Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.6

                                SIPEX CORPORATION

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

           SIPEX Corporation (the "Company") hereby grants the following option
to purchase Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company pursuant to an action of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the
Company on January 16, 2001. The terms and conditions attached hereto are also a
part hereof.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                              <C>
         Name of employee (the "Employee" or "Optionee"):                        Bruce Diamond

         Date of this option grant:                                              January 16, 2001

         Number of shares of the Company's Common Stock subject to this option
         ("Option Shares"):                                                      500,000

         Option exercise price per share:                                        $12.688

         Number of Option Shares subject to vesting schedule:                    500,000

         Vesting Start Date:                                                     January 2, 2002

         Vesting Schedule. If the Employee has continued to be employed by the
         Company or any Related Corporation (as defined in Section 2 hereof) on
         the following dates, the Employee may exercise this option for the
         number of shares of Common Stock as set forth below.

         Prior to January 2, 2002                                                0 shares

         As of January 2, 2002 but prior to January 2, 2003                      100,000 shares

         As of January 2, 2003 but prior to January 2, 2004                      an additional 100,000 shares

         As of January 2, 2004 but prior to January 2, 2005                      an additional 100,000 shares

         As of January 2, 2005 but prior to January 2, 2006                      an additional 100,000 shares

         As of January 2, 2006 but prior to January 2, 2007                      an additional 100,000 shares

         Payment alternatives:                                                   Section 6(a) (i) through (iv)
</TABLE>

                                        SIPEX CORPORATION

___________________________________
Signature of Optionee

___________________________________
Street Address

___________________________________     By: __________________________
City/State/Zip Code                         James E. Donegan
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>   2
SIPEX CORPORATION

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT -- INCORPORATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS

           1. GRANT AS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION. This option is a
non-statutory stock option and is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock
option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
the regulations thereunder (the "Code").

           2. VESTING OF OPTION IF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUES. The Employee may
exercise this option for the number of shares of Common Stock set forth on the
vesting schedule on the cover page hereof if the Employee has continued to be
employed by the Company or any present or future parent or subsidiary of the
Company (collectively, "Related Corporations") in accordance with such vesting
schedule. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its discretion,
accelerate the date that any installment of this option becomes exercisable. The
foregoing rights are cumulative and (subject to Sections 3 or 4 hereof if the
Employee ceases to be employed by the Company) may be exercised only before the
date which is ten years from the date of this option grant.

           3. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

                (a) TERMINATION OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE. If the Employee ceases to
be employed by the Company and all Related Corporations, other than by reason of
death or disability as defined in Section 4 or termination for Cause as defined
in the Employment Agreement between the Employee and the Company dated
__________ ___, 2001 (the "Employment Agreement"), no further installments of
this option shall become exercisable, and this option shall terminate (and may
no longer be exercised) after the passage of three months from the Employee's
last day of employment, but in no event later than the scheduled expiration
date. In such a case, the Employee's only rights hereunder shall be those which
are properly exercised before the termination of this option.

                (b) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. If the employment of the Employee is
terminated for Cause, this option shall terminate upon the Employee's receipt of
written notice of such termination and shall thereafter not be exercisable to
any extent whatsoever.

           4. DEATH; DISABILITY.

                (a) DEATH. If the Employee dies while in the employ of the
Company or any Related Corporation, this option may be exercised, to the extent
otherwise exercisable on the date of his or her death, by the Employee's estate,
personal representative or beneficiary to whom this option has been assigned
pursuant to Section 9, at any time within 180 days after the date of death, but
not later than the scheduled expiration date.

                (b) DISABILITY. If the Employee ceases to be employed by the
Company and all Related Corporations by reason of his disability, this option
may be exercised, to the extent otherwise exercisable on the date of the
termination of his employment, at any time within 180 days after such
termination, but not later than the scheduled expiration date. The term
disability shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 3(D) of the Employment
Agreement.

                (c) EFFECT OF TERMINATION. At the expiration of the 180-day
period provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 4 or the scheduled
expiration date, whichever is the earlier, this option shall terminate (and
shall no longer be exercisable) and the only rights hereunder shall be those as
to which the option was properly exercised before such termination.

           5. PARTIAL EXERCISE. This option may be exercised in part at any time
and from time to time within the above limits, except that this option may not
be exercised for a fraction of a share.

           6. PAYMENT OF ALTERNATIVES. (a) The exercise price shall be paid in
the following manner:
<PAGE>   3
                      (i)        in cash or by check;

                      (ii)       subject to paragraph 6(b) below, by delivery of
                                 shares of the Company's Common Stock having a
                                 fair market value equal, as of the date of
                                 exercise, to the option exercise price;

                      (iii)      by delivery of an assignment satisfactory in
                                 form and substance to the Company of a
                                 sufficient amount of the proceeds from the sale
                                 of the Option Shares and an instruction to the
                                 broker or selling agent to pay that amount to
                                 the Company; or

                      (v)        by any combination of the foregoing.

                     In the case of (ii) above, fair market value as of the date
           of exercise shall be determined as of the last business day for which
           such prices or quotes are available prior to the date of exercise and
           shall mean (i) the average (on that date) of the high and low prices
           of the Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange on
           which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then traded
           on a national securities exchange; or (ii) the last reported sale
           price (on that date) of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National
           Market, if the Common Stock is not then traded on a national
           securities exchange; or (iii) the closing bid price (or average of
           bid prices) last quoted (on that date) by an established quotation
           service for over-the-counter securities, if the Common Stock is not
           reported on the Nasdaq National Market. If the Common Stock is not
           publicly traded at the time of exercise, "fair market value" shall
           mean the fair value of the Common Stock as determined by the Board
           after taking into consideration all factors which it deems
           appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer
           prices of the Common Stock in private transactions negotiated at
           arm's length.

                (b) LIMITATIONS ON PAYMENT BY DELIVERY OF COMMON STOCK. If the
Employee delivers Common Stock held by the Employee ("Old Stock") to the Company
in full or partial payment of the option price, and the Old Stock so delivered
is subject to restrictions or limitations imposed by agreement between the
Employee and the Company, an equivalent number of Option Shares shall be subject
to all restrictions and limitations applicable to the Old Stock to the extent
that the Employee paid for the Option Shares by delivery of Old Stock, in
addition to any restrictions or limitations imposed by this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee may not pay any part of the exercise
price hereof by transferring Common Stock to the Company unless such Common
Stock has been owned by the Employee free of any substantial risk of forfeiture
for at least six months.

           7. METHOD OF EXERCISING OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, this option may be exercised by written notice to the Company
at its principal executive office, or to such transfer agent as the Company
shall designate. Such notice shall state the election to exercise this option
and the number of Option Shares for which it is being exercised and shall be
signed by the person or persons so exercising this option. Such notice shall be
accompanied by payment of the full purchase price of such shares, and the
Company shall deliver a certificate or certificates representing such shares as
soon as practicable after the notice shall be received. Such certificate or
certificates shall be registered in the name of the person or persons so
exercising this option (or, if this option shall be exercised by the Employee
and if the Employee shall so request in the notice exercising this option, shall
be registered in the name of the Employee and another person jointly, with right
of survivorship). In the event this option shall be exercised, pursuant to
Section 4 hereof, by any person or persons other than the Employee, such notice
shall be accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons
to exercise this option.

           8. SECURITIES LAWS RESTRICTIONS ON RESALE. Until registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute (the "Securities
Act"), the Option Shares will be of an illiquid nature and will be deemed to be
"restricted securities" for purposes of the Securities Act. Accordingly, such
shares must be sold in compliance with the registration requirements of the
Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. Unless the Option Shares have been
registered under the Securities Act, each certificate evidencing any of the
Option Shares shall bear a legend substantially as follows:
<PAGE>   4
           "The shares represented by this certificate are subject to
           restrictions on transfer and may not be sold, exchanged, transferred,
           pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of except in accordance
           with and subject to all the terms and conditions of a certain Stock
           Option Agreement dated as of January 16, 2001, a copy of which the
           Company will furnish to the holder of this certificate upon request
           and without charge."

           9. OPTION NOT TRANSFERABLE. This option is not transferable or
assignable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the
Optionee's lifetime only the Optionee can exercise this option.

           10. NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION. The grant and acceptance of
this option imposes no obligation on the Optionee to exercise it.

           11. ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend,
extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off, split-up,
or other similar change in capitalization or event, the number and class of
securities, vesting schedule and exercise price per share of this option shall
be adjusted by the Company (or a substituted option may be granted) to the
extent the Board shall determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or
substitution) is appropriate. If Section 13 hereof applies for any event, this
Section 11 shall not be applicable. Except as is expressly provided in this
Section 11, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or similar rights for
which the record date is prior to such date of exercise.

           12. WITHHOLDING TAXES. If the Company or any Related Corporation in
its discretion determines that it is obligated to withhold any tax in connection
with the exercise of this option, or in connection with the transfer of, or the
lapse of restrictions on, any Common Stock or other property acquired pursuant
to this option, the Optionee hereby agrees that the Company or any Related
Corporation may withhold from the Optionee's wages or any other remuneration the
appropriate amount of tax. At the discretion of the Company or Related
Corporation, the amount required to be withheld may be withheld in cash from
such wages or other remuneration or in kind from the Common Stock or other
property otherwise deliverable to the Optionee on exercise of this option. The
Optionee further agrees that, if the Company or Related Corporation does not
withhold an amount from the Optionee's wages or other remuneration sufficient to
satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company or Related Corporation, the
Optionee will make reimbursement on demand, in cash, for the amount
underwithheld.

           13. ACQUISITION OF THE COMPANY.

                      (a) CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACQUISITION. In the event of an
Acquisition, and (i) the successor (a "Successor To The Business") fails to
assume the obligations of the Company under this Agreement or (ii) Employee's
employment is (x) at the time of the Acquisition terminated by the Company
without cause or (y) terminated by any Successor To The Business without Cause
or the Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined in the
Employment Agreement) and, in any such event, the Employee signs a comprehensive
release in the form and of a scope acceptable to the Company, then the options
granted hereby will become exercisable in full on the date of the Acquisition
(in the case of (i)) or such termination (in the case of (ii)).

                      (b) ACQUISITION DEFINED. An "Acquisition" shall mean: (x)
any merger or consolidation after which the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto represent (either by remaining outstanding
or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or acquiring
entity) less than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
the Company or such surviving or acquiring entity outstanding immediately after
such event; or (y) any sale of all or substantially all of the assets or capital
stock of the Company (other than in a spin-off or similar transaction); or (z)
any other acquisition of the business of the Company, as determined by the
Board.

                      (c) POOLING-OF-INTERESTS-ACCOUNTING. If the Company
proposes to engage in an Acquisition intended to be accounted for as a
pooling-of-interests, and in the event that the provisions of this option, or
any actions of the Board taken in connection with such Acquisition, are
determined by the Company's or the acquiring
<PAGE>   5
company's independent public accountants to cause such Acquisition to fail to be
accounted for as a pooling-of-interests, then such provisions or actions shall
be amended or rescinded by the Board, without the consent of the Optionee, to be
consistent with pooling-of-interests accounting treatment for such Acquisition
if, and to the extent that, such recision would result in such Acquisition being
accounted for on a pooling-of-interests basis.

           14. ARBITRATION. Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of,
in connection with, or relating to the performance of this Agreement or its
termination shall be settled by arbitration in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, pursuant to the rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration
Association. Any award shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the parties
and a judgment rendered thereon may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof.

           15. PROVISION OF DOCUMENTATION TO OPTIONEE. By signing this Agreement
the Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement.

           16. MISCELLANEOUS.

                      (a) NOTICES. All notices hereunder shall be in writing and
           shall be deemed given when sent by certified or registered mail,
           postage prepaid, return receipt requested, if to the Optionee, to the
           address set forth on the cover pages hereof or at the address shown
           on the records of the Company, and if to the Company, to the
           Company's principal executive offices, attention of the Corporate
           Secretary.

                      (b) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION. This Agreement and the
           Employment Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the
           parties relative to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all
           proposals, written or oral, and all other communications between the
           parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. This
           Agreement may be modified, amended or rescinded only by a written
           agreement executed by both parties.

                      (c) FRACTIONAL SHARES. If this option becomes exercisable
           for a fraction of a share because of the adjustment provisions
           contained herein, such fraction shall be rounded down.

                      (d) NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. The Optionee shall not have
           any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common
           Stock for which this option is exercisable until such Optionee
           becomes the record holder of such shares of Common Stock.

                      (e) NO OBLIGATION OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. This Agreement
           imposes no obligation on the Company or Related Corporation to
           continue the employment of the Employee. The Company expressly
           reserves the right any time to dismiss or terminate its relationship
           with the Employee free from any liability or claim under this
           Agreement.

                      (f) ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES; CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.
           Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of
           shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares
           of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason
           thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares
           subject to this option. No adjustments need be made for dividends
           paid in cash or in property other than securities of the Company. If
           there shall be any change in the Common Stock of the Company through
           merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock
           dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, spin-off,
           split-up or other similar change in capitalization or event, the
           restrictions contained in this Agreement shall apply with equal force
           to additional and/or substitute securities, if any, received by the
           Optionee in exchange for, or by virtue of his or her ownership of,
           Option Shares, except as otherwise determined by the Board.

                      (g) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of the
           proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then the Board
           shall, as to outstanding options, at its discretion provide, upon
           written notice to the Optionee (i) that all options must be
           exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within a specified
<PAGE>   6
           number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which
           period, the options shall terminate or (ii) that such options
           (including those which have not yet vested) shall be exercisable
           within a specified number of days of such notice, at the end of which
           period the options shall terminate.

                      (h) SEVERABILITY. The invalidity, illegality or
           unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall in no way
           affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other
           provision.

                      (i) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be
           binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
           respective successors and assigns, subject to the limitations set
           forth in Section 9 hereof.

                      (j) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
           interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
           Massachusetts, without giving effect to the principles of the
           conflicts of laws thereof.<PAGE>   1

                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

                                SIPEX CORPORATION

                         INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR INVESTORS

     (to be read in conjunction with the entire Stock Purchase Agreement and
                            Investor Questionnaire)

A.   Complete the following items in the Stock Purchase Agreement and in the
     Investor Questionnaire:

     1.   Provide the information regarding the Investor requested on the
          signature page to the Stock Purchase Agreement and in the Investor
          Questionnaire. The Stock Purchase Agreement must be executed by an
          individual authorized to bind the Investor.

     2.   Return the signed Stock Purchase Agreement and Investor Questionnaire
          to:

                  Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
                  125 High Street
                  Boston, MA  02110
                  Attention: Kenneth J. Gordon
                  Phone (617) 248-7499
                  Fax: (617) 790-0117

          And fax copies to:

          Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.
          Attn: Tom Grant
          Phone:  (617) 788-1573
          Fax:  (617) 371-3798

          An executed original Stock Purchase Agreement and Investor
          Questionnaire or a fax thereof must be received by 5:00 p.m. Boston
          time on a date to be determined and distributed to the Investor at a
          later date.

B.   Instructions regarding the transfer of funds for the purchase of Shares
     will be faxed to the Investor at a later date.

C.   To resell the Shares after the Registration Statement covering the Shares
     is effective:

          1. Provided that a suspension of the Registration Statement is not
     then in effect pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the
     Investor may sell Shares under the Registration Statement; provided that it
     arranges for delivery of a current Prospectus to the transferee. Upon
     receipt of a request therefor, the Company has agreed to provide an
     adequate number of current prospectuses to each investor and to supply
     copies to any other parties requiring such prospectuses.

          2. The Investor must also deliver to the Company's transfer agent,
     with a copy to the Company, a Certificate of Subsequent Sale in the form
     attached to the Stock Purchase Agreement, so that the Shares may be
     properly transferred.

<PAGE>   2

                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Sipex Corporation
22 Linnell Circle
Billerica, MA  01821

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned, _________________________________(the "Investor"),
hereby confirms its agreement with you as follows:

1. This Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") is made as of May __, 2001
between SIPEX Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), and the
Investor.

2. The Company has authorized the sale and issuance of up to 2,190,000 shares
(the "Shares") of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (the
"Common Stock"), subject to adjustment by the Company's Board of Directors, to
certain investors in a private placement (the "Offering").

3. The Company and the Investor agree that the Investor will purchase from the
Company and the Company will issue and sell to the Investor ___________ Shares,
for a purchase price of $10.50 per share, or an aggregate purchase price of
$_______________, pursuant to the Terms and Conditions for Purchase of Shares
attached hereto as Annex I and incorporated herein by reference as if fully set
forth herein. Unless otherwise requested by the Investor, certificates
representing the Shares purchased by the Investor will be registered in the
Investor's name and address as set forth below.

4. The Investor represents that, except as set forth below, (a) it has had no
position, office or other material relationship within the past three years with
the Company or persons known to it to be affiliates of the Company, (b) neither
it, nor any group of which it is a member or to which it is related,
beneficially owns (including the right to acquire or vote) any securities of the
Company and (c) it has no direct or indirect affiliation or association with any
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as of
the date hereof. Exceptions:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
          (If no exceptions, write "none." If left blank, response will
                            be deemed to be "none.")

     Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between us by signing in the space provided below for that purpose. By executing
this Agreement, you acknowledge that the Company may use the information in
paragraph 4 above and the name and address information below in preparation of
the Registration Statement (as defined in Annex I).

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
-------------------

SIPEX CORPORATION                "INVESTOR"

By:                              By:
   ------------------------          -------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:                      Print Name:
                                             -----------------------------------

                                 Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                 Address:
                                          --------------------------------------

                                 Tax ID No.:
                                             -----------------------------------

                                 Contact name:
                                               ---------------------------------

                                 Telephone:
                                            ------------------------------------

                                 Name in which Shares
                                 should be registered (if different):
                                                                     -----------

<PAGE>   3

                                     ANNEX I

                   TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PURCHASE OF SHARES

     1.   AUTHORIZATION AND SALE OF THE SHARES. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the Company has authorized the sale of up to
2,190,000 Shares. The Company reserves the right to increase or decrease this
number.

     2.   AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE THE SHARES; SUBSCRIPTION DATE.

          2.1  At the Closing (as defined in Section 3), the Company will sell
to the Investor, and the Investor will purchase from the Company, upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth, the number of Shares set forth in Section
3 of the Stock Purchase Agreement to which these Terms and Conditions are
attached, at the purchase price set forth thereon.

          2.2  The Company may enter into the same form of Stock Purchase
Agreement including these Terms and Conditions, with certain other investors
(the "Other Investors") and expects to complete sales of Shares to them. (The
Investor and the Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred
to as the "Investors," and the Stock Purchase Agreements to which these Terms
and Conditions are attached and the Stock Purchase Agreements executed by the
Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the
"Agreements.") The Company may accept executed Agreements from Investors for the
purchase of Shares commencing upon the date on which the Company provides the
Investors with the proposed purchase price per Share and concluding upon the
date (the "Subscription Date") on which the Company has notified Adams, Harkness
& Hill, Inc. (in its capacity as Placement Agent for the Shares, the "Placement
Agent") in writing that the Company is no longer accepting Agreements from
Investors for the purchase of Shares. The Company may not enter into any
Agreements after the Subscription Date.

          2.3  Investor acknowledges that the Company intends to pay the
Placement Agent a fee in respect of the sale of Shares to the Investor.

     3.   DELIVERY OF THE SHARES AT CLOSING. The completion of the purchase and
sale of the Shares (the "Closing") shall occur (the "Closing Date") on May 16,
2001 (the "Closing Date"), at the offices of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP,
the Company's counsel, or such other date as is mutually agreed to by the
Company and the Investor. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the
Investor one or more stock certificates representing the number of Shares set
forth in Section 3 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, each such certificate to be
registered in the name of the Investor or, if so indicated on the signature page
of the Stock Purchase Agreement, in the name of a nominee designated by the
Investor.

     The Company's obligation to issue the Shares to the Investor shall be
subject to the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by
the Company: (a) receipt by the Company of a certified or official bank check or
wire transfer of funds in the full amount of the purchase price for the Shares
being purchased hereunder as set forth in Section 3 of the Stock Purchase
Agreement; (b) completion of the purchases and sales under the Agreements with
the Other Investors; and (c) the accuracy of the representations and warranties
made by the Investors and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Investors
to be fulfilled prior to the Closing.

     The Investor's obligation to purchase the Shares shall be subject to the
following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by the Investor:
(a) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth herein shall be
true and correct as of the Closing Date in all material respects and (b) the
Investor shall have received such documents as such Investor shall reasonably
have requested, including an opinion of Company counsel as to the matters set
forth in Section 4.2, and as to exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the sale of
the Shares.

<PAGE>   4

     4.   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company
hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Investor, as follows:

          4.1  ORGANIZATION. The Company is duly organized and validly existing
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Each of
the Company and its subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (the "Subsidiaries") has full
power and authority to own, operate and occupy its properties and to conduct its
business as presently conducted and as described in the Confidential Offering
Memorandum dated May 10, 2001 distributed in connection with the sale of Shares
including the documents incorporated by reference therein (the "Placement
Memorandum") and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2000 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2001, including all exhibits, supplements and amendments thereto (the "SEC
Filings"), and is registered or qualified to do business and in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified would have a material
adverse effect upon the business, financial condition, properties or operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise ("Material
Adverse Effect"), and to the Company's knowledge, no proceeding has been
instituted in any such jurisdiction, revoking, limiting or curtailing, or
seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power and authority or qualification.

          4.2  DUE AUTHORIZATION AND VALID ISSUANCE. The Company has all
requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under the Agreements, and the Agreements have been duly authorized and validly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitute legal, valid and binding
agreements of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by
state or federal securities laws or the public policy underlying such laws,
except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' and contracting
parties' rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law). The Shares being purchased by the Investor
hereunder will, upon issuance pursuant to the terms hereof, be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully-paid and nonassessable.

          4.3  NON-CONTRAVENTION. The execution and delivery of the Agreements,
the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company under the
Agreements, the fulfillment of the terms of the Agreements and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated thereby will not (A) conflict with or
constitute a violation of, or default (with the passage of time or otherwise)
under (i) any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, lease,
contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or
other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party
or by which it or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties are
bound when such violation, conflict or default would have a Material Adverse
Effect, (ii) the articles of organization, by-laws or other organizational
documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iii) any law, administrative
regulation, ordinance or order of any court or governmental agency, arbitration
panel or authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or their
respective properties when such violation, conflict or default would have a
Material Adverse Effect, or (B) result in the creation or imposition of any
lien, encumbrance, claim, security interest or restriction whatsoever upon any
of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary or an acceleration
of indebtedness pursuant to any obligation, agreement or condition contained in
any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or any other agreement or instrument to which
the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound or to
which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject
where such lien or other restriction would have a Material Adverse Effect. No
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration,
qualification or filing with, any regulatory body, administrative agency, or
other governmental body in the United States or any other person is required for
the execution and delivery of the Agreements and the valid issuance and sale of
the Shares to be sold pursuant to the Agreements, other than such as have been
made or obtained, and except for any post-closing securities filings or
notifications required to be made under federal or state securities laws.

          4.4  CAPITALIZATION. The capitalization of the Company as of May 9,
2001 is as set forth in the Placement Memorandum (excluding unvested options and
treasury shares). The Company has not issued any capital stock since that date
other than pursuant to (i) employee benefit plans disclosed in the SEC Filings,
or (ii) outstanding warrants or options disclosed in the SEC Filings. The Shares
to be sold by the Company pursuant to the Agreements have been duly authorized,
and when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the

                                       3

<PAGE>   5

Agreements, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with
all federal and state securities laws, and were not issued in violation of any
preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.
Except as set forth in or contemplated by the SEC Filings, there are no
outstanding rights (including, without limitation, preemptive rights), warrants
or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any
unissued shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any
Subsidiary, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement
of any kind to which the Company is a party or of which the Company has
knowledge and relating to the issuance or sale of any capital stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or
any such rights, warrants or options. Without limiting the foregoing, no
preemptive right, co-sale right, right of first refusal, registration right
(except as set forth herein), or other similar right exists with respect to the
Shares or the issuance and sale thereof. No further approval or authorization of
any stockholder, the Board of Directors of the Company or others is required for
the issuance and sale of the Shares. The Company owns the entire equity interest
in each of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security
interest, encumbrance, claim or equitable interest, other than as described in
the SEC Filings. Except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, there are no
stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with
respect to the Common Stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge
of the Company, between or among any of the Company's stockholders.

          4.5  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. There is no material legal or governmental
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the
Company or any Subsidiary is or may be a party or of which the business or
property of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject that is not disclosed in
the SEC Filings.

          4.6  NO VIOLATIONS. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in
violation of its charter, bylaws, or other organizational document, (ii) is in
violation of any law, administrative regulation, ordinance or order of any court
or governmental agency, arbitration panel or authority applicable to the Company
or any Subsidiary, which violation, individually or in the aggregate, would be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect , or (iii) is in default
(and there exists no condition which, with the passage of time or otherwise,
would constitute a default) in any respect in the performance of any bond,
debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness in any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary
is bound or by which the properties of the Company or any Subsidiary are bound,
which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          4.7  GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS, ETC. With the exception of the matters
which are dealt with separately in Sections 4.1, 4.12, 4.13, and 4.14, each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries has all necessary franchises, licenses,
certificates and other authorizations from any foreign, federal, state or local
government or governmental agency, department, or body that are currently
necessary for the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as currently conducted and as described in the Placement Memorandum except where
the failure to currently possess will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

          4.8  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Except as specifically disclosed in the
SEC Filings (i) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or possesses
sufficient rights to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, copyrights,
licenses, inventions, trade secrets, trade names and know-how (collectively,
"Intellectual Property") described or referred to in the SEC Filings as owned or
possessed by it or that are necessary for the conduct of its business as now
conducted or as described in the SEC Filings except where the failure to
currently own or possess would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) to
the Company's knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
infringing, or has received any notice of or has any knowledge of any asserted
infringement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, any rights of a third
party with respect to any Intellectual Property that, individually or in the
aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

          4.9  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The financial statements of the Company and
the related notes contained in the SEC Filings present fairly, in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, the financial position of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated, and the results of its
operations and cash flows for the periods therein specified. Such financial
statements (including the related notes) have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
throughout the

                                       4

<PAGE>   6

periods therein specified, except as disclosed in the SEC Filings. The other
financial information contained in the SEC Filings has been prepared on a basis
consistent with the financial statements of the Company.

          4.10 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
SEC Filings, since December 31, 2000, the Company has not experienced or
suffered an event or condition which has caused a Material Adverse Effect.

          4.11 DISCLOSURE. The information contained in the Placement
Memorandum, excluding exhibits thereto, including without limitation all
information incorporated therein by reference, as of the date hereof and as of
the Closing Date, did not and shall not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

          4.12 NASDAQ COMPLIANCE. The Company's Common Stock is registered
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on The Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc. National Market (the "Nasdaq National Market"), and the Company has
taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the
registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or de-listing the Common
Stock from the Nasdaq National Market, nor has the Company received any
notification that the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or the NASD
is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.

          4.13 REPORTING STATUS. The Company has filed in a timely manner all
documents that the Company was required to file under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") during the 12 months preceding the
date of this Agreement (the "SEC Documents"). The SEC Documents and all other
materials filed with the SEC during such period complied in all material
respects with the SEC's requirements as of their respective filing dates, and
the information contained therein as of the date thereof did not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

          4.14 LISTING. The Company shall comply with all requirements of the
NASD with respect to the issuance of the Shares and the listing thereof on the
Nasdaq National Market.

          4.15 NO MANIPULATION OF STOCK. The Company has not taken and will not,
in violation of applicable law, take, any action designed to or that might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

          4.16 COMPANY NOT AN "INVESTMENT COMPANY". The Company has been advised
of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and immediately
after receipt of payment for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or
an entity "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act and shall conduct its business in a manner so that it
will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.

          4.17 PRIVATE PLACEMENT. Subject to the accuracy of the Investor's
representations and warranties in Section 5 of this Agreement, the offer, sale,
and issuance of the Shares in conformity with the terms of this Agreement
constitute transactions exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5
of the Securities Act and from the registration or qualification requirements of
the laws of any applicable state or United States jurisdiction.

          4.18 INTEGRATION. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor
any person acting on its or their behalf, has directly or indirectly made any
offers or sales in any security or solicited any offers to buy any security
under circumstances that would require registration under the Securities Act of
the issuance of the Shares to the Investor. The issuance of the Shares to the
Investor will not be integrated with any other past issuance of the Company's
securities for purposes of the Securities Act or any applicable rules of Nasdaq.
The Company will not make any offers or sales of any security (other than the
Shares) that would cause the offering of the Shares to be integrated with any
other offering of securities by the Company for purposes of any registration
requirement under the Securities Act or any applicable rules of Nasdaq.

                                       5

<PAGE>   7

     5.   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE INVESTOR.

          5.1  The Investor represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the
Company that: (i) the Investor is an "accredited investor" as defined in
Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Investor is also knowledgeable,
sophisticated and experienced in making, and is qualified to make decisions with
respect to investments in shares presenting an investment decision like that
involved in the purchase of the Shares, including investments in securities
issued by the Company and investments in comparable companies, and has
requested, received, reviewed and considered all information it deemed relevant
in making an informed decision to purchase the Shares; (ii) the Investor is
acquiring the number of Shares set forth on the signature page hereto in the
ordinary course of its business and for its own account for investment only and
with no present intention of distributing any of such Shares or any arrangement
or understanding with any other persons regarding the distribution of such
Shares; (iii) the Investor will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell,
pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase
or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Shares except in compliance
with the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws and the respective
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (iv) the Investor has answered all
questions on the signature page hereto for use in preparation of the
Registration Statement and the answers thereto are true and correct as of the
date hereof and will be true and correct as of the Closing Date; (v) the
Investor will notify the Company immediately of any change in any of such
information until such time as the Investor has sold all of its Shares or until
the Company is no longer required to keep the Registration Statement effective;
(vi) the Investor and Investor's representatives have been solely responsible
for the Investor's own "due diligence" investigation of the Company and its
management and business, for its own analysis of the merits and risks of this
investment, and for Investor's own analysis of the fairness and desirability of
the terms of the investment; (vii) the Investor has, in connection with its
decision to purchase the number of Shares set forth on the signature page
hereto, relied only upon the Placement Memorandum, the SEC Filings and the
representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and (viii) the
Investor is not a registered broker-dealer or engaged in the business of a
broker-dealer. Investor understands that its acquisition of the Shares has not
been registered under the Securities Act or registered or qualified under any
state securities law in reliance on specific exemptions therefrom, which
exemptions may depend upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the
Investor's investment intent as expressed herein. Investor has completed or
caused to be completed and delivered to the Company the Investor Questionnaire
attached hereto as EXHIBIT A, which questionnaire is true and correct in all
material respects.

          5.2  The Investor acknowledges, represents and agrees that no action
has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States by the
Company that would permit an offering of the Shares, or possession or
distribution of the Placement Memorandum in connection with the issue of the
Shares, in any jurisdiction outside the United States where legal action by the
Company for that purpose is required. Each Investor outside the United States
will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each foreign
jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Shares or has in
its possession or distributes any offering material, in all cases at its own
expense.

          5.3  The Investor hereby covenants with the Company not to make any
sale of the Shares without complying with the provisions of this Agreement and
without causing the prospectus delivery requirement under the Securities Act to
be satisfied, and the Investor acknowledges that the certificates evidencing the
Shares will be imprinted with a legend that prohibits their transfer except in
accordance therewith. The Investor acknowledges that there may occasionally be
times when the Company determines that it must suspend the use of the Prospectus
forming a part of the Registration Statement, as set forth in Section 7.2(c).

          5.4  The Investor further represents and warrants to, and covenants
with, the Company that (i) the Investor has full right, power, authority and
capacity to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and (ii) this Agreement
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Investor enforceable against
the Investor in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors' and contracting parties' rights generally and
except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and except as the indemnification and contribution agreements
of the Investors herein may be legally unenforceable.

                                       6

<PAGE>   8

          5.5  The Investor will not, prior to the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, if then prohibited by law or regulation, sell, offer to
sell, solicit offers to buy, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any right with
respect to (collectively, a "Disposition"), the Shares, nor will the Investor
engage in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or could
reasonably be expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of Shares by the
Investor or any person or entity. Such prohibited hedging or other transaction
would include, without limitation, effecting any short sale or having in effect
a short position (whether or not such sale or position is against the box and
regardless of when such position was entered into) or any purchase, sale or
grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with
respect to the Shares or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based
market basket or index) that includes, relates or derived any significant part
of its value from the Shares.

          5.6  The Investor understands that nothing in the SEC Filings, this
Agreement or any other materials presented to the Investor in connection with
the purchase and sale of the Shares constitutes legal, tax or investment advice.
The Investor has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its
sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its
purchase of Shares.

     6.   SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS.
Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement, all
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company and
the Investor herein shall survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery
to the Investor of the Shares being purchased and the payment therefor.

     7.   REGISTRATION OF THE SHARES; COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

          7.1  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND OTHER MATTERS. The Company shall:

               (a)  subject to receipt of necessary information from the
Investors after prompt request from the Company to the Investors to provide such
information, use its best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC, within ten
(10) days after the Closing Date, a registration statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") to enable the resale of the Shares by the Investors
from time to time through the automated quotation system of the Nasdaq National
Market or in privately-negotiated transactions;

               (b)  use its commercially reasonable efforts, subject to receipt
of necessary information from the Investors after prompt request from the
Company to the Investors to provide such information, to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective within thirty (30) business days after the
Registration Statement is filed by the Company and provide prompt notice to the
Investor on the day the Registration Statement becomes effective or as soon
thereafter as feasible.

               (c)  use its best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used
in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement
current and effective for a period not to exceed the earlier of (i) the second
anniversary of the Closing Date, with respect to each Investor's Shares
purchased hereunder, (ii) the first date on which the Investor may sell all
Shares then held by the Investor within a ninety (90) day period pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect, or (iii)
such time as all Shares purchased by such Investor in this Offering have been
sold;

               (d)  furnish to the Investor with respect to the Shares
registered under the Registration Statement such number of copies of the
Registration Statement, prospectuses and preliminary prospectuses in conformity
with the requirements of the Securities Act and such other documents as the
Investor may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of all or any of the Shares by the Investor; provided, however, that
the obligation of the Company to deliver copies of prospectuses or preliminary
prospectuses to the Investor shall be subject to the receipt by the Company of
reasonable assurances from the

                                       7

<PAGE>   9

Investor that the Investor will comply with the applicable provisions of the
Securities Act and of such other securities or blue sky laws as may be
applicable in connection with any use of such prospectuses or preliminary
prospectuses;

               (e)  file documents required of the Company for normal blue sky
clearance in states specified in writing by the Investor; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or consent to
service of process in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or
has not so consented;

               (f)  bear all expenses in connection with the procedures in
paragraph (a) through (e) of this Section 7.1 and the registration of the Shares
pursuant to the Registration Statement; other than fees and expenses, if any, of
counsel or other advisors to the Investor or underwriting discounts, brokerage
fees and commissions incurred by the Investor; and

               (g)  advise the Investor (to the extent feasible, on the day of
receipt of such notice) after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge of the
issuance of any stop order by the SEC delaying or suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or of the initiation or threat of any proceeding
for that purpose; and it will promptly use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible
moment if such stop order should be issued and shall promptly notify the
Investor of any such withdrawal on the day of such withdrawal, or as soon
thereafter as possible.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Registration Statement
shall cover only the Shares. In no event at any time before the Registration
Statement becomes effective with respect to the Shares shall the Company
publicly announce or file any other registration statement (other than a
Registration Statement on Form S-8) without the prior written consent of a
majority in interest of the Investors; provided, however, that the filing by the
Company of an amendment to a previously filed registration statement shall not
be subject to such requirement; provided, that such amendment does not increase
the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities subject to the
registration statement.

          7.2  TRANSFER OF SHARES AFTER REGISTRATION; SUSPENSION.

               (a)  The Investor agrees that it will not effect any disposition
of the Shares or its right to purchase the Shares that would constitute a sale
within the meaning of the Securities Act except as contemplated in the
Registration Statement referred to in Section 7.1 and as described below or as
otherwise permitted by law, and that it will promptly notify the Company of any
changes in the information set forth in the Registration Statement regarding the
Investor or its plan of distribution.

               (b)  Except in the event that paragraph (c) below applies, the
Company shall (i) if deemed necessary by the Company, prepare and file from time
to time with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that such Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and so that, as
thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Shares being sold thereunder, such
Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; (ii) provide the Investor copies of any documents filed pursuant
to Section 7.2(b)(i); and (iii) inform each Investor that the Company has
complied with its obligations in Section 7.2(b)(i) (or that, if the Company has
filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which has not yet
been declared effective, the Company will notify the Investor to that effect,
will use its best efforts to secure the effectiveness of such post-effective
amendment as promptly as possible and will promptly notify the Investor pursuant
to Section 7.2(b)(i) hereof on the day when the amendment has become effective
or as soon thereafter as feasible).

               (c)  Subject to paragraph (d) below, in the event (i) of any
request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority during
the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments or
supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional
information; (ii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state
governmental authority of any stop order suspending the

                                       8

<PAGE>   10

effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings
for that purpose; (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification
of any of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) of any event or
circumstance which, upon the advice of its counsel, would necessitate the making
of any changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, so that, in the
case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or any omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in
the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or any omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; then the Company
shall, deliver a certificate in writing to the Investor (the "Suspension
Notice") to the effect of the foregoing and, upon receipt of such Suspension
Notice, the Investor will refrain from selling any Shares pursuant to the
Registration Statement (a "Suspension") until the Investor's receipt of copies
of a supplemented or amended Prospectus prepared and filed by the Company, or
until it is advised in writing by the Company that the current Prospectus may be
used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in any such Prospectus. In the
event of any Suspension, the Company will use its best efforts to cause the use
of the Prospectus so suspended to be resumed as soon as reasonably practicable
within 20 business days after the delivery of a Suspension Notice to the
Investor.

               (d)  Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs of this Section
7.2, the Investor shall not be prohibited from selling Shares under the
Registration Statement as a result of any Suspension (i) on more than two
occasions in any twelve month period, (ii) of a duration of more than 30
business days or (iii) commencing within 30 business days of the end of any
prior Suspension (unless the second Suspension is caused by a different and
unrelated event or events than that which caused the initial Suspension),
unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, upon
advice of counsel, the sale of Shares under the Registration Statement in
reliance on this paragraph 7.2(d) would be reasonably likely to cause a
violation of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and result in liability to
the Company.

               (e)  Provided that a Suspension is not then in effect, the
Investor may sell Shares under the Registration Statement, provided that it
arranges for delivery of a current Prospectus to the transferee of such Shares.

     7.3  INDEMNIFICATION. For the purpose of this Section 7.3:

          (i)  the term "Selling Stockholder" shall include the Investor and any
officer, director, trustee or affiliate of such Investor;

          (ii) the term "Registration Statement" shall include any final
Prospectus, exhibit, supplement or amendment included in or relating to the
Registration Statement referred to in Section 7.1; and

          (iii) the term "untrue statement" shall include any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement, or any omission or alleged omission to state in the
Registration Statement a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.

               (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Selling Stockholder from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
to which such Selling Stockholder may become subject (under the Securities Act
or otherwise) insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon (i) any
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement at
the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) violations of
federal or state securities laws, or (iii) any failure by the Company to fulfill
any undertaking included in the Registration Statement, and the Company will
reimburse such Selling Stockholder for any reasonable legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such
action, proceeding or claim, or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding
or claim, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be liable in any such
case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or
is based upon, (x) an untrue statement

                                       9

<PAGE>   11

made or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in such
Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder
specifically for use in preparation of the Registration Statement, (y) the
failure of such Selling Stockholder to comply with its covenants and agreements
contained in Section 7.2 hereof respecting sale of the Shares, or (z) any
statement or omission in any Prospectus that is corrected in any subsequent
Prospectus that was delivered to the Investor prior to the pertinent sale or
sales by the Investor. The Company shall reimburse each Selling Stockholder for
the amounts provided for herein on demand as such expenses are incurred.

               (b)  The Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company (and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act, each officer of the Company who signs the
Registration Statement and each director of the Company) from and against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company (or any such
officer, director or controlling person) may become subject (under the
Securities Act or otherwise), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are
based upon, (i) any failure by such Investor to comply with the covenants and
agreements contained in Section 7.2 hereof respecting sale of the Shares, or
(ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement if such untrue statement was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished by or on behalf of the Investor specifically
for use in preparation of the Registration Statement, and the Investor will
reimburse the Company (or such officer, director or controlling person) on
demand, as the case may be, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding
or claim; PROVIDED that the Investor's obligation to indemnify the Company shall
be limited to the net amount received by the Investor from the sale of the
Shares.

               (c)  Promptly after receipt by any indemnified person of a notice
of a claim or the beginning of any action in respect of which indemnity is to be
sought against an indemnifying person pursuant to this Section 7.3, such
indemnified person shall notify the indemnifying person in writing of such claim
or of the commencement of such action, but the omission to so notify the
indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
any indemnified party under this Section 7.3 (except to the extent that such
omission materially and adversely affects the indemnifying party's ability to
defend such action) or from any liability otherwise than under this Section 7.3.
Subject to the provisions hereinafter stated, in case any such action shall be
brought against an indemnified person, the indemnifying person shall be entitled
to participate therein, and, to the extent that it shall elect by written notice
delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice
from such indemnified party, shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified person. After notice
from the indemnifying person to such indemnified person of its election to
assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying person shall not be liable to such
indemnified person for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified person in connection with the defense thereof, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that if there exists or shall exist a conflict of interest that would make it
inappropriate, in the opinion of counsel to the indemnified person, for the same
counsel to represent both the indemnified person and such indemnifying person or
any affiliate or associate thereof, the indemnified person shall be entitled to
retain its own counsel at the expense of such indemnifying person; provided,
however, that no indemnifying person shall be responsible for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with appropriate local
counsel) for all indemnified parties. In no event shall any indemnifying person
be liable in respect of any amounts paid in settlement of any action unless the
indemnifying person shall have approved the terms of such settlement; PROVIDED
that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No indemnifying person
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified person, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have
been sought hereunder by such indemnified person, unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified person from all liability
on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

               (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7.3 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Investor,
as well as any other Selling Stockholders under such Registration Statement on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions or other matters which
resulted in such losses,

                                       10

<PAGE>   12

claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, in the case of an untrue statement, whether
the untrue statement relates to information supplied by the Company on the one
hand or an Investor or other Selling Shareholder on the other and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement. The Company and the Investor agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Investor and other Selling
Stockholders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be
deemed to include 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 subsection (d), the Investor
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
the net amount received by the Investor from the sale of the Shares to which
such loss relates exceeds the amount of any damages which such Investor has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement. 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 Investor's obligations in
this subsection to contribute shall be in proportion to its sale of Shares to
which such loss relates and shall not be joint with any other Selling
Shareholders.

               (e)  The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that they
are sophisticated business persons who were represented by counsel during the
negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including, without limitation, the
provisions of this Section 7.3, and are fully informed regarding said
provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 7.3
fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate
the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure is made
in the Registration Statement as required by the Act and the Exchange Act.

          7.4  TERMINATION OF CONDITIONS AND OBLIGATIONS. The conditions
precedent imposed by Section 5 or this Section 7 upon the transferability of the
Shares shall cease and terminate as to any particular number of the Shares when
such Shares shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the intended method of
disposition set forth in the Registration Statement covering such Shares or at
such time as an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company shall have been
rendered to the effect that such conditions are not necessary in order to comply
with the Securities Act.

          7.5  INFORMATION AVAILABLE. So long as the Registration Statement is
effective covering the resale of Shares owned by the Investor, the Company will
furnish to the Investor upon the Investor's request:

               (a)  as soon as practicable after it is available, one copy of
(i) its Annual Report to Stockholders (which Annual Report shall contain
financial statements audited in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles by a national firm of certified public accountants), (ii) its Annual
Report on Form 10-K and (iii) its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (the foregoing,
in each case, excluding exhibits);

               (b)  upon the request of the Investor, all exhibits excluded by
the parenthetical to subparagraph (a) of this Section 7.5 as filed with the SEC
and all other information that is made available to shareholders; and

               (c)  an adequate number of copies of the prospectuses to supply
to any other party requiring such prospectuses; and upon the reasonable request
of the Investor, the Company will meet with the Investor or a representative
thereof at the Company's headquarters to discuss all information relevant for
disclosure in the Registration Statement covering the Shares and will otherwise
cooperate with any Investor conducting an investigation for the purpose of
reducing or eliminating such Investor's exposure to liability under the
Securities Act, including the reasonable production of information at the
Company's headquarters; provided, that the Company shall not be required to
disclose any confidential information to or meet at its headquarters with any
Investor until and unless the Investor shall have entered into a confidentiality
agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company with the
Company with respect thereto.

                                       11

<PAGE>   13

          8.   NOTICES. All notices, requests, consents and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing, shall be mailed (A) if within domestic United
States by first-class registered or certified airmail, or nationally recognized
overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or by facsimile, or (B) if delivered
from outside the United States, by International Federal Express or facsimile,
and shall be deemed given (i) if delivered by first-class registered or
certified mail domestic, three business days after so mailed, (ii) if delivered
by nationally recognized overnight carrier, one business day after so mailed,
(iii) if delivered by International Federal Express, two business days after so
mailed, (iv) if delivered by facsimile, upon electronic confirmation of receipt
and shall be delivered as addressed as follows:

               (a)  if to the Company, to:

                    SIPEX Corporation
                    22 Linnell Circle
                    Billerica, MA  01821
                    Attention: Chief Financial Officer
                    Fax:  978-670-9088

               (b)  with a copy to:

                    Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
                    125 High Street
                    Boston, MA  02110
                    Attention: Kenneth Gordon, Esq.
                    Fax:  617-248-7100

               (c)  if to the Investor, at its address on the signature page
                    hereto, or at such other address or addresses as may have
                    been furnished to the Company in writing.

          9.   CHANGES. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except
pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Investor.

          10.  HEADINGS. The headings of the various sections of this Agreement
have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to
be part of this Agreement.

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

          12.  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law.

          13.  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when
taken together, shall constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective
when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and
delivered to the other parties.

          14.  RULE 144. The Company covenants that it will file the reports
required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Investor holding
Shares purchased

                                       12

<PAGE>   14

hereunder made after the first anniversary of the Closing Date, make publicly
available such information as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act), and it will take such further action as any such
Investor may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to
enable such Investor to sell Shares purchased hereunder without registration
under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a)
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to
time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon
the request of the Investor, the Company will deliver to such holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such information and requirements.

          15.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Investor represents to the Company
that, at all times during the Company's offering of the Shares, the Investor has
maintained in confidence all material non-public information regarding the
Company received by the Investor from the Company or its agents, has not traded
in the Company's securities on the basis of any material non-public information
and covenants that it will continue to maintain in confidence such information
until such information becomes generally publicly available other than through a
violation of this provision by the Investor or its agents.

                                       13

<PAGE>   15

                                    EXHIBIT A
                    SIPEX CORPORATION INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE
                (ALL INFORMATION WILL BE TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY)

To:  SIPEX Corporation

     This Investor Questionnaire ("Questionnaire") must be completed by each
potential investor in connection with the offer and sale of the shares of the
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of SIPEX Corporation (the "Securities").
The Securities are being offered and sold by SIPEX Corporation (the
"Corporation") without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), and the securities laws of certain states, in reliance on the
exemptions contained in Section 4(2) of the Act and on Regulation D promulgated
thereunder and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws.
The Corporation must determine that a potential investor meets certain
suitability requirements before offering or selling Securities to such investor.
The purpose of this Questionnaire is to assure the Corporation that each
investor will meet the applicable suitability requirements. The information
supplied by you will be used in determining whether you meet such criteria, and
reliance upon the private offering exemption from registration is based in part
on the information herein supplied.

     This Questionnaire does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy any security. Except as permitted in this Agreement, your
answers will be kept strictly confidential. However, by signing this
Questionnaire you will be authorizing the Corporation to provide a completed
copy of this Questionnaire to such parties as the Corporation deems appropriate
in order to ensure that the offer and sale of the Securities will not result in
a violation of the Act or the securities laws of any state and that you
otherwise satisfy the suitability standards applicable to purchasers of the
Securities. All potential investors must answer all applicable questions and
complete, date and sign this Questionnaire. Please print or type your responses
and attach additional sheets of paper if necessary to complete your answers to
any item.

A.   BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Name:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Business Address:
                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                    (Number and Street)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(City)                               (State)                          (Zip Code)

Telephone Number: (___)
                        --------------------------------------------------------

Residence Address:
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                                       (Number and Street)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(City)                              (State)                           (Zip Code)

Telephone Number: (___)
                        --------------------------------------------------------

If an individual:
         Age:       Citizenship:           Where registered to vote:
             ----               ---------                           ------------

If a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity:

         Type of entity:
                        --------------------------------------------------------
         State of formation:                   Date of formation:
                            -----------------                    ---------------

Social Security or Taxpayer Identification No.
                                              ----------------------------------

Send all correspondence to (check one): __ Residence Address __ Business Address

<PAGE>   16

B.   STATUS AS ACCREDITED INVESTOR

     The undersigned is an "accredited investor" as such term is defined in
Regulation D under the Act, as at the time of the sale of the Securities the
undersigned falls within one or more of the following categories (PLEASE INITIAL
ONE OR MORE, AS APPLICABLE):(1)

     ____ (1) a bank as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Act, or a savings and
loan association or other institution as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the
Act whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity; a broker or dealer
registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; an
insurance company as defined in Section 2(13) of the Act; an investment company
registered under the Investment Corporation Act of 1940 or a business
development company as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of that Act; a Small Business
Investment Corporation licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under
Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958; a plan
established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency
or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions for the benefit of
its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; an
employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 if the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as
defined in Section 3(21) of such Act, which is either a bank, savings and loan
association, insurance company, or registered investment adviser, or if the
employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000 or, if a
self-directed plan, with the investment decisions made solely by persons that
are accredited investors;

     ____ (2) a private business development company as defined in Section
202(a)(22) of the Investment Adviser Act of 1940;

     ____ (3) an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business
trust, or partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the
Securities offered, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

     ____ (4) a natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth
with that person's spouse, at the time of such person's purchase of the
Securities exceeds $1,000,000;

     ____ (5) a natural person who had an individual income in excess of
$200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person's
spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable
expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year;

     ____ (6) a trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for
the specific purpose of acquiring the Securities offered, whose purchase is
directed by a sophisticated person as described in Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) of
Regulation D; and

     ____ (7) an entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited
investors (as defined above).

C.   REPRESENTATIONS

     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to the Corporation as
follows:

1.   Any purchase of the Securities would be solely for the account of the
     undersigned and not for the account of any other person or with a view to
     any resale, fractionalization, division, or distribution thereof.

2.   The information contained herein is complete and accurate and may be relied
     upon by the Corporation, and the undersigned will notify the Corporation
     immediately of any material change in any of such information occurring
     prior to the closing, if any, with respect to the purchase of Securities by
     the undersigned or any co-purchaser.

--------

     (1) As used in this Questionnaire, the term "net worth" means the excess of
total assets over total liabilities. In computing net worth for the purpose of
subsection (4), the principal residence of the investor must be valued at cost,
including cost of improvements, or at recently appraised value by an
institutional lender making a secured loan, net of encumbrances. In determining
income, the investor should add to the investor's adjusted gross income any
amounts attributable to tax exempt income received, losses claimed as a limited
partner in any limited partnership, deductions claimed for depiction,
contributions to an IRA or KEOGH retirement plan, alimony payments, and any
amount by which income from long-term capital gains has been reduced in arriving
at adjusted gross income.

<PAGE>   17

3.   There are no suits, pending litigation, or claims against the undersigned
     that could materially affect the net worth of the undersigned as reported
     in this Questionnaire.

4.   The undersigned acknowledges that there may occasionally be times when the
     Corporation determines that it must suspend the use of the Prospectus
     forming a part of the Registration Statement (as such terms are defined in
     the Stock Purchase Agreement to which this Questionnaire is attached), as
     set forth in Section 7.2(c) of the Stock Purchase Agreement. The
     undersigned is aware that, in such event, the Securities will not be
     subject to ready liquidation, and that any Securities purchased by the
     undersigned would have to be held during such suspension. The overall
     commitment of the undersigned to investments which are not readily
     marketable is not excessive in view of the undersigned's net worth and
     financial circumstances, and any purchase of the Securities will not cause
     such commitment to become excessive. The undersigned is able to bear the
     economic risk of an investment in the Securities.

5.   In addition to reviewing the Corporation's SEC Filings, the undersigned has
     carefully considered the potential risks relating to the Corporation and a
     purchase of the Securities, and fully understands that the Securities are
     speculative investments which involve a high degree of risk of loss of the
     undersigned's entire investment.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Questionnaire
     this _____ day of _______ ___, 2001, and declares under oath that it is
     truthful and correct.

                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Print Name

                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                              Signature

                                       Title:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                              (required for any purchaser that
                                              is a corporation, partnership,
                                              trust or other entity)

<PAGE>   18

                                    ANNEX II

                       LETTER REGARDING RESALE PROCEDURES

                              [COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

                                 _________, 2001

     Re: SIPEX Corporation; Registration Statement on Form S-3
         -----------------------------------------------------

Dear Selling Shareholder:

     Enclosed please find five (5) copies of a prospectus dated ______________,
____ (the "PROSPECTUS") for your use in reselling your shares of common stock,
$.01 par value (the "SHARES"), of SIPEX Corporation (the "COMPANY"), under the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333- ) (the
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), which has been declared effective by the Securities
and Exchange Commission. AS A SELLING SHAREHOLDER UNDER THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DELIVER A COPY OF THE PROSPECTUS TO EACH
PURCHASER OF YOUR SHARES, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE BROKER-DEALER WHO
EXECUTES THE SALE OF YOUR SHARES.

     The Company is obligated to notify you in the event that it suspends
trading under the Registration Statement in accordance with the terms of the
Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and you. During the period that the
Registration Statement remains effective and trading thereunder has not been
suspended, you will be permitted to sell your Shares which are included in the
Prospectus under the Registration Statement. Upon a sale of any Shares under the
Registration Statement, you or your broker will be required to deliver to the
Transfer Agent, EquiServe, (1) your restricted stock certificate(s) representing
the Shares, (2) instructions for transfer of the Shares sold and (3) a
representation letter from your broker, or from you if you are selling in a
privately negotiated transaction, or from such other appropriate party, in the
form of EXHIBIT A attached hereto (the "Representation Letter"). The
Representation Letter confirms that the Shares have been sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement and in a manner described under the caption "Plan of
Distribution" in the Prospectus and that such sale was made in accordance with
all applicable securities laws, including the prospectus delivery requirements.

     Please note that you are under no obligation to sell your Shares during the
registration period. However, if you do decide to sell, you must comply with the
requirements described in this letter or otherwise applicable to such sale. Your
failure to do so may result in liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Please remember
that all sales of your Shares must be carried out in the manner set forth under
the caption "Plan of Distribution" in the Prospectus if you sell under the
Registration Statement. The Company may require an opinion of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Company if you choose another method of sale. YOU SHOULD
CONSULT WITH YOUR OWN LEGAL ADVISOR(S) ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO ENSURE YOUR
COMPLIANCE WITH THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

     YOU MUST NOTIFY THE UNDERSIGNED IF YOU ENTER INTO ANY ARRANGEMENT WITH A
BROKER-DEALER FOR THE SALE OF SHARES THROUGH A BLOCK TRADE, SPECIAL OFFERING,
EXCHANGE DISTRIBUTION OR SECONDARY DISTRIBUTION OR A PURCHASE BY A
BROKER-DEALER. DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY REQUIRE THE
FILING OF A SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUS IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE INFORMATION SET
FORTH UNDER THE CAPTION "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" IN THE PROSPECTUS.

     Should you need any additional copies of the Prospectus, or if you have any
questions concerning the foregoing, please write to me at SIPEX Corporation, 22
Linnell Circle, Billerica, MA 01821. Thank you.

                                               Sincerely,

                                               Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>   19

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                         CERTIFICATE OF SUBSEQUENT SALE

[Name and address of transfer agent]

          RE:  Sale of Shares of Common Stock of _______________ (the "Company")
               pursuant to the Company's Prospectus dated _____________, ____
               (the "Prospectus")

Dear Sir/Madam:

     The undersigned hereby certifies, in connection with the sale of shares of
Common Stock of the Company included in the table of Selling Shareholders in the
Prospectus, that the undersigned has sold the shares pursuant to the Prospectus
and in a manner described under the caption "Plan of Distribution" in the
Prospectus and that such sale complies with all securities laws applicable to
the undersigned, including, without limitation, the Prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Selling Shareholder (the beneficial owner):
                                           ------------------------------

Record Holder (e.g., if held in name of nominee):
                                                  ------------------------------

Restricted Stock Certificate No.(s):
                                     -------------------------------------------

Number of Shares Sold:
                       ---------------------------------------------------------

Date of Sale:
              ------------------------------------------------------------------

         In the event that you receive a stock certificate(s) representing more
 shares of Common Stock than have been sold by the undersigned, then you should
return to the undersigned a newly issued certificate for such excess shares in
the name of the Record Holder and BEARING A RESTRICTIVE LEGEND. Further, you
should place a stop transfer on your records with regard to such certificate.

                                            Very truly yours,

Dated:                                      By:
       -------------------------------          --------------------------------

                                            Print Name:
                                                        ------------------------

                                            Title:
                                                   -----------------------------

cc:  SIPEX Corporation
     22 Linnell Circle
     Billerica, MA  01821
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

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