Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

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

                              MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

                                       and

                  COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent

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

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of November 4, 2002

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

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     Page No.
<S>                                                                                                  <C>
Section 1   Certain Definitions ...................................................................      1
Section 2   Appointment of Rights Agent ...........................................................      5
Section 3   Issue of Right Certificates. ..........................................................      5
Section 4   Form of Right Certificates ............................................................      7
Section 5   Countersignature and Registration. ....................................................      7
Section 6   Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated,
            Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. .........................................      7
Section 7   Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights. ........................      8
Section 8   Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates ....................................      9
Section 9   Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock. ............................................      9
Section 10  Preferred Stock Record Date ...........................................................     10
Section 11  Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares and
            Number of Rights ......................................................................     11
Section 12  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares ............................     18
Section 13  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. .................     18
Section 14  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. ..............................................     21
Section 15  Rights of Action ......................................................................     23
Section 16  Agreement of Right Holders. : .........................................................     23
Section 17  Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder .....................................     23
Section 18  Concerning the Rights Agent. ..........................................................     24
Section 19  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. ............................     24
Section 20  Duties of Rights Agent ................................................................     25
Section 21  Change of Rights Agent ................................................................     27
Section 22  Issuance of New Right Certificates ....................................................     27
Section 23  Redemption. ...........................................................................     28
Section 24  Exchange. .............................................................................     28
Section 25  Notice of Certain Events. .............................................................     29
Section 26  Notices ...............................................................................     30
Section 27  Supplements and Amendments ............................................................     30
Section 28  Successors ............................................................................     31
Section 29  Benefits of this Agreement ............................................................     31
Section 30  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors ..................................     31
Section 31  Severability ..........................................................................     32
Section 32  Governing Law .........................................................................     32
Section 33  Counterparts ..........................................................................     32
Section 34  Descriptive Headings ..................................................................     32
</TABLE>

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                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This Rights Agreement (this "Agreement"), is made and entered into as
of November 4, 2002, between MATRIX BANCORP, INC., a Colorado corporation (the
"Company"), and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, a Colorado corporation, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent").

         The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close
of Business (as defined below) on November 15, 2002 (the "Record Date"), each
Right representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth (subject to
adjustment) of a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized
and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided
herein) with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding
between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the
Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that
Rights may be issued with respect to shares of Common Stock that shall become
outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in
accordance with Section 22.

         Accordingly, 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 meaning indicated:

         (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include (i) an Exempt Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) or (ii) any such Person who has reported or is required to
report such ownership (but less than 25%) on Schedule 13G under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (or any comparable or
successor report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable
or successor report), which Schedule 13D (including an amendment to Schedule
13D) does not state any intention to or reserve the right to control or
influence the management or policies of the Company or engage in any of the
actions specified in Item 4 of such Schedule 13D (other than the disposition of
the Common Stock) and, within 10 Business Days (as such term is hereinafter
defined) of being requested by the Company to advise it regarding the same,
certifies to the Company that such Person acquired shares of Common Stock in
excess of 19.99% inadvertently or without knowledge of the effect of the terms
of the Rights and who, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter
does not acquire additional shares of Common Stock while the Beneficial Owner of
20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; provided, however,
that (A) if the Person requested to so certify fails to do so within 10 Business
Days or (B) if such Person thereafter becomes obligated to file a Schedule 13D
(including an amendment to a Schedule 13D) that would state any intention to or
reserve the right to control or influence the management or

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policies of the Company or engage in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of
such Schedule 13D (other than the disposition of the Common Stock), then such
Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately thereafter. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an
acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the
number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person to 20% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become
the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding by reason of such share acquisitions by the Company and shall
thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock
(other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company
on the outstanding Common Stock in shares of Common Stock or pursuant to a split
or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock), then such Person shall be
deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of
such additional shares of Common Stock, either such Person is not then the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
or such Person is exempted from the definition of "Acquiring Person" pursuant to
Section 1(a)(ii) hereof. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time,
including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner,
shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date
hereof.

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

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

             (i)  which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date hereof;

             (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (x)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase, (y) securities which such Person
has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time
that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (z) securities issuable upon the
exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person if such Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or

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pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof ("Original Rights") or pursuant to
Section 11(i) or Section 11(n) with respect to an adjustment to Original Rights;
or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security by reason of such
agreement, arrangement or understanding if the agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or
consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and
regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then
reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report); or

             (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person and with respect to which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other
than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group
members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of such securities of the Company;
provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section 1(c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.

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

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

         (f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the Common Stock, presently par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company. "Common
Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the common stock (or, in the case of an unincorporated entity, the equivalent
equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such
other Person is a subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

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

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

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

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

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         (k)  "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company or any Subsidiary (as such
term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, in each case including, without
limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee holding
Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of
funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.

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

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

         (n)  "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

         (p)  "NASDAQ" shall mean The Nasdaq Stock Market.

         (q)  "New York Stock Exchange" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc.

         (r)  "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity, and shall include
any successor (by merger or otherwise) to such entity.

         (s)  "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and
preferences set forth in the Form of Articles of Amendment to State Terms of
Series of Shares attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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         (bb) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, and any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled by
such Person.

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

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

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

         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. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.

         Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.

         (a)  Until the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time
as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement by
any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or of the first public announcement
of the intention of such Person (other than an Exempt Person) to commence, a
tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person
(other than an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common
Stock aggregating 20% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier
of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"; provided,
however, that if either of such dates occurs after the date of this Agreement
and on or prior to the Record Date, then the Distribution Date shall be the
Record Date), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of
Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for Common Stock registered in the
names of the holders thereof and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the
Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common
Stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will
prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and the Company will send
or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by
first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date (other than any
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share
of Common Stock so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.

         (b)  On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date (other than any Acquiring Person or
any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such

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holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date
(or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented thereby.

         (c)  Certificates issued for Common Stock (including, without
limitation, upon transfer of outstanding Common Stock, disposition of Common
Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock out of
authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier
of the Distribution Date and the 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 ("Rights") as set forth in a Rights Agreement
              between MATRIX BANCORP, INC. (the "Company") and COMPUTERSHARE
              TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent, dated as of November 4, 2002 as
              the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights
              Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
              reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
              executive offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as
              set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced
              by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this
              certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this
              certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after
              receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
              circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights owned
              by or transferred to any Person who is or becomes an Acquiring
              Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain
              transferees thereof will become null and void and will no longer
              be transferable.

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided
herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented thereby. If the Company purchases or otherwise acquires
any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any
Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so
that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with
the Common Stock that are no longer outstanding.

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

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         Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the
reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B
hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements, printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Sections 11, 13 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the
number of such one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and the
Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

         Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.

         (a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by the President of the Company or any other duly authorized officer, either
manually or by facsimile signature, and shall be attested by the 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 countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the Person who signed such 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 actual date of the execution of
such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any
such Person was not such an officer.

         (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at an office or agency designated for such purpose, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. 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 Sections 7(e), 11(a)(ii), 13 and 14
hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates,
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or
Right Certificates shall make such request

                                       7

<PAGE>

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 office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall 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) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, at any time
after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, 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 theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to
them, and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the
Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent
for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

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

         (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become
exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and except as
otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in
part upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised, at any
time that is both after the Distribution Date and prior to the time (the
"Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on November
5, 2012 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the
time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.

         (b) The Purchase Price shall be initially $40.00 for each one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. The Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock or other securities or property to be acquired upon exercise of
a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections
11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of
America in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7.

         (c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right
Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase Price
for the shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, in cash or by certified check,
cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall

                                       8

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thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred
Stock certificates for the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased
and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with
all such requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary agent depositary
receipts representing interests in such number of one one-thousandths of a share
of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary
agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the
Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares
in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) promptly after receipt of such
certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate,
after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate.

         (d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the registered holder
of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the Rights evidenced
thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the exercisable
Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the
registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.

         (e) 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
transfer or exercise of Rights pursuant to Section 6 hereof or this Section 7
unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the
Certificate contained in the form of assignment or form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such
transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity
of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof as the Company
shall 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 canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

         Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.

         (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock
or any shares of Preferred

                                       9

<PAGE>

Stock held in its treasury; the number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.

         (b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise
of Rights may be listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved
for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading on such exchange, or
quoted on NASDAQ, upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

         (c) From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the
Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of
shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify
such shares of Preferred Stock under the Securities Act and any applicable state
securities or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not
available), cause such registration statement and qualifications to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing and keep such registration and
qualifications effective until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights
are no longer exercisable for such securities and the Expiration Date. 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 a registration
statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification
in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a registration statement
under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been declared effective.

         (d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates therefor
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.

         (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges that may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of
any shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required 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 the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Stock in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Stock upon the exercise of
any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable
by that holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it
has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax
is due.

         Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of
Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such

                                       10

<PAGE>

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

         Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares and
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the
number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Section 11.

         (a) (i)  If the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement (A) declare and pay a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in
shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of
Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a),
the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or
of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and
the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock that, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such
date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were
open, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of
the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.

             (ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, if any Person becomes
an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event being referred to
hereinafter as the "Flip-In Event"), then (A) the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the Flip-In
Event multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Flip-In Events
whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B) each holder of a Right,
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a
price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, such number of
shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price (as so adjusted) by 50% of the current per share market price of
the Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of
such Flip-In Event; provided,

                                       11

<PAGE>

however, that the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) and the number of shares of
Common Stock so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall, following the Flip-In
Event, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with
Section 11(f) hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, however, from and after the Flip-In Event, any Rights that are
beneficially owned by (x) any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of
any Acquiring Person), (y) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such
Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee after the Flip-In Event or (z)
a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who
became a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Flip-In Event pursuant to
either (I) a transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of its equity
securities or to any Person with whom it has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer
that the Board of Directors has determined is part of the plan, arrangement or
understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of this
paragraph and subsequent transferees of such Persons, shall be void without any
further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no rights
whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any provision of this Agreement.
The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of
this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any
holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make
any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after the Flip-In Event, no Right
Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 hereof that
represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of
this paragraph and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that
represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of
this paragraph shall be canceled. From and after the occurrence of an event
specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been
exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be exercisable
only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).

                  (iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a share of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction
thereof such that the current per share market price of one share of Preferred
Stock multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share
market price of one share of Common Stock. If there shall not be sufficient
shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii), the Board of Directors shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which the Company
is a party (A) determine the excess (such excess, the "Spread") of (1) the value
of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) (the "Current Value") over (2)
the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph
(ii)), and (B) with respect to each Right (other than Rights that have become
void pursuant to the foregoing subparagraph (ii)), make adequate provision to
substitute for the shares of Common Stock issuable in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) upon exercise of the Right and payment of the
Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance therewith), (1) cash, (2) a reduction
in such Purchase Price, (3) shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities
of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or fractions of shares of
preferred stock that, by virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation
rights substantially comparable to those of the shares of Common Stock, are
deemed in good

                                       12

<PAGE>

faith by the Board of Directors to have substantially the same value as the
shares of Common Stock (such shares of Preferred Stock and shares or fractions
of shares of Preferred Stock are hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock
Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any
combination of the foregoing, having a value that, when added to the value of
the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of such Right, shall have an
aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in
such Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the
Board of Directors upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected in good faith by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that
if the Company shall not make adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to
clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the Flip-In Event (the
"Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreement
then in effect to which the Company is a party, upon the surrender for exercise
of a Right and without requiring payment of such Purchase Price, shares of
Common Stock (to the extent available), and then, if necessary, such number or
fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the
Spread. If, upon the occurrence of the Flip-In Event, the Board of Directors
shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional
shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of
the Rights, then, if the Board of Directors so elects, the thirty (30) day
period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more
than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that
the Company may seek shareholder approval for the authorization of such
additional shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, is herein
called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines
that some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentence of
this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof and the last sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, that
such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period
in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such second sentence and
to determine the value thereof. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall
issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has
been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the current per share market price
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
Date and the per share or fractional value of any "Common Stock Equivalent"
shall be deemed to equal the current per share market price of the Common Stock.
The Board of Directors of the Company may, but shall not be required to,
establish procedures to allocate the right to receive shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(a)(iii).

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

                                       13

<PAGE>

then current per share market price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect
after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred
shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock and equivalent preferred shares which the aggregate offering price of the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares so
to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible
securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price, and
the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and
equivalent preferred shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares to be
offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities
so to be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event
shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than
the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent. Shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred
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 if such rights,
options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.

         (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to
in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
then current per share market price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) 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 or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one share of Preferred
Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Preferred Stock; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall
be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and if such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

                                       14

<PAGE>

         (d) (i)  Except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of any
computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of any security (a
"Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed
to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the
30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date; provided, however, that, if the current per share market
price of the Security is determined during a period following the announcement
by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such
Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such
shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Security, 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, then, and in each such case, the current per
share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market
price per share equivalent of such Security. 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 by the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ
or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Security
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall
mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the
Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.

             (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, if the Preferred
Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section
11(d)(i). If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but the Common Stock is
publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Stock
shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of the
Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) multiplied by the then
applicable Adjustment Number (as defined in and determined in accordance with
the Articles of Amendment to State Terms of Series of Shares for the Preferred
Stock). If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly traded,
"current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.

         (e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a
share

                                       15

<PAGE>

of Preferred Stock or one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock or other share or
security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section
11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than
the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction that requires
such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.

         (f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Preferred
Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a),
11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof, as applicable, and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred
Stock shall apply on like terms, to any such other shares.

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

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

         (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 11(b) or 11(c) hereof to adjust the number
of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one-hundredth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a
public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating
the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is 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, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company may, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be

                                       16

<PAGE>

distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right
Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the
option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record
in substitution and replacement for the 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
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed
shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein
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) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
the exercise of a Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock that were expressed in the initial
Right Certificates issued hereunder.

         (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the fraction of
Preferred Stock or other shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of a
Right, 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 shares of Preferred Stock or other such
shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.

         (l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares 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 adjustments in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, issuance
wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market
price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or securities which by their
terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, dividends on
Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock or issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by
the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.

         (n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at
anytime after the date of this Rights Agreement and prior to the Distribution
Date, the Company shall (i)

                                       17

<PAGE>

declare and pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii)
effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend payable in Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then, in each
such case, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then
outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of
Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by
multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock
immediately prior to each event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of
such event.

         (o) The Company agrees that, after the earlier of the Distribution Date
or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23,
24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the
time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will
diminish substantially or eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.

         Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock and the
Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof (if
so required under Section 25 hereof). The Rights Agent shall be fully protected
in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it
shall have received such certificate.

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

         (a) If, directly or indirectly, at any time after the Flip-In Event (i)
the Company shall consolidate with or shall merge into any other Person, (ii)
any Person shall merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such
merger, all or part of the Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other securities of any other Person (or of the Company) or cash or any
other property, or (iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person (other than the Company or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of
the Company), then upon the first occurrence of such event, proper provision
shall be made so that: (A) each holder of a Right (other than Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the Purchase Price (as
theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof), in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock or
Common Stock of the Company, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid,

                                       18

<PAGE>

non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall equal
the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in
accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) by 50% of the current per share market
price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer; provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as theretofore
adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and the number of shares
of Common Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right
shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section
11(f) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect of the Common Stock of
such Principal Party after the occurrence of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer; (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall
assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the
obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Rights Agreement; (C) the
term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and
(D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
the reservation of a sufficient number of its shares of Common Stock in
accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation of any
such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the
shares of its Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the
Rights; provided, however, that, upon the subsequent occurrence of any
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary
transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall
thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the
Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares, rights,
warrants and other property that such holder would have been entitled to receive
had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common Stock of the
Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right pursuant to this Section
13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the
subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such
cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.

     (b)  "Principal Party" shall mean:

          (i)   in the case of any transaction described in (i) or (ii) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer of the
securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in such merger or
consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the shares
of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the
other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if there is
more than one such Person, the Person the shares of Common Stock of which have
the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the Person
that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person
that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the
Person resulting from the consolidation; and

          (ii)  in the case of any transaction described in (iii) of the first
sentence in Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a

                                       19

<PAGE>

party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the
assets or earning power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such
Persons is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value
of shares outstanding; provided, however, that in any such case described in the
foregoing clause (b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Stock of such Person is not at
such time or has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and
has been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other, or
(2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one
Person, the Common Stock of all of which is and has been so registered, the term
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding,
or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture
formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the
same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to
each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if the Person owned by
the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and
the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in
this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to the
total of such interests.

     (c)  The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior thereto the Company
and the Principal Party involved therein shall have executed and delivered to
the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the requirements of Sections 13(a)
and (b) hereof shall promptly be performed in accordance with their terms and
that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result in
a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have
been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof
and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing such agreement
pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party will:

          (i)   prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and 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 Expiration Date and similarly comply with
applicable state securities laws;

          (ii)  use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the Principal
Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or
on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or
continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange, or, if
the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to
cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the Rights to be
authorized for quotation on NASDAQ or on such other system then in use;

                                       20

<PAGE>

          (iii)  deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party that comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act; and

          (iv)   obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject to purchase
upon exercise of outstanding Rights.

     (d)  In case the Principal Party has a provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant
to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common
Stock or Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than the then
current market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock or
Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such then current
market price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar
provision in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal
Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then, in such event, the Company
hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such
transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing
that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled,
waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that
the applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.

     (e)  The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after
the Flip-In Event, enter into any transaction of the type described in clauses
(i) through (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) at the time of or immediately
after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other transaction there are
any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect that would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer or other transaction, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes,
or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof
shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or
any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization
of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights.

     Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

     (a)  The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates that evidence fractional Rights (except prior to
the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n) hereof). In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid 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 current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole

                                       21

<PAGE>

Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise
issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights
are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use
or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the
Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.

     (b)  The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of
a share of Preferred Stock) or to distribute certificates that evidence
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions that are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon the exercise
or exchange of Rights. Interests in fractions of Preferred Stock in integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the
election of the Company be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an
appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it;
provided, however, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such
depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to
which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Stock represented
by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock
that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at
the time such Rights are exercised or exchanged as herein provided an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of
Preferred Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.

     (c)  The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional
shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holder of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock
would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole share of Common Stock (as determined in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise or exchange.

                                       22

<PAGE>

     (d)   The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives
his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise or exchange of a Right (except as provided above).

     Section 15.  Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), on his own behalf and for his own
benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect to his
right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided therein and in
this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of
any Person subject to this Agreement.

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

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

     (b)   after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or
agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and

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

     Section 17.  Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. 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 Preferred Stock or any other
securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise or
exchange of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
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 for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions

                                       23

<PAGE>

affecting shareholders (except as provided in this Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with
the provisions hereof.

     Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.

     (a)   The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation
for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of
the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other
disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and
the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to
indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the
Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly. In no case will the Rights
Agent be liable for special, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or
damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even
if the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

     (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 the Preferred Stock or Common Stock or for other securities of
the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be
signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged by the proper
Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in
Section 20 hereof.

     Section 19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.

     (a)   Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
stock transfer or corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have 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.

                                       24

<PAGE>

     (b)   In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have 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 20.  Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

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

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

     (c)   The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

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

     (e)   The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in
the terms of the Rights provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 and 24, or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right
Certificates after receipt of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12,
describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be
deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to

                                       25

<PAGE>

whether any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities 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 hereunder from any
person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the President or the
Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of
any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those
instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement
and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission
shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken
by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in
any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which
date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the
Company actually receives such application unless any such officer shall have
consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action
(or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have
received written instructions in response to such application specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.

     (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 or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

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

     (j)   If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of
assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof,
as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder is not an
Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof), the Rights Agent shall
not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer
without first consulting with the Company.

                                       26

<PAGE>

     Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and,
following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and, following
the Distribution Date, to the holder of the Right Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become
incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.
If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court, shall be either (A) a corporation organized
and doing business under the laws of the United States or the laws of any state
of the United States or the District of Columbia, in good standing, having an
office in the State of Colorado or the State of New York, which is authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is
subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which
has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50 million, or (B) an affiliate of such corporation. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock or
Preferred Stock, and, following the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any
notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

     Section 22.  Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such forms as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities
or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, the Company may with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold
pursuant to (i) the exercise of stock options, (ii) under any employee plan or
arrangement, (iii) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities,
notes or debentures issued by the Company or (iv) a contractual obligation of
the Company, in each case existing prior to the Distribution Date, issue

                                       27

<PAGE>

Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection
with such issuance or sale.

     Section 23.  Redemption.

     (a)   The Board of Directors of the Company may, at any time prior to the
Flip-In Event, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights
at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (the redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on
such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion may establish. The Redemption Price shall be payable, at the option
of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock, or such other form of
consideration as the Board of Directors shall determine.

     (b)   Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the
redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23 (or at
such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of
such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice, the
right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the
holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall
promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity
of such redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights (or such later time as the Board of
Directors may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), the Company
shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding
Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption shall state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made.

     Section 24.  Exchange.

     (a)   The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
after the Flip-In Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such amount per Right being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall
not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person
shall have become the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 50%
or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. From and after the
occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that
theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall
thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be
exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the
Board of Directors may be made effective at

                                       28

<PAGE>

such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in
its sole discretion may establish.

         (b)  Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right
thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice
of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect
in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company
shall promptly mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of the
Rights so exchanged at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry
books of the Rights Agent. 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 exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the
shares of Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, upon any partial
exchange, the number of Rights that will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by
each holder of Rights.

         (c)  The Company may at its option substitute, and, if there shall not
be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized
but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for Common Stock as contemplated in
accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall substitute to the extent of
such insufficiency, for each share of Common Stock that would otherwise be
issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Preferred Stock or
fraction thereof (or equivalent preferred shares, as such term is defined in
Section 11(b)) such that the current per share market price (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) of one share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent
preferred share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current
per share market price of one share of Common Stock (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of such exchange.

         Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.

         (a)  In case the Company shall at any time after the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision or combination of
outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (v) to pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation
of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Stock), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the

                                       29

<PAGE>

purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the
date on which such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place and
the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or
Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10
days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Stock for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10
days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock,
whichever shall be the earlier.

         (b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13
shall occur then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to the Distribution
Date, the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event
and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
and Section 13 hereof.

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

                             MATRIX BANCORP, INC.
                             700 Seventh Street
                             Denver, Colorado 80202
                             Attention: Secretary

Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, 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 sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:

                             COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY
                             2 North LaSalle Street
                             Chicago, IL 60602
                             Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.

         Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.  Except as provided in the
penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then
redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights
Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this
Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of the Rights. At
any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, except as provided

                                       30

<PAGE>

in the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Company may, and the Rights
Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any
ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, (iii) shorten or
lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) change or supplement the provisions
hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable;
provided, however, that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely affect
the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), and no such amendment may
cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause the Agreement again to
become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence; further, provided,
that this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to
clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may
be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no
supplement or amendment shall be made which changes the Redemption Price. 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 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.

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

         Section 29.  Benefits of this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock).

         Section 30.  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such
actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for
purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that
are done or made by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, shall
(x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights, as such, and all other parties, and (y) not subject the
Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

                                       31

<PAGE>

         Section 31.  Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

         Section 32.  Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Colorado 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 33.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.

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

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

                                MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

                                By:     /s/ D. Mark Spencer
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                Name:   D. Mark Spencer
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                Title:  President
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY

                                By:     /s/ Kellie Gwinn
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                Name:   Kellie Gwinn
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                Title:  Vice President
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                By:     /s/ John Wahl
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                Name:   John Wahl
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                Title:  Trust Officer
                                        ----------------------------------------

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

                                       32

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A
                                     FORM OF

            ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO STATE TERMS OF SERIES OF SHARES

                  SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                              MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

                      Pursuant to Chapter 7-106-102 of the
                       Colorado Business Corporations Act

         Pursuant to the provisions of the Colorado Business Corporation Act,
the undersigned, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Colorado, adopts the following Articles of Amendment to its Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation:

         FIRST:   The name of the Corporation is Matrix Bancorp, Inc.

         SECOND:  The manner, if not set forth in the amendments, in which any
exchange, reclassification, or cancellation of issued shares provided for in the
amendment shall be effected, is as follows: Not applicable.

         THIRD:   The following amendments were adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation without shareholder action, the unanimous consent
of the Board of Directors sufficient for approval in accordance with the
provisions of the Colorado Business Corporation Act, in the manner prescribed by
the Colorado Business Corporation Act pursuant to the authority conferred upon
the Board of Directors of the Corporation by the provisions of the Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation on October 30, 2002.

                  RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board
         of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of
         the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, a series of
         Preferred Stock designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred
         Stock," par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation be and hereby is
         created, and that the designation and number of shares thereof and the
         voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating,
         optional or other rights of the shares of such series and the
         qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:

                  Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

         1.   Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock
that shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock," and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 15,000. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the number of shares then
issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Corporation.

                                      A-1

<PAGE>

         2.  Dividends and Distributions.

             (A)  Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any
shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the
Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the 15th day of January, April, July and October,
in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after
the first issuance, of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the Adjustment Number (as defined below) times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash dividends, and the Adjustment Number times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a
subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the
Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately preceding Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The "Adjustment Number" shall initially be
1000. If the Corporation shall at any time after November 4, 2002 (the "Rights
Declaration Date"), (i) declare and pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event
shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

             (B)  The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A)
above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

             (C)  The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date fixed
for the payment thereof.

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

             (A)  Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to the Adjustment
Number on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the
Corporation.

                                      A-2

<PAGE>

             (B)  Except as required by law and by Section 10 hereof,
holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special
voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they
are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.

         4.  Certain Restrictions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                      A-3

<PAGE>

         6.  Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.  (A) Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no
distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received
an amount per share (the "Series A Liquidation Preference") equal to the greater
of (i) $1.00 plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, or
(ii) the Adjustment Number times the per share amount of all cash and other
property to be distributed in respect of the Common Stock upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

             (B) If, however, there are not sufficient assets available to
permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the
liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the
Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for
such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

             (C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation
into or with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other
corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section
6.

         7.  Consolidation, Merger, Etc.  In case the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
outstanding shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to the Adjustment
Number times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each
share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.

         8.  No  Redemption.  Shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Company.

         9.  Ranking.  The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends, and as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and
shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.

         10. Amendment.  At any time that any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Articles of Incorporation of
the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter
or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without

                                      A-4

<PAGE>

the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

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

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this
6th day of November, 2002.

                                 MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

                                 By:    ________________________________________
                                 Name:  ________________________________________
                                 Title: ________________________________________

                                      A-5

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit B

                            Form of Right Certificate

Certificate No. R-__________                                   __________ Rights

                  NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 5, 2012 OR EARLIER IF
                  REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
                  REDEMPTION AT $0.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET
                  FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS
                  SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR
                  TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING
                  PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
                  TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO
                  LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

                                RIGHT CERTIFICATE

                              MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

         This certifies that _________________________ or registered assigns, is
the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2002, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between MATRIX BANCORP, INC., a
Colorado corporation (the "Company"), and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to
5:00 p.m., Denver, Colorado time, on November 5, 2012 at the office or agency of
the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or of its successor as Rights
Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), of the Company at a purchase price of $40.00 per one one-thousandth of
a share of Preferred Stock (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 (and the
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock that may be
purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of November 15, 2002 based on
the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights
Agreement, the Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or other securities or property) that may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights and the number of Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of
certain events.

                                      B-1

<PAGE>

         If any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement), each holder of a Right,
other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will
thereupon become void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
of a Right, at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance
with the Rights Agreement) and in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, that number
of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock"), as
shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as so adjusted)
by 50% of the current per share market price of the Common Stock (determined in
accordance with the Rights Agreement).

         This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned office or agency of the Rights Agent. The
Company will mail to the holder of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.

         This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
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 shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be 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 Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$0.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the
Company's Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, or shares of Preferred
Stock.

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

         No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise or exchange hereof, nor shall anything contained in the
Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as
such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions

                                      B-2

<PAGE>

affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement) or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or
Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised or
exchanged as provided in the Rights Agreement.

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

                                      B-3

<PAGE>

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

                                           MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

                                           By:    ______________________________
                                           Name:  ______________________________
                                           Title: ______________________________

ATTEST:

By:    ______________________________
Name:  ______________________________
Title: ______________________________

Countersigned:

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY,
as Rights Agent

By:    ______________________________
Name:  ______________________________
Title: ______________________________

                                      B-4

<PAGE>

                    Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

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

Dated: ___________________________

                                    ____________________________________________
                                           Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

         Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer
or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.

________________________________________________________________________________
                                (To be completed)

     The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned
from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).

                                    ____________________________________________
                                           Signature

                                      B-5

<PAGE>

              Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

To:  MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or such other
securities) be issued in the name of:

________________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)

________________________________________________________________________________

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

Please insert social security
or other identification number

________________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)

________________________________________________________________________________

Dated: _____________________________

                                    ____________________________________________
                                           Signature

        (Signature must conform to holder specified on Right Certificate)

Signature Guaranteed:

         Signature must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer
or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.

                                      B-6

<PAGE>

              Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued

________________________________________________________________________________
                                (To be completed)

         The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, and were not acquired by the
undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).

                                                     ___________________________
                                                     Signature

________________________________________________________________________________

                                     NOTICE

         The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face
of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever.

         If certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form
of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such Assignment
or Election to Purchase will not be honored.

                                      B-7

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit C

             UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
             AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO
             IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
             AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL
             AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                          SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OF
                              MATRIX BANCORP, INC.

         On November 4, 2002 the Board of Directors of MATRIX BANCORP, INC. (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable on November 15, 2002 (the
"Record Date"), to the shareholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
the Company (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $40.00 per one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of November 4, 2002, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), between the Company and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent").

         Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with
certain exceptions, an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of
20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days
(or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention
to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result
in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the
Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Stock certificate together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.

         The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only
with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the
Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating
the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
shares of Common

                                      C-1

<PAGE>

Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of
this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificates. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record
of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and
such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

         The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on November 5, 2012 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is advanced or extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.

         The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) upon a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).

         The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment upon the
occurrence of a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock
occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

         Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and
if declared, to a dividend payment per share equal to an aggregate dividend of
1,000 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. Upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock
will be entitled to a payment that is the greater of (i) $1.00 per share (plus
any accrued but unpaid dividends), or (ii) 1,000 times the payment made per
share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1,000 votes,
voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, upon any merger, consolidation
or other transaction in which outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted
or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000
times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected
by customary antidilution provisions.

         Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximately be
the value of one share of Common Stock.

                                      C-2

<PAGE>

         If any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned
by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void), will thereafter have
the right to receive upon exercise of a Right, and in lieu of shares of
Preferred Stock, that number of shares of Common Stock having a market value of
two times the exercise price of the Right.

         If, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, the Company
is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more
of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provisions will be
made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person which will have become void) will thereafter have the right to
receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of shares of common stock of
the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction (or
its parent) that at the time of such transaction have a market value of two
times the exercise price of the Right.

         At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraphs
or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have become
void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a
fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in
value thereto, per Right.

         With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock
will be issued (other than fractions of Preferred Stock that are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu
thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of
the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.

         At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.

         For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except
with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner.
After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect
to the redemption price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not
adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.

                                      C-3

<PAGE>

         Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such,
will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

         A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
November 6, 2002. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
as the same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.

                                      C-4<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.11

                                  EPIMMUNE INC.

                      DIRECTORS' DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                         EFFECTIVE AS OF MARCH 17, 1995

                           AMENDED SEPTEMBER 20, 1996

                       AMENDED AND RESTATED JULY 13, 1999

<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           PAGE

<S>     <C>                                                                                <C>
1.      Purpose of the Plan..................................................................1

2.      Definitions..........................................................................1

        2.1    Account.......................................................................1

        2.2    Beneficiary...................................................................1

        2.3    Benefit.......................................................................1

        2.4    Board.........................................................................1

        2.5    Code..........................................................................2

        2.6    Company.......................................................................2

        2.7    Compensation..................................................................2

        2.8    Compensation Reductions.......................................................2

        2.9    Deferred Compensation Agreement...............................................2

        2.10   Director......................................................................2

        2.11   Effective Date................................................................2

        2.12   Eligible Director.............................................................2

        2.13   Fair Market Value.............................................................2

        2.14   Non-Employee Director.........................................................2

        2.15   Participant...................................................................2

        2.16   Plan..........................................................................2

        2.17   Plan Year.....................................................................2

        2.18   Share.........................................................................3

        2.19   Valuation Date................................................................3

3.      Participation........................................................................3

        3.1    Participation of Eligible Directors...........................................3

        3.2    Irrevocability of Participation During the Plan Year..........................4

        3.3    Suspended Participation.......................................................4

        3.4    Termination of Participation..................................................4

4.      Plan Accounts........................................................................4

        4.1    Accounts......................................................................4

        4.2    Investment of Accounts........................................................4
</TABLE>

                                       1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>     <C>                                                                                 <C>
        4.3    Value of Accounts.............................................................5

        4.4    Funds Unsecured...............................................................5

5.      Benefits.............................................................................5

        5.1    Retirement Benefits...........................................................5

        5.2    Death Benefits................................................................6

6.      Source of Benefits...................................................................6

7.      Administration.......................................................................6

        7.1    General.......................................................................6

        7.2    Procedures....................................................................6

        7.3    Claims........................................................................6

8.      Amendment and Termination............................................................7

        8.1    Amendment or Termination......................................................7

        8.2    Accrued Benefits..............................................................7

9.      Adjustment of Shares; Sale or Merger of the Company..................................7

        9.1    Adjustment of Shares..........................................................7

        9.2    Sale or Merger of the Company.................................................8

10.     Miscellaneous........................................................................8

        10.1   Benefits Fully Vested.........................................................8

        10.2   No Right to Continue as Director..............................................8

        10.3   Successors and Assigns........................................................8

        10.4   Assignment or Alienation......................................................8

        10.5   Entire Agreement..............................................................8

        10.6   Headings......................................................................8

        10.7   Gender and Number.............................................................9

        10.8   Governing Law.................................................................9
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                  EPIMMUNE INC.

                      DIRECTORS' DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                        (Effective as of March 17, 1995)

                           Amended September 20, 1996

                       Amended and Restated July 13, 1999

        EPIMMUNE INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby adopts the
Epimmune Inc. Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") as an amendment
and restatement of the Cytel Corporation Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan
for the nonemployee directors of the Company upon the terms and conditions set
forth below.

        The benefits payable under the Plan are and at all times will be mere
unsecured contractual rights against the Company payable from the Company's
general assets. It is intended that the Plan shall constitute an unfunded
deferred compensation arrangement for purposes of United States federal income
tax laws, and all documents, agreements or instruments made or given pursuant to
the Plan shall be interpreted so as to carry out this intent.

1.      PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

        The purpose of this Plan is to provide deferred compensation benefits to
nonemployee directors of the Company, payable by the Company. This Plan will
provide benefits derived from contributions by the Company hereunder of a
nonemployee director's compensation as to which he or she has elected to defer
payment under the Plan.

2.      DEFINITIONS

        The capitalized terms defined in this Section 2 shall have the meanings
set forth below:

        2.1 ACCOUNT. A separate Plan account, which is a bookkeeping record,
established for each Participant to which shall be allocated Compensation
Reductions in accordance with Section 4.1.

        2.2 BENEFICIARY. The beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by a
Participant to receive any remaining Benefits due under the Plan after his or
her death. If the Participant has not designated a Beneficiary, the Beneficiary
shall be the Participant's surviving spouse or, if none, the Participant's
estate.

        2.3 BENEFIT. The benefit or benefits provided under this Plan, which for
a Participant shall be equal to the account balance of such Participant's
Account.

                                       1
<PAGE>

        2.4 BOARD. The Board of Directors of the Company.

        2.5 CODE. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from
time to time.

        2.6 COMPANY. Epimmune Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor
corporation.

        2.7 COMPENSATION. All the fees (paid in cash or by check) received by a
Participant from the Company for a Plan Year for his or her services as a
Director, including but not limited to, the retainer fee and meeting attendance
fees.

        2.8 COMPENSATION REDUCTIONS. The amount of Compensation which a
Participant has elected to defer pursuant to a Deferred Compensation Agreement,
and that the Company and the Participant mutually agree shall be deferred in
accordance with the Plan.

        2.9 DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT. An agreement by which a Participant
elects to reduce all of his or her Compensation for a Plan Year in order for the
Company to make contributions to the Plan on his or her behalf.

        2.10 DIRECTOR. A member of the Board.

        2.11 EFFECTIVE DATE. March 17, 1995.

        2.12 ELIGIBLE DIRECTOR. A Director who is not an employee of the
Company.

        2.13 FAIR MARKET VALUE. The fair market value of a share of Common Stock
of the Company is the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on a national
securities exchange or the National Market System of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System on the day of determination,
as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems
reliable.

        2.14 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR. A Director who either (i) is not a current
employee or officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not receive
compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or
subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than
as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required
under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended ("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any
other transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of
Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship as to which
disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is
otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

        2.15 PARTICIPANT. Any Eligible Director who has elected to participate
in the Plan by entering into a Deferred Compensation Agreement.

                                       2
<PAGE>

        2.16 PLAN. The Epimmune Inc. Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan, as
amended from time to time.

        2.17 PLAN YEAR. The calendar year.

        2.18 SHARE. A participating interest under the Plan, which shall be
equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock of the Company.

        2.19 VALUATION DATE. The last day of each calendar quarter, or such
other date as shall be established by the Company.

3.      PARTICIPATION

        3.1 PARTICIPATION OF ELIGIBLE DIRECTORS.

               (a) Each Eligible Director may begin to participate in the
Plan on the Effective Date; provided, however, that such Eligible Director
completes and signs a Deferred Compensation Agreement and returns such Deferred
Compensation Agreement to the designated representative of the Company prior to
the Effective Date or such earlier date established by the Company and announced
to the Eligible Director. Such Deferred Compensation Agreement shall be
effective for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on December
31, 1995.

               (b) Each Director who becomes an Eligible Director after the
Effective Date may begin to participate in the Plan by completing and signing a
Deferred Compensation Agreement and returning such Deferred Compensation
Agreement to the designated representative of the Company; provided, however,
that such completion and return of the Deferred Compensation Agreement to the
Company occurs within thirty (30) days after the date that the Director becomes
an Eligible Director. Such Deferred Compensation Agreement shall be effective
for the period beginning on the date the Eligible Director completes and returns
the Deferred Compensation Agreement to the Company and ending on the last day of
the Plan Year within which such participation begins.

               (c) An Eligible Director who did not become a Participant in
accordance with the terms of paragraph (a) or (b) may participate in the Plan
effective as of the beginning of any Plan Year following the Plan Year in which
he or she becomes an Eligible Director by completing and signing a Deferred
Compensation Agreement and returning such Deferred Compensation Agreement to the
designated representative of the Company prior to the beginning of the Plan Year
(or such earlier date established by the Company and announced to the Eligible
Director) for which deferral of Compensation is intended to commence. Such
Deferred Compensation Agreement shall be effective for that Plan Year.

               (d) If a Participant wishes to defer Compensation under the
terms of the Plan for any Plan Year subsequent to the first Plan Year in which
the Participant began to participate in the Plan, such Participant must complete
and sign a new Deferred Compensation Agreement and return such Deferred
Compensation Agreement to the designated representative of the

                                       3
<PAGE>

Company prior to the beginning of the Plan Year (or such earlier date
established by the Company and announced to the Participant) for which such
election is to be effective. Such Deferred Compensation Agreement shall be
effective for that Plan Year.

        3.2 IRREVOCABILITY OF PARTICIPATION DURING THE PLAN YEAR. A Participant
may not terminate his or her Deferred Compensation Agreement with respect to a
Plan Year on or after the first day of such Plan Year.

        3.3 SUSPENDED PARTICIPATION. A Participant who ceases to be an Eligible
Director, but who continues to be a Director, shall become a suspended
Participant in the Plan as of the date on which the Participant ceases to be an
Eligible Director. During the period of suspension, no Compensation Reductions
shall be allocated to such suspended Participant's Account in accordance with
Section 4. However, the Participant shall be entitled to benefit in accordance
with the other provisions of the Plan throughout the period during which he or
she is a suspended Participant. A suspended Participant shall cease to be a
suspended Participant as of the date he or she again becomes an Eligible
Director. If such suspended Participant again becomes an Eligible Director in
the same Plan Year in which a Deferred Compensation Agreement was previously in
effect, such Deferred Compensation Agreement shall automatically once again
become effective for the remainder of such Plan Year. If such suspended
Participant again becomes an Eligible Director in a Plan Year following the last
Plan Year for which a Deferred Compensation Agreement was in effect, such
suspended Participant may elect to participate in the Plan by following the
procedures specified in Section 3.1(b).

        3.4 TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION. A Participant shall cease to be a
Participant as of the date he or she ceases serving as a Director.

4.      PLAN ACCOUNTS

        4.1 ACCOUNTS. The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained for
each Participant an Account with respect to which the Company shall allocate
amounts equal to the Participant's Compensation Reductions for each Plan Year,
effective as of the date such Compensation Reductions would have been paid to
the Participant as Compensation in the absence of a Deferred Compensation
Agreement.

        4.2 INVESTMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

               (a) Each Compensation Reduction allocated to a Participant's
Account shall be converted into that number of Shares that equal the amount of
such Compensation Reduction divided by the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
of the Company as of the date such Compensation Reduction would have been paid
to the Participant as Compensation in the absence of a Deferred Compensation
Agreement. The calculation of the number of Shares need not be rounded to the
nearest whole Share, so that a fraction of a Share (calculated to the nearest
one-hundredth of a Share) may be allocated to a Participant's Account.

               (b) In the event any dividends or distributions are made with
respect to the Common Stock of the Company, the Company shall allocate an amount
to the Participant's

                                       4
<PAGE>

Account that is equal to the amount of such dividends or distributions that
would have been made with respect to the Shares allocated to a Participant's
Account if they were shares of the Common Stock of the Company. Such
dividend/distribution allocations shall be converted into that number of whole
and/or fractional Shares that equal the amount of such allocation divided by the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock of the Company as of the date such
dividends or distributions are made with respect to the Common Stock of the
Company to the Company's stockholders of record.

        4.3 VALUE OF ACCOUNTS. The value of a Participant's Account as of any
Valuation Date shall be equal to the number of Shares allocated to a
Participant's Account multiplied by the Fair Market Value of one share of the
Common Stock of the Company.

        4.4 FUNDS UNSECURED. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan,
all Benefits payable under the Plan are subject to the claims of the general
creditors of the Company. No trust shall be established to hold any assets which
may be set aside by the Company to pay the Benefits under the Plan and the
Company shall be under no obligation to set aside any amounts to pay Benefits.
The maintenance of separate Accounts by the Company as provided herein shall
neither require nor be considered a segregation of any funds or property from
the Company's general assets. Participants shall have no preferred claim on or
beneficial ownership interest in any assets of the Company prior to the time
actual payments of Benefits are received, and all rights of the Participants to
Benefits are mere unsecured contractual rights against the Company.

5.      BENEFITS

        5.1 RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

               (a) When a Participant ceases serving as a Director, the
Participant shall be entitled to receive the value of his or her Account
determined as of the Valuation Date coinciding with or next preceding the date
of the distribution, which shall be paid out by the Company in cash (or by
check) either in a single lump sum payment or in equal annual installments (in
terms of the number of Shares allocated to a Participant's Account), as
determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

               (b) If the Company determines that the distribution of a
Participant's Account shall be in installment payments, the number of
installment payments shall be the lesser of (i) ten (10) or (ii) two (2) times
the number of Plan Years the Participant entered into a Deferred Compensation
Agreement with the Company under the Plan.

               (c) If a Participant ceases serving as a Director on or before
June 30 of any Plan Year, the lump sum payment or the first installment payment
shall be paid by the Company no later than the last day of such Plan Year. If
the Participant ceases serving as a Director on or after July 1 of any Plan
Year, the lump sum payment or the first installment payment shall be paid by the
Company no later than January 31 of the following Plan Year. If the payment of a
Participant's Account is made in installment payments, the second installment
payment shall be

                                       5
<PAGE>

paid during January of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the first
installment payment was paid and all remaining installment payments shall be
paid annually in the month of January. The value of an installment shall be
determined by multiplying the number of Shares to be paid out in such
installment by the Fair Market Value of one share of the Company's Common Stock
on the last trading day immediately preceding such installment payment.

        5.2 DEATH BENEFITS. In the event the Participant dies prior to receiving
all of his or her Benefits, his or her remaining Benefits shall be paid by the
Company in cash (or by check) to the Participant's Beneficiary in a lump sum
payment as soon as administratively feasible after the Participant's death.

6.      SOURCE OF BENEFITS

        Benefits payable under this Plan shall be paid out of the Company's
general assets and allocated as payments out of the appropriate Participant's
Account under the Plan.

7.      ADMINISTRATION

        7.1 GENERAL. This Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors
of the Company, unless and until the Board delegates administration to a
committee composed of not fewer than two members of the Board. All members of
such committee shall be Non-Employee Directors, unless the Board expressly
declares otherwise. The Board or, if applicable, such committee (the
"Administrator") shall exercise all administrative powers and duties under the
Plan in accordance with the terms and purposes of the Plan. The Administrator
shall determine the amount of the Benefits due to each Participant or
Beneficiary from this Plan and shall cause them to be paid accordingly in
accordance with the Plan.

        7.2 PROCEDURES. The Administrator may adopt such rules and regulations
not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as deemed necessary or
appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan and shall have the
authority, in the Administrator's sole discretion, to interpret and construe any
provision of the Plan. To the extent permitted by law, (i) all such rules,
regulations, interpretations and constructions shall be final and binding on the
Company and all Participants and their legal representatives, beneficiaries,
successors, and assigns, subject to review as provided in Section 7.3, (ii) the
Administrator shall not be subject to any individual liability with respect to
the Plan and (iii) the Administrator shall be indemnified by the Company for any
action or omission made with respect to the Plan which does not demonstrate bad
faith, willful misconduct, criminal act, or gross negligence.

        7.3 CLAIMS. Any denial by the Administrator of a claim for benefits
under the Plan by a Participant or Beneficiary shall be stated in writing by the
Administrator and delivered or mailed to the Participant or Beneficiary. Such
notice shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial, written to the best
of the Administrator's ability in a manner that may be understood without legal
counsel. In addition, the Administrator shall afford a reasonable opportunity to
any Participant or Beneficiary whose claim for benefits has been denied for a
review of the decision denying the claim. In the event of further disagreement
following any further decision of the

                                       6
<PAGE>

Administrator after such a review, either the Participant or the Administrator
may appeal to the full Board, which decision shall be final.

                                       7
<PAGE>
8.      AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

        8.1 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

               (a) The Company shall have the absolute right to amend the
Plan in any respect to the extent necessary to obtain favorable rulings from the
Internal Revenue Service as to the status of the Plan as an unfunded deferred
compensation arrangement for United States federal income tax purposes, provided
that an application seeking such rulings is submitted to the Internal Revenue
Service within one year after the Effective Date. If such rulings are sought
within one year after the Effective Date but not obtained ultimately, the
Company may elect to terminate the Plan within thirty (30) days after it becomes
apparent that favorable rulings will not be obtained. In this event, the Company
shall notify all Participants of its election to terminate the Plan, and
Participants shall be entitled to receive the amounts in their respective
Accounts, if any.

               (b) While the Company intends and expects the Plan to continue
to fulfill its purposes and serve the best interests of the Company in its
present form, the Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at
any time, subject, except where Section 8.1(a) applies, to the provisions of
Section 8.2 and Section 9.

        8.2 ACCRUED BENEFITS.

               (a) Except where Section 8.1(a) applies, no termination of the
Plan or any amendments thereto which affect Benefits under the Plan shall,
without the written consent of a Participant, eliminate or reduce any Benefit of
the Participant under the Plan to which, as of the date of such termination or
amendment, such Participant would be entitled under the provisions of Section 5
had he or she ceased serving as a Director immediately prior to such date.

               (b) In the event of any amendment of the Plan which affects
the amount of Benefits payable under the Plan, Participants shall be entitled to
receive the greater of (i) the Benefit provided under the Plan as amended, or
(ii) the Benefit described above in Section 8.2(a).

               (c) Upon termination of the Plan, all Deferred Compensation
Agreements shall terminate immediately and all Participants' full Compensation
on a non-deferred basis will be restored. Each and every Participant shall
receive payment of the value of his or her Account in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5 as if the Participants had ceased serving as Directors
on the date of the Plan's termination.

9.      ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES; SALE OR MERGER OF THE COMPANY

        9.1 ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES. If any change is made in the Common Stock of
the Company pursuant to which the value of a Share is determined, without the
receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in
property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of
shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other

                                       8
<PAGE>

transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company), the
number of Shares held in a Participant's Account will be appropriately adjusted.
The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final,
binding and conclusive. For this purpose, the conversion of any convertible
securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction "without receipt
of consideration" by the Company.

        9.2 SALE OR MERGER OF THE COMPANY. In the event of a sale, merger,
reorganization, consolidation or other similar transaction (a "Change of
Ownership Transaction") involving the Company, no Participant in the Plan will
be considered to have ceased serving as a Director for purposes of the Plan, nor
will any such Participant be entitled to receive Benefits pursuant to Section 5,
until such Participant actually ceases serving as Director of the Company or any
acquiring or successor company or entity, unless payment of Benefits is
otherwise directed by the Administrator of the Plan. In any event, no Change of
Ownership Transaction involving the Company shall, without the written consent
of a Participant, eliminate or reduce any Benefit of the Participant under the
Plan to which, as of the date of such Change of Ownership Transaction, such
Participant would be entitled under the provisions of Section 5 had he or she
ceased serving as a Director immediately prior to such date.

10.     MISCELLANEOUS

        10.1 BENEFITS FULLY VESTED. All Benefits under the Plan, to the extent
accrued, shall be fully vested at all times hereunder.

        10.2 NO RIGHT TO CONTINUE AS DIRECTOR. Nothing contained in this Plan or
in any agreement or instrument executed pursuant to the Plan shall be construed
as conferring upon any Participant the right to continue serving as a Director.

        10.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Plan shall be binding upon the Company
and its successors and assigns as well as each Participant and his or her
representatives, successors, heirs, assigns, and Beneficiary.

        10.4 ASSIGNMENT OR ALIENATION. To the extent permitted by law, benefits
of Participants under this Plan may not be anticipated, assigned (either by law
or in equity), transferred, alienated or subject to attachment, garnishment,
levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.

        10.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Plan and a Participant's Deferred
Compensation Agreement, and any subsequently adopted amendment to either of
these documents, shall constitute the total agreement or contract between the
Company and such Participant regarding the Plan. No oral statement regarding the
Plan may be relied upon by the Participant. If there are any conflicts between
the terms of the Plan and a Participant's Deferred Compensation Agreement, the
terms of the Plan shall control.

                                       9
<PAGE>

        10.6 HEADINGS. The headings herein are for reference only. In the event
of a conflict between a heading and content of a Section of this Plan, the
content of the Section shall control.

        10.7 GENDER AND NUMBER. Whenever used herein, the masculine shall be
interpreted to include the feminine and neuter, the neuter to include the
masculine and feminine, the singular to include the plural and the plural to
include the singular, unless the context requires otherwise.

        10.8 GOVERNING LAW. The place of administration of this Plan shall
conclusively be deemed to be within the State of California, and the Plan shall
be governed by and in all respects construed in accordance with the substantive
laws of the State of California, except where such laws are superseded by
federal laws.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Plan as of this
_______ day of ____________, 1999.

                                       EPIMMUNE INC.

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

                                       Title:
                                             -----------------------------------

                                       10

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