all the obligations required to be performed by it, and is not, and at the Closing Date, and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will not be in default under any contract or other instrument to which it is a party or by which its property is bound or affected, which failure or default might result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Company, no other party under any contract or other instrument to which it is a party is in default in any respect thereunder, which default might result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is not, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will not be, in violation of any provision of its charter or by-laws or other organizational documents.

(j) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or any filing or declaration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company of the

transactions on its part contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act or the Rules and Regulations and such as may be required under state securities or so-called blue sky (“Blue Sky”) laws or the by-laws and rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the Shares.

(k) The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company accordance with the terms hereof. The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give any party a right to terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties is bound or affected, or violate or conflict with any judgment, ruling, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(l) The Company or a Subsidiary has good and marketable title to all properties and assets described in the Prospectus as owned by them, respectively, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except such as are described in the Prospectus or are not material to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company or a Subsidiary has valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for the properties described in the Prospectus as leased by them. The Company and its Subsidiaries owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries as contemplated by the Prospectus, except where the failure to so own or lease would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) There is no contract, document, agreement, instrument, lease, license, certificate, permit or other arrangement, whether written or oral, of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not described or filed as required. All such contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or such Subsidiary, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and are enforceable against and by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms thereof.

(n) No statement, representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or made in any certificate or document required by Section 5 of this Agreement to be delivered to the Representatives was or will be, when made, inaccurate, untrue or incorrect.

(o) Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which might reasonably be expected, to cause or result, under the Act or otherwise, in, or which has constituted, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(p) No holder of securities of the Company has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company because of the filing of the Registration Statement, which rights have not been waived by the holder thereof as of the date hereof.

(q) The Company has filed a Notification Form: Listing of Additional Shares to list the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market.

(r) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, other than the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or other offering materials permitted by the Act and the Rules and Regulations to be distributed.

(s) Except as disclosed in or specifically contemplated by the Prospectus (i) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) owns or has adequate rights to use all trademarks, service marks, trade names, inventions, designs, trade secrets, know-how, patent rights, copyrights and other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) and (B) has such other material licenses, approvals and governmental authorizations, in each case, sufficient to conduct its business as now conducted and as now proposed to be conducted, (ii) to the best knowledge of the Company, none of the material patent rights owned or licensed by the Company or its Subsidiaries is unenforceable or invalid; the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has duly and properly filed or caused to be filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”) and applicable foreign and international patent authorities all patent applications described or referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as having been filed by the Company or such Subsidiary and believes that the Company or such Subsidiary has complied with the PTO’s duty of candor and disclosure for such patent applications; the Company is unaware of any facts which preclude the grant of a material patent from its pending material patent applications; the Company has no knowledge of any facts which would preclude the Company or such Subsidiary from having clear title to its pending patent applications; and the Company is unaware of the filing of any patent applications by third parties or any other rights of third parties to any of the Company’s material Intellectual Property, (iii) the Company has no knowledge of any infringement by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Intellectual Property of others, where the Company believes such infringement could have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) there is no (X) claim being made against the Company or its Subsidiaries, (B) to the best knowledge of the Company, claim being made against any employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (C) to the best knowledge of the Company, basis therefor, in each case, regarding the Intellectual Property of the Company, its Subsidiaries or others which might have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all federal, state, local and foreign income tax returns which have been required to be filed and has paid all taxes and assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes or assessments have become due. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has no tax deficiency which has been or, to the best knowledge of the Company, might be asserted or threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary which might have a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) The non-GAAP financial measures set forth in the Registration Statement reflect, subject to the limitations set forth in the Registration Statement as to such non-GAAP financial measures, the results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries purported to be shown thereby for the periods indicated and conform to the requirements of Item 10 of Regulation S-K and Regulation G of the Rules and Regulations and the management of the Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures present fairly, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the non-GAAP financial measures purported to be shown therein at the respective dates or for the respective periods therein specified.

(v) The Company or its Subsidiaries owns or possesses all authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, registrations, other certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies, necessary to conduct their respective businesses as contemplated in the Prospectus,

except where the failure to own or possess all such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, registrations, other certificates and permits would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proceeding pending or threatened (or any basis therefor known to the Company) which may cause any such authorization, approval, order, license, registration, certificate or permit to be revoked, withdrawn, canceled, suspended or not renewed; and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is conducting its business in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable thereto (including, without limitation, all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations) except where such noncompliance would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains insurance of the types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate for its business, including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company or such Subsidiary against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.

(x) Neither the Company has nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective employees or agents at any time during the last five years (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for foreign office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, or (ii) made any payment to any federal or state governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof.

4. Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters as follows:

(a) The Company will not, either prior to the Effective Date or thereafter during such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares by an Underwriter or dealer, file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, unless a copy thereof shall first have been submitted to the Representatives within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof and the Representatives shall not have objected thereto in good faith.

(b) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective (if it is not already effective), and will notify the Representatives promptly, and will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective (if it is not already effective) and when any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat thereof, (iv) of the happening of any event during the period mentioned in the second sentence of Section 4(e) that in the judgment of the Company makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading and (v) of receipt by the Company or any representative or attorney of the Company of any other communication from the Commission relating to the Company, the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the Company will comply with the provisions of

and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430A and notify the Representatives promptly of all such filings.

(c) The Company will furnish to each Representative, without charge, one signed copy of each of the Registration Statement and of any pre- or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto and will furnish to the Representatives, without charge, for transmittal to each of the other Underwriters, a copy of the Registration Statement and any pre- or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules but without exhibits.

(d) The Company will comply with all the provisions of any undertakings contained in Part II of the Registration Statement.

(e) On the Effective Date, and thereafter from time to time, the Company will deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the several Underwriters and by all dealers to whom the Shares may be sold, both in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and for any period of time thereafter during which the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection therewith. If during such period of time any event shall occur which in the judgment of the Company or counsel to the Underwriters should be set forth in the Prospectus in order to make any statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will forthwith prepare and duly file with the Commission an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to the Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(f) Prior to any public offering of the Shares, the Company will cooperate with the Representatives and counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request; provided, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(g) The Company will, so long as and to the extent required under the Rules and Regulations, furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flow of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, for such quarter in reasonable detail.

(h) During the period of five years commencing on the Effective Date, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and each other Underwriter who may so request copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company may from time to time distribute generally to the holders of any class of its capital stock, and will furnish to the Representatives and each other Underwriter who may so request a copy of each annual or other report it shall be required to file with the Commission.

(i) The Company will timely file such reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as are necessary to make generally available to holders of its

securities as soon as may be practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited but shall be in reasonable detail) covering a period of 12 months commencing after the Effective Date, which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act (including Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations).

(j) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or reimburse if paid by the Representatives all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including but not limited to costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, each Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Shares, (iii) the printing of this Agreement, the Agreement Among Underwriters, any Selected Dealer Agreements, any Underwriters’ Questionnaires, any Underwriters’ Powers of Attorney, and any invitation letters to prospective Underwriters, (iv) furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing) such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom Shares may be sold, (v) the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market, (vi) any filings required to be made by the Underwriters with the NASD, and the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith, (vii) the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions designated pursuant to Section 4(f), including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters in connection therewith, and the preparation and printing of preliminary, supplemental and final Blue Sky memoranda, (viii) fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Company (but not those of counsel for the Underwriters, except as otherwise provided herein) and (ix) the transfer agent for the Shares.

(k) The Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action designed or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization of the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

(l) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the offering and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company in the manner set forth in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(m) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, without the prior written consent of Needham & Company, Inc., the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant options, warrants or rights to purchase or otherwise dispose of any of the Company’s equity securities or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for its Common Stock or other equity security (other than pursuant to stock option plans or the conversion of convertible securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding on the date of this Agreement). During the period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not file with the Commission or cause to become effective any registration statement relating to any securities of the Company without the prior written consent of Needham & Company, Inc.

(n) The Company will cause each of its officers and directors to enter into lock-up agreements with the Representatives to the effect that they will not, without the prior written consent of Needham & Company, Inc., sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or rights to acquire such shares according to the terms set forth in Schedule II hereto.

5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of each Underwriter hereunder are subject to the following conditions:

(a) Notification that the Registration Statement has become effective shall be received by the Representatives not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement or at such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representatives and all filings required by Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made.

(b) (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or threatened by the Commission, (ii) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the qualification or registration of the Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction shall be in effect and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission or the authorities of any such jurisdiction, (iii) any request for additional information on the part of the staff of the Commission or any such authorities shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities and (iv) after the date hereof no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and the Representatives do not object thereto in good faith, and the Representatives shall have received certificates, dated the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (who may, as to proceedings threatened, rely upon the best of their information and belief), to the effect of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph.

(c) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there shall not have been a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, other than as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and (ii) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall not have sustained any material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, explosion, flood or other casualty, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any court or legislative or other governmental action, order or decree, which is not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, if in the judgment of the Representatives any such development makes it impracticable or inadvisable to consummate the sale and delivery of the Shares by the Underwriters at the initial public offering price.

(d) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall have been no litigation or other proceeding (other than the litigation contemplated by the Registration Statement) instituted against the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers or directors in their capacities as such, before or by any Federal, state or local court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, in which litigation or proceeding an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding could, in the judgment of the Representatives, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation and warranty containing a materiality qualification), or in all material respects (in the case of any representation and warranty without any material qualification) at the Closing Date, and, with respect to the Option Shares, at the Option Closing Date, and all covenants and agreements contained herein to be performed on the part of the Company and all conditions contained herein to be fulfilled or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, at or prior to the Option Closing Date, shall have been duly performed, fulfilled or complied with.

(f) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, the Option Closing Date, reasonable satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters from Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel to the Company, with respect to the following matters:

(i) Each of the Company and its U.S. Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; has the requisite corporate power and authority to conduct the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business, in each case as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; and is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in the jurisdictions listed in such opinion, which, to such counsel’s knowledge, constitute all U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or such Subsidiary owns or leases real property.

(ii) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

(iii) The specimen certificate evidencing the Common Stock filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement is in due and proper form under Delaware law, the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for as contemplated by this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and no preemptive or similar rights exist under the Delaware General Corporation Law statute, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or the Company’s By-Laws or any contract to which the Company is a party that is filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, as amended, or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.

(iv) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each U.S. Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and are owned of record by the Company or another Subsidiary, free and clear, to such counsel’s knowledge, of all claims, liens, charges and encumbrances.

(v) The authorized capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization”.

(vi) To such counsel’s knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective properties is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not so described.

(vii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or any filing or declaration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company of the transactions on its part contemplated under this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or made under the Act or the Rules and Regulations and such as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the by-laws and rules of the NASD in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the Shares.

(viii) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(ix) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby does not contravene the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its U.S. Subsidiaries, and to such counsel’s knowledge, will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company or any of its U.S. Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms and provisions of, result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give any party a right to terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, as amended, or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, or violate or conflict with (i) any judgment, ruling, decree or order specifically naming the Company or any U.S. Subsidiary known to such counsel or (ii) any United States federal or Massachusetts state law, rule or regulation or the Delaware General Corporation Law statute, that in our experience is normally applicable in transactions of the type contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.

(x) To such counsel’s knowledge, there is no document or contract of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not filed as required.

(xi) The Company is not an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(xii) The Shares have been duly authorized for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market.

(xiii) To such counsel’s knowledge, no holder of securities of the Company has rights, which have not been waived or satisfied, to require the registration with the Commission of shares of Common Stock or other securities, as part of the offering contemplated hereby.

(xiv) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, and to such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or is pending or threatened.

In addition to the matters set forth above, Hale and Dorr LLP, shall state that in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus they have participated in conferences with officers and representatives of the Company and representatives of the Underwriters, counsel for the Underwriters and the independent accountants of the Company, at which conferences such counsel made inquiries of such persons and others and discussed the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Such counsel shall further state that while the limitation inherent in the independent verification of factual matters and the character of determinations involved in the registration process are such that they are not passing upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, subject to the foregoing and based on such participation, inquiries and discussions, such counsel believes that:

(xv) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the requirement of the Act and the Rules and Regulations (other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial and accounting data contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as to which such counsel need express no belief).

(xvi) No facts have come to the attention of such counsel that caused them to believe that, as of the Effective Date the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial or accounting data contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date and the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial and accounting data contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief).

(xvii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial and accounting data contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief), when they were filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations.

(xviii) The statements under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus and under the captions “Employment Agreements with Senior Executives,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, as amended, insofar as the statements constitute a summary of documents referred to therein or matters of law, accurately summarize in all material respects the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein.

Such counsel need not express any belief as to any statements in the Registration Statement or Prospectus regarding the Underwriters or the method of distribution of the Shares.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that they render no opinion as to matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Delaware General Corporation Law statute and the United States federal law.

(g) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, from Choate, Hall & Stewart, counsel to the Underwriters, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory in all respects to the Representatives.

(h) Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Accountants shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the date of its delivery, addressed to the Representatives and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries as required by the Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations and with respect to certain financial and other statistical and numerical information contained in the Registration Statement. At the Closing Date and, as to the Option Shares, the Option Closing Date, the Accountants shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the date of its delivery, which shall confirm, on the basis of a review in accordance with the procedures set forth in the letter from the Accountants, that nothing has come to their attention during the period from the date of the letter referred to in the prior sentence to a date (specified in the letter) not more than five days prior to the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, which would require any change in their

letter dated the date hereof if it were required to be dated and delivered at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date.

(i) Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and at the Closing Date and, as to the Option Shares, the Option Closing Date, there shall be furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the date of its delivery, signed by each of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company on behalf of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:

(i) Each signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and (A) as of the date of such certificate, such documents are true and correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading and (B) in the case of the certificate delivered at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, since the Effective Date no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading.

(ii) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement were true when originally made, and are, at the time such certificate is delivered true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation and warranty containing a materiality qualification), or in all material respects (in the case of a representation and warranty without any material qualification).

(iii) Each of the covenants required to be performed by the Company herein on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully performed and each condition herein required to be satisfied or fulfilled by the Company on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully satisfied or fulfilled.

(j) The Shares shall be qualified for sale in such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request and each such qualification shall be in effect and not subject to any stop order or other proceeding on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date.

(k) Prior to the Closing Date, the Shares shall have been listed on the Nasdaq National Market.

(l) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such certificates, in addition to those specifically mentioned herein, as the Representatives may have reasonably requested as to the accuracy and completeness at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date of any statement in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as to the accuracy at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, as to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and precedent to the obligations hereunder of the Representatives.

(m) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the executed agreements referred to in Section 4(n).

Indemnification.

(a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and

against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or the omission or alleged omission to state in such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, or arise out of or are based in whole or in part on any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that (i) the Company will not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Shares in the public offering to any person by an Underwriter and is based on an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives, on behalf of any Underwriter, expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and (ii) the Company will not be liable to any Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees or agents of such Underwriter or any person controlling such Underwriter with respect to any loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage arising out of or based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in the Preliminary Prospectus which is corrected in the Prospectus if the person asserting any such loss, claim, liability, charge or damage purchased Shares from such Underwriter but was not sent or given a copy of the Prospectus at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth under the heading “Underwriting” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, as set forth in Section 6(a), but only insofar as losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives, on behalf of such Underwriter, expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth under the heading “Underwriting” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability that each Underwriter might otherwise have.

(c) Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 6 shall, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 6, notify each such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action, enclosing with such notice a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve it from any

liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the loss of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, 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 an indemnified party. Any indemnifying party will not be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 6 in respect of any losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Underwriters, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to the total

underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 6(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 6(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts received by it and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 6(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. For purposes of this Section 6(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Act will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against any such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 6(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify will not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 6(d). No party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, (ii) acceptance of any of the Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

7. Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. In addition to its other obligations under Section 6(a) of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to reimburse on a quarterly basis the Underwriters for all reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon, in whole or in part, any statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, or any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or failure of the Company to perform its or their respective obligations hereunder or under law, all as described in Section 6(a), notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the obligations under this Section 7 and the possibility that such payment might later be held to be improper; provided, however, that, to the extent any such payment is ultimately held to be improper, the persons receiving such payments shall promptly refund them.

8. Termination. The obligations of the several Underwriters under this Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the Closing Date (or, with respect to the Option Shares, on or prior to the Option Closing Date), by notice to the Company from the Representatives, without liability on the part of any Underwriter to the Company if, prior to delivery and payment for the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, (i) trading in any of the equity securities of the Company shall have been suspended by the Commission or by the Nasdaq National Market, (ii) trading in securities generally on the Nasdaq National Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established in such market, or additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this Agreement, shall have been imposed upon trading in securities generally by such market, by order of the Commission or any court or other governmental authority, or by the Nasdaq National Market, (iii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any Federal authority or state authority in New York or Delaware or (iv) any material adverse change in the financial or securities markets in the United States or in political, financial or economic conditions in the United States or any outbreak or material escalation of war or armed hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis (including, without limitation, a significant terrorist act) shall have occurred, the effect of which is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the delivery of and payment for the Shares.

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 8, the Company shall not be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 4(j), 6 and 7 hereof; but, if for any other reason (other than a default by the Underwriters) the purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters is not consummated or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations hereunder, the Company will reimburse the several Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Shares.

9. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, including the agreements contained in Section 4 and the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 6, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by, or on behalf of, the Company, the Underwriters or any person or entity which is entitled to be indemnified under Section 6, and shall survive delivery of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares. In addition, the provisions of Sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 shall survive termination of this Agreement, whether such termination occurs before or after the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date.

10. Substitution of Underwriters. If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any of the Firm Shares which it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder, and the aggregate number of Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, to purchase the Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase, in the proportions which the number of Firm Shares which they have respectively agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1 bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares which all such non-defaulting Underwriters have so agreed to purchase, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify; provided that in no event shall the maximum number of Firm Shares which any Underwriter has become obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1 be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by more than one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares without the prior written consent of such Underwriter. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase

of such Firm Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter and the Company for the purchase or sale of any Shares under this Agreement. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

11. Miscellaneous. Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be mailed or delivered (a) if to the Company, at the office of the Company, Two Technology Drive, Westborough, MA 01581, Attention: Kevin M. Bisson, Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to Patrick J. Rondeau, Esq., Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 or (b) if to the Underwriters, to the Representatives at the offices of Needham & Company, Inc., 445 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Corporate Finance Department, with a copy to William C. Rogers, Esq., Choate, Hall & Stewart, Exchange Place, 53 State Street, Boston, MA 02109. Any such notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice under Section 8 or 10 may be made by telex or telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently confirmed in writing as required herein.

This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the several Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 6, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” as used in this Agreement shall not include a purchaser, as such purchaser, of Shares from any of the several Underwriters.

Any action required or permitted to be made by the Representatives under this Agreement may be taken by them jointly or by Needham & Company, Inc.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.

This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

In case any provision in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

The Company and the Underwriters each hereby waive any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.

Very truly yours,

AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION

By:

Gregory J. Yurek, Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

Confirmed as of the date first

above mentioned:

NEEDHAM & COMPANY, INC.

WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

RBC DAIN RAUSCHER INC.

Acting on behalf of themselves

and as the Representatives of

the other several Underwriters

named in Schedule I hereto.

By: NEEDHAM & COMPANY, INC.

By:

Name:

Title:

SCHEDULE I

UNDERWRITERS

Underwriters		Number of Firm Shares to be Purchased
Needham & Company, Inc.
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.

Total		4,000,000

SCHEDULE II

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

The undersigned is a holder of securities of American Superconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and wishes to facilitate the public offering of shares of the Common Stock (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (the “Offering”). The undersigned recognizes that such Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned.

In consideration of the foregoing and in order to induce you to act as underwriters in connection with the Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that he or she will not, without the prior written approval of Needham & Company, Inc., acting on its own behalf and/or on behalf of other representatives of the underwriters, directly or indirectly, sell, contract to sell, make any short sale, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any hedging transaction that is likely to result in a transfer of, any shares of Common Stock, options to acquire shares of Common Stock or securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Company which he or she may beneficially own (as defined in Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), for a period commencing as of the date hereof and ending on the date which is ninety (90) days after the date of the final Prospectus relating to the Offering. The undersigned confirms that he or she understands that the underwriters and the Company will rely upon the representations and agreements set forth in this Agreement in proceeding with the Offering. The foregoing two sentences shall not apply to (a) transfers by gift upon the condition that the donee shall agree in writing to be bound by the restriction in the same manner as it applies to the donor, (b) transfers to a trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or any member of the undersigned’s family, provided that any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the restriction in the same manner as it applies to the transferor, and (c) transfers upon the death of the undersigned to his or her executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries, it being agreed that any such transferee shall be bound by the restriction in the same manner as it applies to the transferor. The undersigned further confirms that the agreements of the undersigned are irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. The undersigned agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent against the transfer of securities held by the undersigned except in compliance with this Agreement.

This Agreement shall terminate as of November 30, 2003 if the Offering has not been consummated by such date.

This Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and his, her or its respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns.

Typed or Printed Name

Signature or Authorized Signature

on behalf of the above Person