<PAGE>
                                                                     Exhibit 4.1


                      FORM OF RIGHTS AGREEMENT



                               BETWEEN


                     NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.



                                 AND



              AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,



                           AS RIGHTS AGENT



                      DATED AS OF OCTOBER 16, 2002
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                          TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1.  Certain Definitions.....................................1

Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent.............................8

Section 3.  Issuance of Rights Certificates.........................8

Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates............................11

Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration .....................12

Section 6.  Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange
            of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
            Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.....................13

Section 7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration
            Date of Rights.........................................14

Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates....18

Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital
            Stock..................................................18

Section 10.  Preferred Stock Record Date...........................20

Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and
            Kind of Shares or Number of Rights.....................21

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or
            Number of Shares.......................................34

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
            Assets Cash Flow or Earning Power......................35

Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...............39

Section 15.  Rights of Action......................................41

Section 16.  Agreement of Rights Holders...........................41

Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
            Stockholder............................................43

Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent...........................43
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Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
            Rights Agent...........................................44

Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.................................45

Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent................................48

Section 22.  Issuance of New Rights Certificates...................49

Section 23.  Redemption and Termination............................50

Section 24.  Exchange..............................................51

Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events..............................53

Section 26.  Notices...............................................54

Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments............................55

Section 28.  Successors............................................56

Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
            Directors, etc.........................................56

Section 30.  Benefits of this Agreement............................57

Section 31.  Severability..........................................57

Section 32.  Governing Law.........................................58

Section 33.  Counterparts..........................................58

Section 34.  Descriptive Headings..................................58

                              EXHIBITS

Exhibit A --    Form of Articles Supplementary of
                Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

Exhibit B --    Form of Rights Certificates

Exhibit C --    Form of Summary of Rights


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                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 16, 2002 (the "Agreement"),
between Newcastle Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the "Rights
Agent").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

         WHEREAS, on June 6, 2002 (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 $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding
at the close of business on October 16, 2002 (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 Articles Supplementary of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock 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, at any time after

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the Record Date, 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, or
(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
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 Business Days, then
such Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after such
10-Business-Day period, or (vi) any of the Exempt Persons.

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


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               (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 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 deter mined pursuant to
      Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act),
      including pursuant to any agree-


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<PAGE>
     ment, 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 Act, and (B) is not
     reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
     comparable or successor report); 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 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 stock holder serving as directors or taking any action in
     connection


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<PAGE>
     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.

               (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 $.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.


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

               (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) "Exempt Persons", shall mean Newcastle Investment Holdings
Corp., Fortress Investment Group LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC
and Fortress Principal Investment Group LLC, each a Delaware limited liability
company, or any of the holders of the equity interests of such entities,
including but not limited to Wesley R. Edens, Robert I. Kauffman, Randal A.
Nardone and Erik P. Nygaard (including any person who shall receive interests
from any of them pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution).

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

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

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

               (s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.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.

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

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


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<PAGE>
               (v) "Qualified Offer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

               ((ff)) "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.


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

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

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

               (jj) "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 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 (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 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 with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after
the Dis-


                                       8
<PAGE>
tribution 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. With respect
to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, or
issued subsequent to the Record Date, unless and until the Distribution Date
shall occur, the Rights will 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 (as such term is defined in Section
7(a) hereof), 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
follow-


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ing legend if such certificates are issued after the Record Date but prior to
the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date:

            This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
     certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Newcastle
     Investment Corp. (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 or the Rights Agent 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.

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
substan-


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tially 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 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:


                                       11
<PAGE>
     The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially
     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 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


                                       12
<PAGE>
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 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 payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection


                                       13
<PAGE>
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 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., New York City time, on
October 16, 2012, 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").


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<PAGE>
               (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 $70, 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 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. In the event

                                       15
<PAGE>
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 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 have 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

                                       16
<PAGE>
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 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 Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

            Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.


                                       17
<PAGE>
               (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 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 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

                                       18
<PAGE>
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.

               (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

                                       19
<PAGE>
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 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 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.


                                       20
<PAGE>
               (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, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of
      shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable
      on such 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 Record Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing the
      Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in Section
      13(a) hereof, or is an acquisition of shares of Com-

                                       21
<PAGE>
      mon 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 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 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 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 Articles of
      Incorporation, but which are not outstanding or reserved for issuance for
      purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights, are not

                                       22
<PAGE>
      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 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

                                       23
<PAGE>
      the Board determines in good faith that it is 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 necessary, 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 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

                                       24
<PAGE>
("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
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 corporation), cash (other than

                                       25
<PAGE>
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 deter mined 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
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

                                       26
<PAGE>
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 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 fair value per share as determined in good faith
by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed

                                       27
<PAGE>
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 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 not withstanding, 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

                                       28
<PAGE>
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 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.


                                       29
<PAGE>
               (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 out standing 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 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.


                                       30
<PAGE>
               (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 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

                                       31
<PAGE>
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 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 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

                                       32
<PAGE>
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 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 (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a
Certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 27
hereof. The

                                       33
<PAGE>
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 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 Right is
exercisable immediately prior to the first

                                       34
<PAGE>
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
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


                                       35
<PAGE>
                        (ii) in the case of any trans action 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" 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


                                       36
<PAGE>
                        (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

                        (iii) 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 Ex change 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
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)(B) 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

                                       37
<PAGE>
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 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.


                                       38
<PAGE>
               (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 distribute 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 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

                                       39
<PAGE>
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 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


                                       40
<PAGE>
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 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 17. 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 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 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent.


                                       41
<PAGE>
               (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 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 or stock transfer powers or performance of the 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

                                       42
<PAGE>
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 countersigned;
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
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)

                                       43
<PAGE>
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 here under 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 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


                                       44
<PAGE>
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 delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably 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 per form any duty hereunder either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or 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

                                       45
<PAGE>
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
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 other
wise 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

                                       46
<PAGE>
or by such a court, shall be (a) a legal business entity organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or one of the United States, in
good standing, having a principal office in the State of New York, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers
or perform shareholder services and is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000 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 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

                                       47
<PAGE>
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 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

                                       48
<PAGE>
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 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 out standing 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 "Ex change 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 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,

                                       49
<PAGE>
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.

               (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 actions 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

                                       50
<PAGE>
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 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 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

                                       51
<PAGE>
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 there after 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 Preferred 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:

            Newcastle Investment Corp.
            1251 Avenue of the Americas
            New York, New York 10020
            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:


                                       52
<PAGE>
            American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
            59 Maiden Lane
            New York, New York  10038
            Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

            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, 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 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 unless the Rights Agent shall have
determined in good faith that such supplement or amendment would

                                       53
<PAGE>
increase its duties or obligations or limit its rights or benefits under this
Agreement. 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 here under.

            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 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

                                       54
<PAGE>
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
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 the
approval of certain members of the Board of Directors of the Company is held to
by any court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the Board of Directors
of the Company in accordance with applicable law and the Company's Restated
Articles 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 Maryland 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, except that the rights and
obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.


                                       55
<PAGE>
            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.

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



Attest:                                NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT
                                       CORP.


By /s/ Bari Beck                       By /s/ Randal A. Nardone
   ----------------------------           ---------------------------
   Name: Bari Beck                        Name: Randal A. Nardone
   Title: Executive Assistant             Title: Secretary

Attest:                                AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
                                         & TRUST COMPANY

By /s/ Susan Silber                    By /s/ Herbert J. Lemmer
   ----------------------------           ---------------------------
   Name: Susan Silber                    Name: Herbert J. Lemmer
   Title: Assistant Secretary            Title: Vice President


                                       56
<PAGE>
                                                                       Exhibit A


                                     FORM OF
                       ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY OF SERIES A
                      JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                           NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

                             ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY


         Newcastle Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation (the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation of Maryland that:

         FIRST: Under a power contained in Article VI of the charter of the
Corporation (the "Charter"), the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the
"Board of Directors"), by [resolution duly adopted at a meeting duly called held
on] [unanimous written consent dated] __________, 2002, classified and
designated 1,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of Preferred Stock (as defined in the
Charter) as shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, with the
preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions,
limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms
and conditions of redemption as set forth below.

                  SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

         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.

         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 authorized and declared by the
<PAGE>
Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the 1st 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 Partici
pating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $1 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 other wise), declared on the Common Stock, par
value $.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 October 16, 2002 (the "Rights
Record Date") (i) authorize and 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 authorize and de clare a dividend or
distribution on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in
Paragraph (A) above immediately after it authorizes and 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 authorized and declared on the Common Stock during


                                       2
<PAGE>
the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

         (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 authorized and 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
Record


                                       3
<PAGE>
Date (i) authorize and 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, 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.

         (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 authorized
and 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


                                       4
<PAGE>
         right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to
         increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of directors shall
         such voting right shall not 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 in creased 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 paripassu 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, 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


                                       5
<PAGE>
         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 ad dress 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 out standing.
         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 or the first day of the period, as the
         case may be, fixed by the Bylaws of the Corporation 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, whichever
         happens first, 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.


                                       6
<PAGE>
                  (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
         charter or Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the
         provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being
         subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or
         in the charter or Bylaws). 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 authorized or declared, on shares of Series A
Junior Partici pating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full,
the Corporation shall not

                  (i) authorize or 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) authorize or 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 liquida-


                                       7
<PAGE>
         tion, 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 pay able 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 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


                                       8
<PAGE>
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 authorized or 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
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. The merger or consolidation of the Corporation,
regardless of whether the Corporation is the surviving entity in such merger or


                                       9
<PAGE>
consolidation, shall not be deemed to be the liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation.

         (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
Record 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. If 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
Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstand-


                                       10
<PAGE>
ing 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 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.

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

         Section 9. Ranking. (a) 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.

         (b) The liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock will not be added to the liabilities of the
Corporation for the purpose of determining whether under the Maryland General
Corporation Law a distribution may be made to stockholders of the Corporation
whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the Corporation are junior to
those of holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

         Section 10. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the charter nor these
Articles Supplementary 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;
provided that none of (i) the creation or issuance of (A) additional shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock or (B) shares of any class or
series of Preferred Stock ranking junior to or on parity with the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets, (ii)


                                       11
<PAGE>
a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is the surviving entity and
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock remains outstanding with no
material adverse change in its powers, preferences and special rights, or (iii)
a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity
and the holders of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock receive in
exchange therefor a substantially identical security of the surviving entity,
shall be considered to materially adversely alter or change the powers,
preferences or special powers of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock.

         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.

         SECOND: The Shares have been classified and designated by the Board of
Directors under authority contained in the Charter.

         THIRD: These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the Board of
Directors in the manner and by the vote required by law.

         FOURTH: The undersigned Chairman of the Board of the Corporation
acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of the
Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath,
the undersigned Chairman of the Board acknowledges that to the best of his
knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all
material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for
perjury.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles
Supplementary to be executed under seal in its name and on its behalf by its
President and attested to by its Secretary on this ____ of __________, 2002.

ATTEST:                                              Newcastle INVESTMENT CORP.


                                       12
<PAGE>
                                          By:                             (SEAL)
------------------------                     -----------------------------
Randal A. Nardone,                        Wesley K. Edens, Chairman
Secretary                                 of the Board of Directors


                                       13
<PAGE>
                                                                       Exhibit B


                          [Form of Rights Certificate]


Certificate No. R-                                               ________ Rights


NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER OCTOBER 16, 2012 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. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY 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 SUCH
AGREEMENT.](2)


                               Rights Certificate

                           NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.


         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 October 16, 2002 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
Newcastle Invest-


----------
(2)      The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
         applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE>
ment Corp., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and American Stock Transfer
& Trust Company, a New York corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from
the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on October 16,
2012 (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 $70 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 October
16, 2002, 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.

         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.


                                       2
<PAGE>
         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 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 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


                                       3
<PAGE>
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 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.


                                        4
<PAGE>
         WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.

Dated as of _________ __,______.


ATTEST:                                              NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.



                                                 By
________________________________                 _______________________________
         Secretary                               Title:

Countersigned:

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY


By_____________________

   Authorized Signature


                                       5
<PAGE>
                  [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

         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>
                                     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>
                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

              (To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights
                     represented by the Rights Certificate.)


To: NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.:

         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:


Please insert social security
or other identifying number

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Please print name and address)

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

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

Dated:                ,
      ---------------   ------

                                                             -------------------
                                                             Signature


Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
                                   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);

         (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>
                                     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>
                                                                       Exhibit C

                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                 PREFERRED STOCK

         On June 6, 2002, the Board of Directors of Newcastle Investment Corp.
(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 October 16, 2002 (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 $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock") at a Purchase Price of
$70 per Unit, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are
set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.

         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, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition
Date"), other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company or certain
inadvertent actions by institutional or certain other stockholders 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 certificates, (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
<PAGE>
the right to 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 October 16, 2012, unless 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 at a price which is fair and not inadequate 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 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. The Exercise Price is the Purchase Price times the number of
shares of Common Stock associated with each 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 $70 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 $160
worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $70. Assuming
that the Common


                                       2
<PAGE>
Stock had a per share value of $20 at such time, the holder of each valid Right
would be entitled to purchase 8 shares of Common Stock for $70.



         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 surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the Company is
changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or cash flow
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
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


                                       3
<PAGE>
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 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.