<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2
                                                                     -----------




                               RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                               ----------------

          RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 29, 1987, as amended as of July 25,
1990 (as so amended, the "Agreement"), between Lukens Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Mellon Bank (East) N.A. (the "Rights Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H
                              - - - - - - - - - -

          WHEREAS, on July 29, 1987 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") authorized and declared a
dividend distribution of one Right for each share of Common Stock (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the close of business on
August 10, 1987 (the "Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one
Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the terms 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 earlier of
the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (each as hereinafter defined) and,
to the extent provided in Section 22 hereof, with respect to certain shares
issued after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, each Right
initially representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights,
powers and preferences set forth in the form of resolutions attached hereto as
Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth
(the "Rights"); and

          WHEREAS, on July 27, 1988, the Board declared a fifty percent Common
Stock dividend resulting, after adjustment, in each share of Common Stock
representing two-thirds of a Right; and

          WHEREAS, on July 25, 1990, the Board and the Rights Agent determined
to make certain amendments to the Agreement in accordance with Section 26 of the
Agreement;

          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:
<PAGE>
 
          (a)  "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as hereinafter defined)
who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall
be the Beneficial Owner of 20% 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, (iv) any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by
the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (v) any Person or
group of Persons (as determined pursuant to Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act) which was, as of the date of this Agreement, the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

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

          (c)  "Adverse Person" shall mean any Person declared to be an Adverse
Person by the Board (with the concurrence of a majority of the Outside Directors
upon its determination that the criteria set forth in Section 11(a)(ii)(D)
hereof apply to such Person.

          (d)  "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").

          (e)  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, or (B) securi-

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     ties issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence
     of a Triggering Event, 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 or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22
     hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
     connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;

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

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
               (f)  "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

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

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

               (i)  "Common stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

               (j)  "Current market price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

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

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

               (m)  "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1(d) hereof.

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

               (o)  "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the close of business on
August 10, 1997.

               (p)  "Outside Director" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof.

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

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
               (r)  "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

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

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

               (u)  "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof.

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

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

               (x)  "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii)(A), (B), (C) or (D) hereof.

               (y)  "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

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

               (bb)  "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become
such.

               (cc)  "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.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
               (dd)  "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

               (ff)  "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.  Issue of Rights Certificates.
                      ---------------------------- 

          (a)  Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the
Record Date), (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day (or such
specified or unspecified later date as may be determined by the Board) after the
date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is
first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation
thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding or (iii) immediately after the Board determines
(with the concurrence of the Outside Directors), pursuant to the criteria set
forth in Section 11(a)(ii)(D) hereof, that a Person is an Adverse Person, (the
earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) 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 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer
to the Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date,
at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more
rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing two-thirds of a 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)  As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form as initially
attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage
prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder then shown on the
records of the Company.  The Summary of Rights attached hereto as Exhibit C is
revised to reflect the amendments effected as of July 25, 1990.  With respect to
certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, 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
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 after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date.  Certificates representing such shares

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall
bear the following legend:

          This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
     certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Lukens Inc.
     (the "Company") and Mellon Bank (East) N.A. (the "Rights Agent") dated as
     of July 29, 1987, as amended as of July 25, 1990 (as so amended, 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
     Rights Agent.  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 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, an Adverse Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an
     Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (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.  The Rights shall not
     be exercisable, and shall be void so long as held, by a holder in any
     jurisdiction where the requisite qualification to the issuance to such
     holder, or the exercise by such holder, of the Rights in such jurisdiction
     shall not have been obtained or be obtainable.

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.
                      --------------------------- 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          (a)  The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof
to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as
shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a share 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) or Section
22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person
or an Adverse Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an
Adverse Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person
(or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person)
who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person becomes
such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or Adverse Person (or of any
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person) who becomes
a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person or Adverse
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person
to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or Adverse Person or to
any Person with whom such Acquiring Person or Adverse Person has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B)
a transfer which the Board 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 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
following legend modified as applicable to apply to such Person:

     The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially
     owned by a Person who was or became an [Acquiring] [Adverse] Person or an
     Affiliate or Associate of an [Acquiring] [Adverse] 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.

          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 manually countersigned by the
Rights Agent 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 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.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
          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 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 entitled 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) and Section 14 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 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 

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
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, 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 at any time after the Distribution Date 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 of Preferred Stock (or other
shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such
surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the
Final Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof or (iii) the time at which the Rights expire
pursuant to Section 13(d) hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being
herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

          (b)  The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $110, and
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and
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 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
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 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 exercise of Rights, such number of Rights be
exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will 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.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
          (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, an Adverse Person or an Associate
or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person, which the Board, in
its sole discretion, determines is or was involved in or caused or facilitated,
directly or indirectly (including through any change in the Board), such Section
11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) a transferee of such Acquiring Person or Adverse Person
(or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person)
who becomes a transferee after such Acquiring Person or Adverse Person becomes
such, or (iii) a transferee of such Acquiring Person or Adverse Person (or of
any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with such Acquiring Person or
Adverse Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a
transfer (whether or not for consideration) from such Acquiring Person or
Adverse Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or
Adverse Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person or Adverse
Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the
transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a
plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the
avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further
action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise.  The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure 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 other Person as
a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or an Adverse 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 

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
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.
                      --------------------------------------------- 

          (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.

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
          (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, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, 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 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 is no longer in effect.  Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have
been obtained.

          (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 

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one one-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights
Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name
other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until
such tax shall have been 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.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
          Section 11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
                       -------------------------------------------------------
or Number of Rights.  The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered
-------------------                                                            
by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment
from time to time as provided in this Section 11.

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

               (A)  any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
     Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement, directly or

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
     indirectly, shall merge into the Company or otherwise combine with the
     Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
     such merger or combination and the Common Stock of the Company shall remain
     outstanding and unchanged,

               (B)  any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
     Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of
     the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by
     the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or
     together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the
     Rights Dividend Declaration Date, become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
     more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, unless the event
     causing the 20% threshold to be crossed is a transaction set forth in
     Section 13(a) hereof, or is an acquisition of shares of Common Stock
     pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding shares
     of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority
     of the members of the Board who are not officers of the Company and who are
     not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring
     Person or an Adverse Person (the "Outside Directors"), after receiving
     advice from one or more investment banking firms, to be (1) at a price that
     is fair to stockholders (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 (2) otherwise in the
     best interests of the Company and its stockholders,

               (C)  during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there
     shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
     split), or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or consolidation
     of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction or
     series of transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
     other than a transaction or transactions to which the provisions of Section
     13(a) apply (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an
     Acquiring Person) which has 

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
     the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1% the
     proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity
     securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which is directly or
     indirectly beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any Associate or
     Affiliate of any Acquiring Person, or

               (D)  The Board (with the concurrence of a majority of the Outside
     Directors) shall declare any Person to be an Adverse Person, upon a
     determination that such person, alone or together with its Affiliates and
     Associates, has, at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date,
     become the Beneficial Owner of an amount of Common Stock which the Board
     (with the concurrence of a majority of the Outside Directors) determines to
     be substantial (which amount shall in no event be less than 10% of the
     shares of Common Stock then outstanding) and a determination by at least a
     majority of the Board (with the concurrence of a majority of the Outside
     Directors) after reasonable inquiry and investigation, which may include a
     review of the public record regarding such Person and any information such
     directors may request from such Person and consultation with such Persons
     as such directors shall deem appropriate, that (1) such Beneficial
     Ownership by such Person is intended to cause the Company to repurchase the
     Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person or to cause pressure on the
     Company to take action or enter into a transaction or series of
     transactions intended to provide such Person with short-term financial gain
     under circumstances where such directors determine that the best long-term
     interests of the Company and its stockholders would not be served by taking
     such action or entering into such transaction or series of transactions at
     that time or (2) such Beneficial Ownership is causing or reasonably likely
     to cause a material adverse impact (including, but not limited to,
     impairment, of the Company's relationships with its customers, its ability
     to maintain its competitive position, its business reputation or its
     ability to deal with governmental agencies) on the business or prospects of
     the Company.

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
then, promptly after 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 being referred to as the "Adjustment
Shares").

               (iii)  In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in accordance
     with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company, acting by resolution of the
     Board, may and, in the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
     which are authorized by the Company's Restated Certificate of
     Incorporation, as amended from time to time, but not outstanding or
     reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights
     are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
     accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the
     Company, acting by resolution of the Board, shall: (A) determine the excess
     of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
     Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess being
     referred to as the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make
     adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon 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 which the Board has deemed to have the same value 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, where such aggregate value has been determined by the
     Board based upon the advice of a na-

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
     tionally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board;
     provided, however, 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. If the Board shall
     determine 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 stockholder
     approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period, as
     it may be extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the
     Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first
     and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall
     provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply
     uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability
     of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to
     seek any 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 the Common Stock
     shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
     hereof) per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date
     and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the
     same value as 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 

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
holders of Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a
period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date)
Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as
the shares of Preferred Stock ("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities
convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per
share of Preferred Stock or per share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred stock) less than the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record
date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of
Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares
of Preferred Stock and/or 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, 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) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend out of the 

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
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 subscription rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board, 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 (as such term is hereinafter
     defined) immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations
     made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market price" per
     share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
     daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10)
     consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided,
                                                               -------- 
     however, that in the event that the current market price per share of the
     -------                                                                  
     Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by
     the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such
     Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities
     convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or
     (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common Stock,
     and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten
     (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, after the ex-dividend date for
     such dividend or 

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
     distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
     reclassification, 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, Inc. 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 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 

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
     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
     one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the
     "current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 100.

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

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

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
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 onehundredths 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.

          (i)  The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
the exercise of a Right.  Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in
the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to such adjustment.  Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price.  The Company shall
make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights,
indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the
amount of the adjustment to be made.  This record date may be the date on 

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
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.

          (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-hundredths 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 

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
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 its good faith judgment the Board shall determine to be
advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred
Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at 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, 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), 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, 

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the
stockholders 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 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 out-standing 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 of
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.

          (q)  The failure by the Board (with the concurrence of a majority of
the Outside Directors) to declare a Person to be an Adverse Person following
such Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding
Common Stock shall not imply that such Person is not an Adverse Person or limit
the right of the Board (with the concurrence of a majority of the Outside
Directors) at any time in the future to declare such Person to be an Adverse
Person.

          Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
                       ---------------------------------------------------
Shares.  Whenever an adjustment is made 
------                                                                          

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
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) 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 25
hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.

          Section 13.  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets 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) here-of), 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, nonassessable and
freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined), not subject to 

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
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 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

               (ii)  in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
     the first sentence of Section 

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
     13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the
     assets 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

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

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
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, this
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs
(x) and (y) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) such transaction is consummated with
a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender
offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which
complies with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof (or a wholly owned
subsidiary of 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 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 offer.  Upon
consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all
Rights hereunder shall expire.

          Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
                       --------------------------------------- 

          (a)  The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights,
except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights.  In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid 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 

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
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.
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
shall be used.

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

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
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 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 

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;

          (c)  subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company 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
there-by, 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 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by 

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.

          Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent.
                       --------------------------- 

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

          (b)  The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or 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 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; provided, however, that such corporation
                                   --------  -------                       
would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time 

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
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") 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 

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered
to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the
Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the
provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

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

          (d)  The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on 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 or
Section 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to
be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether
any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
          (g)  The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken
by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer.

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

          (i)  The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the
                       --------  -------                                      
selection and continued employment thereof.

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

          (k)  If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
requested exercise of 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 to the 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 to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall
fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving
notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent.  Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (or of any other state of the United States so long
as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), in good standing, having a principal office in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers 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 $100,000,000 or (b) an
affiliate of a corporation 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 

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
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 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 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 pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, 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, 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 may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of
(i) the close of business on the tenth 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 day following the Record Date), or (ii) the
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights
at 

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
a redemption price of $.05 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"); provided, however, that if, following
                                        --------  -------                    
the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date and following the expiration of the
right of redemption hereunder but prior to any Triggering Event, (A) a Person
who is an Acquiring Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a
number of shares of Common Stock in one transaction or series of transactions,
not directly or indirectly involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
which did not result in the occurrence of a Triggering Event such that such
Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of 10% or less of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock, (B) there are no other Persons, immediately following the
occurrence of the event described in clause (A), who are Acquiring Persons, and
(C) the Board shall so approve, then the right of redemption shall be reinstated
and thereafter be subject to the provisions of this Section 23.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board may not redeem any Rights following its declaration
that any Person is an Adverse Person.  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 shares of Common Stock at
the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by
the Board.  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.

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

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made.

          Section 24.  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 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the
case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock whichever shall be the earlier.

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
          (b)  In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as
practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the
extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 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 25.  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 with the Rights Agent) as follows:

          Lukens Inc.
          50 South First Avenue
          Coatesville, Pennsylvania  19320
          Attention:  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 with the Company) as follows:

          Mellon Bank (East) N.A.
          P.O. Box 444
          Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania   15230
          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 26.  Supplements and Amendments.  Prior to the Distribution
                       --------------------------                            
Date and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26, the Company and
the Rights 

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
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 and subject to the
penultimate sentence of this Section 26, 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, an Adverse Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person); provided,
                                                                     --------
this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, 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
(other than an Acquiring Person, an Adverse Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person). 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 26, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment
shall be made which changes the Redemption Price, the Final Expiration Date, the
Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right is exercisable. 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.

          Section 27.  Successors.  All the covenants and provisions of this
                       ----------                                           
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

          Section 28.  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors,
                       -----------------------------------------------------
etc.  For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of
shares of Common 

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
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 (with, where specifically provided for herein, the
concurrence of the Outside Directors) or, where specifically provided for
herein, the Outside Directors, shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board (with, where specifically provided for herein, the
concurrence of the Outside Directors) or, when specifically provided for herein,
the Outside Directors. In addition, the Board shall have the exclusive power and
authority 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, to declare that a Person is an
Adverse Person 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
(with, where specifically provided for herein, the concurrence of the Outside
Directors) or, where provided for herein, the Outside Directors, 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
the Outside Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

          Section 29.  Benefits of this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement
                       --------------------------                            
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution 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 30.  Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or
                       ------------                                      
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be 

                                       47
<PAGE>
 
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 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 day following the date of such determination by
the Board. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring that a
determination be made by less than the entire Board (or with the concurrence of
a group of directors consisting of less than the entire Board) is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the Board in accordance
with applicable law and the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws.

          Section 31.  Governing Law.  This Agreement, each Right and each
                       -------------                                      
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such state.

          Section 32.  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 33.  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.

                                       48
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.




Attest:                      LUKENS INC.



By /s/ Frederick M. Myers
   ------------------------------------
  Name: Frederick M. Myers
  Title:Vice Chairman of the Board


Attest:                      MELLON BANK (EAST) N.A.



By /s/ Sally Jones
   ------------------------------------
  Name: Sally Jones
  Title:Vice President

                                       49