<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
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                           CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO.


                                       and


                           FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY
                                   OF NEW YORK

                                  Rights Agent




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





                                Rights Agreement

                          Dated as of November 22, 1999





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<PAGE>   2

                               Table of Contents
                               -----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>




Section                                                                                          Page
-------                                                                                          ----


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

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

 3.  Issue of Rights Certificates.................................................................  8

 4.  Form of Rights Certificates.................................................................  10

 5.  Countersignature and Registration...........................................................  11

 6.  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
     Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..................................... 12

 7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights................................ 13

 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.......................................... 15

 9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock................................................ 16

10.  Preferred Stock Record Date.................................................................. 18

11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
     or Number of Rights.......................................................................... 18

12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares................................... 28

13.  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power......................... 29

14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...................................................... 32

15.  Rights of Action............................................................................. 33

16.  Agreement of Rights Holders.................................................................. 34

17.  Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder........................................... 35

18.  Concerning the Rights Agent.................................................................. 35
</TABLE>



                                       i

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>



<S>                                                                                                <C>
19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.................................... 36

20.  Duties of Rights Agent....................................................................... 36

21.  Change of Rights Agent....................................................................... 39

22.  Issuance of New Rights Certificates.......................................................... 40

23.  Redemption and Termination................................................................... 40

24.  Exchange..................................................................................... 44

25.  Notice of Certain Events..................................................................... 46

26.  Notices...................................................................................... 47

27.  Supplements and Amendments................................................................... 47

28.  Successors................................................................................... 48

29.  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.................................... 48

30.  Benefits of This Agreement................................................................... 49

31.  Severability................................................................................. 49

32.  Governing Law................................................................................ 49

33.  Counterparts................................................................................. 50

34.  Descriptive Headings......................................................................... 50


</TABLE>

Exhibit A  - Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Shares
Exhibit B  - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C  - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock


                                       ii

<PAGE>   4



                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                  RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 22, 1999, (the
"Agreement") between CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO., an Illinois corporation (the
"Company"), and FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a New York banking
corporation (the "Rights Agent").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

                  WHEREAS, on November 22, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend
Declaration Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and
declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each share of common stock,
par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at
the close of business on December 3, 1999 (the "Record Date"), and has
authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may be hereinafter adjusted
pursuant to Section 11(i) or 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the
Company issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered
from the Company's treasury) and the Distribution Date and, in certain
circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date, each
Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the
Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of
Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Shares attached hereto as
Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth
(the "Rights");

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

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

                           (a)  "Acquiring Person" shall mean (x) any Person who
or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be
the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the
Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company, or of any Subsidiary of
the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the
Company for or pursuant



<PAGE>   5

to the terms of any such plan, or (iv) any Person who becomes the Beneficial
Owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding due to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company other
than during the Special Period (as defined in Section 23(c) hereof) or at a time
when the rights are not redeemable, unless and until such Person, after becoming
aware that such Person has become the Beneficial Owner of ten percent (10%) or
more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, acquires beneficial
ownership of additional shares of Common Stock representing one percent (1%) or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, or (v) any such Person who
has reported or is required to report such ownership (but less than 15%) on
Schedule 13G under the Securities and the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable
or successor report) which Schedule 13D does not state any intention to or
reserve the right to control or influence the management or policies of the
Company or engage in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of such schedule
(other than the disposition of the Common Stock) and, within 10 Business Days of
being requested by the Company to advise it regarding the same, certifies to the
Company that such Person acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of 9.9%
inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter does not acquire
additional shares of Common Stock while the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of
the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if the
Person requested to so certify fails to do so within 10 Business Days, then such
Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after such 10-Business-Day
period, or (y) any Person who or which has entered into any agreement or
arrangement with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company providing for an
Acquisition Transaction (as defined in Section 1(b) hereof). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include (i) John A. Morrissey,
Walter W. Morrissey or any of their siblings, (ii) any spouse of any Person
identified in clause (i) above, (iii) the lineal descendants (including Persons
adopted prior to attaining the age of 21 years) of any Person described in
clause (i) or (ii) above or the spouses of any such lineal descendants, (iv) any
Affiliate or Associate of any of the Persons described in clauses (i) through
(iii) above or (v) any successor in interest (as defined below) to any Person
described in clauses (i) through (iv) above or to the parents of any person
described in clause (i) above (collectively, the "Morrissey Holders"); provided,
further, that if any Person that is a Morrissey Holder becomes the Beneficial
Owner of additional shares of Common Stock (other than shares of Common Stock
that are beneficially owned, as of the date hereof, by any other Morrissey
Holder (the "Morrissey Shares")) such that, after giving effect to such
additional shares, the number of shares of Common Stock


                                       2

<PAGE>   6


beneficially owned by such Person (excluding any other Morrissey Shares) exceeds
the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person on the
date hereof (excluding any other Morrissey Shares) by more than 2% of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock, then such Person shall cease to be excluded
from the definition of "Acquiring Person" pursuant to this sentence. The
forgoing sentence is not intended to acknowledge or imply that any Morrissey
Holder is the Beneficial Owner of any Morrissey Shares held by any other
Morrissey Holder or that all or any portion of any Morrissey Holders constitute
a "group" (as described in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) with respect to
the Common Stock for any purpose. For purposes of this Section 1(a), a Morrissey
Holder's "successor in interest" shall be (i) the beneficiaries (whether by
testate or intestate succession) of any Morrissey Holder's estate and any
trustee (in his fiduciary capacity) or beneficiary of any trust who obtains (by
reason of the Morrissey Holder's death) beneficial ownership of any Morrissey
Shares (ii) any Morrissey Holder's estate, and (iii) the Affiliates and
Associates of the Persons described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence.

                           (b) "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (x) a
merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries as a result of which stockholders of the Company will no longer
own a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or a
publicly traded entity which controls the Company or, if appropriate, the entity
into which the Company may be merged, consolidated or otherwise combined (based
solely on the shares of Common Stock received or retained by such stockholders,
in their capacity as stockholders of the Company, pursuant to such transaction),
(y) a purchase or other acquisition of all or a substantial portion of the
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (z) a purchase or other
acquisition of securities representing 10% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding.

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

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

                                    (i)  which such Person or any of such
     Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to
     acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
     passage
                                        3

<PAGE>   7



     of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
     (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
     exchange rights, other rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
     however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
     "beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
     exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
     Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or
     exchange, (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior
     to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, 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) hereof or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or
     pursuant to Section 11(i) or 11(p) 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 subpara-


                                       4

<PAGE>   8


     graph (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 40 days after the date of such acquisition, and then only if such
securities continue to be owned by such person.

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

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

                           (g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par
value $1.00 per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of
such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such
Person.

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

                           (i) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning
ascribed to such term in Section 11(d) hereof.

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

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

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



                                       5

<PAGE>   9



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

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

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

                           (p) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company,
and, to the extent there are not a sufficient number of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of
the Rights, any other series of Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the
Company designated for such purpose containing terms substantially similar to
the terms of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                       6

<PAGE>   10



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

                           (y) "Section 11 Event" shall mean any event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) 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 earlier
of (i) the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this
definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to
Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that
an Acquiring Person has become such pursuant to clause (x) of the definition of
Acquiring Person and (ii) the date that an Acquiring Person has become such
pursuant to clause (y) of the definition of Acquiring Person.

                           (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.


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

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

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

                           (gg)  "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11
Event or any Section 13 Event.

                                       7

<PAGE>   11



                  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 upon 10 (ten) days' prior written notice to
the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in
no event be liable for the actions or omissions of any such Co-Rights Agent.

                  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) or (ii) the close of business on the tenth Business Day (or
such later date as the Board of Directors shall determine, provided, however,
that no deferral of a Distribution Date by the Board of Directors of the Company
pursuant to this clause (ii) may be made at any time during the Special Period)
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 organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is
first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation
thereof, such Person would become an Acquiring Person (the earlier of (i) and
(ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will
be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by
the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of
the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by
first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, at the expense of the Company, to
each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, one or more right certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B
hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of
Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event
that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been
made pursuant to Section

                                       8

<PAGE>   12



11(i) or 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates,
the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing
only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.

                           (b) The Company will make available, as promptly as
practicable following the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights") to
any holder Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration
Date. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the
Record Date, 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 (whether originally issued or delivered from
the Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided
in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing
such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights,
and shall bear the following legend:

                  This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
         to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Chicago
         Rivet & Machine Co. (the "Company") and First Chicago Trust Company of
         New York, as Rights Agent, dated as of November 22, 1999, as from time
         to time 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 Company. Under certain circumstances,
         as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by
         separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this
         certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a
         copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing,
         without charge


                                       9


<PAGE>   13







         promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
         circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or
         held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any
         Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
         Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by
         any subsequent holder, may become null and void.

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

                    Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates.

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

                           (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section
3(a), Section 11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or
(iii) a transferee of an Acquir-


                                       10


<PAGE>   14

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

         The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were benefi-
         cially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an
         Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
         defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate
         and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the
         circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of 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 countersigned by the
Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid
for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be counter
signed 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 Certificate 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.

                                       11

<PAGE>   15





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

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

                           (a)  Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b),
Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on
the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the
Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights
Certificates representing Rights that have been ex changed pursuant to Section
24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase
a like number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following
a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then 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 or Certificates until the
registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in
the form of assignment set forth 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 Sections 4(b), 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver
to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or 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.

                                       12

<PAGE>   16


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

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

                           (a)  Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, 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 securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which
such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i)
5:00 P.M. New York City time on December 2, 2009 or such later date as may be
established by the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the Rights
(such date, as may be extended by the Board, the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii)
the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof,
(iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof
and (iv) the time at which all of the Rights expire pursuant to Section
13(d) hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) 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 $90.00, 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 on
the reverse


                                       13

<PAGE>   17


side thereof duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to
each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k)
hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the
shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one one-hun
dredths 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 any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be
exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.

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

                                       14

<PAGE>   18



                           (e)  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11 Event, any
Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to
either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring
Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person
with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or
understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board
of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this
Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further action, and no
holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such
Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company
shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section
7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to
any holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to
make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of their
respective Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.

                           (f)  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of
the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates
or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.

                  Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
Certificates. All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise,
transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the
Company or any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation
or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled
by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company
shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the
Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased

                                       15

<PAGE>   19



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 any authorized and issued shares held in its treasury), the
number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, shares of 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, shares of 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 (but
only to the extent that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be
exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange
upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

                           (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i)
file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first
occurrence of a Section 11 Event on which the consideration to be delivered by
the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined pursuant to this
Agreement (including 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 Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities 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 Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and
(B) the Expiration Date. 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


                                       16


<PAGE>   20


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. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a
registration statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company
may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a
registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable
in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall
not have been obtained or the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under
applicable law or a registration statement shall not have been declared
effective.

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

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

                                       17

<PAGE>   21


Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or
other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

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

                           (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



                                       18

<PAGE>   22



         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 any Person, at any time
         after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, shall become an Acquiring
         Person, unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring
         Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, or is an
         acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or
         exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price
         and on terms determined by at least a majority of the members of the
         Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not
         representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring
         Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
         firms, to be (a) at a price which is fair to stockholders and not
         inadequate (taking into account all factors which such members of the
         Board deem relevant, including, without limitation, prices which could
         reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an
         orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and (b) otherwise in
         the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (provided,
         however, that no such determination shall be made during the Special
         Period) (a "Qualifying Offer"), then, promptly following the occurrence
         of any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, 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 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 Event, and
         (y)

                                       19



<PAGE>   23


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

                                    (iii) In the event that the number of shares
         of Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's Articles of
         Incorporation, 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 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, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to
         each Right, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, make adequate provision to
         substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the exercise of a Right and
         payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in
         the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the
         Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
         preferred stock, such as the Preferred Stock, which the Board of
         Directors of the Company has deemed to have essentially the same value
         or economic rights as shares of Common Stock (such shares or units of
         shares of preferred stock are referred to herein as "Common Stock
         Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets,
         or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value
         equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the
         Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the
         Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
         recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors
         of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have
         made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
         within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence
         of a Section 11 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


                                       20

<PAGE>   24



         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 of Directors of the
         Company 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 thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended,
         the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines
         that some action should 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 stockholder approval for such authorization of additional shares
         and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made
         pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In
         the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
         announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
         temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as
         the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section
         11(a)(iii), the value of each Adjustment Share shall be the Current
         Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii)
         Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any Common Stock
         Equivalent shall be deemed to have the Current Market Price per share
         of the Common Stock on such date.

                           (b)  In case the Company shall fix a record date for
the issuance of rights (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all
holders of Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a
period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date)
Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as
the shares of Preferred Stock ("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities
convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per
share of Preferred Stock or per share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred stock) less than the Current Market Price per share of
Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after


                                       21
<PAGE>   25
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 convert ible). In case such subscription price may be paid
by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than
cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determi nation 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 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 per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) 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
per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments


                                       22

<PAGE>   26


shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the
event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.

                           (d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
         other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the
         "Current Market Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be
         deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such
         Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately
         prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to
         Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market Price" per share of
         Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
         closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10)
         consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided,
         however, that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of
         Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement
         by the issuer of the Common Stock of (A) any dividend or distribution
         on such Common Stock, payable in shares of such Common Stock or
         securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the
         Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of
         such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
         distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
         reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the commencement of
         the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day period or ten (10) Trading Day
         period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the "Current
         Market Price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-
         dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale
         price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
         the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
         case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
         system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the
         New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
         listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as
         reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
         with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
         exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to
         trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to
         trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or,
         if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in
         the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of
         Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other
         system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock
         are not quoted by


                                       23

<PAGE>   27



         any such system, 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 of Directors of the Company. 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 of Directors of the Company 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 of
         Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
         statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
         purposes.

                           (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
         the "Current Market Price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be
         determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock
         in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence
         thereof). If the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock
         cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred
         Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in
         clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "Current Market Price" per share
         of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal
         to 1,000 (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 deter mined in good faith by the
         Board of Directors of the Company, whose determi nation shall be
         described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
         conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the
         Current Market Price of a Unit shall be equal to the Current Market
         Price of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 100.

                           (e) Anything herein to the contrary 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;




                                       24
<PAGE>   28




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

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

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

                           (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


                                       25


<PAGE>   29



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



                                       26
<PAGE>   30


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

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

                           (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company shall deter mine 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 or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the
time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any
rights,


                                       27

<PAGE>   31


warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect
which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended
to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such consolidation, merger or sale, the 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 27
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.

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

                  Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section
13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth
such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such
adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer
agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate,
and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to
each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained and shall not





                                       28

<PAGE>   32







be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment nor shall it be
deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have
received such certificate.

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





                                       29
<PAGE>   33


for all purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the Current Market Price 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 for or 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 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.



                                       30


<PAGE>   34



                           (c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13
Event 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 such Section 13
Event, the Principal Party will

                                    (i) prepare and file a registration
         statement under the Securities 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 Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;

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

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

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

                           (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is
consummated with a Person or





                                       31

<PAGE>   35


Persons (or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons) who
acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Qualifying Offer, (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 Qualifying 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 Qualifying 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 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 system, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the
Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no
such market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights
on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall be used.





                                       32

<PAGE>   36




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

                           (c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock
upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one (1) share of Common Stock. For
purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common
Stock shall be the closing price per share of Common Stock (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) on 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




                                       33
<PAGE>   37


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 and
only if surrendered at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper
instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully
executed;

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

                                       34

<PAGE>   38

Company must use its best efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling
lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.

                  Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to
vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

                  Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent.

                           (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
gross 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 may conclusively rely upon and
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.








                                       35


<PAGE>   39



                  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 shareholder services business of the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent
under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of any of the parties hereto; 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 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


                                       36

<PAGE>   40



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

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

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

                           (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by
reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement
or in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to
its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

                           (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 11, Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or
responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment
(except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates
after actual written 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



                                       37

<PAGE>   41



Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

                           (f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

                           (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and
directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder from the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of
the Company or any designee of any of the foregoing, 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.




                                       38
<PAGE>   42



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

                  Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or
certified mail, and 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 any registered
holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of a
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 corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United
States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking
institution in such state, in good standing, 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 $50,000,000. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the
Preferred Stock, and, if such

                                       39

<PAGE>   43



appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not
affect the legality or validity of the Rights, Rights Agreement or 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 its Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or
class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights
Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In
addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock
following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the
Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued
or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or
arrangement, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the
exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing
the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale;
provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and
to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance
would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii)
no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.

                  Section 23.  Redemption and Termination.

                           (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth 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 Final Expiration Date, redeem
all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price
of $0.01 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption
Price"). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to


                                       40

<PAGE>   44




the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of
a Section 11 Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption set
forth in the first sentence of this Section 23(a) has expired. The Company may,
at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based
on the Current Market Price of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or
any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

                           (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of
which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action
and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the
only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board
of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder's
last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the
Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.

                           (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 23(a)
hereof, if, within 270 days of a public announcement by a third party of an
intent or proposal to engage (without the current and continuing concurrence of
the Board of Directors of the Company) in a transaction involving an acquisition
of or business combination with the Company or otherwise to become an Acquiring
Person, there is an election of Directors (whether at one or more stockholder
meetings and/or pursuant to written stockholder consent) resulting in a majority
of the Board of Directors of the Company being comprised of persons who were not
nominated by the Board of Directors of the Company in office immediately prior
to such election, then following the effectiveness of such election for a period
of 180 days (the "Special Period") the Rights, if otherwise then redeemable
absent the provisions of this paragraph (c), shall be redeemable upon either of
the following conditions being satisfied, but not otherwise:

                                    (i) by a vote of a majority of the Directors
         then in office, provided that



                                       41

<PAGE>   45



                                            (A) before such vote, the Board of
         Directors of the Company shall have implemented the Value Enhancement
         Procedures (as defined below) and

                                            (B) promptly after such vote, the
         Company publicly announces such vote and

                                            (1) the manner in which the Value
                                   Enhancement Procedures were implemented,

                                            (2) any material financial,
                                   business, personal or other benefit or
                                   relationship (an "Interest") which each
                                   Director and each Affiliate of such Director
                                   (identifying each Director and Affiliate
                                   separately in relation to each such Interest)
                                   has in connection with any suggested,
                                   proposed or pending transaction with or
                                   involving the Company (a "Transaction"), or
                                   with any other party or Affiliate of any
                                   other party to a Transaction, where such
                                   Transaction would or might, or is intended
                                   to, be permitted or facilitated by
                                   redemption of the Rights (an "Affected
                                   Transaction"), other than treatment as a
                                   stock holder on a pro rata basis with other
                                   stockholders or pursuant to compensation
                                   arrangements as a director or employee of the
                                   Company or a subsidiary which have been
                                   previously disclosed by the Company,

                                            (3) the individual vote of each
                                   Director on the motion to redeem the Rights,
                                   and

                                            (4) the statement of any Director
                                   who voted for or against the motion to redeem
                                   the Rights and desires to have a statement
                                   included in such announcement, or

                                            (ii) if clause (i) is not
         applicable, by a vote of a majority of the Directors then in office,
         provided that (A) if there is a challenge to the Directors' action
         approving redemption and/or any related Affected Transaction as a
         breach of the fiduciary duty of care or loyalty, the Directors, solely
         for purposes of determining the effectiveness of such redemption
         pursuant to this clause (ii), are able to

                                       42

<PAGE>   46




         establish the entire fairness of such redemption and, if applicable,
         such related Affected Transaction, and (B) the Company shall have
         publicly announced the vote of the Board of Directors of the Company
         approving such redemption and, if applicable, such related Affected
         Transaction, which announcement shall set forth the information
         prescribed by clauses (i) (B) (2), (3) and (4) above.

"Value Enhancement Procedures" shall mean:

         (1) the selection by the Board of Directors of the Company of an
         independent financial advisor (the "Independent Advisor") from among
         financial advisors which have national standing, have established
         expertise in advising on mergers, acquisitions and related matters and
         have no Interest relating to an Affected Transaction, and have not
         during the preceding year provided services to, been engaged by or been
         a financing source for any other party to an Affected Transaction or
         any Affiliate of any such party or of any Director (other than the
         Company and its subsidiaries);

         (2) whether or not there is a then-pending Affected Transaction, the
         receipt by the Board of Directors of the Company from its Independent
         Advisor of (a) such advisor's view (expressed in such form and subject
         to such qualifications and limitations as the Independent Advisor deems
         appropriate) regarding whether redemption of the Rights will serve the
         best interests of the Company and its stockholders or (b) such
         advisor's statement that it is unable to express such a view, setting
         forth the reasons therefor;

         (3)  if there is a then-pending Affected Transaction,

                  (A) the establishment and implementation by the Board of
                  Directors of the Company, with the advice of its Independent
                  Advisor, of a process and procedures which the Board of
                  Directors of the Company and such advisor conclude would be
                  most likely to result in the best value reasonably available
                  to stockholders (regardless of whether such Affected
                  Transaction involves a "sale of control" or "break-up" of the
                  Company for Illinois law purposes),

                  (B) the Board of Directors of the Company (i) receiving the
                  opinion of its Independent Advisor, in customary form and
                  content for transactions of the type involved, that the
                  Affected Transaction is fair to the

                                     43
<PAGE>   47


                  Company's stockholders from a financial point of view and (ii)
                  determining, and the Independent Advisor confirming, that it
                  has no reason to believe that a superior transaction is
                  reasonably available for the benefit of the Company's
                  stockholders, and

                  (C) the execution of a definitive transaction agreement and
                  other definitive documentation necessary to effect the
                  Affected Transaction.

                           (d) Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or
Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in
any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 and other
than in connection with the purchase or repurchase by any of them of Common
Stock prior to the Distribution Date.

                  Section 24.    Exchange.

                           (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all
or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include
Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"); provided, however, that no
such exchange of the Rights may be authorized by the Board of Directors of the
Company during the Special Period or at any time after any Person (other than
the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
Common Stock then outstanding.

                           (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right
thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice
of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect
in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange.



                                       44

<PAGE>   48




The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the
holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry
books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the
Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held
by each holder of Rights.

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

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

                           (e) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common
Stock, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates
with regard to which such fractional share of Common Stock would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market
Value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (e),
the "Current Market Value" of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing
price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 24.

                  Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.

                           (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any
class to the holders



                                       45
<PAGE>   49



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

                           (b) In case any Section 11 Event shall occur, then,
in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give
to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall
specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to
Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or other
securities.

                  Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail,


                                       46


<PAGE>   50
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

                  Chicago Rivet & Machine Co.
                  P.O. Box 3061
                  901 Frontenac Road
                  Naperville, Illinois  60566
                  Attn:  Corporate Secretary

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

                  First Chicago Trust Company of New York
                  525 Washington Blvd.
                  Jersey City, New Jersey 07310
                  Attention: Gerald O'Leary

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

                  Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.

                           (a) Prior to the Distribution Date and subject to the
provisions of Section 27(b), the Company may and, if so directed by the Company,
the Rights Agent shall supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of
Common Stock and associated Rights. From and after the Distribution Date and
subject to the provisions of Section 27(b), the Company may 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 to: (i) cure any
ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may
be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or
lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) change or

                                       47

<PAGE>   51


supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that 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 and its Associates and Affiliates). Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Prior to the
Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.

                           (b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
no supplement or amendment shall be made to this Agreement during the Special
Period or at a time when the Rights are not redeemable, except as contemplated
by clause (i) or (ii) of Section 27(a) hereof.

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

                  Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock
outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the
particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any
Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the



                                       48

<PAGE>   52



foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to any liability
to the holders of the Rights.

                  Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior
to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).

                  Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be rein stated and shall not expire until the close of business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.

                  Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Illinois 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 per formed entirely within such state except as to the rights and
duties of the Rights Agent which shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

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

                                       49

<PAGE>   53



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


                                       50
<PAGE>   54

                  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:                                             CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO.


By /s/ Kimberly Kirhofer                            By /s/ John Osterman
   -------------------------                           -------------------------
    Name: Kimberly Kirhofer                            Name: John Osterman
    Title: Secretary                                   Title: President


Attest:                                             FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY
                                                    OF NEW YORK, as Rights Agent


By /s/ Mark Ghero                                   By /s/ Gerald O'Leary
----------------------------                           -------------------------
   Name: Mark Ghero                                 Name: Gerald O'Leary
   Title: Asst. Vice President                      Title: Managing Director


<PAGE>   55



                                                                       EXHIBIT A

              STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SERIES OF SHARES

                                       of

                  SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                           CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO.

                        (Pursuant to Section 6.10 of the
                       Illinois Business Corporation Act)



                                  STATEMENT OF
                    RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SERIES OF SHARES

                  Pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.10 of the Illinois
Business Corporation Act, the undersigned hereby submits the following statement
for the purpose of establishing and designating a series of shares and fixing
and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof:

          1. The name of the corporation is Chicago Rivet & Machine Co. (the
"Corporation").

          2. The following resolution, establishing and designating a series of
shares and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof,
was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on November 22,
1999:

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



                                       A-1

<PAGE>   56



                  Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and the
number of shares constituting such series shall be 20,000.

                  Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

                  (A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends
payable in cash on the twentieth day of March, June, September and December in
each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after
the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of
all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in
kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after December 3, 1999 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  (B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph
(A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that,
in the event no dividend or


                                       A-2

<PAGE>   57

distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period
between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

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

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

                  (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle
the holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior
to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding



                                       A-3

<PAGE>   58

immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

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

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

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



                                       A-4

<PAGE>   59

decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or
pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu
with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

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

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

                           (v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default
period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect
directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of
Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and

                                      A-5

<PAGE>   60

(z) the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the
articles of incorporation or by-laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant
to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being
subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the
articles of incorporation or by-laws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors
effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may
be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

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

                  Section 4.  Certain Restrictions.

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

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

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

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

                                       A-6

<PAGE>   61

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

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

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

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


                                       A-7

<PAGE>   62
Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference
and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common
Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining
assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect
to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

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

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

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


                                       A-8

<PAGE>   63

amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

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

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

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

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



                                       A-9

<PAGE>   64

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this
Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Shares and do affirm the
foregoing as true under penalties of perjury this ___ day of November, 1999.



                                                        ------------------------
                                                        President
Attest:



--------------------
Secretary


                                      A-10

<PAGE>   65



                                                                       EXHIBIT B




                          [Form of Rights Certificate]


Certificate No. R-                                                        Rights
                                                                  --------

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER DECEMBER 2, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER
RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE
OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
[THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR
ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED
HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e)
OF SUCH AGREEMENT.](1)


                               Rights Certificate

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

(1)  The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable
     and shall replace the preceding sentence.

                                      B-1

<PAGE>   66

                           CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO.

                  This certifies that _________________, or registered assigns,
is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 22, 1999, as from time to time
amended (the "Rights Agreement"), between Chicago Rivet & Machine Co., an
Illinois corporation (the "Company"), and First Chicago Trust Company of New
York, a New York bank (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any
time prior to 5:00 PM (New York City time) on December 2, 2009, at the office or
offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as
Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully-paid, nonassessable share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company, at
a purchase price of $90.00 per one one-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase
Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the
Form of Election to Purchase set forth on the reverse hereof and the Certificate
contained therein duly executed. The Purchase Price shall be paid in cash. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares
which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase
Price per share set forth above, are the number of Rights, number and Purchase
Price as of December 3, 1999, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at
such date, and are subject to adjustment upon the happening of certain events as
provided in the Rights Agreement. The Company reserves the right to require
prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares
of Preferred Stock will be issued.

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

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

                                      B-2

<PAGE>   67

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

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

                  Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the
close of business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as
such time period may be extended or shortened pursuant to the Rights Agreement)
or (ii) the Final Expiration Date. For 180 days following a change in control of
the Board of Directors of the Company, that has not been approved by the Board
of Directors, occurring within 270 days of an unsolicited third party
acquisition or business combination proposal, the new directors are entitled to
redeem the rights (assuming the rights would have otherwise been redeemable),
including to facilitate an acquisition or business combination transaction
involving the Company, but only (1) if they have followed certain prescribed
procedures or (2) if such procedures are not followed, and if their decision
regarding redemption and/or any acquisition or business combination is
challenged as a breach of fiduciary duty of care or loyalty, the directors
(solely for purposes of determining the effectiveness of such redemption) are
able to establish the entire fairness of such redemption, and, if applicable,
such transaction. In addition, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part,
for shares of Common Stock, or shares of preferred stock of the Company having
essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares. Immediately upon
the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing any such
exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the Rights (other than
Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate and the Rights
will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such exchange.

                                       B-3
<PAGE>   68


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

                  No holder, as such, of this Rights Certificate shall be
entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of
the shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which
may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained
in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof,
as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote
for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at
any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate
action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders
(except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights
Agreement.

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

                  WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.


Dated as of
            --------------, ----

ATTEST:                                          CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO.


By                                               By
  ------------------------                         ----------------------------
  Secretary                                         Title



Countersigned:

First Chicago Trust Company of New York,


                                      B-4
<PAGE>   69


as Rights Agent



By
  ---------------------
   Authorized Signature


                                       B-5

<PAGE>   70



                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]


                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT


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


Please print social security or other
identifying number of the transferor:
                                     -------------------------------

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                         hereby sells, assigns and transfers
                    -----------------------
unto:


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



            --------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Please print social security or other
                      identifying number of the transferee)

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


Dated:                     19
       ------------------,   --

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


Signature Guaranteed:
                     --------------------------


<PAGE>   71



                                   Certificate

                  The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:

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

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


Dated:                  19
      -----------------,   --                        -------------------------
                                                     Signature


Signature Guaranteed:
                     ------------------------


                                     NOTICE


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



<PAGE>   72



                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

To: CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO.

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


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


           --------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Please print social security or other
                               identifying number)


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



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


            --------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Please print social security or other
                               identifying number)


Dated:                19
      ---------------,   --

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


Signature Guaranteed:
                     -----------------------



<PAGE>   73

                                   Certificate


                  The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:

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

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



Dated:_________________, 19__                        _________________________
                                                      Signature


Signature Guaranteed:________________________


                                     NOTICE


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




<PAGE>   74



                                                                       Exhibit C


                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                 PREFERRED STOCK


                  On November 22, 1999, the Board of Directors of Chicago Rivet
& Machine Co. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for
each outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record at the
close of business on December 3, 1999 (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one
one-hundredth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, no par value per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase
Price of $90.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of
the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between
the Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights Agent.

                  Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the
Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock other than as a result of repurchases of
stock by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by institutional or certain
other stockholders or the date a Person has entered into an agreement or
arrangement with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company providing for an
Acquisition Transaction (the "Stock Acquisition Date") or (ii) 10 business days
(or such later date as the Board shall determine, provided, however, that no
deferral of a Distribution Date by the Board pursuant to the terms of the Rights
Agreement described in this clause (ii) may be made at any time during the
Special Period (as defined below)) following the commencement of a tender offer
or exchange offer that would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring
Person. Certain existing stockholders of the Company are excluded from the
definition of "Acquiring Person" and the triggering provisions of the Rights
Agreement unless they acquire beneficial ownership of additional shares of
common stock in amounts and under certain circumstances described in the Rights
Agreement. An Acquisition Transaction is defined in the Rights Agreement as (x)
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries as a result of which stockholders of the Company will no longer
own a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or a
publicly traded entity which controls the Company or, if appropriate, the entity
into which the Company may be merged, consolidated or otherwise combined (based
solely on the shares of Common Stock received or retained by such

                                      C-1
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stockholders, in their capacity as stockholders of the Company, pursuant to such
transaction), (y) a purchase or other acquisition of all or a substantial
portion of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (z) a purchase or
other acquisition of securities representing 10% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be
evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only
with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement
by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common
Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of
a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a
number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will
be issued.

                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at 5:00 P.M. New York City time on December 2, 2009, unless such
date is extended or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company
as described below.

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

                  In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the
independent directors determine to be fair and not inadequate to and to
otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, after
receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms (a "Qualified
Offer"), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other
securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price
of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of
the event set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable
following the occurrence of the event set forth above until such time as the
Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.

                  For example, at an exercise price of $90.00 per Right, each
Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following
an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase $180.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above)
for $90.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had

                                      C-2

<PAGE>   76

a per share value of $30.00 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would
be entitled to purchase 6 shares of Common Stock for $90.00.

                  In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified Offer), (ii)
the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the
Company is changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or
earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights
which have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a
value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth
in this paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the
"Triggering Events."

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

                  At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition
Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors). Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption
price.

                  For 180 days (the "Special Period") following a change in
control of the Board of Directors of the Company, that has not been approved by
the Board of Directors, occurring within 270 days of announcement of an
unsolicited third party acquisition or business combination proposal or of a
third party's intent or proposal otherwise to become an Acquiring Person, the
new directors are entitled to redeem the Rights (assuming the Rights would have
otherwise been redeemable), including to facilitate an acquisition or business
combination transaction involving the Company, but only (1) if they have
followed certain prescribed procedures or (2) if such procedures are not
followed, and if their decision regarding redemption and any acquisition or
business combination is challenged as a breach of fiduciary duty of care or
loyalty, the directors (solely for purposes of the effectiveness of the
redemption decision) are able to establish the entire fairness of the redemption
or transaction.

                                      C-3

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

                  Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended
by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After
the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time
period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment
may be made to the Rights Agreement during the Special Period or at a time when
the Rights are not redeemable, except to cure any ambiguity or correct or
supplement any provision contained in the Rights Agreement which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein.

                  A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K
dated November 24, 1999. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of
charge from the Rights Agent. This summary description of the Rights does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.


                                       C-4