AGREEMENT REGARDING THE JOINT FILING OF SCHEDULE 13G The undersigned hereby agree as follows: (i) Each of them is individually eligible to use the Schedule 13G to which this Exhibit is attached, and such Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of...

                                                                       Exhibit A


                    AGREEMENT REGARDING THE JOINT FILING OF
                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                             _____________________


The undersigned hereby agree as follows:

          (i)  Each of them is individually eligible to use the Schedule 13G to
which this Exhibit is attached, and such Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each
of them; and

          (ii) each of them is responsible for the timely filing of such
Schedule 13G and any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy
of the information concerning such person contained therein; but none of them is
responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the information concerning the
other persons making the filing, unless such person knows or has reason to
believe that such information is inaccurate.

Date: February 12, 2001

                                   XXXX CAPITAL FUND VI, L.P.

                                   By:  Xxxx Capital Partners VI, L.P.,
                                      its General Partner

                                   By:  Xxxx Capital Investors VI, Inc.,
                                      its General Partner

                                   By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       ---------------------------------
                                       Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       Title: Attorney-in-Fact


                                   XXXX CAPITAL PARTNERS VI, L.P.

                                   By:  Xxxx Capital Investors VI, Inc.,
                                      its General Partner

                                   By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       ----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       Title: Attorney-in-Fact

                              Page 22 of 27 Pages


                                   XXXX CAPITAL INVESTORS VI, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       --------------------------------
                                       Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       Title: Attorney-in-Fact


                                   BCIP ASSOCIATES II
                                   BCIP TRUST ASSOCIATES II
                                   BCIP ASSOCIATES II-B
                                   BCIP TRUST ASSOCIATES II-B
                                   BCIP ASSOCIATES II-C

                                   By:  Xxxx Capital, Inc.,
                                      their Managing General Partner

                                   By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       ---------------------------------
                                       Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       Title: Attorney-in-Fact


                                   XXXX CAPITAL, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       Title: Attorney-in-Fact


                                   PEP INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED

                                   By:  Xxxx Capital, Inc.,
                                      its Attorney-in-Fact

                                   By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       ---------------------------------
                                       Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                       Title: Attorney-in-Fact


                                       /s/ W. Xxxx Xxxxxx
                                   ________________________________________
                                               W. Xxxx Xxxxxx

                              Page 23 of 27 Pages