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                                                                     Exhibit 4.2



                 Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences
                    and Rights of a Series of Preferred Stock

                    CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES
                             AND RIGHTS OF SERIES A
                                 PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                         SHELBOURNE PROPERTIES III, INC.

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

SHELBOURNE PROPERTIES III, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify:

                  That, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate of Incorporation") of said Corporation, and pursuant to the
provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, said Board of Directors, by a unanimous written consent, dated as of
____________ ___, 2000, adopted a resolution providing for the designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, such provisions as may be desired concerning
voting, redemption, dividends, dissolution or the distribution of assets, and
conversion or exchange, of a Series of Preferred Stock, which resolution is as
follows:

                            See attached pages 2A-8A



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                         VOTE OF DIRECTORS ESTABLISHING
            SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
                         SHELBOURNE PROPERTIES III, INC.

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

                  VOTED, that pursuant to the authority conferred upon and
vested in the Board of Directors by the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation") of Shelbourne Properties III,
Inc. (the "Corporation") the Board of Directors hereby establishes and
designates a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, and hereby fixes and
determines the relative rights and preferences of the shares of such series, in
addition to those set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, as follows:

         Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock," par value $.01 per share (hereinafter called "Series A Preferred
Stock"), and the number of shares initially constituting such series shall be
200,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of
the Board of Directors and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the
provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that
such increase or reduction has been so authorized; provided, however, that no
decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a
number less than that of the shares then outstanding plus the number of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding rights,
options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation.

         Section 2. Dividends and Distributions. (A) (i) 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 shares of common stock and of any other junior
stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends
payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September and December in each
year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first
issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an
amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00
or (b) subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000
times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 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 shares of 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. The multiple of cash and
non-cash dividends declared on the shares of common stock to which holders of
the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled, which shall be 1,000 initially but
which shall be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is
hereinafter referred to as the "Dividend Multiple." In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after __________ ___, 2000 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i)


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declare or pay any dividend on the shares of common stock payable in shares of
common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or 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 Dividend Multiple
thereafter applicable to the determination of the amount of dividends which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive shall
be the Dividend Multiple applicable immediately prior to such event multiplied
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.

                        (ii) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this
paragraph (A), the Corporation shall, out of funds legally available for that
purpose, declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as
provided in this paragraph (A) immediately after it declares a dividend or
distribution on the shares of common stock (other than a dividend payable in
shares of common stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution
shall have been declared on the shares of common stock during the period between
any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock
shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date.

                  (B) 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 of Series A
Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record
date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on
such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or
unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after
the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to
accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series
A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at
the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix in accordance with applicable law 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 such number of days prior to the date fixed for the
payment thereof as may be allowed by applicable law.

         Section 3. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights
required by law, 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 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. The number of votes which a holder of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock is entitled to cast, which shall initially be 1,000 but which may be
adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is hereinafter referred to
as the "Vote



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Multiple." In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on shares of common stock
payable in shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or 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
Vote Multiple thereafter applicable to the determination of the number of votes
per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled shall be the Vote Multiple immediately prior to such event multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.

                  (B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of common stock
and the holders of shares of any other capital stock of this 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) Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to
at least two full quarter dividends (whether or not declared and whether or not
consecutive), the holders of record of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting separately as a single
class, to elect two directors of the Corporation at a special meeting of
shareholders of the Corporation or at the Corporation's next annual meeting of
shareholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders, as provided
below. At elections for such directors, each Series A Preferred Share shall
entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes in such elections.

                        (ii) Upon the vesting of such right of the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the maximum authorized number of members of
the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two
vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock as hereinafter set forth. A special meeting
of the stockholders of the Corporation then entitled to vote shall be called by
the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President or the Secretary of the
Corporation, if requested in writing by the holders of record of not less than
10% of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding. At such special
meeting, or, if no such special meeting shall have been called, then at the next
annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall elect, voting as above provided, two directors of
the Corporation to fill the aforesaid vacancies created by the automatic
increase in the number of members of the Board of Directors. At any and all such
meetings for such election, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
of Series A Preferred Stock shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for such
election, whether present in person or proxy, and such two directors shall be
elected by the vote of at least a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred
Stock held by such shareholders present or represented at the meeting. Any
director elected by holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to
this Section may be removed at any annual or special meeting, by vote of a
majority of the shareholders voting as a class who elected such director, with
or without cause. In case any vacancy shall occur among the directors elected by
the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section, such
vacancy may be filled by the remaining director so elected, or his successor
then in office, and the director so elected to fill



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such vacancy shall serve until the next meeting of shareholders for the election
of directors. After the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and during the
continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be further
increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity
securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock.

                        (iii) The right of the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, to elect two members of the Board
of Directors of the Corporation as aforesaid shall continue until, and only
until, such time as all arrears in dividends (whether or not declared) on the
Series A Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set apart for
payment, at which time such right shall terminate, except as herein or by law
expressly provided subject to revesting in the event of each and every
subsequent default of the character above-mentioned. Upon any termination of the
right of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock as a class to vote for
directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office
elected by the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this
Section shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the
directors elected by the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant
to this Section shall terminate and the special voting powers vested in the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section shall have
expired, the maximum number of members of this Board of Directors of the
Corporation shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-laws of the
Corporation, irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of
this Section.

                  (A) Except as otherwise required by applicable law or as set
forth herein, 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 shares of common stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.

         Section 4. Certain Restrictions. (A) Whenever 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 on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;

                        (ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon, 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) except as permitted in subsection 4(A)(iv) below,
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may
at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of



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any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or

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

                  (A) 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 subsection (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 canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of preferred stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
preferred stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.

         Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation
(voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (x) 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 an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment, plus an amount equal to the greater of (1) $1,000.00 per share or
(2) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of shares of common stock, or (y) to the
holders 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 other
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. In
the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date
(i) declare or pay any dividend on shares of common stock payable in shares of
common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or 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 per share
to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event under clause (x) 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



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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.

                  Neither the consolidation of nor merging of the Corporation
with or into any other corporation or corporations, nor the sale or other
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall be
deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within
the meaning of this Section 6.

         Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of common stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 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,
plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, payable with respect to the Series A
Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on shares of common stock
payable in shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or 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.

         Section 8. Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not
be redeemable; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the ability
of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise deal in such shares to the extent
otherwise permitted hereby and by law.

         Section 9. Ranking. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation or a Certificate of Vote of Directors Establishing a Class of
Stock relating to a subsequently-designated series of preferred stock of the
Corporation, the Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior to any other series
of the Corporation's preferred stock subsequently issued, as to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding
up and shall rank senior to the common stock.

         Section 10. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation and this
Certificate of Vote of Directors 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 two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

         Section 11. Fractional Shares. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock may
be issued in whole shares or in any fraction of a share that is one
one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share or any integral multiple of such fraction,
which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's



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fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in
distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock. In lieu of fractional shares, the Corporation may
elect to make a cash payment as provided in the Rights Agreement for fractions
of a share other than one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share or any integral
multiple thereof.

                  I, ____________, _____________________ of the Corporation, do
make this certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is my act and
deed on behalf of the Corporation this ____ day of _____________, 2000.




                                       SHELBOURNE PROPERTIES III, INC.


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------


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