UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

21,500,000 Shares

ADVANCE AMERICA, CASH ADVANCE CENTERS, INC.

COMMON STOCK ($.01 PAR VALUE)

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December ___, 2004

December [  ], 2004

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated

Banc of America Securities LLC

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Xxxxx & Company LLC

Xxxxxxxx Inc.

Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC

Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Incorporated

JMP Securities LLC

Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC

c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000

Dear Sirs and Mesdames:

Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), and certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Shareholders”) named in Schedule I hereto severally propose to sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 21,500,000 shares of the common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Firm Shares”), of which 14,333,333 shares are to be issued and sold by the Company and 7,166,667 shares are to be sold by the Selling Shareholders, each Selling Shareholder selling the amount set forth opposite such Selling Shareholder’s name under “Number of Firm Shares to Be Sold” in Schedule I hereto.

The Selling Shareholders also severally propose to sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional 3,225,000 shares of the common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Additional Shares”), with each Selling Shareholder selling up to the amount set forth opposite such Selling Shareholder’s name under “Number of Additional Shares to Be Sold” in Schedule I hereto as more fully described herein, if and to the extent that you, as Managers of the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted to the Underwriters in Section 3 hereof.  The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares.” The shares of common stock $.01 par value per share of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the “Common Stock.” The Company and the Selling Shareholders are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Sellers.”

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on form S-1 (file no. 333-118227), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares.  The registration statement as amended at the time it

1

becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.”  If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated (“Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx”) has agreed to reserve a portion of the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement for sale to the Company’s directors, officers, employees and business associates and other parties related to the Company (collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriters” (the “Directed Share Program”).  The Shares to be sold by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share Program are referred to hereinafter as the “Directed Shares.”  Any Directed Shares not confirmed for purchase by any Participants by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.

1.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

(a)  The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

(b)  (i)  The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, 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, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

(c)  The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to

2

conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(d)  Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except as described in the Prospectus.

(e)  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (1) the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business; (2) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (3) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except in each case as described in the Prospectus.

(f)  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not  interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries that are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in the  Prospectus.

(g)  The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights,

3

know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure to own, possess or acquire any of the foregoing would not result in a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing that, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse affect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(h)  No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists, except as described in the Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.

(i)  The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in the Prospectus.

(j)  The Company and its subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, as presently conducted, except as described in the Prospectus or where the failure to have such certificates would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of  proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described the Prospectus.

(k)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (1) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in  conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability, except as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — Our auditors concluded that, as of June 30, 2004, there was a significant deficiency in our internal controls”; (3) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with

4

management’s general or specific authorization; and (4) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken  with respect to any differences.

(l)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(m)  The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

(n)  The shares of Common Stock (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders) outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(o)  The Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(p)  The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene (i) any provision of applicable law or (ii) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or (iii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, except in the case of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv), where such contravention would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be required by the Securities Act, the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the rules and regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”), the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares and except for those that have been obtained or made.

(q)  There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement).

5

(r)  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

(s)  Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(t)  The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(u)  The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(v)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(w)  [The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus comply, and any amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program.]

6

(x)  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any jurisdiction where the Directed Shares are being offered.

(y)  The Company has not offered, or caused Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx or its affiliates to offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

(z)  The Company and its subsidiaries have filed or caused to be filed in a timely manner (within any applicable extension periods) all tax returns required to be filed by the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or by applicable state, local or foreign tax laws, and each such tax return was true, complete and correct in all material respects and (ii) have timely paid in full all taxes with respect to taxable periods covered by such tax returns, and all other material taxes for which the Company and its subsidiaries are or might otherwise be liable, except where such noncompliance with tax return filing obligations or taxes owed would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(aa)  The Company has at all times from October 1, 2001 had in effect a valid election to be treated as an S Corporation under Section 1362 of the Code, or its predecessor Code provision, and under the corresponding provisions of applicable state and local laws where the Company files or is required to file tax returns, and the Company has not taken any action that would have caused a termination of any such election for any period.  Since the Company became an S Corporation, neither it nor any of its subsidiaries has disposed of an asset that would give rise to any net gain subject to Section 1374(a) of the Code, and no shares of capital stock of the Company were held by any person or entity that was ineligible to be an S Corporation shareholder.  With respect to those subsidiaries the Company intended to be treated as qualified subchapter S subsidiaries, the Company has made valid elections under Section 1361 of the Code (or its predecessor Code provision) and under the corresponding provisions of applicable state and local laws.

(bb)  On or before the date hereof, “lock-up” agreements, each in the form of Exhibit A hereto, relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, have been executed and delivered to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx by the persons named on Schedule III hereto.

(cc)  The amount of the tax distributions paid or to be paid by the Company to the Company’s current stockholders as described in the Prospectus have been calculated by the Company reasonably and in good faith on the basis described in the Prospectus.

7

2.  Representations and Warranties of the Selling Shareholders. Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

(a)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder.

(b)  The execution and delivery by such Selling Shareholder of, and the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Custody Agreement signed by such Selling Shareholder and the Company, as Custodian, relating to the deposit of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder (the “Custody Agreement”) and the Power of Attorney appointing certain individuals as such Selling Shareholder’s attorneys-in-fact to the extent set forth therein, relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Registration Statement (the “Power of Attorney”) will not contravene (i) any provision of applicable law, or (ii) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of such Selling Shareholder (if such Selling Shareholder is a corporation), or (iii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon such Selling Shareholder or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder, except, in the case of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv), where such contravention would not impair in any material respects the consummation of such Selling Shareholder’s obligations under this Agreement, the Custody Agreement or the Power of Attorney, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement or the Custody Agreement or Power of Attorney of such Selling Shareholder, except such as may be required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction, or the rules and regulations of the NASD in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.

(c)  Such Selling Shareholder has, and on the Closing Date will have, valid title to, or a valid “security entitlement” within the meaning of Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) in respect of, the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances and the legal right and power, and all authorization and approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney and to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder or a security entitlement in respect of such Shares.

(d)  The Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and are valid and binding agreements of such Selling Shareholder.

(e)  Upon payment for the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be

8

designated by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of such Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Shares on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the “UCC”) to such Shares), (A) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser” of such Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security entitlement (within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC) in respect of such Shares and (C) no action based on any “adverse claim”, within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to such Shares may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement; for purposes of this representation, such Selling Shareholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (x) such Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Company’s share registry in accordance with its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (y) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (z) appropriate entries to the accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC.

(f)  Such Selling Shareholder is not prompted to sell its Shares pursuant to this Agreement by any information concerning the Company or its subsidiaries the inclusion of which is necessary to make the statements in the Prospectus not misleading.

(g)  (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, 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, provided, however, that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph 2(g) only apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Selling Shareholder furnished to the Company in writing by such Selling Shareholder through you expressly for use therein.

(h)  Such Selling Shareholder has not taken any action that would have caused a termination of the Company’s election to be treated as an S Corporation under Section 1362 of the Code, or its predecessor Code provision, and under the corresponding provisions of the applicable state and local laws where the

9

Company files or is required to file tax returns to be treated as an S Corporation for any period.

3.  Agreements to Sell and Purchase. Each Seller, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from such Seller at $______ a share (the “Purchase Price”) the number of Firm Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the number of Firm Shares to be sold by such Seller as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.

On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder as described below, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 3,225,000 Additional Shares at the Purchase Price.  You may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice of each election to exercise the option not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement.  Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such shares are to be purchased.  Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm Shares nor later than ten business days after the date of such notice.  Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in Section 5 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares.  On each day, if any, that Additional Shares are to be purchased (an “Option Closing Date”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.  On each Option Closing Date, each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to sell to the Underwriters the respective number of Additional Shares obtained by multiplying the number of Shares specified in the exercise notice by a fraction (a) the numerator of which is the number of Shares set forth next to such Selling Shareholder’s name under “Number of Additional Shares to Be Sold” on Schedule I hereto in the case of each Selling Shareholder and (b) the denominator of which is the total number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine).

Each Seller hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (or such later date specified in the second succeeding paragraph), (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,

10

purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock,  (ii) file any registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than registration statement(s) on Form S-8 to register securities for issuance pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan described in the Prospectus) or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. In addition, each Selling Shareholder, agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (or such later date specified in the second succeeding paragraph), make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.

The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the Underwriters have been advised in writing, provided that each recipient of such shares during the restricted period referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, (C) the issuance by the Company of shares or options to purchase shares of the Common Stock, pursuant solely to the Company’s 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan described in the Prospectus, provided that each recipient of such shares, or of shares issued upon exercise of such options, during the restrictive period referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph, shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, (D) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock, in exchange for the membership interests of Church & Commerce, LLC and two airplanes owned by Wyoming Associates, Inc. as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”, provided that each recipient of such shares shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, (E) transactions by any person other than the Company or Selling Shareholders relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the offering of the Shares, (F) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, provided that no sales or other transfers occur under such plan during the restricted period referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph, (G) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock as a bona fide gift or for no consideration, (H) transfers of shares of Common Stock to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the Selling Shareholder or an immediate family of the Selling Shareholder or from any trust to a beneficiary of such trust, (I) transfers of shares of Common Stock if the Selling Shareholder is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other entity, the Selling Shareholder may transfer the shares of

11

Common Stock held by the Selling Shareholder to any of its (w) stockholders, (x) subsidiaries, (y) affiliates or (z)  in the case of a partnership, any of the partners of such partnership or any of the partners of the general partner of such partnership or (J) transfers of shares of Common Stock with the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters; provided that (i) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (G), (H) or (I), in each case each donee, recipient or transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and; (ii) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (H) or (I), in each case such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value.  In addition, each Selling Shareholder, agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during 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 shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 180 day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (2) prior to the expiration of the 180 day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16 day period beginning on the last day of the 180 day period, the restrictions imposed above shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18 day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

4.  Terms of Public Offering. The Sellers are advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is advisable.  The Sellers are further advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at $___ a share (the “Public Offering Price”) and to certain dealers selected by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $____ a share under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of $___ a share, to any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.

5.  Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold by each Seller shall be made to such Seller in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on December ___, 2004,¹ or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than December ___, 2004,² as shall be designated in writing by you.  The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”

                ¹ Insert date 3 business days or, in the event the offering is priced after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (and T+4 settlement is deemed to apply to secondary sales), 4 business days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement.

                ² Insert date 5 business days after the date inserted in accordance with note 1 above.

12

Payment for any Additional Shares to be sold by a Selling Shareholder shall be made to such Selling Shareholder in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 3 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than December ___, 2004,³ as shall be designated in writing by you.

The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be.  The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.

6.  Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Sellers to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.

The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:

(a)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i)  there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and

(ii)  there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

                ³ Insert date 10 business days after the expiration of the green shoe option.

13

(b)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 6(a)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.  The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

(c)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit B-1 hereto and a letter from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit B-2 hereto.

(d)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, P.C., special counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

(e)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of S. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, III, in-house counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

(f)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxx LLC, special counsel for the Selling Shareholders, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit E hereto.

(g)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date opinions of Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, P.C., Johnson, Smith, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx Law Firm, L.L.P., Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, P.C., and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Jr., Esq., each counsel to various of the Selling Shareholders, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibits F-1, F-2, F-3, and F-4 hereto.

(h)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit G-1 hereto and a letter from Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx LLP, dated the Closing Date substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit G-2 hereto.

The opinions described in Sections 6(c), 6(d), 6(e), 6(f) and 6(g) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company or one or more of the Selling Shareholders, as the case may be, and shall so state therein.

(i)  The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from

14

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

(j)  The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option Closing Date of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Shares.

7.  Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a)  To furnish to you, without charge, ten signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto); and to furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 7(c) below, as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

(b)  Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

(c)  If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to

15

prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

(d)  To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably 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 that would subject it to material taxation or service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(e)  To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2005 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(f)  To comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

8.  Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters agree that (a) the Company shall pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel, the Company’s accountants and all of the counsels for the Selling Shareholders in connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses incurred by it in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to be sold by it to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., provided that the

16

fees and disbursements of such counsel in clauses (iii) and (iv) shall not exceed $[20,000], (v) 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 costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) 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; provided that the Company and the Underwriters each shall pay 50% of the reasonable fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of both the Company and the Underwriters, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and the Underwriters, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (x) all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program, (xi) all expenses in connection with any offer and sale of the Shares outside of the United States, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with offers and sales outside the United States, (xii) all expenses in connection with any offer and sale of the Shares outside of the United States, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with offers and sales outside of the United States and (xiii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section and (b) except as provided in clause (a) above, each Selling Shareholder will bear its own costs and expenses, including underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares being sold by such Selling Shareholder and any transfer or other taxes payable on the transfer and delivery of such Shares to the Underwriters.  It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 9 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution”, and the last paragraph of Section 11 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

The provisions of this Section shall not supersede or otherwise affect any agreement that the Sellers may otherwise have for the allocation of such expenses among themselves.

9.  Indemnity and Contribution. (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, each Selling Shareholder, each person who controls a Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and

17

each affiliate of any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, or any such affiliate of such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless the failure to send or give such Prospectus is the result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 7(a) hereof.

(b)  Each Selling Shareholder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and the Company, each person, if any, who controls  any Underwriter or the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter or the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, the directors of the Company and each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only with reference to information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or

18

given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless the failure to send or give such Prospectus is the result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 7(a) hereof.  The liability of each Selling Shareholder under the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares sold by such Selling Shareholder under this Agreement (before payment of fees and expenses but after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions).

(c)  Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Selling Shareholders, the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.

(d)  In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a), 9(b) or 9(c), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.  It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any

19

local counsel) for all Underwriters and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or who are affiliates of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such Section and (iii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Selling Shareholders and all persons, if any, who control any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriters and such control persons and affiliates of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx.  In the case of any such separate firm for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company.  In the case of any such separate firm for the Selling Shareholders and such control persons of any Selling Shareholders, such firm shall be designated in writing by the persons named as attorneys-in-fact for the Selling Shareholders under the Powers of Attorney.  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding 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 includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

(e)  To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 9(a), 9(b) or 9(c) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 9(e)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 9(e)(i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by each Seller and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the

20

Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares.  The relative fault of the Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Sellers or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint. The liability of each Selling Shareholder under the contribution agreement contained in this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares sold by such Selling Shareholder under this Agreement (before payment of fees and expenses but after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions).

(f)  The Sellers and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 9(e).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, 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 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(g)  The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 9 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Selling Shareholders contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter, any Selling Shareholder or any person controlling any Selling Shareholder, or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.

10.  Directed Share Program Indemnification.  (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx or its affiliates within the meaning of either Section 15 of

21

the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (“Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement  or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant has agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities.

(b)  In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 10(a) above, the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity seeking indemnity shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company, upon request of the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity to represent the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity and any others the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity unless (i) the Company shall have agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.  The Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities.  Any such firm for the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx.  The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to indemnify the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

(c)  To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 10(a) above is unavailable to a Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Company, in lieu of indemnifying the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the

22

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 10(c)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 10(c)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and of the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares.  If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(d)  The Company and the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 10(c).  The amount paid or payable by the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  The remedies provided for in this Section 10 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity at law or in equity.

(e)  The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 10 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Entity or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.

23

11.  Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the Company, if  after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

12.  Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of 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 the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 12 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter.  If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased, and arrangements satisfactory to you, the Company and the Selling Shareholders for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the Selling Shareholders.  In any such case either you or the relevant Sellers 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 in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more

24

than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default.  Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 12 with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of any Seller to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason any Seller shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Sellers will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

13.  Notices.  All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Attention:  Global Capital Markets Syndicate Desk (fax: 000-000-0000), or, if sent to the Company or the Selling Shareholders, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX (fax: 000-000-0000), provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9 will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to such Underwriter in accordance with the relevant notice details set forth in Schedule IV hereto.

14.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

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

25

16.  Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

Very truly yours,

ADVANCE AMERICA, CASH

ADVANCE CENTERS, INC.

By:

Name:

Title:

The Selling Shareholders named in Schedule I hereto, acting severally

By:

Attorney-in-Fact

Accepted as of the date hereof

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated

Banc of America Securities LLC

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Xxxxx & Company LLC

Xxxxxxxx Inc.

Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC

Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Incorporated

JMP Securities LLC

Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC

Acting severally on behalf of themselves

and the several Underwriters named in

Schedule II hereto.

By:	Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
By:
	Name:
	Title:

26

SCHEDULE I

SELLING SHAREHOLDER:		NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES TO BE SOLD:		NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SHARES TO BE SOLD:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Jr. Revocable Trust dated July 17, 2001
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
AAI/GDJ, III Trust dated 4/21/98
AAI/SPJ Trust dated 4/21/98
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
SHJ Advance Holdings, LLC
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Revocable Trust dated July 17,2001
Irrevocable Trust dated March 15,1999
Grandchild’s Trust Two UID 12/16/85
DCB Advance Holdings, LLC
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx’x Grandchildren’s Trust dated January 1, 1997
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx P. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Holdings, LLC
Saybrook Investments, LLC
Xxxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Revocable Trust UID 8/25/92
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Trust One UID 4/10/92
X.X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. Revocable Trust UID 2/19/93
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx Family Trust dtd 10/30/97
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx Family Trust dtd 10/30/97
Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Xx. Family Trust dtd 10/30/97

I-1

SELLING SHAREHOLDER:		NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES TO BE SOLD:		NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SHARES TO BE SOLD:
Trust U/A Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx dtd 12/23/93 f/b/o Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Trust U/A Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx dtd 12/23/93 f/b/o Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Trust U/A Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx dtd 12/23/93 f/b/o Xxxxx X.XxXxxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Children’s Trust UID 9/30/87
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx III
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx X Xxxxxxx, as Custodian f/b/o Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx TUTMA
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Term Trust U/A Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Xx. dtd 2/23/04
Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
K. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Total:

I-2

SCHEDULE II

UNDERWRITER:		NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES TO BE PURCHASED:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Banc of America Securities LLC
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Xxxxx & Company LLC
Xxxxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Incorporated
JMP Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC
Total:

II-1

INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS:

Directors and Executive Officers:

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III

Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

Xxxx X. Xxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.

W. Xxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX

5% or More Selling Shareholders:

Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Jr. RevocableTrust dated July 17, 2001

Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx

AAI/GDJ, III Trust dated 4/21/98

AAI/SPJ Trust dated 4/21/98

Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx

Other Selling Shareholders:

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx

SHJ Advance Holdings, LLC

Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Revocable Trust dated July 17, 2001

Irrevocable Trust dated March 15, 1999

Grandchild’s Trust Two UID 12/16/85

DCB Advance Holdings, LLC

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx

Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx’x Grandchildren’s Trust dated January 1, 1997

Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxx P. Xxxxx

Xxxxxxx Holdings, LLC

Saybrook Investments, LLC

Xxxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Revocable Trust UID 8/25/92

Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Trust One UID 4/10/92

X.X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. Revocable Trust UID 2/19/93

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx

III-1

Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx Family Trust dtd 10/30/97

Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx Family Trust dtd  10/30/97

Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Xx. Family Trust dtd 10/30/97

Trust U/A Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx dtd 12/23/93 f/b/o Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx

Trust U/A Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx dtd 12/23/93 f/b/o Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx

Trust U/A Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx dtd 12/23/93 f/b/o Xxxxx X.XxXxxxxx, Xx.

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx

Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Children’s Trust UID 9/30/87

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx III

Xxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxx Xxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

Xxxx X Xxxxxxx, as Custodian f/b/o Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx TUTMA

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx

Term Trust U/A Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Xx. dtd 2/23/04

Xxx Xxxx

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxxx

Xxx Xxxxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx

K. Xxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxx Xxxxx

Senior Management and Key Employees:

Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx

Xxxxxx Xxxxx

Xxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxxxxx

Xxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxx Xxxx

Xxxx Xxxxxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxx

Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx

III-2

SCHEDULE IV

UNDERWRITER NOTICE PROVISIONS:

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated

0000 Xxxxxxxx

Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Global Capital Markets Syndicate Desk

Fax: (000) 000-0000

Banc of America Securities LLC

NY1-301-31-01

0 X. 00xx Xx.

Xxx Xxxx, XX  00000

Attn:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Wachovia Securities

000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx

Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000

Attn:  Xxx Xxxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

Xxxxx & Company LLC

000 Xxxxx Xxx., 0xx Xxxxx

Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

Xxxxxxxx Inc.

000 Xxxxxx Xx.

Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Xxxxx Xxxxxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC

000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xx.

Xxxxx 0000

Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Xxxxx X. Xxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Incorporated

Investment Banking

000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx

Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Xxxxx Xxxxxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

JMP Securities LLC

General Counsel - JMP Securities

000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000

Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Xxxxx Xxxxxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC

One Xxxxxxxxxx Tower

Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Xxx Xxxxxx

Fax: (000) 000-0000

EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER]

____________, 2004

Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated

Banc of America Securities LLC

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Xxxxx & Company LLC

Xxxxxxxx Inc.

Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC

Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Incorporated

JMP Securities LLC

Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC

c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

Dear Sirs and Mesdames:

The undersigned understands that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated (“Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc.,  a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters, including Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (the “Underwriters”), of 21,500,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock $.01 par value per share of the Company (the “Common Stock”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be filed with the Security and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, (2) file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the offering of any shares of common stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable for shares of common stock or (3) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.  The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) the sale of any

Shares to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (b) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, (c) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock in exchange for the membership interests of Church and Commerce, LLC and two airplanes owned by Wyoming Associates, Inc., as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”, provided that each recipient of such shares shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form hereof, (d) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), provided that no sales or other transfers occur under such plan during the restricted period referred to above in this paragraph, (e) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock as a bona fide gift or for no consideration, (f) transfers of shares of Common Stock to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or an immediate family of the undersigned or from any trust to a  beneficiary of such trust, (g) transfers of shares of Common Stock if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other entity, the undersigned may transfer the shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned to any of its (w) stockholders, (x) subsidiaries, (y) affiliates or (z) in the case of a partnership, any of the partners of such partnership or any of the partners of the general partner of such partnership or (h) transfers of shares of Common Stock with the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters;  provided that, (i) in case of any transfer pursuant to clauses (e), (f) or (g), in each case each transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of hereof, (ii) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (f) or (g), in each case such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value.  In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.  The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 180 day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the 180 day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16 day period beginning on the last day of the 180 day period, the restrictions imposed by this letter shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18 day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering.  The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions.  Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company

2

and the Underwriters. This letter shall lapse and become null and void if the first closing Public Offering shall not have occurred on or prior to January 31, 2005.

Very truly yours,

(Name)

(Authorized Signature)

(Address)

3