<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2


                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                     Between

                                LENDINGTREE INC.

                                       And

                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                                 AS RIGHTS AGENT


                              Dated as of [ ], 2000

<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section                                                                                            Page
-------                                                                                            ----

<S>                                                                                                 <C>
1.       Certain Definitions......................................................................    3

2.       Appointment of Rights Agent...............................................................  14

3.       Issuance of Rights Certificates...........................................................  15

4.       Form of Rights Certificates...............................................................  19

5.       Countersignature and Registration.........................................................  21

6.       Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
         Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..................................  23

7.       Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.............................  25

8.       Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
         Certificates..............................................................................  31

9.       Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.............................................  32

10.      Preferred Stock Record Date..............................................................   36

11.      Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number
         of Rights................................................................................   37

12.      Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...............................   61

13.      Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash Flow or
         Earning Power............................................................................   61

14.      Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..................................................   68

15.      Rights of Action.........................................................................   72

16.      Agreement of Rights Holders..............................................................   73

17.      Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.......................................   75

18.      Concerning the Rights Agent..............................................................   75
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
19.      Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent................................   77

20.      Duties of Rights Agent...................................................................   78

21.      Change of Rights Agent...................................................................   83

22.      Issuance of New Rights Certificates......................................................   86

23.      Redemption and Termination...............................................................   87

24.      Exchange.................................................................................   91

25.      Notice of Certain Events.................................................................   94

26.      Notices..................................................................................   97

27.      Supplements and Amendments...............................................................   98

28.      Successors..............................................................................   100

29.      Determinations and Action by the Board, etc..............................................  101

30.      Benefits of this Agreement...............................................................  102

31.      Severability.............................................................................  103

32.      Governing Law............................................................................  104

33.      Counterparts.............................................................................  104

34.      Descriptive Headings.....................................................................  105
</TABLE>

                                              EXHIBITS

Exhibit A --      Form of Certificate of Designation,
                           Preferences and Rights

Exhibit B --      Form of Rights Certificates

Exhibit C --      Form of Summary of Rights

<PAGE>   4


                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                  RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ], 2000 (the "Agreement"),
between LendingTree Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First
Union National Bank, a banking corporation (the "Rights Agent").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

                  WHEREAS, on [ ], 2000 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock")
outstanding at the close of business on the date of the consummation of the
initial public offering of the Common Stock of the Company (the "Record Date"),
and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be
adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of
Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record Date (whether originally
issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and the Distribution Date (as
hereinafter defined) each Right initially representing the right to purchase one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the
Company (the "Preferred Stock") having the rights, powers and preferences set
forth in the form of Certificate of Designation,

<PAGE>   5

Preferences and Rights attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

                  Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

                           (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or
which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding,
but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii)
any employee benefit plan of the Company, or of any Subsidiary of the Company,
or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (iv) any Person who becomes the
Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding due to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company
unless and until such Person, after becoming aware that such Person has become
the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the then outstanding
shares of Common Stock, acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of
Common Stock representing one percent (1%) or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding, (v) any


                                       2
<PAGE>   6

Person who owns shares of Common Stock on the date hereof in the event that upon
the consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock of the Com-
pany such Person is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding
shares of Common Stock, unless and until such Person shall purchase or otherwise
become the Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common Stock constituting 1%
or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, or (vi) any such Person
who has reported or is required to report such ownership (but less than 20%) on
Schedule 13G under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in
effect on the date of the Agreement (the "Exchange Act") (or any comparable or
successor report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable
or successor report) which Schedule 13D does not state any intention to or
reserve the right to control or influence the management or policies of the
Company or engage in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of such schedule
(other than the disposition of the Common Stock) and, within 10 Business Days of
being requested by the Company to advise it regarding the same, certifies to
the Company that such Person acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of 14.9%
inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who, together
with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter does not acquire additional
shares of Common Stock while the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if the Person
requested to so certify fails to do so within 10


                                       3
<PAGE>   7

Business Days, then such Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately
after such 10-Business-Day period.

                           (b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.

                           (c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the
respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

                           (d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner"
of, and shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:

                                    (i) which such Person or any of such
         Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the
         right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only
         after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
         understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of
         conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or
         otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
         "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," (A) securities
         tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or
         any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
         securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (B) securities
         issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of
         a Triggering


                                       4
<PAGE>   8

         Event (as hereinafter defined), or (C) securities issuable upon
         exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event
         which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date (as
         hereinafter defined) or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof
         (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
         connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;

                                    (ii) which such Person or any of such
         Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the
         right to vote or dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as
         determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations
         under the Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement,
         arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing; provided,
         however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of,
         or to "beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii) as
         a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
         security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises
         solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
         consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
         applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the
         Exchange


                                       5
<PAGE>   9

         Act, (B) is not reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the
         Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report) and (C) does not
         constitute a trust, proxy, power of attorney or other device with the
         purpose or effect of allowing two or more persons, acting in concert,
         to avoid being deemed "beneficial owners" of such security or otherwise
         avoid the status of "Acquiring Person" under the terms of this
         Agreement or as part of a plan or scheme to evade the reporting
         requirements under Schedule 13D or Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the
         Exchange Act; or

                                    (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly
         or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate
         thereof) with which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or
         Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
         or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
         (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to
         subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (d)) or disposing of any voting
         securities of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this
         paragraph (d) shall cause a Person engaged in business as an
         underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
         "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's
         participation in good faith in


                                       6
<PAGE>   10

         a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after
         the date of such acquisition, and then only if such securities continue
         to be owned by such Person at such expiration of forty days and
         provided further, however, that any stockholder of the Company, with
         affiliate(s), associate(s) or other person(s) who may be deemed
         representatives of it serving as director(s) of the Company, shall not
         be deemed to beneficially own securities held by other Persons as a
         result of (i) persons affiliated or otherwise associated with such
         stockholder serving as directors or taking any action in connection
         therewith, (ii) discussing the status of its shares with the Company
         or other stockholders of the Company similarly situated or (iii) voting
         or acting in a manner similar to other stockholders similarly situated,
         absent a specific finding by the Board of Directors of an express
         agreement among such stockholders to act in concert with one another
         as stockholders so as to cause, in the good faith judgment of the Board
         of Directors, each such stockholder to be the Beneficial Owner of the
         shares held by the other stockholder(s).

                           (e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.


                                       7
<PAGE>   11

                           (f) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean
5:00 P.M., New York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.

                           (g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of
such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such
Person.

                           (h) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                           (i) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

                           (j) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                           (k) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

                           (l) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.


                                       8
<PAGE>   12

                           (m) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934.

                           (n) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 24 hereof.

                           (o) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

                           (p) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

                           (q) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm,
corporation, partnership or other entity.

                           (r) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company,
and, to the extent that there are not a sufficient number of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of
the Rights, any other series of preferred stock of the Company designated for
such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

                           (s) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 13(b) hereof.

                           (t) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 4(a)(ii) hereof.


                                       9
<PAGE>   13

                           (u) "Qualified Offer" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                           (v) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

                           (w) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

                           (x) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth
in the parties clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

                           (y) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

                           (z) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the
meaning set forth in the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

                           (aa) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                           (ab) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event
described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.

                           (ac) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                           (ad) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first
date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall
include, without


                                       10
<PAGE>   14

limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.

                           (ae) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any
Person, any corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to
elect at least a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such
Person.

                           (af) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                           (ag) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

                           (ah) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

                           (ai) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section
11(a)(ii) Event or any Section 13 Event.

                  Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the
Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the
Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with
the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Company


                                       11
<PAGE>   15

may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.

                  Section 3.  Issuance of Rights Certificates.

                           (a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on
the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth
Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the
close of business on the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the
tenth Business Day (or such later date as the Board shall determine) after the
date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is
first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation
thereof, such Person would become an Acquiring Person ,in either instance other
than pursuant to a Qualified Offer (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein
referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the
certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the
Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection


                                       12
<PAGE>   16

with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer
to the Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record
holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date,
at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more
right certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the
number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section
11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the
Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing
only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.

                           (b) The Company will make available, as promptly as
practicable following the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights")
to any holder Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the
Expiration Date (as such term is defined in Section 7(a) hereof). With respect
to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until
the Distribution Date, the Rights will


                                       13
<PAGE>   17

be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered
holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the
associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common Stock in
respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.

                           (c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares
of Common Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the
Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such shares
of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall
bear the following legend:

                  This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
         to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between
         LENDINGTREE INC. (the "Company") and the Rights Agent thereunder (the
         "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein
         by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
         the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
         Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
         will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail
         to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in
         effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt
         of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in
         the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is,
         was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate
         thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether
         currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent
         holder, may become null and void.


                                       14
<PAGE>   18

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.

                  Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates.

                           (a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of
election to purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may
have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates,
whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face
shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set
forth


                                       15
<PAGE>   19

therein (such exercise price per one one-hundredth of a share, the "Purchase
Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of
each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.

                           (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section
3(a), Section 11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially
owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or
(iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and
any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon
transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate
referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the
following legend:


                                       16
<PAGE>   20

         The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were benefi-
         cially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an
         Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
         defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate
         and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the
         circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.

                  Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.

                           (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on
behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice
President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the
Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid
for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with
the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights
Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the


                                       17
<PAGE>   21

Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution
of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.

                           (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent
will keep, or cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as
the appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.

                  Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of
Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.

                           (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b),
Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on
the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the
Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights
Certificates representing Rights that may have been exchanged pursuant to
Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to
purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or,
following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then


                                       18
<PAGE>   22

entitles such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase.
Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any
Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered
to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates
to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office or
offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights
Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with
respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the
registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in
the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall
have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner
(or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14 hereof and Section 24 hereof, countersign and
deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require pay-
ment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Rights Certificates.

                           (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent
of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation


                                       19
<PAGE>   23

of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of
indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the
Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and
upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

                  Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights.

                           (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after
the Distribution Date the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein
including, without limitation, the restrictions on exercisability set forth in
Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part
upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase
and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one one-hundredths of a share (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then
exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) 5:00 P.M.,


                                       20
<PAGE>   24

New York City time, on the tenth anniversary of the date of the consummation of
the initial public offering of the Common Stock of the Company, or such later
date as may be established by the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of
the Rights (such date, as it may be extended by the Board, the ("Final
Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or
exchanged as provided in Section 23 and Section 24 hereof (the earlier of (i)
and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

                           (b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of
a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially
be the amount equal to the product of four times the average daily closing price
of the Common Stock for the first five days of trading subsequent to the
consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock, and shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and Section
13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

                           (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to


                                       21
<PAGE>   25

Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer
agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent
is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company
hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number
of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with
a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts
representing such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as
are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred
Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with
the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply
with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same
to be delivered to or, upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of
the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable
to the order of the Company or shares of Common


                                       22
<PAGE>   26

Stock (having a value determined pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof). In the
event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common
Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that
such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution
by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of
Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred
Stock would be issued.

                           (d) In case the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new
Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the
order of, the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of
Section 14 hereof.

                           (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any
Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
such Associate or Affiliate) who


                                       23
<PAGE>   27

becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not
for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null
and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of
this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are
complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates
or any other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.

                           (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of election to purchase set


                                       24
<PAGE>   28

forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such
exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.

                  Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
Certificates. All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise,
transfer, split-up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company
or any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in
cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by
it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company
shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the
Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased
or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights
Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall,
at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certifi-
cates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to
the Company.

                  Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.

                           (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will
cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
shares of Preferred


                                       25
<PAGE>   29

Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of
its authorized and issued shares held in its treasury), the number of shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement including
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
all outstanding Rights.

                           (b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be
listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all
shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official
notice of issuance upon such exercise.

                           (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i)
file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be
delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in
accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, a registration statement under the
Act, with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on
an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause


                                       26
<PAGE>   30

such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of
which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the date
of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may
be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety
(90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this
Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension has been rescinded. In addition, if
the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required following
the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of
the Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared
effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite
qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise
thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law, or a registration statement
shall not have been declared effective.


                                       27
<PAGE>   31

                           (d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will
take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and
fully paid and nonassessable.

                           (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it
will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the
case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer
or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or
delivery of a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name
other than that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing
Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the
registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been


                                       28
<PAGE>   32

paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
satisfaction that no such tax is due.

                  Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose
name any certificate for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued
upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of
a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be


                                       29
<PAGE>   33

exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.

                  Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares
covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.

                           (a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time
         after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the
         Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the
         outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred
         Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its
         capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including
         any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger
         in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
         except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e)
         hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for
         such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combina-
         tion or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Pre-
         ferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such


                                       30
<PAGE>   34

         date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
         exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of
         the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of
         shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which,
         if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at
         a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were
         open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled
         to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
         reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment
         under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
         adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition
         to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
         Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                                    (ii) In the event any Person shall, at any
         time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, become an Acquiring
         Person, unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring
         Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, or is an
         acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or an
         exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price
         and on terms determined by at least a majority of the members of the


                                       31
<PAGE>   35

         Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not
         representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring
         Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
         firms, to be

                  (a) at a price which is fair to stockholders and not
                  inadequate (taking into account all factors which such members
                  of the Board deem relevant, including, without limitation,
                  prices which could reasonably be achieved if the Company or
                  its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize
                  maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests of the
                  Company and its stockholders (a "Qualified Offer"),

         then, promptly following the occurrence of such event, proper provision
         shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
         and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive,
         upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance
         with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one
         one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of
         Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
         multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one
         one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was
         exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
         11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product (which, following such


                                       32
<PAGE>   36

         first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase
         Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of
         the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
         per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such
         number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").

                                    (iii) In the event that the number of shares
         of Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's Restated
         Certificate of Incorporation, but which are not outstanding or reserved
         for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights, are
         not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
         accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a),
         the Company shall (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares
         issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value"), and (B)
         with respect to each Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make
         adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the
         exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1)
         cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other
         equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation,
         shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock, such as the Preferred
         Stock, which the Board has deemed to have essentially the same value or
         economic


                                       33
<PAGE>   37

         rights as shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock being
         referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of
         the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing,
         having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount
         of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has
         been determined by the Board based upon the advice of a nationally
         recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; provided,
         however, that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to
         deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days
         following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
         Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption
         pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being
         referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the
         Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise
         of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares
         of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash,
         which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread.
         For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "Spread" shall mean
         the excess of (i) the Current Value over (ii) the Purchase Price. If
         the Board determines in good faith that it is


                                       34
<PAGE>   38

         likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
         authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty
         (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent nec-
         essary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii)
         Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek shareholder approval
         for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day
         period, as it may be extended, is herein called the "Substitution
         Period"). To the extent that action is to be taken pursuant to the
         first and/or third sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company
         (1) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action
         shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend
         the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
         Substitution Period in order to seek such shareholder approval for such
         authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate
         form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to
         determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the
         Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
         exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as
         a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
         effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each


                                       35
<PAGE>   39

         Adjustment Share shall be the current market price per share of the
         Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or
         per unit value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to equal
         the current market price per share of the Common Stock on such date.

                           (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for
the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred
Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock)
less than the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to
be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred
Stock and/or


                                       36
<PAGE>   40

Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of
additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be
offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities
so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may
be paid by delivery of consideration, part or all of which may be in a form
other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by
or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the
purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or
warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

                           (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing


                                       37
<PAGE>   41

corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets
(other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend
payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or evidences of indebtedness, or of
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)
hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market
Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the
cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock, and
the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the
event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.

                           (d)(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current
Market


                                       38
<PAGE>   42

Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market
Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10)
consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided, however,
that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in
shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common
Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination
or reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the commencement of the
requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth
above, then, and in each such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly
adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each
day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes
place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with


                                       39
<PAGE>   43

respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading
on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or
admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted
to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not
so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use,
or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the
Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common
Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith
by the Board shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the
principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or
not so listed or traded, Current Market Price per share shall mean the


                                       40
<PAGE>   44

fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.

                                    (ii) For the purpose of any computation
         hereunder, the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall
         be determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common
         Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence
         thereof). If the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock
         cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred
         Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in
         clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the Current Market Price per share of
         Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to
         100 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as
         stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the
         Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by
         the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock. If neither the
         Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or
         traded, Current Market Price per share of the Preferred Stock shall
         mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board,
         whose determination shall be described in a statement


                                       41
<PAGE>   45

         filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
         For all purposes of this Agreement, the Current Market Price of a Unit
         shall be equal to the Current Market Price of one share of Preferred
         Stock divided by 100.

                           (e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding,
no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment
would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this
Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken
into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section
11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share
of Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock,
as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e),
any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the
earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates
such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.

                           (f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other
than Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable
upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a


                                       42
<PAGE>   46

manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g),
(h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14
hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such
other shares.

                           (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company
subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence
the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time
hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as
provided herein.

                           (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its
election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase
Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths
of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase
Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.


                                       43
<PAGE>   47

                           (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after
the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record
prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but,
if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days
later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be


                                       44
<PAGE>   48

entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall
cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date
of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new
Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall
be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may
bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.

                           (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore
and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one
one-hundredth of a share and the number of one one-hundredth of a share which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

                           (k) Before taking any action that would cause an
adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of
the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may,
in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue fully


                                       45
<PAGE>   49

paid and nonassessable such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.

                           (l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall
require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a
record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after
such record date the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise over and above the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable
upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such
adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a
due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to
receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

                           (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for
cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at


                                       46
<PAGE>   50

less than the Current Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of
Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v)
issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11,
hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be
taxable to such stockholders.

                           (n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall
not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than
a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or
transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets, cash
flow or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or
Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the
time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in
effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or
immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders of the
Person


                                       47
<PAGE>   51

who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of
Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously
owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

                           (o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.

                           (p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare
a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator which
shall be the total number of shares of


                                       48
<PAGE>   52

Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and
the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.

                  Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section
13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth
such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such
adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer
agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate
and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to
each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 27 hereof. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained.

                  Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets, Cash Flow or Earning Power.

                           (a) In the event that, following the Stock
Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate
with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the
Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction which complies with


                                       49
<PAGE>   53

Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the
Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or
merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or
any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one
or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning
power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other
than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions
each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case
(except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall
be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e)
hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at
the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and
freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first
refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a


                                       50
<PAGE>   54

Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one
one-hundredths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such first occurrence), and dividing that product
(which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred
to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
Agreement) by (2) 50% of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party
on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13
Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal
Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof
shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its
Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may
be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common
Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the


                                       51
<PAGE>   55

provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first
occurrence of any Section 13 Event.

                           (b) "Principal Party" shall mean:

                                    (i) in the case of any transaction described
         in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person
         that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock
         of the Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no
         securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such
         merger or consolidation; and

                                    (iv) in the case of any transaction
         described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the
         Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets,
         cash flow or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or
         transactions;

provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more
than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party"


                                       52
<PAGE>   56

shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock
having the greatest aggregate market value.

                           (c) The Company shall not consummate any such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a
sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been
issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such
Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of any consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph
(a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will

                                    (i) prepare and file a registration
         statement under the Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities
         purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and
         will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A)
         become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B)
         remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
         requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date; and


                                       53
<PAGE>   57

                                    (ii) take such all such other action as may
         be necessary to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities
         purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to
         the registration or qualification of such securities under all
         requisite securities laws of jurisdictions of the various states and
         the listing of such securities on such exchanges and trading markets as
         may be necessary or appropriate; and

                                    (vi) will deliver to holders of the Rights
         historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of
         its Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements for
         registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.

The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13 Event
shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).

                           (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is
consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock
pursuant to a tender offer


                                       54
<PAGE>   58

or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which is a
Qualified Offer as such term is defined in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (or a wholly
owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per share of
Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share of
Common Stock paid to all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were
purchased pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer and (iii) the form of
consideration being offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock
pursuant to such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid
pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such
transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall
expire.

                  Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

                           (a) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in
Section 11(p) hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence
fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this
Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing
price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which
such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The


                                       55
<PAGE>   59

closing price of the Rights for any day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights
are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use
or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights, selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in
the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.

                           (b) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of
the Rights or to dis-


                                       56
<PAGE>   60

tribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other
than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredth of
the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.

                           (c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock
upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one (1) share of Common Stock. For
purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common
Stock shall be the


                                       57
<PAGE>   61

closing price of one share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.

                           (d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the
Rights expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section
14.

                  Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect
of this Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or


                                       58
<PAGE>   62

threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this
Agreement.

                  Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a
Right by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights
Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:

                           (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;

                           (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of
transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;

                           (c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof,
the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company


                                       59
<PAGE>   63

nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall
be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and

                           (d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.

                  Section 34. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to
vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to


                                       60
<PAGE>   64

stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.

                  Section 36.  Concerning the Rights Agent.

                           (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from
time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel
fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.

                           (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall
incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any
Rights Certificate or


                                       61
<PAGE>   65

certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument
of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary,
verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.

                  Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent.

                           (a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or
any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust, stock transfer or other shareholder services
business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the
successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto;
but only if such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor
Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement,
any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered,
any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor
Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so counter-


                                       62
<PAGE>   66

signed; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have
been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

                           (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent
shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.

                  Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent
undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of
Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

                           (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel
(who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel
shall be full


                                       63
<PAGE>   67

and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

                           (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under
this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring
Person and the determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established
by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, THE PRESIDENT, ANY VICE
PRESIDENT, THE TREASURER, ANY ASSISTANT TREASURER, THE SECRETARY or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken
or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.

                           (c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only
for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

                           (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by
reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement
or in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to
its countersignature on


                                       64
<PAGE>   68

such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and recitals are and shall be
deemed to have been made by the Company only.

                           (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 11, Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or
responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment
(except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates
after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder
be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares
of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized
and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                           (f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and


                                       65
<PAGE>   69

delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reason ably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing
by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

                           (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and
directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder from the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of
the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in
connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or
suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any
such officer.

                           (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not
Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal
entity.

                           (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of
the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either
itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not
be answerable or


                                       66
<PAGE>   70

accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.

                           (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the
Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise
of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment
of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.

                           (k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate
surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate
attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case
may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to
clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action
with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting
with the Company.

                  Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or


                                       67
<PAGE>   71

certified mail, and, if such resignation occurs after the Distribution Date, to
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The
Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty
(30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights
Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and
Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs
after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has
been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then any registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
legal business entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or of the State of New York or of any other state of the United States,
in good standing, having an office in the State of New York, which is authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer or shareholder
services powers and which


                                       68
<PAGE>   72

has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a legal business entity
described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor
Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and, if
such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give
any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be.

                  Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the
contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or
class of shares or other securities or


                                       69
<PAGE>   73

property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the
Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities
hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights
Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with
such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate
would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to
the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu
of the issuance thereof.

                  Section 23.  Redemption and Termination.

                           (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock
Acquisition Date shall have


                                       70
<PAGE>   74

occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of business on the tenth Business
Day following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all
but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption
Price"). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder
has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash,
shares of Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price, as defined in Section
11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other
form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

                           (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of
which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action
and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the
only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board
of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and


                                       71
<PAGE>   75

the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such
holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books of
the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of
the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made.

                  Section 24.  Exchange.

                           (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all
or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include
Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan), together with all Affiliates and


                                       72
<PAGE>   76

Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
Common Stock then outstanding.

                           (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right
thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice
of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any
defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The
Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders
of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of
the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice
of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Stock for
Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of
Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata
based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant
to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.


                                       73
<PAGE>   77

                           (c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the
Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred
Stock, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof) for Common
Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for each share of
Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect stock splits, stock dividends
and other similar transactions after the date hereof.

                           (d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient
shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to
permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section
24, the shares of Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the
Rights.

                           (e) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common
Stock, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (e),
the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing
price of a share of Common


                                       74
<PAGE>   78

Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 24.

                  Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.

                           (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any
class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of
earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders
of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of
its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the
subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any
consolidation or merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to
effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries
to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, of more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with


                                       75
<PAGE>   79

Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the
record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or
warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock,
if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case
of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock whichever shall be the earlier.

                           (b) In case any of the events set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as
soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to
the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of
the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph to Pre-


                                       76
<PAGE>   80

ferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if
appropriate, other securities.

                  Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as follows:

                  LendingTree Inc.
                  6701 Carmel Rd. Suite 205
                  Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
                  Attention:  Corporate Secretary


Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as follows:


                  [AMERICAN STOCK TRANFER & TRUST COMPANY
                  40 WALL STREET
                  NEW YORK, NY 10005
                  ATTENTION:  CORPORATE TRUST DEPARTMENT]


                                       77
<PAGE>   81

                  Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate
(or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates
representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent
by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.

                  Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the
Distribution Date, and subject to the last sentence of this Section 27, the
Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder, or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any
manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person);
provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen any time
period


                                       78
<PAGE>   82

hereunder, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating
to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then
redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for the
purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the
benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment.* Prior to the Distribution Date, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Stock. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
this Agreement may not be amended at a time when the Rights are not redeemable.

                  Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of
this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall
bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns
hereunder.

                  Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of


----------

*        If the Rights Agent objects to this provision, consider proposing the
         following addition:

         "unless the Rights Agent shall have determined in good faith that such
         supplement or amendment would increase its duties or obligations or
         limit its rights or benefits under this Agreement."


                                       79
<PAGE>   83
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may
be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board, or any of the directors on the Board to any liability to the
holders of the Rights.

                  Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior
to the Distribution


                                       80
<PAGE>   84

Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date,
registered holders of the Common Stock).

                  Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the
tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board of
Directors. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring a specific
group of Directors of the Company to act is held to by any court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such
determination shall then be


                                       81
<PAGE>   85

made by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with applicable law
and the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.

                  Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts
made and to be performed entirely within such State.

                  Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes
be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.

                  Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.


                                       82
<PAGE>   86


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.



                                   LENDINGTREE INC.


                                   By:  __________________________
                                   Name: Douglas R. Lebda
                                   Title: Chief Executive Officer and President



                                   First Union National Bank


                                   By:  __________________________
                                   Name:
                                   Title:


                                       83
<PAGE>   87

                                                                       Exhibit A


                                     FORM OF
                   CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND
                     RIGHTS OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING
                                 PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                                LENDINGTREE INC.


             Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
                            of the State of Delaware


                  We, Douglas R. Lebda, Chief Executive Officer and President,
and Robert J. Flemma, Jr., General Counsel, Vice-President and Secretary, of
LendingTree Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 103 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

                  That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on December 18, 1999, adopted the
following resolution creating, effective upon the filing of the Fourth Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of [1,000,000] shares of
Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:

                  RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board
of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock
of the Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and
amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating,
optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

                  Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and the
number of shares constituting such series shall be [1,000,000].

<PAGE>   88

                  Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.

                  (A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends
payable in cash on the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December in
each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after
the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $[10.00] or (b) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of
all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in
kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after [ ], 2000 (the "Rights Declaration
Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  (B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph
(A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that,
in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $[10.00] per share on
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable
on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.


                                       2
<PAGE>   89

                  (C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date
of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of
which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more
than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

                  Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

                  (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle
the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior
to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  (B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.


                                       3
<PAGE>   90

                           (C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount
         equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such
         contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a
         "default period") which shall extend until such time when all accrued
         and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and
         for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been
         declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period,
         all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an
         amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class,
         irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2)
         directors.

                           (ii) During any default period, such voting right of
         the holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be
         exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to
         subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of
         stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders,
         provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders of
         any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain
         cases, the authorized number of directors shall be exercised unless the
         holders of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock
         outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a
         quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by
         the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at
         which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right
         initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right,
         voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any,
         in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or,
         if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2)
         directors. If the number which may be so elected at any special meeting
         does not amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred
         Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of
         directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the
         required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have
         exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and
         during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall
         not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of
         Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any
         equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

                           (iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall,
         during an existing default period, have previously exercised their
         right to elect directors,


                                       4
<PAGE>   91

         the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders
         owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total
         number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of
         series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of
         Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the
         President, a Vice-President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice
         of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred
         Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be
         given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of
         such notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books
         of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier
         than 20 days and not later than 60 days after such order or request or
         in default of the calling of such meeting within 60 days after such
         order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any
         stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten
         percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
         outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii),
         no such special meeting shall be called during the period within 60
         days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting
         of the stockholders.

                           (iv) In any default period, the holders of Common
         Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable,
         shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors
         until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right
         to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of
         which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred
         Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been
         elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period,
         and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided
         in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority
         of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the
         class of stock which elected the director whose office shall have
         become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by
         the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors
         elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y)
         of the foregoing sentence.

                           (v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default
         period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to
         elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by
         the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the
         number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the
         certificate of incorporation or by-laws irrespective of any increase
         made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this


                                       5
<PAGE>   92

         Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in
         any manner provided by law or in the certificate of incorporation or
         by-laws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the
         provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be
         filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

                  (D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their
consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote
with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate
action.


                  Section 4.  Certain Restrictions.

                  (A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full,
the Corporation shall not

                                    (i) declare or pay dividends on, make any
         other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
         consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
         dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
         Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;

                                    (ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any
         other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either
         as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with
         the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends
         paid ratably on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and
         all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in
         proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares
         are then entitled;

                                    (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise
         acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity
         (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
         with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that
         the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
         shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of
         the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or


                                       6
<PAGE>   93

         upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Junior
         Participating Preferred Stock; or

                                    (iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for
         consideration any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
         Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a
         purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the
         Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as
         the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
         dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
         respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
         result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
         classes.

                  (B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Paragraph (A) of
this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.

                  Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation
in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of
a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of
the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance
set forth herein.

                  Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon
any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall have received an amount equal to $100 per share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of
the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made
to the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received
an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing (i) the Series A Liquidation Preference by (ii) 100 (as appropriately
adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock
splits, stock dividends and


                                       7
<PAGE>   94

recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii),
the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full amount of the
Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and
proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of
the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

                  (B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred
stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation
preferences. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such
remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.

                  (C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event
shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation
shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in
which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of
stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be
adjusted by mul-


                                       8
<PAGE>   95

tiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

                  Section 9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's
Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets,
unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.

                  Section 10. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation nor this Certificate of
Designation shall be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

                  Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the
holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting
rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit
of all other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock.


                                       9
<PAGE>   96

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this
Certificate and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury
this [ ] day of           , 2000.



                                   By:  _______________________
                                   Name: Douglas R. Lebda
                                   Title:  Chief Executive Officer and President




                                   By:  _______________________
                                   Name: Robert J. Flemma, Jr.
                                   Title:  General Counsel, Vice-President and
                                           Secretary


                                       10
<PAGE>   97

                                                                       Exhibit B



                          [Form of Rights Certificate]


Certificate No. R-                                              ________ Rights


NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER _________ __, 2009 (THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF
THE CONSUMMATION OF THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE
COMPANY), UNLESS EXTENDED PRIOR THERETO BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR EARLIER IF
REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF
THE COMPANY, AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON
(AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF
SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.


                               Rights Certificate

                                LENDINGTREE INC.


                  This certifies that _____________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of ________ __, 2000 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between LendingTree Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ________________________, a [New York] banking corporation (the "Rights
Agent"), to purchase from the Company at

<PAGE>   98

any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on _______, __, 2009 (the tenth
anniversary of the date of the consummation of the initial public offering of
the Common Stock) (unless such date is extended prior thereto by the Board of
Directors) at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid,
non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $_____ (the amount
equal to the product of four times the average closing price of the Common Stock
for the first five days of trading subsequent to the consummation of the initial
public offering of the Common Stock) per one one-hundredth of a share (the
"Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate
with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares
which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase
Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of
_________ __, 2000 (the close of business on the fifth day of trading subsequent
to the consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock), based
on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. The Company reserves the
right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) that a number of Rights be exercised so that
only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.


                                       2
<PAGE>   99

                  Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term
is defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such
Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event.

                  As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and
the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may
be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of
certain events, including Triggering Events.

                  This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and
conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof
and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of
the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder
of the Rights Agent, the


                                       3
<PAGE>   100

Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights
include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the
specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights
Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are
also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.

                  This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights
entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

                  Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close
of business on (i) the tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date
(as such time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii)
the Final Expiration Date. In addition, under certain circumstances following
the Stock


                                       4
<PAGE>   101

Acquisition Date, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for shares
of the Common Stock, or shares of preferred stock of the Company having
essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares. Immediately upon
the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing any such
exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the Rights (other than
Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate and the Rights
will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such exchange.

                  No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon
the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock,
which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts),
but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights
Agreement. The Company, at its election, may require that a number of Rights be
exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.

                  No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of
Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter


                                       5
<PAGE>   102

submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give consent to or
withhold consent from any corporate action, or, to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

                  This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.


                                       6
<PAGE>   103

                  WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _________ __, ____



                                   LENDINGTREE INC.


                                   By:  _______________________________
                                   Name: Douglas R. Lebda
                                   Title:  Chief Executive Officer and President


                                       7
<PAGE>   104

                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]



                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT


                (To be executed by the registered holder if such
               holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)


                           FOR VALUE RECEIVED_________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

______________________________________________________________________________
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within named
Company, with full power of substitution.


Dated: __________________, _____



                                            __________________________________
                                            Signature


Signature Guaranteed:


                                   Certificate

<PAGE>   105

                  The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
                  boxes that:

                  (1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold,
assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

                  (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.


Dated: _______________, _____               __________________________________
                                            Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

<PAGE>   106

                                     NOTICE


                  The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

<PAGE>   107

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

                  (To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights repre-
                  sented by the Rights Certificate.)


To: LENDINGTREE INC.:

                  The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
__________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares
of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other
securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be
issued in the name of and delivered to:


Please insert social security
or other identifying number


______________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)

______________________________________________________________________________


                  If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced
by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

<PAGE>   108

Please insert social security
or other identifying number


______________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)


______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________


Dated:  _______________, _____



                                            __________________________________
                                            Signature



Signature Guaranteed:



                                   Certificate

                  The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
                  boxes that:

                  (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are
[ ] are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

<PAGE>   109

                  (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.


Dated: ______________, _____                __________________________________


                                            Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

<PAGE>   110

                                     NOTICE



                  The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and
Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.

<PAGE>   111

                                                                       Exhibit C


                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                 PREFERRED STOCK


                  On [ ], 2000, the Board of Directors of LendingTree Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding
share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business
on [ ], 2000 (the date of the consummation of the initial public offering of the
Common Stock) (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share (a
"Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Series A Preferred Stock") at a Purchase Price of $    per Unit (the
amount equal to the product of four times the average closing price of the
Common Stock for the first five days of trading subsequent to the consummation
of the initial public offering of the Common Stock), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the
"Rights Agreement") between the Company and ________________ , as Rights Agent.


<PAGE>   112

                  Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the
Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following
a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), other than
persons who acquire 15% beneficial ownership as a result of repurchases of stock
by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by institutional or certain other
stockholders or, in certain circumstances, persons who are holders of shares of
Common Stock prior to the initial public offering and upon consummation thereof,
become beneficial owners of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Board shall
determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that
would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock cer-
tificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii)
the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company
reserves the right to

<PAGE>   113

require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that,
upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.

                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on          , 2010 (the tenth
anniversary of the date of the consummation of the initial public offering of
the Common Stock), unless such date is extended or the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.

                  As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by
the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

                  In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the
independent directors determine to be fair and not inadequate to and to
otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, after
receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms (a "Qualified
Offer"), each holder of a Right will

<PAGE>   114

thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in
certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having
a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding any
of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth in this
paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the
Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null
and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the
event set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by
the Company as set forth below.

                  For example, at an exercise price of $200.00 per Right, each
Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following
an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase $400.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above)
for $200.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $20.00 at
such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 20
shares of Common Stock for $200.00.

                  In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified Offer), (ii)
the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is the

<PAGE>   115

surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the Company is changed or ex-
changed, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets, cash flow or earning
power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which have
previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this
paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the
"Triggering Events."

                  At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more
of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than
Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in
part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-hundredth of
a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company's
preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right
(subject to adjustment).

                  At any time until ten business days following the Stock
Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors). Immediately upon
the action of the Board

<PAGE>   116

of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption
price.

                  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the
Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the
redemption of the Rights as set forth above.

                  Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended
by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After
the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time
period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment
may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.

                  A form of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on
Form S-1 dated

<PAGE>   117

_______ , 2000. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from
the Rights Agent. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
which is incorporated herein by reference.