<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.1
                                                                     -----------

______________________________________________________________________________

                               RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                BY AND BETWEEN

                                  KADANT INC.

                                      AND

           AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, AS RIGHTS AGENT

                                     DATED

                                 JULY 16, 2001
______________________________________________________________________________
<PAGE>

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated July 16, 2001 (the "Agreement"), between Kadant Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, a New York corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

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

WHEREAS, on July 16, 2001 the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board")
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the close of
business on August 6, 2001 (the "Record Date"), and authorized the issuance of
one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(i) or Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the
Company issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered
from the Company's treasury) and the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one
ten-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of
the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of
Certificate of Designations attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and
                                               ---------
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");

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

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

              (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding,
but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii)
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company,
(iv) any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or (v) the Exempted Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person"
as the result of an acquisition of Common Stock by the Company which, by
reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, however that if a Person shall
become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company then outstanding as the result of an acquisition of Common Stock by the
Company and shall, following written notice from, or public disclosure by the
Company of such share purchases by the Company become the Beneficial Owner of
any additional Common Stock of the Company and shall then beneficially own 15%
or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, then such Person shall
be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" and (y) if the Board determines in good
faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors), but in any event within 15 Business
Days, following receipt of written notice from the Company of such event, of
Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient number of

                                       2
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shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring
Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a),
then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Agreement unless and until such Person shall again become an
"Acquiring Person."


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

               (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 (the "Exchange
Act") as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

              (d) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii).

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

                     (i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
              Associates, directly or indirectly, owns or has the right to
              acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only
              after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
              or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
              underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
              public offering of securities), 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 or on behalf of such Person or any of
              such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
              securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (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) or Section 22 hereof
              (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
              connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original
              Rights;

                     (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
              or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or
              dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined
              pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under
              the Exchange Act, or any comparable or successor rule), including
              pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other
              than customary agreements with and between underwriters and
              selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering
              of securities), 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 or consent given in response
              to a public proxy or consent solicitation made

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              pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of
              the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B)
              is not 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 (other
              than customary agreements with and between underwriters and
              selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering
              of securities) whether or not in writing, for the purpose of
              acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy
              or consent as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of
              this paragraph (e)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
              Company.

For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(l)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act.

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

              (g) "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.

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

              (i) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $.01 par value, 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.

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


              (k) "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph hereof.

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

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

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

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

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

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

              (r) "Exempted Person" shall mean Thermo Electron Corporation
("TMO"), which, as of the date hereof, beneficially owns approximately 91% of
the Common Stock of the Company outstanding as of the date hereof; provided,
                                                                   --------
however, that TMO shall immediately cease to be an Exempted Person for all
-------
purposes hereunder on the first Business Day after the date on which TMO
distributes to its stockholders all of the shares of the Company's Common Stock
(together with the Rights associated therewith) then held by TMO.

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

              (t) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the close of business on
July 16, 2011.

              (u) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer or an exchange
offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms
determined, prior to the consummation of such tender offer or exchange offer, by
directors constituting at least 75% of all of the members of the Board, after
receiving advice from a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by the Board, to be (a) at a price that is fair to stockholders (taking into
account all factors which such members of the Board deem relevant including,
without limitation, prices which could reasonably be achieved if the Company or
its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and
(b) otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

              (v) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, trust, association, limited liability company or other entity.

              (w) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company having the rights
and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations attached to
this Agreement as Exhibit A and, to the extent that there is 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,
$.01 par value, of the Company designated for such purpose containing terms
substantially similar to the terms of the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock.

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

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

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<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

              (dd) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph hereof.

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

              (ff) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean an acquisition of Common
Stock described in the first sentence of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

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

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

              (jj) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such;
provided, however that, if such Person is deemed not to be an Acquiring Person
--------  -------
pursuant to clause (y) of Section 1(a) hereof, no Stock Acquisition Date shall
be deemed to have occurred.

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

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

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

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

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      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 ten (10) 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 acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.


      Section 3. Issuance of Rights.
                 ------------------

              (a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth
Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth Business Day
after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of
business on the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth
Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board)
after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person 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 of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such
Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding, in either instance other than pursuant to a Permitted
Offer (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution
Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced 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, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close
of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the
form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for
        ---------
each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the close of
business on 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. 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 (i) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so
issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
benefit plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities granted or issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date, and
(ii) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board,
issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in
connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (x) 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 (y) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made

                                       7
<PAGE>

in lieu of the issuance thereof. In the event that an adjustment in the number
of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Sections 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) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, by first-class, postage
                                          ---------
prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company. The failure to send a copy of the Summary of Rights shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Rights Agreement or the rights of
any holder of the Rights.


              (c) Rights shall be issued (i) in respect of all shares of Common
Stock that are issued (either as an original issuance or from the Company's
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date and (ii) 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 (x) with respect to shares of Common
Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee benefit plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities, granted or issued by the Company prior to the
Distribution Date and (y) with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or
sold in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board.
Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock (including, without
limitation, certificates issued upon transfer or exchange 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 Kadant
          Inc. (the "Company") and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the
          "Rights Agent") dated July 16, 2001, as the same may be amended,
          restated or renewed from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the
          terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy
          of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under
          certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
          Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer
          be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder
          of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on
          the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a
          written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the
          Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was
          or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof
          (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently
          held

                                       8
<PAGE>

          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 and (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.  Notwithstanding
this Section 3(c), the omission of a legend shall not affect the enforceability
of any part of this Rights Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights.

              (d) Until the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration
Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common Stock in
respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. In the event that the
Company purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date
but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of
Common Stock shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock
which are no longer outstanding.

     Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates.
                 ---------------------------

              (a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase, certification and 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 or over-the-counter
market on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to
usage. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7, 11 and 22 hereof, the Rights
Certificates, whenever distributed, shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as
shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price
per one ten-thousandth 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, Section
11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by persons
known to be: (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
such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding

                                       9
<PAGE>

(whether or not in writing) that has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of
Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or
Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:

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

The provisions of Section 7(e) hereof shall be operative whether or not the
foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificate.

      Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.
                  ---------------------------------

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

              (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep
or cause to be kept, at its office 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, the Rights Certificate number 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

                                       10
<PAGE>

Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights
that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof or that have been
exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined
or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one ten-thousandths 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, with the form of assignment and certificate appropriately executed,
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever
with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until
the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained
in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and
shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial
Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the
Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the
Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case
may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.

              (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender 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
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 office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other shares, securities, cash
or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are
then exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Final Expiration Date,
(ii) the time at which the Rights expire as provided in Section 13(d) hereof,
(iii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof
(the "Redemption Date") and (iv) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as
provided in Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) being
herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

                                       11
<PAGE>

              (b) The Purchase Price for each one ten-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $75.00
and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11
and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of
America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

              (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price per one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or other shares,
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased 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
ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company
hereby authorizes its transfer agent to comply with 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 ten-thousandths 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 hereby directs the depositary agent to comply
with such requests, (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) may be made in cash or by certified bank check or money order
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
shall 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.

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

              (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring

                                       12
<PAGE>

Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding
the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board has determined is part
of a plan, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) that has as
a primary purpose or effect 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. No Rights Certificate shall be issued at any time
upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be
void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or
to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Rights
Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person
whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be
cancelled. 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 its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.

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


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

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

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

                                       13
<PAGE>

              (b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any
national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be so listed upon official
notice of issuance upon such exercise.

              (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a registration statement under the Act, with respect to the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii)
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing, (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective
(with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for
such securities, and (B) the Expiration Date, and (iv) obtain such other
regulatory approvals as may be necessary for it to issue securities purchasable
upon the exercise of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may
be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety
(90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this
Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective or to obtain any other
required regulatory approval in connection with the exercisability of the
Rights. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite
registration or qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been effected or
obtained.

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

              (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges that
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates
and of any certificates for a number of one ten-thousandths 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 (i) to
pay any transfer tax that 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 ten-thousandths 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 Certificate
                                       14
<PAGE>

evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or (ii) to issue or deliver any
certificates for a number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name
other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until
such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such
Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to
the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.

       Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
                   ---------------------------
certificate for a number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued
upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered with the forms of election and
certification duly executed 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, as such, shall not be entitled to any rights of a
stockholder of the Company with respect to securities 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 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

                                       15
<PAGE>

           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 that
           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) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event that
           any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates or Associates,
           becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to a Permitted
           Offer), then, promptly following the first occurrence of such event,
           proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except
           as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have
           the right to receive (subject to the last sentence of Section 23(a)),
           upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in
           accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of
           one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such number of
           shares of Common Stock of the Company that equals the result obtained
           by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number
           of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a
           Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
           Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product (which,
           following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as
           the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
           Agreement) by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
           Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such
           first occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").

                (iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
           that are authorized by the Company's Certificate 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, make
           adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
           payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction
           in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of
           the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of
           shares, of preferred stock which the Board has deemed to have the
           same value as shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock,
           "common stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5)
           other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an
           aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate
           value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice of a
           nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board;
           provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate
           provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty
           (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a
           Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right
           of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a)

                                       16
<PAGE>

           expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the
           "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be
           obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and
           without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common
           Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which
           shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If
           the Board shall determine in good faith that it is likely that
           sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for
           issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day
           period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but
           not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
           Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the
           authorization of such additional shares (such period, as it may be
           extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company
           determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first
           and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x)
           shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall
           apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the
           exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution
           Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or
           to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to
           such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event
           of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
           stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
           suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
           suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section
           11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the current market
           price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
           the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value
           of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same
           value as the Common Stock on such date.

           (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar
days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock ("equivalent
preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent
preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of
equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) less
than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding
on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of
additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock to be
offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities
so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may
be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other
than cash, the value of such

                                       17
<PAGE>

consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes. 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, options 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 (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the
fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be
such current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of Preferred Stock on such record date. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

           (d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
           computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current
           market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed
           to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such
           Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such
           term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date, and for
           purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof,
           the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any date
           shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per
           share of such Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days
           immediately following such date; provided, however, that in the event
           that the current market price per share of the Common Stock is
           determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer
           of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common
           Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities
           convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights),
           or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
           Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty
           (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above,
           after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the
           record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification
           occurs, then, and in each such case, the "current market price" shall
           be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend or post record
           date 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 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 the low asked prices in the
           over-the-counter market, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
           ("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date
           the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization,
           the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
           professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock
           selected by the Board. All references in this Section to closing
           prices, last quoted prices or other stock prices mean prices during
           regular trading hours, without giving effect to any after-hours or
           extended hours trading. 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 shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, whose
           determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
           Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. The term "Trading
           Day" shall mean a day on which Nasdaq or any 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 Nasdaq or
           any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock
           is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current market
           price" per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in
           good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a
           statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
           purposes.

                (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
           market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the
           same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of
           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
           10,000 (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 determined in
           good faith by the Board, which determination shall be described in a
           statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
           purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the "current market
           price" of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall
           be equal to the "current market price" of one share of Preferred
           Stock divided by 10,000.

                                       18
<PAGE>

              (e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment
in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
--------  -------
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-millionth of a share of Preferred
Stock, or hundred-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other security, 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 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 securities other than Preferred Stock,
thereafter the number of such other securities 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 securities; provided, however, that the Company shall
                                    --------  -------
not be liable for its inability to reserve and keep available for issuance upon
exercise of the Rights pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) a number of shares of
Common Stock greater than the number then authorized by the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for other purposes.

              (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 ten-thousandths
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 ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
ten-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one ten-thousandths
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 ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after
the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one ten-thousandths 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

                                       19
<PAGE>

nearest one-hundred-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 ten-thousandths 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 ten-
thousandth of a share and the number of one ten-thousandths 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 par value, if any, of the number of
one ten-thousandths 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 such number of one ten-thousandths of a share of fully paid
and nonassessable 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 ten-thousandths 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 ten-thousandths 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

                                       20
<PAGE>

expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good
faith judgment the Board shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for
cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred
Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants
referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

              (n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that 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 charter or bylaw provisions or
any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect that 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 or
Associates. The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the prior sentence unless
prior thereto the Company and such other Person shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement evidencing compliance
with this Section 11(n).

              (o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 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 Record Date and prior to
the Distribution Date (i) declare or pay any 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 of which shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of such
event and

                                       21
<PAGE>

the denominator of which shall be the 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 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the Preferred
Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief
summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the
Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common
Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully
protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any 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, at any time after a Person has become an
Acquiring Person, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and
into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
that 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 that 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 more than 50% 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 and except as
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), which shall not be 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
ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section
13 Event, multiplying the number of such one ten-thousandths of a share for
which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such first occurrence), and (2) dividing that product (which, following the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase
Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the
current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share
of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of

                                       22
<PAGE>

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, subject to clause (v) below, the provisions of Section 11 hereof
shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its
Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may
be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common
Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first
occurrence of any Section 13 Event.

     (b) "Principal Party" shall mean

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

          (ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the
     first sentence of Section 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;
(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; and (3)
in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed
by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same
Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the
chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party
were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint ventures and the Principal
Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section
13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear
to the total of such interests.

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

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

          (ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and the
     securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky laws
     of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and

          (iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
     for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that 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 the same time as, or at any time after, the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).

      (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section 13
shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs (x) and (y)
of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons
(or a wholly owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons) who acquired shares
of Common Stock pursuant to a Permitted Offer, (ii) the price per share of
Common Stock paid 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 Permitted Offer, and (iii) the form of consideration
paid in such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant
to such Permitted 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(i) or (p) hereof, or to
distribute Rights Certificates that 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

                                       23
<PAGE>

admitted to trading 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 the low asked prices in
the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in
use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board. All references
in this Section to closing prices, last quoted prices or other stock prices
means prices during regular trading hours, without giving effect to any after-
hours or extended hours trading. If on any such date no such market maker is
making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board shall be used, which determination shall
be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive
for all purposes.

      (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-
thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock). Fractional shares of Preferred Stock in integral
multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts; provided, however,
that holders of such depositary receipts shall have all of the designations and
the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and
restrictions to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the shares of
Preferred Stock represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock), the Company shall 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 ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes
of this Section 14(b), the current market value of one ten-thousandth of a share
of Preferred Stock shall be one ten-thousandth 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 shall 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 price of one (1) share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.

      (d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of such Right 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, except the rights of action expressly given to the Rights Agent in
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the

                                       24
<PAGE>

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

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

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

      (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office 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
duly completed and 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 penultimate sentence of Section
7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and

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

                                       25
<PAGE>

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 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, or otherwise upon the
advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.

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 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

                                       26
<PAGE>

such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

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

     (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

     (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant 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

                                       27
<PAGE>

to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt of a
certificate describing any such adjustment, delivered pursuant to Section 12);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will,
when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

     (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken
by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer. Any
application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may,
at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to
be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent with respect to its duties or
obligations under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such
action shall be taken or omitted and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any such
application on or after the date specified therein (which date shall not be less
than five Business Days after the date any such officer actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any such action, the Rights
Agent has received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

     (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

                                       28
<PAGE>

that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk
or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

     (k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been
completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof and such assignment or election to purchase will
not be honored.

Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent or any successor Rights
             ----------------------
Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon
thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail,
and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  The Company
may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days'
notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the
case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock,
by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates
by first-class mail.  If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has
been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then any registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent.  Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a)
a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States
(or of any state of the United States) in good standing, which is authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer 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 or (b) an affiliate of a corporation described
in clause (a) of this sentence.  After appointment, the successor Rights Agent
shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if
it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but
the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose.  Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.  Failure to give any
notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

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

                                       29
<PAGE>

shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 23.  Redemption.
             -----------

     (a) The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i)
the close of business on the tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition
Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record
Date, the close of business on the tenth Business Day following the Record Date)
and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 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"). The redemption of the Rights
by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Company may,
at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based
on the "current market price," as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the
Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration, or
any combination of any of the foregoing, deemed appropriate by the Board.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired.

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

     (c) In the event of a redemption of the Rights in accordance with this
Agreement, the Company may, at its option, discharge all of its obligations with
respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing the manner of
redemption of the Rights in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) mailing
payment of the Redemption Price to the registered holders of the Rights at their
last addresses as they appear on the registry books of the Rights Agent or,
prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent of
the Common Stock, and upon such action, all outstanding Rights and Right
Certificates shall be null and void without any further action by the Company.

                                       30

<PAGE>

Section 24.    Exchange.
               --------

     (a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights
(which (i) shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, and (ii) shall include, without limitation,
any Rights issued after the Distribution Date) 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"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding.

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

     (c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its
option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred stock, as such
term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for shares of Common Stock exchangeable
for Rights, at the initial rate of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock (or equivalent preferred stock) for each share of Common Stock, as
appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the
Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3(A) of the Certificate of Designations
attached hereto as Exhibit A, so that the fraction of a share of Preferred Stock
(or equivalent preferred stock) delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock
shall have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.

     (d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock
or Preferred 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 or Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange
of the Rights.

                                       31
<PAGE>

     (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 shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of
Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (e), the current market value
of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price per share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 24.

Section 25.    Notice of Certain Events.
               -------------------------

     (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the Distribution
Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of
Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred
Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained
earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock
rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of
Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into
or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or
other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale
or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of
more than 50% of the assets 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 a Section 11(a)(ii) 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 also to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate,
other securities; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect
the validity of such consent.

                                       32
<PAGE>

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

                         Kadant Inc.

                         245 Winter Street, Suite 300

                         Waltham, MA 02451

                         Attention: Chief Executive Officer

                         with a copy to:

                         Hale and Dorr LLP

                         60 State Street

                         Boston, MA 02109

                         Attention: David E. Redlick, Esq.

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

                        American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

                        59 Maiden Lane

                        New York, NY 10038

                        Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

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

Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.  Except as provided in the penultimate
             --------------------------
sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the
Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights Agent shall, if
the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in
any respect without the approval of any holders of the Rights.  At any time when
the Rights are no longer redeemable, except as provided in the penultimate
sentence of this Section 27, the Company may, by approval of at least 75% of the
members of the Board, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs,
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights
in order (i) to cure any ambiguity or (ii) to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, provided that no such supplement or
                   --------
                                       33
<PAGE>

amendment shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the
Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance
with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such
supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made which changes the
Redemption Price. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders
of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common
Stock.

Section 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.  Actions by the Board, etc.  The Board 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 this Agreement).  All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board 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 determines in its good faith
judgment that severing the invalid, void or unenforceable language from this
Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the
right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall
not expire until the close of business on the tenth day following the date of
such determination by the Board.

Section 32.  Governing Law.  This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
             -------------
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware

                                       34
<PAGE>

and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely
within Delaware.

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

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

         [The remainder of this page has intentionally been left blank]

                                       35
<PAGE>

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

Attest:  KADANT INC.


By: /s/ Sandra L. Lambert           By: /s/ William A. Rainville
    ---------------------               ------------------------
Name: Sandra L. Lambert             Name: William A. Rainville
      -----------------                   --------------------
Title: Secretary                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
       ---------                           -------------------------------------

Attest:  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY


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

                                       36
<PAGE>

                                    FORM OF

                          CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       OF

                 SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                                   KADANT INC.

                         ______________________________

Kadant Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware (hereinafter called the "Corporation"), hereby certifies that the
following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation at
a meeting duly called and held on July 16, 2001:

RESOLVED: That pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board") in accordance with
the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Board hereby
creates a series of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), of the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of
shares, and fixes the relative rights, preferences and limitations thereof as
follows:

     SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK:

     Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
                ----------------------
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be Fifteen Thousand (15,000). Such number of shares may be increased
or decreased by resolution of the Board prior to issuance; provided, that no
                                                           --------
decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a
number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or
warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.


     Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.
                 ----------------------------

     (A)  Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series
A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior
stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out
of funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends,
quarterly dividends payable in

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

cash on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Corporation 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 Preferred Stock, in an
amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $100
or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 10,000
times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 10,000 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 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 Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare
or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in
shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A
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. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock payable in shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Series A Preferred Stock) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then in each such case the
amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the first sentence of this
Section 2(A) shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding immediately after such
event.

     (B)  The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section immediately after
it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock) and the Corporation shall pay such
dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock before the dividend or
distribution declared on the Common Stock is paid or set apart; provided that,
in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $100 per share on the
Series A 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 Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares, 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 Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend
and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

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
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 may fix
a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date
fixed for the payment thereof.

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

     (A)   Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 10,000
votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted
by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event. In the event the Corporation shall
at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock payable
in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Series
A Preferred Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding immediately after such
event.

     (B)   Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Corporation's Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the
Corporation having general voting rights 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 Preferred Stock shall
be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, the holders
of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate series from all other
series of Preferred Stock and classes of capital stock, shall be entitled to
elect two members of the Board in addition to any Directors elected by any other
series, class or classes of securities and the authorized number of Directors
will

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

automatically be increased by two. Promptly thereafter, the Board of the
Corporation shall, as soon as may be practicable, call a special meeting of
holders of Series A Preferred Stock for the purpose of electing such members of
the Board. Such special meeting shall in any event be held within 45 days of the
occurrence of such arrearage.

     (ii)  During any period when the holders of Series A Preferred Stock,
     voting as a separate series, shall be entitled and shall have exercised
     their right to elect two Directors, then, and during such time as such
     right continues, (a) the then authorized number of Directors shall be
     increased by two, and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a
     separate series, shall be entitled to elect the additional Directors so
     provided for, and (b) each such additional Director shall not be a member
     of any existing class of the Board, but shall serve until the next annual
     meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors, or until his
     successor shall be elected and shall qualify, or until his right to hold
     such office terminates pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3(C).

     (iii) A Director elected pursuant to the terms hereof may be removed with
     or without cause by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to
     vote in an election of such Director.

     (iv)  If, during any interval between annual meetings of stockholders for
     the election of Directors and while the holders of Series A Preferred Stock
     shall be entitled to elect two Directors, there is no such Director in
     office by reason of resignation, death or removal, then, promptly
     thereafter, the Board shall call a special meeting of the holders of Series
     A Preferred Stock for the purpose of filling such vacancy and such vacancy
     shall be filled at such special meeting. Such special meeting shall in any
     event be held within 45 days of the occurrence of such vacancy.

     (v)   At such time as the arrearage is fully cured, and all dividends
     accumulated and unpaid on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
     outstanding are paid, and, in addition thereto, at least one regular
     dividend has been paid subsequent to curing such arrearage, the term of
     office of any Director elected pursuant to this Section 3(C), or his
     successor, shall automatically terminate, and the authorized number of
     Directors shall automatically decrease by two, the rights of the holders of
     the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to vote as provided in this
     Section 3(C) shall cease, subject to renewal from time to time upon the
     same terms and conditions, and the holders of shares of the Series A
     Preferred Stock shall have only the limited voting rights elsewhere herein
     set forth.

     (D)   Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders
of Series A 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.

                                      A-4
<PAGE>

     Section 4.  Certain Restrictions.
                 --------------------

     (A)  Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A 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 Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

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

     (ii)  declare or pay dividends, 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 Preferred Stock,
     except dividends paid ratably on the Series A 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 junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
     dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that
     the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
     shares of any such junior 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 Preferred Stock; or

     (iv)  redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
     of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity
     with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase
     offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all
     holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, 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 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
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations
creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise
required by law.

                                      A-5
<PAGE>

     Section 6.   Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
                  --------------------------------------

     (A)  Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock shall have received $10,000 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 10,000
times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of
Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up.
     (B)  Neither the consolidation, merger or other business combination of the
Corporation with or into any other corporation nor the sale, lease, exchange or
conveyance of all or any part of the property, assets or business of the
Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation for purposes of this Section 6.
     (C)  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso
in clause (1) of paragraph (A) of this Section 6 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. In the event the Corporation shall
at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock payable
in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Series
A Preferred Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event
under the proviso in clause (1) of paragraph (A) of this Section 6 shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock outstanding immediately after such event.

     Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. Notwithstanding anything to the
                --------------------------
contrary contained herein, 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 each share of Series A
Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an

                                      A-6
<PAGE>

amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
equal to 10,000 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 declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the
preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A
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. In
the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Series A Preferred Stock payable in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or
effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in shares of Series A Preferred Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then in each such case the amount set
forth in the first sentence of this Section 7 with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event
and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
outstanding immediately after such event.

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

     Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to
                ----
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of
any other class of the Preferred Stock issued either before or after the
issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series
shall provide otherwise.

     Section 10. Amendment. At such time as any shares of Series A Preferred
                 ---------
Stock are outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock
so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class.

     Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series A 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 have the benefit of all other rights of holders
of Series A Preferred Stock.

         [The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]

                                      A-7
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on behalf
of the Corporation by its President and Chief Executive Officer this [___] day
of July, 2001.

                              KADANT INC.

                              By:____________________________________
                                 William A. Rainville
                                 President and Chief Executive Officer

                                      A-8
<PAGE>

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. R-                                             ______ Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 16, 2011 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE
COMPANY.  THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.001 PER RIGHT AND TO
EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.  UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID.  [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT).  ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.] /1/



                                   KADANT INC.

                               Rights Certificate

This certifies that ____________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner
of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner
thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated July 16, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Kadant Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, a New York corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on July 16, 2011
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors
as Rights Agent, one ten-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the
Company, $0.01 par value per share, at a purchase price of $75.00 in cash per
one ten-thousandth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and
related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate (and the number of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock
which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase
Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of the close of
business on July 16, 2001, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such
date. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Rights Agreement.


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

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

                                      B-1
<PAGE>

Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, 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 who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, 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 right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence
of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.

As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind
of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Section 11(a)(ii) Events.

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

This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, with
the Form of Election and Certificate set forth on the reverse side duly
executed, 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 ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as the
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered
shall have entitled such holder to purchase.  If this Rights Certificate shall
be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender
hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole
Rights not exercised.

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this
Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price
of $.001 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business
on the tenth Business Day  following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the
Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the close
of business on the tenth Business Day following the Record Date) and (ii) the
Final Expiration Date.

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Company may, at its
option, at any time after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of the
Rights evidenced by this Certificate for shares of the Company's Common Stock or
for Preferred Stock (or shares of a class or series of the Company's preferred
stock having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred
Stock).

                                      B-2
<PAGE>

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 ten-thousandth 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 of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give 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:                                   KADANT INC.


___________________________________       By:________________________
Secretary
Title:______________________________

COUNTERSIGNED:

[  ]


By:_______________________________
  Authorized Signature

                                      B-3
<PAGE>

                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

                (To be executed by the registered holder if such

              holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)


FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

                 (Please print name and address of transferee)

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

Dated: ________________

                                    _____________________________
                                    Signature
Signature Guaranteed:

                                  Certificate

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, or being assigned to, an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined pursuant
to the Rights Agreement).

Dated: ______________

                                    _____________________________
                                    Signature
Signature Guaranteed:

                                     NOTICE

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

                                      B-4
<PAGE>

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

                 (To be executed if holder desires to exercise

                 Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)

To:  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

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

Please insert social security

or other identifying number  __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
                        (Please print name and address)

___________________________________________________________________________

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

Please insert social security

or other identifying number  __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
                        (Please print name and address)

___________________________________________________________________________
Dated: ______________

                                    _____________________________
                                    Signature
Signature Guaranteed:


                                      B-5
<PAGE>

                                  Certificate

     The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(1)  the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not being
     exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
     an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined pursuant to
     the Rights Agreement);
(2)  after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
     undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
     Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an
     Affiliate or Associate thereof.

Dated: _______________

                                    _____________________________
                                    Signature
Signature Guaranteed:


                                     NOTICE

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


                                      B-6
<PAGE>

                              SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO

                            PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK

On July 16, 2001, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Kadant Inc. (the
"Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right
(collectively, the "Rights") on each share of the Company's common stock, $0.01
par value per share (the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close of business on
August 6, 2001 (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth of a share of Series A junior
participating preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), at a purchase price of $75.00 in cash, subject to adjustment (the
"Purchase Price"). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Rights Agreement dated July 16, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent.

As described more fully below, initially, the Rights are not exercisable and
will be attached to all certificates representing shares of Common Stock
("Common Stock Certificates") outstanding, and no separate certificates
representing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be distributed. The Rights
will separate from the Common Stock, and the "Distribution Date" will occur,
upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following the first date of a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days following the commencement of a
tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group
beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The
Distribution Date may be deferred in circumstances determined by the Board. In
addition, certain inadvertent acquisitions will not trigger the occurrence of
the Distribution Date. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
Certificates outstanding on the Record Date, together with this summary of
rights, or by new Common Stock Certificates issued after the Record Date which
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, (ii) the
Rights will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock Certificates;
and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding (with or without a copy of this summary of rights or such notation)
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate.

The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
upon the close of business on July 16, 2011 (the "Final Expiration Date") unless
earlier redeemed or exchanged as described below. As soon as practicable after
the Distribution Date, separate Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of
record of the Common Stock at 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, and except for shares of
Common Stock issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of then outstanding
options, convertible or exchangeable securities or other contingent obligations
to issue shares or pursuant to any employee benefit plan or arrangement, only
shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with
Rights.

In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, unless the event
causing the 15% threshold to be crossed is a Permitted Offer (as defined in the
Rights Agreement), then, promptly following the first occurrence of such event,
each holder of a Right (except as provided below

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

and in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
(or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the
Company) which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by 50% of the
Current Market Price (as defined in the Rights Agreement) per share of Common
Stock at the date of the occurrence of such event. However, Rights are not
exercisable following such event until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as described below. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of such event, 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. The event
summarized in this paragraph is referred to as a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event."

For example, at an exercise price of $75 per Right, each Right not owned by an
Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event would entitle its holder to purchase for $75 such number of shares of
Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) as equals $75 divided by
one-half of the Current Market Price of the Common Stock at the time of such
Section 11(a)(ii) Event. Assuming that the Common Stock had a Current Market
Price of $25 per share at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be
entitled to purchase six shares of Common Stock at the time of such Section
11(a)(ii) Event, having a market value of 6 x $25, or $150, for $75.

In the event that, at any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, (i)
the Company is consolidated with, or merged with and into, another entity and
the Company is not the surviving entity of such consolidation or merger (other
than a consolidation or merger which follows a Permitted Offer) or if the
Company is the surviving entity, but shares of its outstanding Common Stock are
changed or exchanged for stock or securities (of any other person) or cash or
any other property, or (ii) more than 50% of the Company's assets or earning
power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring
Person and certain related parties) shall thereafter have the right to receive,
upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company
which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by 50% of the Current
Market Price of such common stock at the date of the occurrence of the event.
The events summarized in this paragraph are referred to as "Section 13 Events."
A Section 11(a)(ii) Event and Section 13 Events are collectively referred to as
"Triggering Events."

For example, at an exercise price of $75 per Right, each Right not owned by an
Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following a Section 13 Event
would entitle its holder to purchase for $75 such number of shares of common
stock of the acquiring company as equals $75 divided by one-half of the Current
Market Price of such common stock at the time of such Section 13 Event. Assuming
that such common stock had a Current Market Price of $25 per share at such time,
the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase six shares of
common stock of the acquiring company, having a market value of 6 x $25, or
$150, for $75.

At any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, when no person
owns a majority of the Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which have become void), in whole or
in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one ten-
thousandth 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).

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<PAGE>

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of units of Preferred Stock or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than
the then Current Market Price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above). The number of Rights associated with each share of Common
Stock is also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common
Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or
subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in
any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase Price. No
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) will be issued
and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market
price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.

Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable.
Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board, a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $100
per share or, if greater, an aggregate dividend of 10,000 times the dividend
declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of
the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation
payment of $10,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends, and will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 10,000 times the
payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have
10,000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. In the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Stock is changed or
exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 10,000
times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected
by customary antidilution provisions. Because of the nature of the Preferred
Stock's dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of one ten-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should
approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.

At any time prior to the tenth business day (or such later date as may be
determined by the Board) after the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company may
redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the
"Redemption Price"), payable in cash or stock. Immediately upon the redemption
of the Rights or such earlier time as established by the Board in the resolution
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price. The
Rights may also be redeemable following certain other circumstances specified in
the Rights Agreement.

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.  Although the

                                      C-3
<PAGE>

distribution of the Rights should 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
as set forth above.

Any provision of the Rights Agreement, other than the Redemption Price, may be
amended by the Board prior to such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable.
Once the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Board's authority to amend the
Rights is limited to correcting ambiguities or defective or inconsistent
provisions in a manner that does not adversely affect the interest of holders of
Rights.

The Rights are intended to protect the stockholders of the Company in the event
of an unfair or coercive offer to acquire the Company and to provide the Board
with adequate time to evaluate unsolicited offers.  The Rights may have anti-
takeover effects.  The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or
group that attempts to acquire the Company without conditioning the offer on a
substantial number of Rights being acquired.  The Rights, however, should not
affect any prospective offeror willing to make an offer at a fair price and
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, as
determined by a majority of the Board.  The Rights should not interfere with any
merger or other business combination approved by the Board.

The Company has entered into the Rights Agreement in anticipation of the
proposed distribution by its parent corporation, Thermo Electron Corporation
("TMO"), of all of the shares of the Company's Common Stock (together with the
associated Rights) held by TMO to the stockholders of TMO (the "Spinoff
Distribution"). The shares of the Company's Common Stock (together with the
associated Rights) held by TMO will be distributed in the Spinoff Distribution
on August 8, 2001 to all stockholders of record of TMO on July 30, 2001. The
ownership by TMO of shares of the Company's Common Stock prior to consummation
of the Spinoff Distribution will not trigger the occurrence of the Distribution
Date or the exercisability of the Rights.

A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 17, 2001 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. 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.

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