<PAGE>
                                                                     Exhibit 4-b


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                               NORDSON CORPORATION

                                       AND

                        NATIONAL CITY BANK, RIGHTS AGENT


                        SECOND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                                   Dated as of

                                  May 21, 2003



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<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         Page
                                                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                                                     <C>
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS...................................................................................iii

SECOND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT...........................................................................1
Section 1.        Certain Definitions......................................................................1
Section 2.        Appointment of Rights Agent..............................................................6
Section 3.        Issue of Right Certificates..............................................................6
Section 4.        Form of Right Certificates...............................................................8
Section 5.        Countersignature and Registration.......................................................10
Section 6.        Transfer, Split Up, Combination, and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated,
                  Destroyed, Lost, or Stolen Right Certificates...........................................11
Section 7.        Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights...........................12
Section 8.        Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates......................................16
Section 9.        Reservation and Availability of Shares..................................................16
Section 10.       Common Share Record Date................................................................20
Section 11.       Adjustment of Purchase Price, and Exercise Price Number and Type of Shares, or
                  Number of Rights........................................................................20
Section 12.       Certificates of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.............................31
Section 13.       Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.................................................31
Section 14.       Rights of Action........................................................................32
Section 15.       Agreement of Rights Holders.............................................................33
Section 16.       Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder.......................................34
Section 17.       Concerning the Rights Agent.............................................................34
Section 18.       Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent...............................35
Section 19.       Duties of Rights Agent..................................................................36
Section 20.       Change of Rights Agent..................................................................40
Section 21.       Issuance of New Right Certificates......................................................41
Section 22.       Redemption..............................................................................41
Section 23.       Notice of Certain Events................................................................43
Section 24.       Notices.................................................................................44
Section 25.       Supplements and Amendments..............................................................45
Section 26.       Successors..............................................................................45
Section 27.       Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc...............................45
Section 28.       Benefits of this Agreement..............................................................46
Section 29.       Severability............................................................................46
Section 30.       Governing Law...........................................................................47
Section 31.       Counterparts............................................................................47
Section 32.       Descriptive Headings....................................................................47
</TABLE>


                                        i
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        Page
                                                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                                                     <C>
Exhibit A

"EXPRESS" TERMS OF SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES.................................................A-1

Exhibit B

FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE................................................................................B-1

Exhibit C

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON SHARES..............................................................C-1
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>


                             INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Page
                                                                             ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
Acquiring Person ..............................................................1
Affiliate .....................................................................3
Associate .....................................................................3
Beneficial Owner ..............................................................3
beneficially own ..............................................................3
Business Day ..................................................................5
close of business .............................................................5
Common Shares .................................................................5
Company .......................................................................1
Distribution Date .............................................................6
equivalent common shares .....................................................23
Exchange Act ..................................................................3
Exercise Price ................................................................5
Expiration Date ..............................................................13
Final Expiration Date ........................................................13
Flip-in Event .............................................................5, 22
Issuance ......................................................................5
market price .................................................................25
NASDAQ .......................................................................17
NYSE ..........................................................................6
Person ........................................................................5
Preferred Shares ..............................................................5
Purchase Price ................................................................6
Record Date....................................................................1
Redemption Price .............................................................42
Right .........................................................................1
Right Certificate .............................................................7
Rights Agent ..................................................................1
Securities Act ...............................................................18
Shares Acquisition Date .......................................................6
Subsidiary ....................................................................6
Summary of Rights .............................................................7
Trading Day ..................................................................27
</TABLE>


                                       iii
<PAGE>




                        SECOND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT




         This Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2003, between Nordson Corporation,
an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), and National City Bank, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States (the
"Rights Agent"), amends and restates the Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of
November 7, 1997, between the Company and the Rights Agent.

         The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend consisting of one right (a "Right") for each Common Share with a par
value of $1.00 of the Company outstanding on September 9, 1988 (the "Record
Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each Common
Share of the Company issued between the Record Date and the earlier of the
occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, the Expiration Date, or the Final
Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), including Common Shares
that are treasury shares as of the Record Date and subsequently become
outstanding. Each Right initially represents the right to purchase one Common
Share of the Company.

         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) An "Acquiring Person" means any Person that, together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided that, (w) an
Acquiring Person


                                       1
<PAGE>

shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary, any employee benefit plan or
employee stock ownership plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or any Person
organized, appointed, or established by the Company or any Subsidiary for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (x) a Person shall not be deemed to have
become an Acquiring Person solely as a result of a reduction in the number of
Common Shares outstanding, unless subsequent to such reduction such Person, or
any Affiliate or Associate of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of any
additional Common Shares other than as a result of a stock dividend, stock
split, or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all shareholders
are treated equally, (y) for purposes of determining whether Eric T. Nord or
Evan W. Nord, together with each of their Affiliates or Associates, is the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the
Common Shares then held by the Walter G. Nord Trust, by the Nord Family
Foundation, and by the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation shall be excluded; for
purposes of determining whether the Walter G. Nord Trust, the Nord Family
Foundation, or the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, together with each of their
Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by Eric T. Nord and by Evan
W. Nord shall be excluded; for purposes of determining whether the Nord Family
Foundation, together with its Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then
held by the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation will be excluded; and, for purposes of
determining whether the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, together with its
Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Nord Family
Foundation will be excluded, and (z) a Person will


                                       2
<PAGE>

not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person if the Person becomes the Beneficial
Owner of more than 15% of the Common Shares inadvertently and, as soon as
practicable after the Person learns about such beneficial ownership, divests a
sufficient number of Common Shares so that the Person ceases to be the
Beneficial Owner of more than 15% of the Common Shares.

         (b) An "Affiliate" and "Associate" have the respective meanings given
them 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
hereof.

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

                  (i) that such Person, or any of such Person's Affiliates or
         Associates, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;

                  (ii) that such Person, or any of such Person's Affiliates or
         Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether
         such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
         time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether
         or not in writing), upon the exercise of any conversion right, exchange
         right, other right, warrant, or option, or otherwise, except that a
         Person is not deemed to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
         "beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer
         or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
         for purchase or exchange or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of
         these Rights;



                                       3
<PAGE>

                  (iii) that such Person, or any of such Person's Affiliates or
         Associates, has the right, directly or indirectly, to vote or dispose
         of pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether or
         not in writing), except that a Person is not deemed to be the
         Beneficial Owner of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this
         subparagraph (iii) if the agreement, arrangement, or understanding to
         vote such security (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in
         response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
         and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of 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

                  (iv) that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
         any other Person with whom or which such Person, or any of such
         Person's Affiliates or Associates, has any agreement, arrangement, or
         understanding (whether or not in writing) for the purpose of acquiring,
         holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in
         subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (c)), or disposing of any
         securities of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) a Person shall not be deemed to be the
Beneficial Owner of, or to "beneficially own," any security if such beneficial
ownership arises solely as a result of such Person's status as a "clearing
agency," as defined in Section 3(a)(23) of the Exchange Act, and (y) a Person
engaged in business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be
the Beneficial Owner of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired
through such Person's participation in good faith in an underwriting syndicate


                                       4
<PAGE>

pursuant to an agreement to which the Company is a party until expiration of 40
calendar days after the date on which such securities are acquired.

         (d) A "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Ohio are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.

         (e) The "close of business" on any given date means 5:00 P.M.,
Cleveland time, on such date.

         (f) "Common Shares" means the Common Shares with a par value of $1.00
of the Company and any shares other than Common Shares issued in a subdivision,
combination, or reclassification of the Common Shares, for which an adjustment
is made under Section 11(a)(i).

         (g) "Exercise Price" means the exercise price per share set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii).

         (h) "Flip-in Event" means an event described in Section 11(a)(ii).

         (i) "Issuance" includes the issuance of authorized but unissued shares
and the transfer of treasury shares.

         (j) A "Person" means any individual, corporation, business trust,
partnership, or other organization.

         (k) "Preferred Shares" means Series B Convertible Preferred Shares of
the Company with the express terms set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement.

         (l) "Purchase Price" means the purchase price per share set forth in
Section 7(b).

                                       5
<PAGE>

         (m) The "Shares Acquisition Date" means the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person (by press release, filing
made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise) that a Person
has become an Acquiring Person.

         (n) A "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity of which a
majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or other equity
interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

         Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment and
hereby certifies that it complies with the requirements of the National
Association of Securities Dealers Inc. and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(the "NYSE") governing transfer agents and registrars. The Company may from time
to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable. Any
actions that may be taken by the Rights Agent pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement may be taken by any such Co-Rights Agent.

         Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates. (a) Until the close of business
on (i) the 20th calendar day after the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date
or (ii) any earlier date designated by the Board of Directors of the Company
(the earlier of these dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution
Date"), the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b))
by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders of
the Common Shares (which certificates for Common Shares shall also be deemed to
be Right certificates) and not by separate Right


                                       6
<PAGE>

certificates, and the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the
transfer of the Common Shares on the transfer books of the Company maintained by
the Company or its appointed transfer agent. 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 Common Shares as of the close of business
on the Distribution Date at the address of such holder shown on the records of
the Company, a Right certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto
("Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common Share held of record
as of the close of business on the Distribution Date. As of the close of
business on the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such
Right Certificates.

         (b) As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights") to
each record holder of Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be evidenced by the
certificates for the associated Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or
the earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer
of any of the certificates for outstanding Common Shares, with or without a copy
of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the surrender for transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.

         (c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares issued or
surrendered for transfer or exchange after the Record Date but prior to the
earlier of the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, the Expiration Date, or
the Final Expiration Date


                                       7
<PAGE>

(as such terms are defined in Section 7). Certificates representing Common
Shares issued or surrendered for transfer or exchange after the Record Date but
prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date, the Expiration Date, or the Final
Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on, or otherwise
affixed to them the following legend:

         This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
         certain Rights as set forth in a Restated Rights Agreement between
         Nordson Corporation and a Rights Agent, as amended from time to time
         (the "Restated Rights Agreements"), the terms of which are hereby
         incorporated in this certificate by reference and a copy of which is on
         file at the principal executive offices of Nordson Corporation. Under
         certain circumstances, as set forth in the Restated Rights Agreement,
         such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no
         longer be evidenced by this certificate. Nordson Corporation will mail
         to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Restated Rights
         Agreement (as in effect on the date of mailing) without charge promptly
         after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
         circumstances, Rights that are or were beneficially owned by an
         Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person
         (as such terms are defined in the Restated Rights Agreement) and any
         subsequent holder of such Rights may become null and void.

Until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented by certificates containing the foregoing legend shall be evidenced
by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such
certificate shall also constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.

         Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. (a) Each Right Certificate (and
the forms of assignment and of election to purchase shares to be printed on the
reverse of the Right Certificate) shall be substantially the same as 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,
as may be required to comply with any applicable law, with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto, or with any rule or regulation of any stock


                                       8
<PAGE>

exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or of any
association on which the Rights may from time to time be authorized for
quotation, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 21, the
Right Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the Record Date and,
on their face, shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of
Common Shares of the Company as shall be set forth therein (or, at the close of
business on the 20th calendar day following the occurrence of a Shares
Acquisition Date, two Common Shares of the Company) at the Purchase Price per
share (or, at the close of business on the 20th calendar day following the
occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, at the Exercise Price per share); the
number of such Common Shares, the Purchase Price, and the Exercise Price shall
be subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement.

         (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, any Right
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 21 that represents Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of
an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) that becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
became an Acquiring Person, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of
any such Associate or Affiliate) that becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and that
either (A) holds an equity interest in such Acquiring Person (or any such
Associate or Affiliate) or has any continuing agreement, arrangement, or
understanding with such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate)
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) receives such Rights pursuant to a
transfer that the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a
plan, arrangement, or understanding


                                       9
<PAGE>

that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e), any Right
Certificate issued at any time to any nominee of an Acquiring Person, of any
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, or of any such transferee, and
any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 upon transfer,
exchange, replacement, or adjustment of any other Right Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain the following legend:

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

         Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Right
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, or any Vice President, either
manually or by facsimile signature, and have affixed thereto the Company's seal
or a facsimile thereof attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right 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 has
signed any of the Right Certificates ceases to be such officer of the Company
before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the
Company, such Right Certificates may nevertheless be countersigned by the Rights
Agent, issued, and delivered with the same force and effect as though the person
who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the
Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any
person who, at the date such Right Certificate is signed, is a proper officer of
the Company to sign such Right


                                       10
<PAGE>

Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement such person
was not such an officer.

         (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates.
Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the
Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the
Right Certificates, and the date of each of the Right Certificates.


         Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination, and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, or Stolen Right Certificates. (a)
Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e), and Section 13, any
Right Certificate may, at any time after the close of business on the
Distribution Date and at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of the
Expiration Date or the Final Expiration Date, be transferred, split up,
combined, or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates
entitling the registered holder to purchase the same number of Common Shares (or
Preferred Shares or other securities) as the Right Certificate 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
Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing
delivered to the Rights Agent and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined, or exchanged at the
principal office of the Rights Agent or such other office as the Rights Agent
may designate from time to time for that purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor
the Company shall be obligated to take any action with respect to the transfer
of any such surrendered Right Certificate until the registered holder has
completed and signed the


                                       11
<PAGE>

certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Right Certificate and has provided such additional evidence of the identity of
the Beneficial Owner or former Beneficial Owner, or the Affiliates or Associates
of the Beneficial Owner or former Beneficial Owner, as the Company has
reasonably requested. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b),
Section 7(e), and Section 13, countersign and deliver to the person entitled
thereto a Right Certificate or Right 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 Right 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 Right Certificate, and, in case of the loss, theft, or destruction of a
Right Certificate, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them and
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and, in case of the mutilation of a Right Certificate, upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the mutilated Right
Certificate, the Company shall make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the
Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated.

         Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights. (a) Subject to Section 7(e), the registered holder of any Right
Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise
provided herein), in whole or in part, at any time after the Distribution Date
upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase
on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights


                                       12
<PAGE>

Agent at its principal office or such other office as the Rights Agent may
designate from time to time for that purpose, together with payment of the
aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of Common Shares (or
Preferred Shares or other securities) as to which such surrendered Rights are
being exercised, at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i)
October 31, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the date on which the
Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 22 (such earlier date being herein
referred to as the "Expiration Date").

         (b) Each Right shall initially represent the right to purchase one
Common Share, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11. The Purchase
Price for each Common Share upon the exercise of one of the Rights shall
initially be $175.00, subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Section 11, and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America
in accordance with Section 7(c).

         (c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the Common Shares (or Preferred
Shares or other securities) to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax, in cash or by certified check or bank draft payable to
the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 19(k),
promptly (i) requisition from the Company's transfer agent certificates for the
total number of Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other securities) to be
purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs its
transfer agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) if the Company has elected
to cause the total number of Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other
securities) issuable upon exercise of the Rights to be deposited with a
depositary agent, requisition


                                       13
<PAGE>

from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of Common
Shares (or Preferred Shares or other securities) as are to be purchased (in
which case the Company hereby authorizes and directs its transfer agent to
deposit with the depositary agent certificates for the Common Shares (or
Preferred Shares or other securities) represented by such receipts), and the
Company hereby authorizes and directs the depositary agent to comply with all
such requests, (iii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company's transfer
agent certificates for the total number the Common Shares (or Preferred Shares
or other securities) to be purchased in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii), and
the Company hereby authorizes and directs its transfer agent to comply with all
such requests, (iv) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of
cash to be paid in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) or in lieu of the issuance
of fractional shares in accordance with Section 13, (v) promptly after the
receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause them to be delivered
to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate,
registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (vi)
when appropriate, promptly after receipt deliver such cash to or upon the order
of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. In the event the Company is
obligated to issue Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other securities) or to
pay cash pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii), the Company will make all arrangements
necessary so that such Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other securities)
and cash are available for issuance and payment by the Rights Agent, as and when
appropriate.


         (d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate exercises
less than all of the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the


                                       14
<PAGE>

registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assign,
subject to the provisions of Section 13.

         (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any
Rights that are or were at any time on or after the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the date on which any Person becomes an Acquiring Person beneficially
owned by (i) the Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of the Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of the Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person became an
Acquiring Person, or (iii) a transferee of the Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming an Acquiring Person and who either (A) holds an
equity interest in such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) or
has any continuing agreement, arrangement, or understanding with such Acquiring
Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) regarding the transferred Rights or
(B) receives such Rights pursuant to a transfer that the Board of Directors of
the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement, or understanding that
has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall
become null and void when such Person becomes an Acquiring Person, and no holder
of such Rights shall have any right with respect to such Rights under any
provision of this Agreement from and after such Person becomes an Acquiring
Person. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and of Section 4(b) are complied with, but shall
have no liability to any holder of Rights or any other Person as a result of its
failure properly to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person
or its Affiliates, Associates, or transferees in accordance with this Section
7(e).



                                       15
<PAGE>

         (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 of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder has (i)
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for
such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner or former Beneficial Owner, or the Affiliates or Associates of
the Beneficial Owner or former Beneficial Owner, as the Company may reasonably
request.

         Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination, or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to 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 Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent
for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall cancel and retire,
any Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon
the exercise of the Right Certificate. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Right Certificates to the Company or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates and deliver a certificate
of destruction thereof to the Company.

         Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Shares. (a) The Company will
cause to be reserved and kept available out of Common Shares that have been
authorized by the Company's shareholders but are unissued, or that are held in
the


                                       16
<PAGE>

Company's treasury, a number of Common Shares that will be sufficient to permit
the exercise in full of all of the outstanding Rights.

         (b) In the event that, notwithstanding Section 9(a), the number of
authorized and unissued Common Shares and Common Shares held in the Company's
treasury is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all of the
outstanding Rights, including the exercise in full of all of the outstanding
Rights following any adjustment under Section 11, at any time after the
Distribution Date, the Company shall promptly (i) file an amendment to the
Company's articles of incorporation which creates the Preferred Shares and
authorizes a number of Preferred Shares that, together with authorized and
unissued Common Shares and Common Shares held in the Company's treasury, is
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all of the outstanding Rights and
(ii) make the Preferred Shares available in place of Common Shares to permit the
exercise of the Rights. Under such circumstances, all rights and obligations of
the Company and the Rights Agent with respect to the Common Shares shall apply
with respect to Preferred Shares.

         (c) Unless the Common Shares of the Company have been theretofore
listed on the NYSE or another national securities exchange, the Company shall,
as soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, use its best efforts to
cause transactions in the Rights to be quoted in the National Association of
Securities Dealers Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") and, if Preferred
Shares or other securities are to be made available in place of Common Shares to
be issued upon exercise of the Rights, shall use its best efforts, as soon as
practicable after the Rights become exercisable, to cause transactions in the
Preferred Shares or other securities issuable upon


                                       17
<PAGE>

exercise of the Rights to be quoted in NASDAQ. In the event that the Common
Shares are listed on the NYSE or another national securities exchange, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other
securities) reserved for such issuance upon exercise of the Rights to be listed
on the NYSE or such other exchange upon official notice of issuance.

         (d) The Company shall (i) prepare and file, as soon as practicable
following the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") on an appropriate form
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights, (ii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until
the earlier of the exercise of all of the Rights, the Expiration Date, or the
Final Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate to comply with the securities laws of each state in which holders of
the Rights reside. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not
to exceed 90 days, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file
such registration statement. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a
public announcement and notice to the Rights Agent stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, and the Company
shall issue a public announcement and notice to the Rights Agent at such time as
the suspension is no longer in effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary,


                                       18
<PAGE>

the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction in which any requisite
registration or qualification has not been obtained or any requisite notice of
exemption has not been filed.

         (e) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or
other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights are, at the time of delivery
of the certificates therefor (subject to payment of the Purchase Price or the
Exercise Price, as the case may be), duly and validly authorized and issued,
fully paid and nonassessable, freely tradeable, free and clear of any liens,
encumbrances or other adverse claims, and not subject to any rights of call or
first refusal.

         (f) 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, delivery, or transfer of the Right
Certificates or of any Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other securities)
upon exercise of the 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 Right Certificates to a Person other than, or any issuance, delivery, or
transfer of certificates for the Common Shares (or Preferred Share or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of, the registered
holder of the Right Certificate evidencing the Rights surrendered for exercise
or (ii) to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of Common Shares (or
Preferred Shares or other securities) upon the exercise of any Rights until any
such tax has been paid or until it has been established to the Company's
satisfaction that no such tax is due. Any such tax shall be payable by the
holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender.



                                       19
<PAGE>

         Section 10. Common Share Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for a number of Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other
securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be
deemed to have become the holder of record of such Common Shares (or Preferred
Shares or other securities) represented by such certificate on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing
such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (or Exercise
Price, as the case may be) and any applicable transfer tax was made. Prior to
the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate
shall not be entitled to any rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect
to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including 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, and Exercise Price Number and
Type of Shares, or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price and the Exercise Price,
the number and type of shares covered by each of the Rights, and the number of
Rights outstanding is subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
this Section 11.

                  (a) (i) In the event the Company at any time after the date of
         this Agreement (A) declares a dividend on the Common Shares payable in
         Common Shares, (B) subdivides the outstanding Common Shares, (C)
         combines the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares,
         or (D) issues any shares other than Common Shares in a reclassification
         of the Common Shares


                                       20
<PAGE>

         (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
         or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
         corporation), the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price in effect at
         the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date
         of such subdivision, combination, or reclassification, shall be
         proportionately adjusted (except as otherwise provided in this Section
         11(a) and Section 7(e)) so that the holder of any Rights exercised
         after such time shall be required to pay the same aggregate Purchase
         Price or Exercise Price, as the case may be, as such holder would be
         required to pay if such Rights had been exercised immediately prior to
         such date, and the number of Common Shares or the number and kind of
         shares other than Common Shares, as the case may be, issuable on such
         date shall be proportionately adjusted (except as otherwise provided in
         this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e)) so that such holder would be
         entitled to receive the same aggregate number of Common Shares or the
         same number and kind of shares other than Common Shares, as the case
         may be, that such holder would have owned and been entitled to receive
         by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination, or
         reclassification if such Rights had been exercised immediately prior to
         such date. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under
         both Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), 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).

                  (ii) In the event that a Shares Acquisition Date occurs (a
         "Flip-in Event"), proper provision shall be made so that, from and
         after the close of business on the 20th calendar day after such Flip-in
         Event has occurred, each holder of a


                                       21
<PAGE>

         Right (except as provided in Section 7(e)) shall thereafter have the
         right to receive, upon exercise of each of the Rights held by such
         holder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, two Common
         Shares for an Exercise Price of $1.00 per Common Share. The number of
         such Common Shares and the Exercise Price shall be subject to
         adjustment as provided in this Section 11.

                  (iii) In the event the number of authorized but unissued
         Common Shares of the Company and Common Shares held in the Company's
         treasury is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all of the
         outstanding Rights in accordance with paragraph (ii) of this Section
         11(a), the Company shall apportion among all of the outstanding Rights,
         on a pro rata basis, the Common Shares available for delivery upon
         exercise of the Rights and, upon exercise of each Right, shall deliver
         to the holder thereof (A) the number or fraction of Common Shares
         apportioned to the Right and (B) the number or fraction of Preferred
         Shares equal to the balance of the Common Shares otherwise deliverable
         to the holder upon exercise of the Right. If the number of Common
         Shares and Preferred Shares that are authorized and unissued or held in
         the Company's treasury is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full
         of all of the outstanding Rights, the Company shall apportion among all
         of the outstanding Rights, on a pro rata basis, the Common Shares and
         Preferred Shares available for delivery upon exercise of the Rights
         and, upon exercise of each Right, shall deliver to the holder thereof
         (x) the number or fraction of Common Shares and Preferred Shares
         apportioned to the Right and (y) cash in an amount equal to the product
         of the balance of the Common Shares otherwise deliverable to the holder
         upon exercise of the Right multiplied by the


                                       22
<PAGE>

         excess of the market price per Common Share at the close of business on
         the 20th calendar day following the occurrence of the Flip-in Event
         over the Exercise Price, as adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this
         Section 11. To the extent any legal or contractual restrictions prevent
         the Company from paying the full amount of the cash payable in
         accordance with the foregoing sentence, the Company shall pay to
         holders of the Rights on a pro rata basis all of the funds that are not
         then restricted. The Company shall continue to make payments to holders
         of the Rights on a pro rata basis as funds become available until such
         amount has been paid in full.

         (b) In case the Company fixes a record date for the issuance of rights
or warrants to all holders of Common Shares entitling them (for a period
expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or
purchase Common Shares (or shares having the same rights, privileges, and
preferences as the Common Shares ("equivalent common shares") or securities
convertible into Common Shares or equivalent common shares) at a price per
Common Share or per equivalent common share (or having a conversion price per
share, if a security convertible into Common Shares or equivalent common shares)
less than the current market price (as defined in Section 11(d)) per Common
Share on such record date, the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price and the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by
a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding on
such record date plus the number of Common Shares that the aggregate offering
price of the total number of Common Shares or equivalent preferred shares so to
be offered (or the aggregate initial


                                       23
<PAGE>

conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such market price and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Common Shares or
equivalent common shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In
case any part of such subscription price is paid in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent. Common Shares 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 such rights or warrants are not so issued, the
Purchase Price and the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price
and the Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.

         (c) In case the Company fixes a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Common Shares (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation) or evidences of indebtedness or assets
(other than a regular periodic cash dividend at a rate per share not in excess
of 150% of the last quarterly cash dividend per share theretofore paid or a
dividend payable in Common Shares, but including any dividend payable in shares
other than Common Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price and the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by
a fraction the


                                       24
<PAGE>

numerator of which is the market price (as defined in Section 11(d)) per Common
Share on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the
assets (in the case of regular periodic cash dividends at a rate per share in
excess of 150% of the last quarterly cash dividend per share theretofore paid,
only that portion in excess of 150% of such quarterly cash dividend per share)
or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights
or warrants applicable to one Common Share and the denominator of which shall be
such market price per Common Share. Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and, in the event such distribution is not
so made, the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price and the Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.

         (d) For the purpose of any computation under Section 11(a), (b), or (c)
hereof, the "market price" of a Common Share on any date of determination shall
be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per Common Share for the
30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date, except that, in the event the "market price" per Common
Share is determined during the period following the announcement by the issuer
of such Common Share of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Share
payable in Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares or (B) any
subdivision, combination, or reclassification of such Common Shares and prior to
the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend
or distribution or the record date for such subdivision, combination, or
reclassification, the "market price" shall, in each such case, be


                                       25
<PAGE>

appropriately adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing
price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the NYSE or, if the Common Shares are not listed or admitted to
trading on the NYSE, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading
or, if the Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted sale price or, if no sale price is quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date
the Common Shares are not reported by NASDAQ or such other system, the average
of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the Common Shares selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company, except that if on any such date no market maker is making a market in
the Common Shares the closing price on such date shall be the value of a Common
Share on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. The
term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading is open
for the transaction of business or, if the Common Shares are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the
Common Shares are not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "market price"
per Common Share shall mean the value per Common Share as determined


                                       26
<PAGE>

in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described
in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.

         (e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price shall be
required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at
least 1% in the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price, except that any
adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made
shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to
the nearest ten-thousandth of a Common Share, 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 that mandates such adjustment and (ii)
the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any of the Rights.

         (f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a),
the holder of any of the Rights exercised after such adjustment becomes entitled
to receive upon exercise of the Rights any shares of the Company other than
Common Shares, the number of such other shares so receivable 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 Common Shares contained in
Section 11, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, and 13 with respect to the
Common Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

         (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price shall evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price and (at the close of business
on the 20th calendar day following the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date)
the adjusted Exercise Price, the


                                       27
<PAGE>

number of Common Shares purchasable from time to time upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided in this Agreement.

         (h) Upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price
as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each of the
Rights outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall,
unless the Company has exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i),
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price or the
adjusted Exercise Price, as the case may be, that number of Common Shares
(calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the
number of Common Shares purchasable upon exercise of one of the Rights
immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price or the Exercise
Price, as the case may be, in effect immediately prior to such adjustment and
(ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price or the Exercise
Price, as the case may be, in effect immediately after such adjustment.

         (i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price, to adjust the number of Rights, in
substitution for any adjustment in the number of Common Shares purchasable upon
the exercise of one of the Rights. Each of the Rights outstanding after such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Common
Shares for which one of the Rights was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each of the Rights held of record prior to such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price
in effect immediately prior to the adjustment by the Purchase Price and the
Exercise Price in effect immediately after the adjustment. The Company shall
make a


                                       28
<PAGE>

public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating
the record date for the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date
on which the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price are adjusted or any day
thereafter but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10
days later than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have
been issued, the Company shall, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights
pursuant to this Section 11(i) and as promptly as practicable, cause to be
distributed to holders of Right Certificates on such record date Right
Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 13, the additional Rights to which
such holders are 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 Right Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof if required by the
Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
are entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed
shall be issued, executed, and countersigned in the manner provided for in this
Agreement (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price and the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of
the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the
public announcement.

         (j) Notwithstanding any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and
the Exercise Price or the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of
the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may
continue to express the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price per Common Share
and the number of Common Shares that were expressed in the initial Right
Certificates issued under this Agreement.



                                       29
<PAGE>

         (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price or the Exercise Price below the then stated capital, if any,
of a Common Share issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take
any corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in
order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable Common Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price or such adjusted
Exercise Price.

         (l) In any case in which this Section 11 requires that an adjustment in
the Purchase Price and the Exercise 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 issuing to the holder of any Rights exercised after such record
date the number of Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other securities)
issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Common Shares (or
Preferred Shares or other securities) issuable upon such exercise on the basis
of the Purchase Price or the Exercise Price, as the case may be, in effect prior
to such adjustment, except that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due
bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive
such additional Common Shares (or Preferred Shares or other 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 reduction in the Purchase Price and the
Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company in
its discretion determines to be advisable.




                                       30
<PAGE>

         Section 12. Certificates of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, 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 Common Shares a copy of
such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right
Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a
certificate representing Common Shares) in accordance with Section 25. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment contained in such certificate.

         Section 13. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) Prior to the
occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, the Company shall not be required to
issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates that evidence
fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company may pay to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the market value of one of the Rights. For the purposes of this
Section 13(a), the market value of one of the Rights 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 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


                                       31
<PAGE>

respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if the
Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are
listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted sale price or, if
no sale price is quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use
or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by NASDAQ or any such other
system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, the market value of one of the Rights shall be the value
of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent.

         (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of a Common
Share upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence
fractional Common Shares. In lieu of fractional shares, the Company may pay to
the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Right Certificates
are exercised an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the market price
of a Common Share on the date of exercise. For purposes of this Section 14(b),
the market price of a Common Share shall be determined in accordance with
Section 11(d).

         (c) The holder of Rights by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional Common
Shares upon exercise of the Rights.

         Section 14. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and,


                                       32
<PAGE>

prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares);
and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of any other Common Shares), 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 Right Certificate. 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 will be entitled to specific
performance of, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.

         Section 15. Agreement of Rights Holders. Holders of the Rights by
accepting the Rights consent and agree with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with other holders of Rights that:

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

         (b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates will be
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent or such other office as the Rights
Agent may designate from time to time for that purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms
and certificates fully executed; and



                                       33
<PAGE>

         (c) the Company and the Rights Agent may, subject to Section 6(a),
Section 7(e), and Section 7(f), deem and treat the Person in whose name the
Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common
Share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner of such Right Certificate
and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership
or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Share certificate
made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be required to be
affected by any notice to the contrary.

         Section 16. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends, or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of Common
Shares (or Preferred Shares or other securities) that may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer
upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote in the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 23), to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement.

         Section 17. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
under this Agreement and, from time to time on demand of the Rights Agent, to
reimburse it for


                                       34
<PAGE>

or pay its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred
in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Company also agrees to
indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability, or expense incurred without negligence, bad faith, or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent as a result of anything done or
omitted to be done 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 Right Certificate
or certificate for Common Shares 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, if
necessary, verified or acknowledged by the proper person or persons.

         Section 18. 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, any corporation resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent is 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


                                       35
<PAGE>

of the parties to this Agreement, provided such corporation is eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 20. In
case at the time such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by
this Agreement any of the Right Certificates have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor so countersigned; in case at that time any of the Right Certificates
have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such
Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the
name of the successor Rights Agent; and, in all such cases, such Right
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in
this Agreement.

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

         Section 19. 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 Right Certificates,
by their acceptance of the Right Certificates, shall be bound:

         (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel, 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


                                       36
<PAGE>



accordance with such opinion, regardless of whether such counsel is also counsel
to the Company.

         (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved
or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect of such fact or matter is
specifically prescribed in this Agreement) may be deemed to be conclusively
proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the
Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, or the 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 omitted in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

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

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

         (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery of this
Agreement (except the due execution of this Agreement by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except the


                                       37
<PAGE>


countersignature of the Right Certificates by the Rights Agent); nor shall it be
responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained
in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 or responsible for
the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the
existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect
to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice of
any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Common
Shares or Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right
Certificate or as to whether any Common Shares or Preferred Shares will, when
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 under this Agreement
from any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, or the Secretary of the Company
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and


                                       38
<PAGE>



it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with any such instructions.

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

         (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it by this Agreement or perform any duty under this Agreement
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 attorney or agent or for any loss to the Company
resulting from any such act, default, neglect, or misconduct, provided
reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment of such
attorney or agent.

         (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 or in the exercise of its rights under this
Agreement if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of
such funds, or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability, is not
reasonably assured to it.



                                       39
<PAGE>



         (k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 or 2 of such
certificate, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise or transfer without first obtaining instructions from
the Company, as provided in Section 19(g).

         Section 20. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares by registered or certified mail and to the holders of the
Right Certificates by first class mail. If the Rights Agent resigns, is removed
or otherwise becomes incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor
to the Rights Agent. If the Company fails to make such appointment within a
period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been
notified in writing of such registration or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of any of the Rights (who shall,
with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then the registered holder of any Right may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to
do business as a banking institution, is in good standing, is authorized to
exercise corporate trust powers, is subject to supervision or examination by


                                       40
<PAGE>

federal or state authorities, and has at the time of its appointment as Rights
Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. 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 under this
Agreement 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 of the appointment in writing with
the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 20 or any defect in such
notice shall, however, 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 21. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Right Certificates to the contrary,
the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights
in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors of the Company to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the Exercise Price,
in the number, kind, or class of shares or other securities or property
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, or in any other provision of this
Agreement made in accordance with Section 11, Section 25, or any other provision
of this Agreement.

         Section 22. Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may,
at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on
the 20th calendar day following the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date or
(ii) the


                                       41
<PAGE>

close of business on the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all
of the Rights then outstanding at a redemption price of $.01 for each of the
Rights, adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend, or similar
transaction occurring after the date of this Agreement (such redemption price
being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable upon the occurrence of a Flip-in Event pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
prior to the expiration of the Company's right of redemption pursuant to this
Section 22(a).

         (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, 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. Within 10 days after the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice
to each such holder at the last address of such holder 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 Shares. Any notice that is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the
holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption shall state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the
Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire, or purchase
for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than as specifically set
forth in this Section 22 or in connection with the repurchase of Common Shares
prior to the Distribution Date.



                                       42
<PAGE>

         Section 23. Notice of Certain Events. In case the Company proposes at
any time following the Distribution Date (a) to pay any dividend payable in
shares of any class to the holders of Common Shares or to make any other
distribution to the holders of Common Shares (other than a regular periodic cash
dividend at a rate per share not in excess of 150% of the last cash quarterly
dividend per share theretofore paid), (b) to offer to the holders of Common
Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Common
Shares, shares of any other class, or any other securities, rights, or options,
(c) to effect any reclassification of the Common Shares (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Common Shares),
(d) to effect any transaction which would constitute a Flip-over Event, or (e)
to effect the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the
Company shall, in each such case, give to each holder of Rights, in accordance
with Section 24, a notice of such proposed action specifying the record date for
the purposes of such dividend or distribution, 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 Common Shares, if any such date is to be fixed.
Such notice shall be so given, in the case of any action described in clause (a)
or (b) above, at least 20 days prior to the record date for determining holders
of the Common Shares for purposes of such action and, in the case of any such
other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed
action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares,
whichever is the earlier. In case any of the events set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) of this Agreement occurs, the Company shall, in any such case, as soon
as practicable thereafter give to each holder of Rights, in accordance with
Section 24, a


                                       43
<PAGE>

notice of the occurrence of such event specifying the event and the consequences
of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii).

         Section 24. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if personally delivered
or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

         Nordson Corporation
         28601 Clemens Road
         Westlake, Ohio 44145
         Attention: General Counsel

Subject to the provisions of Section 20, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
personally delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed
(until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:

         National City Bank
         Corporate Trust Administration
         629 Euclid Avenue, Rm. 635
         Cleveland, Ohio  44114
         Attention:  Ms. Sharon Boughter

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Right Certificate shall
be sufficiently given or made if personally delivered or 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.


                                       44
<PAGE>

         Section 25. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to
time, with the approval of its Board of Directors, supplement or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order (i) to cure any
ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained in this
Agreement that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision in this
Agreement, and (iii), prior to the close of business on the 20th calendar day
following the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, to make any other change
in the provisions of this Agreement that the Board of Directors of the Company
deems to be consistent with the purposes of this Agreement and not adverse to
the interests of the Company and its shareholders. Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
25, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment unless the
Rights Agent determines in good faith that such supplement or amendment would
adversely affect its interests under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Agreement, prior to the close of business on the 20th
calendar day following the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed to be coincident with the
interests of the holders of Common Shares.

         Section 26. 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.

         Section 27. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common
Shares outstanding at any particular time, including the purpose of determining
the particular


                                       45
<PAGE>

percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the
Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as
in effect on the date of this Agreement. The Board of Directors of the Company
shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to
exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or
the Company or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this
Agreement, including the right and power (i) to interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) to make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement. All such actions, calculations,
interpretations, and determinations (including, for the purpose of clause (ii)
below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the
Board of Directors in good faith shall (i) be final, conclusive, and binding on
the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of Right Certificates, and all other
parties and (ii) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the
holders of Right Certificates.

         Section 28. 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 Rights (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
registered holders of Common Shares) 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 Rights (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of Common
Shares).

         Section 29. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant, or
restriction of or in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
or other


                                       46
<PAGE>

authority to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants, and restrictions of or in this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired, or invalidated,
except that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any
such term, provision, covenant, or restriction is held by such court or
authority to be invalid, void, or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of
the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid
language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of
this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 22 hereof shall be
reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the 20th day
following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.

         Section 30. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued under it shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Ohio and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.

         Section 31. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, and each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.

         Section 32. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the Sections
of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or
affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this Agreement.


                                       47
<PAGE>

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

                                                 NORDSON CORPORATION


                                                 By:__________________________

                                                 Name:  Robert E. Veillette

                                                 Title:  Secretary


                                                 NATIONAL CITY BANK
                                                 As Rights Agent


                                                 By: _________________________

                                                 Name: _______________________

                                                 Title: ______________________






                                       48
<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit A

            "EXPRESS" TERMS OF SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES


         A series of Serial Preferred Shares is created with the following
"express" terms:

                  A. Designation. The shares of such series are designated as
         "Series B Convertible Preferred Shares" without par value; (the "Series
         B Preferred Shares").

                  B. Authorized Number of Shares; Fractional Shares. The
         authorized number of Series B Preferred Shares is ______________.
         Series B Preferred Shares may be issued in fractions of a share that
         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 B Preferred Shares.

                  C. Dividends and Distributions.

                  (1) Dividends and other distribution shall be declared and
         paid on the Series B Preferred Shares at the same time that dividends
         or other distributions are declared and paid on the Common Shares. The
         amount per share and kind of the dividends or other distributions on
         the Series B Preferred Shares shall be the same as the amount per share
         and kind of the dividends or other distributions on the Common Shares.

                  (2) Dividends on Series B Preferred Shares shall not accrue or
         be cumulative.

                  D. Conversion. Each Series B Preferred Share is convertible,
         at the option of the holder, into one Common Share, provided that, at
         the time of conversion, there is a sufficient number of authorized but
         unissued Common Shares, or Common Shares held in the Company's
         treasury, to permit the conversion of all Series B Preferred Shares
         then outstanding.

                    Liquidation, Dissolution, or Winding Up.

                  Upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company,
         holders of Series B Preferred Shares shall have the same rights and
         shall be treated the same as holders of Common Shares with respect to
         distributions by the Company.

                  E. Conversion on Merger, Consolidation, etc. In case the
         Company enters into any merger, consolidation, combination, or other
         transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged or changed into other
         shares or securities, cash, or


                                      A-1
<PAGE>

         other property, each Series Preferred Share shall in any such case at
         the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share
         equal to the aggregate amount of shares, securities, cash, or other
         property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which
         each Common Share is changed or exchanged.

                  F. Redemption. The outstanding Series B Preferred Shares shall
         not be redeemable.

                  G. Voting Rights. Each holder of Series B Preferred Shares
         shall be entitled to one vote for each share held and, except as
         otherwise provided by law, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares and
         the holders of Common Shares shall vote together as one class.




                                      A-2
<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit B

                            FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE


Certificate No. R -                                        ______________ Rights

         NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER OCTOBER 31, 2007, OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF
         REDEMPTION IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE
         OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.01 FOR EACH OF THE RIGHTS ON THE TERMS SET
         FORTH IN THE RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS
         CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR
         BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN ASSOCIATE OR AFFILIATE OF AN ACQUIRING
         PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT).
         ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY
         MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e)
         OF THE RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT.] *

                                RIGHT 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
Second Restated Rights Agreement dated as of May 21, 2003 (the "Restated Rights
Agreement"), between Nordson Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"),
and National City Bank, a national banking association organized and existing
under the laws of the United States, (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the
Restated Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M. Cleveland time, on October 31,
2007, at the principal office of the Rights Agent, or of its successor as Rights
Agent, or at such other office as the Rights Agent or its successor may
designate from time to time for that purpose, one fully paid and non-assessable
Common Share with a par value of


--------
* The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable.



                                      B-1
<PAGE>


$1.00 (the "Common Shares") of the Company, at a purchase price of $175 per
Common Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, the number of Common
Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of the Rights, and the Purchase Price
per Common Share set forth above, are the numbers and Purchase Price as of
October 31, 1997, based on the Common Shares as constituted at such date, and
are subject to adjustment as provided in the Restated Rights Agreement.

         If the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person (as such terms are defined in the Restated Rights Agreement), (ii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person became an Acquiring Person, or
(iii), under certain circumstances specified in the Restated Rights Agreement, 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
an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall, when the Acquiring Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, become null and void and thereafter no holder hereof shall
have any right with respect to such Rights.

         At the close of business on the 20th calendar day following the
occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date, each Right becomes the right to
purchase two Common Shares at an Exercise Price of $1.00 per share, subject to
adjustment in accordance with the Restated Rights Agreement.

         As provided in the Restated Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price, the
Exercise Price, and the number of Common Shares or kind of other securities that
may be



                                      B-2
<PAGE>

purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

         This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions, and
conditions of the Restated Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions, and
conditions are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Right
Certificate. Reference is hereby made to the Restated Rights Agreement for a
full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties, and
immunities of the Rights Agent, the Company, and the holders of the Right
Certificates. Copies of the Restated Rights Agreement are on file at the office
of the Rights Agent mentioned above.

         This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent or such other office as
the Rights Agent may designate from time to time for that purpose, may be
exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and
date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number
of Common Shares as the Right evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right
Certificate is exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon
surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number
of whole Rights not exercised.

         Subject to the provisions of the Restated Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option
at a redemption price of $.01 for each of the Rights.

         The Company is not required to issue fractional Common Shares upon the
exercise of any Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof may make a cash
payment, as provided in the Restated Rights Agreement.




                                      B-3
<PAGE>


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

         This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it has 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:                                          NORDSON CORPORATION


_______________________

                                                 By: _________________________

Secretary                                        Title:



Countersigned:



_______________________

By ____________________





                                      B-4
<PAGE>


                       [Reverse Side of Right Certificate]



                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT




                 (To be executed by the registered holder if the

                holder desires to transfer the Right certificate)




                     FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns, and transfers unto

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________


                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

this Right Certificate, together with all right, title, and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ as
attorney, to transfer the Right Certificate on the books of Nordson Corporation,
with full power of substitution.

Dated: ___________________________


                                            ____________________________________
                                            Signature


Signature Guaranteed:






                                      B-5
<PAGE>


                                   CERTIFICATE

                       (Applicable to Form of Assignment)


         The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:

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


Dated: __________________________              ________________________________
                                               Signature

                                     Notice

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



                                      B-6
<PAGE>


                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE


                    (To be executed if the holder desires to
                         exercise the Right Certificate)

To Nordson Corporation:

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Common Shares or
other securities issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates therefor be issued in the name of:

________________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)

________________________________________________________________________________

Please insert social security
or other identifying number:____________________________________________________


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

________________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)

________________________________________________________________________________

Please insert social security
or other identifying number:____________________________________________________



Dated: _________________________________     __________________________________
                                             Signature

                                             (Signature must conform in all
                                             respects to name of the holder as
                                             specified on the face of this Right
                                             Certificate)

Signature Guaranteed:




                                      B-7
<PAGE>


                                   CERTIFICATE

                  (Applicable to Form of Election to Purchase)


         The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:

         (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate [  ] are [  ] are
not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Restated 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 Right
Certificate from any Person who is, was, or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.


Dated: _______________________, 19___      ____________________________________
                                           Signature

                                     Notice

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



                                      B-8
<PAGE>




                                                                       Exhibit C

                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                  COMMON SHARES


         The Board of Directors of Nordson Corporation in August 1988 declared a
dividend consisting of rights to purchase Common Shares of Nordson. One of the
rights was distributed to the holder of each Common Share outstanding on
September 9, 1988, the record date for the distribution. Rights have been and
will continue to be distributed with Common Shares issued by Nordson after the
record date but before the expiration of the rights or the occurrence of a
"flip-in" event, as described below.

         When the rights become exercisable, the holder of each of the rights
will be entitled to purchase one Common Share of Nordson for $175. The rights
will become exercisable (1) at the close of business on the earlier of the 20th
calendar day after a public announcement that a person or group has become the
beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (a "shares
acquisition date") or (2) any earlier date designated by Nordson's Board of
Directors.

         Until the rights become exercisable, they will trade with the Common
Shares, and any transfer of Common Shares will also constitute a transfer of the
associated rights. When the rights become exercisable, they will begin to trade
separate and apart from the Common Shares. At that time, separate certificates
representing the rights will be mailed to holders.

         Twenty days after a "shares acquisition date", each of the rights will
"flip-in" and become the right to purchase two Common Shares of Nordson for
$1.00 per share. Upon the occurrence of a "flip-in" event, rights held by a
person or group that beneficially owns 15% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, and rights held by certain transferees from any such person or group,
will become void.

         The exercise price, and the number of Common Shares of Nordson to be
purchased upon exercise of the rights, are subject to adjustment from time to
time to prevent dilution.

         The Board of Directors may redeem the rights for $.01 each at any time
before the 20th calendar day after a "shares acquisition date" or the earlier
expiration of the rights.

         Eric T. Nord and Evan W. Nord are trustees of the Walter G. Nord Trust
and the Nord Family Foundation, and Eric T. Nord is trustee of the Eric and Jane
Nord Foundation. For purposes of determining the percentage of Common Shares
deemed to be beneficially owned by them, Common Shares held by the Walter G.
Nord Trust, by the Nord Family Foundation, or by the Eric and Jane Nord Trust
will not be attributed to either Eric T. Nord or Evan W. Nord, and Common Shares
held by Eric T. Nord or Evan W. Nord will not be attributed to the Walter G.
Nord Trust, the Nord Family Foundation, or the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation.
Similarly, Common Shares held by the Nord Family Foundation will not be



<PAGE>

attributed to the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, and Common Shares held by the
Eric and Jane Nord Foundation will not be attributed to the Nord Family
Foundation.

         The terms of the rights are set forth in a Second Restated Rights
Agreement between Nordson and National City Bank, as rights agent (the "Restated
Rights Agreement"). The provisions of the Restated Rights Agreement may be
amended by the Board of Directors to cure any ambiguity or correct any defect or
inconsistency. Prior to the close of business on the 20th calendar day following
the occurrence of a "shares acquisition date", the Restated Rights Agreement may
also be amended to make any other change that the Board of Directors deems to be
consistent with the purposes of the Restated Rights Agreement and not adverse to
the interests of the Company and its shareholders.

         A copy of the Restated Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of the Restated Rights Agreement is
available from Nordson free of charge. This summary of the rights is not
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Restated Rights
Agreement.


                                       B-2